Want to get more readers for your blog? Maybe you’ve just started a new blog, or maybe you have run out of steam on your current blog because you don’t have a large readership. Whatever the case may be, there are tried and true methods to gaining new readers for your blog, and they’re just waiting for you to give them a try. Here we have pulled together a few of the really good ones…

Have quality content with a clear focus

Choose a clear, specific focus for your blog. So instead of a general “cooking” blog… you may choose to do “organic cooking on the cheap” or “gourmet meals even your 5 year old will eat.” Whatever your topic, hone in on what your passion really is, and make that your blog focus. Then do it better than anyone else. It’s also key to step back and evaluate whether there are enough prospective readers in your chosen niche. It’s better to be brutally honest with yourself than to toil away and end up disappointed.

Become a guest blogger

Ask a related blog if you can contribute a post to their blog. Contributing content to someone else’s blog may seem crazy when it’s YOUR blog you want to boost readership for, but it’s a solid strategy to gain exposure for your own blog and build your subscriber base. Just make it very clear to the blog owner that you require a very brief byline at the end of the post, which includes a link back to your own blog. And make sure it’s original content, not something recycled off of your blog. This way, you are contributing meaningful content to their blog (win for them) while gaining exposure to their readers (win for you).

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Got a WordPress blog? Posting to it from your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad?

A few weeks ago, WordPress 2.6 for iOS was released to the App Store, and was followed very quickly by some very critical comments and negative reviews. Lots of people were having problems even connecting to their blog, including Jon Katz ,a well-known author, and long time client of Mannix Marketing, Inc. I had the opportunity to work with Jon when he stopped by the office, trying to get the new version of the app to work right. Unfortunately, for Jon, who was getting ready to go on tour for his new book, we were unable to help him, as it was an issue with the app itself, and he opted to wait for another update. Well, that new update has come (WordPress 2.6.1 for iOS)… and while it seemed to solve the connection issues we were seeing before, it has brought an onslaught of new problems, rendering the app basically useless.

At the suggestion of  Senior Web Applications Developer Toby Dawes,  we took to the App Store to see if we could find an alternative solution. Enter BlogPress. For $2.99, one can connect to their WordPress blog (or, several other types of blogs) and post real-time updates. You can work with already live posts, post drafts, and even cross-post to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

BlogPress is a great solution for those WordPress 2.6 blues! Itʼs definitely a must-buy if youʼre having problems with the new WordPress app, like so many other people are having.

Our Mannix Marketing, Inc. programming team are problem solvers - we love to make things work! Contact us for custom programming applications, content management systems, etc. - we can help!

We all know what the end of a year means … New Year’s Resolutions! I recall my personal resolution last year was to drink more water. I succeeded in my quest and am now a happy water drinker. A happy, happy water drinker.

But my challenge to you this year is to not only make resolutions for yourself, but make them for your business. After all, our business is our livelihood. We need to make sure that it is just as “healthy” and “happy” as it can be.

So, here are some ideas to start 2010 with gusto!

A. Get that website redesign that you’ve been thinking about! It’s time and it really does make a difference.

B. Try Social Media Marketing. That’s right … Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr. It cannot be denied that Social Media is a powerful tool in marketing your brand. Start slowly by creating one account. Get used to how it works and how you can use it for marketing purposes. Put it on your daily schedule for updating and work on building your fan base and followers. Once you are comfortable with the one account, you are ready to add another.

Make sure that you are maximizing your opportunities with social marketing. The conversation starts online, but the conversion happens in the real world.

C. Embrace one new “function” on your website. Try adding something new and creative to your website. After all, your website is your vehicle to promote your business. Explore videos. Add a Newsletter Sign up and try Email Marketing. Try blogging. Add related articles or expand your content by adding a new section altogether. Keep your website moving forward!

D. Set marketing goals. With all these new marketing strategies, make sure you track your efforts. You’ll easily be able to see the difference your new strategies are making by analyzing your statistics. Continue doing whichever avenues have made a positive impact.

E. Get involved. Read related blogs and leave comments. Become fans of Facebook pages. Send Direct Messages on Twitter. In a word … participate. Your effort will be rewarded.

F. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Make sure your online profiles are fully complete. If you can add 10 pictures, add 10 pictures. Fill out all descriptions and added info sections. Don’t forget about the reviews! Make sure you have enough reviews by soliciting happy clients for them. It’s a good idea to go and check all accounts. You may have thought you would go back to finish one or more of them but forgot about it.

G. Manage your reputation. With the introduction to real time search, it is more important than ever to be aware of what is being said. Use Twitter Search to track any mention of your name, your keywords, your location and your competitors’ name. Use Google Alerts to have an email update sent directly to your inbox. Based on your choice of query or topic, Google will send an email of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.). This is very handy indeed.

Above all, have a happy and healthy New Year!

So….you’ve worked hard to garner a bevy of Facebook fans and Twitter followers. You are blogging, Tweeting, Digging, gaining friends and fans and linking everywhere. These online social media environments can create a vibrant, relevant, active platform that will benefit your business in any number of ways. As your network grows, however, you may find that the maintenance of these has become incredibly time consuming and complex to the point that you are experiencing some anxiety. You may be suffering from social media fatigue! (more…)

Just starting out on a blog? Need advice and a clear strategy to generate more interest and traffic?

Below are 7 tips I have learned that can help you create and maintain a successful blog. I have many more ideas on the topic, so I will write a follow-up post in the upcoming days so stay tuned. Please share your blog secrets and tips with me too. I would love to hear them!

1. Have a Clear Topic
Before you even begin to jump into the ‘blog circuit’, put together a road-map of what you feel your blog will be all about. Have a clear direction in your mind before you begin – A) What is your Topic, B) What are your Categories and C) What would be some of your posts in your Categories). (see map below courtesy of ProBlogger) The best blogs have a specific focus that really connects with a specific target audience. If you fill out the map, you will already have pre-planned a large chunk of your initial blog posts! Also, keep a list of 10-20 post ideas you want to write about so you never get stumped. View the map after the jump (more…)