Help wanted: blog advisors

[midwestyankee]

I need to start a blog. Mostly this is for busines reasons but I can't deny that a certain amount of sanity protection is involved. I have things to say, dammit. I spent a certain portion of today puzzling over focus and name, including a conversation with a noted SEO guru. It turns out that the "coolestblogintheworldthatanswersalllife'squestionsanddeliversgumtoo" is already taken. Thus my quandary. I'm sure you understand.

Still, I like the idea of giving away gum. So, my first question for this august panel is this: how do I turn gum into pixels in such a way that it retains its flavor when my readers lick it off their screens?

 

[BiBunny]

Your question is far beyond my area of expertise, O Gumly One, but I look forward to seeing the answers you get.

 

[Keroin]

That's a metaphor right? 'Cause if you can deliver gum to my screen???



Yeah.

So, MWY, what's most of the focus? Business or personal? Give me a percentage?

And are you just looking for a name or for ideas or...?

 

[intothewoods]

That's a metaphor right? 'Cause if you can deliver gum to my screen???



Yeah.

So, MWY, what's most of the focus? Business or personal? Give me a percentage?

And are you just looking for a name or for ideas or...?

Seriously, I'm lost.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Lickable "wallpaper."

Lick an orange, it tastes like orange. Lick a browser bookmarks bar, it tastes like a browser bookmarks bar. Lick a stick of snozzberry gum, it tastes just like a stick of snozzberry gum!

 

[Scentofawoman]

I want an everlasting gobstopper and I want it now!

 

[midwestyankee]

That's a metaphor right? 'Cause if you can deliver gum to my screen???



Yeah.

So, MWY, what's most of the focus? Business or personal? Give me a percentage?

And are you just looking for a name or for ideas or...?

For you, I'd research how to deliver cupcakes in edible pixels.

It's mostly business but as I am the business (i.e., speaker, trainer etc) it will inevitably reveal some of my publicly suitable quirks and such. At the moment, yes, I'm looking around for a good name but that's not the purpose of this discussion here. Wouldn't want the name to become too public, yannow?

 

[JMohegan]

Seriously, I'm lost.

Unfamiliar territory, out there in Seattle?

What the heck have you done with the gauzy blue top?!

 

[CutieMouse]

I have stuff going on right now and can't really respond, but WordPress is a better [professional] platform than Blogger. I'll think on it and email you when I have the chance...

 

[intothewoods]

For you, I'd research how to deliver cupcakes in edible pixels.

It's mostly business but as I am the business (i.e., speaker, trainer etc) it will inevitably reveal some of my publicly suitable quirks and such. At the moment, yes, I'm looking around for a good name but that's not the purpose of this discussion here. Wouldn't want the name to become too public, yannow?

Are you trying to attract new clients with it?

Unfamiliar territory, out there in Seattle?

What the heck have you done with the gauzy blue top?!

I took that pic! I have to admit it makes me smile, even if it is an odd fit for me on this forum.

I have stuff going on right now and can't really respond, but WordPress is a better [professional] platform than Blogger. I'll think on it and email you when I have the chance...

Love wordpress - I should spend some time taking a few tutorials or something to get more out of it.


****

I am blogging again as me, no kink blog. It's kind of random and crazy but maybe that's appropriate for me. PM me if you want the name.

 

[midwestyankee]

I have stuff going on right now and can't really respond, but WordPress is a better [professional] platform than Blogger. I'll think on it and email you when I have the chance...

I've now used both and I agree with you. Presently I have WordPress installed on my website and that's the platform I intend to use.

Are you trying to attract new clients with it?


Love wordpress - I should spend some time taking a few tutorials or something to get more out of it.


****

I am blogging again as me, no kink blog. It's kind of random and crazy but maybe that's appropriate for me. PM me if you want the name.

Yes, this is mostly about attracting new clients. I've had a website for years and for a period of about five years I wrote a bi-weekly newsletter that I sent out by email, eventually to about 2,000 people. Now I'm trying to shift the thrust of my business a bit and it seems that a blog would allow me ample space to explain what I'm doing and develop a new list of prospects.

So, yes, gum and cupcake sending powers aside, this is about business.

 

[Shankara20]

For you, I'd research how to deliver cupcakes in edible pixels.

do anything X rated?

 

[rosco rathbone]

I'd say, be yourself, write the blog you'd like to read and let the cards fall where they may. Same advice I'd give to anyone undertaking any creative endeavor.

 

[midwestyankee]

I'd say, be yourself, write the blog you'd like to read and let the cards fall where they may. Same advice I'd give to anyone undertaking any creative endeavor.

