Clipmarks | sweetsfoods's 'blogs' clips

10 Steps to the Perfect List Post

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:48:45 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

List posts are often amongst a blog’s most popular posts

Here’s 10 step-by-step, planning-to-publication ways to make your list posts as effective as possible:

1. Decide on the number of items in the list

2. Keep each item in the list similar

3. Brainstorm more items than you need

4. Order the list Logically

Also be aware when ordering your list that you should put your strongest items first, second and last.

5. Break very long lists into sections

6. Consider making your list a series

7. Be consistent in how you write each item

8. Always number the items

9. Invite readers to add to the list

10. Choose a great title

Always spell out numbers in list post titles

Always use numerals in list post titles

Spell out numbers below ten, use numerals for numbers 11 and over

And, even though I’ve already explained this technique to you, I’m going to close shamelessly in asking for your comments. Do you have a great tip for writing list posts? Have you had any hugely successful lists on your blog?

Tags: blogs, writing, lists, writing content

Building a Popular Social Media Profile: Seven Essential Characteristics

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:21:06 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: Highly recommended!

Clip Source: www.doshdosh.com

Building a Popular Social Media Profile: Seven Essential Characteristics

If you’re a new or not yet established brand, how should you use social media to build a reputation for yourself?

Apart from making sure your product/website is relevant to the social media channel, it is also useful to participate in social media communities as an end-user or brand representative.

How to Build a Popular Social Media Profile: 7 Helpful Characteristics

1. Strong Profile Visibility: Developing Brand Recognition

2. Active Participation: Maintaining a Continuous Presence

3. Practice Reciprocity: Seek Win-Win Outcomes

4. Effective Communication: Conversations are Important

5. Support the Community: Putting the Collective Before Oneself

6. Provide Value Above All: Gaining Trust and Attention

7. Demonstrate Integrity

Tags: social media, blogging, blogs, howto, internet, selfdevelopment, social networking, tips, technology, branding

How to Promote Your Blog through Networking

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:36:11 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

This week I’ve been suggesting five ways that I’d promote a new blog to new readers if i was starting out again.

Today I want to turn our attention to Networking as a great way to promote a blog.

If I were starting out in blogging today knowing what I now know I’d invest significant time each day into connecting with others online. The old adage of ‘it’s not what you know it’s who you know’ rings true in blogging.

A number of suggestions that I’d make in networking with bloggers:

Be generous

Don’t Expect too much too quick

Look for the B-listers

Prove Yourself First

Persist But Don’t Annoy

Look in Neighboring Niches

Ask Questions

Become a Go-To Person and a Connector

Have an Elevator Pitch

Look for Points of Synergy

Looking forward to hearing more about your own experience of blog networking and how it’s helped your blogging grow.

Tags: blogging, blogs, technology, tips

My #1 Tip for Creating Better Content: Write in Advance

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:05:51 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.skelliewag.org

My #1 Tip for Creating Better Content: Write in Advance
by Skellie

As I write this, it’s a Friday, and I don’t expect anyone to see this post until roughly six days from now. I have another post to write after this one, but if I don’t finish it tonight, I have plenty of time to do so. I can take as much time as I need to say exactly what I want to say.

Why it matters

Here’s why

. By writing without an impending deadline, you can say exactly what you want to say.

2. You can develop your ideas over the course of days, rather than in a few minutes.

3. You can craft your content instead of manufacturing it.

4. It’s less stressful, which is always good.

5. It allows you to relax.

6. You can start to write more than you use.

Here’s how

Tags: tips., blogging, blogs, grammar, writing

Can Poor Writing Skills Overshadow Good Content?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:46:32 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

Can Poor Writing Skills Overshadow Good Content?

Considering that I am not a native English speaker, I wish that the answer to this question was “no.” Unfortunately the opposite seems to be true; poor writing skills do can affect your otherwise witty and useful content.