Thanks, Rosco. I do plan to be myself and write whatever strikes me as important and at least quaintly connected with my main professional interest. That said, everything I read tells me that the name of the blog is a vital element in being discoverable via search engines. So I need, at least, to start out with a name that might draw some attention, be easily spelled, recognizable, and memorable.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Thanks, Rosco. I do plan to be myself and write whatever strikes me as important and at least quaintly connected with my main professional interest. That said, everything I read tells me that the name of the blog is a vital element in being discoverable via search engines. So I need, at least, to start out with a name that might draw some attention, be easily spelled, recognizable, and memorable.

Well, bust out with some ideas and I'll criticize them.

 

[Keroin]

A good name is valuable but it ain't everything, so don't get too hung up on that. I read very few blogs and those I do were chosen for the content, not for the name.

Roscoe has a good point but there are also some tips I would offer.

1. Keep posts short(ish) and snappy. If this blog were purely personal it wouldn't matter so much but you're trying to attract eyeballs and keep them there. The longer and heavier your posts are, the less chance you have of doing this. We live in the Twitterverse, unfortunately; attention spans are short.

2. Consistent is better than frequent. Your readers need to know that you will update on a regular basis. Even if you only post once or twice a week that's better than bombarding them with a slew of new posts every day and then suddenly not posting for weeks at a time. Related to this: quality over quantity.

3. Images! Text-heavy blogs, even if the content is fantastic, can be overwhelming. Photos and video's help break up the text and make a visual impact.

I'm sure your SEO friend can give you lots of advice on marketing, linking, social media, etc, so I won't waste your time with that. I would caution you to keep the 'marketing' to a dull roar on social media and in your blog, particularly the former. Most people resent those who use social media solely as a means to sell them something.

Um, hope that helps?

Please mail cupcakes to: Keroin, Nelson, BC, Canada.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

I concur with the WP comments. And available themes ensure constant coolsterism design possibilities. Photos=yes. And I'd advise a mix of serious and less serious, to provide variety and the unexpected.

And I like your photo, ITW. I know the spot from which that photo was taken! Ahhhhh, summer in the NW: 75, clear, zero humidity, mountain out....

 

[intothewoods]

Well, bust out with some ideas and I'll criticize them.

Ha. I would love to read a rosco blog. We all need more from rosco central in our lives.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Ha. I would love to read a rosco blog. We all need more from rosco central in our lives.

I've got mad blog title ideas. The problem is, the only kind of blog I'd be interested in doing would be way too revealing about my personal life, since it would be a big mishmash of all my interests some of which are unacceptable to society as currently constituted and others of which would lead directly to my true candy indentity.

MWY, maybe look at the blogrolls of some of the blogs you hope to model your blog on, to get some initial ideas. Clever, catchy, and short are good.

 

[rosco rathbone]

A good name is valuable but it ain't everything, so don't get too hung up on that. I read very few blogs and those I do were chosen for the content, not for the name.

Roscoe has a good point but there are also some tips I would offer.

1. Keep posts short(ish) and snappy. If this blog were purely personal it wouldn't matter so much but you're trying to attract eyeballs and keep them there. The longer and heavier your posts are, the less chance you have of doing this. We live in the Twitterverse, unfortunately; attention spans are short.

2. Consistent is better than frequent. Your readers need to know that you will update on a regular basis. Even if you only post once or twice a week that's better than bombarding them with a slew of new posts every day and then suddenly not posting for weeks at a time. Related to this: quality over quantity.

3. Images! Text-heavy blogs, even if the content is fantastic, can be overwhelming. Photos and video's help break up the text and make a visual impact.

I'm sure your SEO friend can give you lots of advice on marketing, linking, social media, etc, so I won't waste your time with that. I would caution you to keep the 'marketing' to a dull roar on social media and in your blog, particularly the former. Most people resent those who use social media solely as a means to sell them something.

Um, hope that helps?

Please mail cupcakes to: Keroin, Nelson, BC, Canada.

If you want to write long, heavy pieces that need attention and focus, make sure to sweeten it with lots of shorter eye candy pieces.

 

[Keroin]

If you want to write long, heavy pieces that need attention and focus, make sure to sweeten it with lots of shorter eye candy pieces.

Yep, good advice.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Make sure to have lots of coded references to the M/s lifestyle so that those with eyes to see will know you're cool.

 

[midwestyankee]

Well, bust out with some ideas and I'll criticize them.

Keep squeezing those ass cheeks, rosco. Not sure how much I want to reveal out here.

A good name is valuable but it ain't everything, so don't get too hung up on that. I read very few blogs and those I do were chosen for the content, not for the name.

Roscoe has a good point but there are also some tips I would offer.

1. Keep posts short(ish) and snappy. If this blog were purely personal it wouldn't matter so much but you're trying to attract eyeballs and keep them there. The longer and heavier your posts are, the less chance you have of doing this. We live in the Twitterverse, unfortunately; attention spans are short.

2. Consistent is better than frequent. Your readers need to know that you will update on a regular basis. Even if you only post once or twice a week that's better than bombarding them with a slew of new posts every day and then suddenly not posting for weeks at a time. Related to this: quality over quantity.

3. Images! Text-heavy blogs, even if the content is fantastic, can be overwhelming. Photos and video's help break up the text and make a visual impact.

I'm sure your SEO friend can give you lots of advice on marketing, linking, social media, etc, so I won't waste your time with that. I would caution you to keep the 'marketing' to a dull roar on social media and in your blog, particularly the former. Most people resent those who use social media solely as a means to sell them something.

Um, hope that helps?

Please mail cupcakes to: Keroin, Nelson, BC, Canada.

This is all good stuff. Thanks.

I saw the bestest looking cupcakes today. I had lunch in a gluten-free bakery café and the cupcakes looked killer.

I concur with the WP comments. And available themes ensure constant coolsterism design possibilities. Photos=yes. And I'd advise a mix of serious and less serious, to provide variety and the unexpected.

And I like your photo, ITW. I know the spot from which that photo was taken! Ahhhhh, summer in the NW: 75, clear, zero humidity, mountain out....

I doubt if it's humanly possible for me to not mix in the less serious with my usual ponderous ponderings. Maybe even a pun or two.

I've got mad blog title ideas. The problem is, the only kind of blog I'd be interested in doing would be way too revealing about my personal life, since it would be a big mishmash of all my interests some of which are unacceptable to society as currently constituted and others of which would lead directly to my true candy indentity.

MWY, maybe look at the blogrolls of some of the blogs you hope to model your blog on, to get some initial ideas. Clever, catchy, and short are good.

I did this. I ended up reading a blog about #2 pencils manufactured in Upper Silesia during the second world war. I can't erase the memory no matter how hard I rub it.

If you want to write long, heavy pieces that need attention and focus, make sure to sweeten it with lots of shorter eye candy pieces.

Thus there will be few pictures of me. I'm short, but not eye candy.

Make sure to have lots of coded references to the M/s lifestyle so that those with eyes to see will know you're cool.

Dream on, though maybe there's a challenge here to be attempted someday.

 

[Netzach]

Use wordpress HOSTED on your OWN hosting with a decent SEO plugin. Fill in all the prompts that plugin gives you. Decide to blog every day. Realistically blog once a month.

Use twitter to point people to your blog. You could call your blog Jeremy and people will find you if you do this. THIS you want to do every day.

Also blogger is a decent "feeder" if you aren't too crass about it. You can blog your business on your own host and then blog a Q+A kind of blog on blogger about why people would want your business.

Post your blogs as articles where relevant, use reject posts as PR articles.

Don't worry you are spamming people - spam is automated crap, promotion is YOUR hand-tweeted crap. Follow relevant people and just keep uttering at least three times a day. I am honest to god FLOORED by what twitter does for my business. If I tweet the release of a new hypnodomme recording - BAM.

Who are these people? Who cares.

Don't sweat long and short. I have essayist monsters that have made me cash in floods, and I have one word posts. DO use images, definitely. Don't set yourself up for pain, either, use licensed images and pay out for them if you have any doubt in your mind about someone suing you over it - it's worth every penny.

 

[midwestyankee]

Use wordpress HOSTED on your OWN hosting with a decent SEO plugin. Fill in all the prompts that plugin gives you. Decide to blog every day. Realistically blog once a month.

Use twitter to point people to your blog. You could call your blog Jeremy and people will find you if you do this. THIS you want to do every day.

Also blogger is a decent "feeder" if you aren't too crass about it. You can blog your business on your own host and then blog a Q+A kind of blog on blogger about why people would want your business.

Post your blogs as articles where relevant, use reject posts as PR articles.

Don't worry you are spamming people - spam is automated crap, promotion is YOUR hand-tweeted crap. Follow relevant people and just keep uttering at least three times a day. I am honest to god FLOORED by what twitter does for my business. If I tweet the release of a new hypnodomme recording - BAM.

Who are these people? Who cares.

Using WordPress on my own hosted site is the plan. Can you recommend a good SEO plugin?

Already using the twitter machine now and again but it won't be hard to ramp it up to promote the blog.

Can you point me to a Q&A kind of blog at blogger? Sounds like an intriguing idea.

Many thanks, N.