Grammatical mistakes, misspelled words, incorrect punctuation and poorly structured sentences can make your content confusing, if not utterly unreadable. If you then consider the fact that we have hundreds of blogs on every niche these days, you can see that the writing quality could be the difference between a loyal and a lost reader.

How does one improve his writing skills, though? Below you will find 3 points that can help you with this task.

1. Avoid the common mistakes

Five Grammatical Errors That Make You Look Dumb

Six Common Punctuation Errors that Bedevil Bloggers

Do You Make These Mistakes When You Write?

2. Proofread

3. Expand your vocabulary and master the grammar basics

Tags: writing, grammar, blogging

99 Sites ALL Designers Must Know About

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:32:28 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: To see the full list inside the original site......

Clip Source: justcreativedesign.com

99 Sites ALL Designers Must Know About

Below is a list of 99+ graphic design resources, in English and (and a few other languages), that all designers must know about.

It is sorted by category (click to go to category):

General Design
Web Design
Resources
Show Cases
Development
Flash and Flex
Typography
Video and Motion
Personal Design Blogs
Web 2.0
Relaxation
Various

General Design

1 Spunk United

Web Design:

14 Noupe

Resources:

24 Float Design

A digg like site for design related subjects. Must know!

Show Cases:

32- Command Shift 3

Have you heard of hot or not? This is like that but for web designs, you choose the best website of 2. Great for inspiration.

Development:

43 - Problogger

Tips on blogging in general. Must have for any blogger.

Flash & Flex:

51- Labs Adobe

New technologies and development from Adobe.

Typography:

60 Swiss Legacy

Video & Motion:

65- Stage6

Personal Design Blogs:

Tags: design, photo, pics, pictures, writing, software, blogs, blogging, resources, video

Productivity by Elimination

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:32:13 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.skelliewag.org

Productivity by Elimination

True productivity is not about doing more in less time. It’s about doing less in less time. It’s about defining what is truly worth doing and sticking to that alone.

I’m not suggesting that you do all the below, but I’d like you to ask yourself each question and consider the pros and cons of your answer. How much time would you save? What’s the trade-off? A mental exercise rather than a prescriptive list, I want you to start thinking about where elimination fits in your blogging routine.

What if you stopped moderating comments?

What if you paid someone to moderate comments for you

What if you stopped reading feeds?

What if you mastered the art of short, polite and to the point email?

What if you checked email less?

What if you sorted email by importance?

What if you only checked stats once a week?

What if you posted less?

What if you stopped using social media?

What could you eliminate from your blogging routine?

Tags: blog, blogging, blogs, tips, productivity

Six Tips for More Creative Blogging

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:33:19 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

Creative lapses are one of the biggest blog killers out there. Every blogger spends time staring at a blank screen searching for inspiration at some point, and few niches provide a steady stream of juicy news on which a blogger can instantly provide outpourings of captivating opinion.

My suggestions for creative blogging bliss, in no particular order are:

1. Move around

2. Make a mess

3. Integrate blogging with the rest of your life

4. Talk about your blog

5. Take a complete break

6. Stop writing and start reading

These pointers may not work for everyone, but the basic principle holds true - give your brain some freedom and exercise and it’s more likely to reward you with brilliant new thoughts. There is no complete recipe for creativity, but actively managing your blogging habits and environment can give you the very best chance of developing great ideas and great content.

Tags: blogger, blogging, blogs, blog

How Stressful Do You Find Blogging?

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:09:44 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: To continue on the blog...

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

Some people find blogging relaxing, a release and an outlet; many others don’t. It often depends upon your reason for blogging.

Before I go any further, I’m going to define “stress” as anything that takes your body of homeostasis (normal, balanced state of functioning). This means then that even when you don’t ‘feel’ stressed, your body might be.

Some of the things I personally find stressful about blogging are…

The pressure to earn something - for me, this is mostly indirectly rather than directly from my blogs
Receiving unpleasant and negative comments
Meeting deadlines for writing posts (my own and others)
Constantly coming up with killer content
An unhealthy obsession with stats and figures

Typical symptoms of acute stress are:

Rapid heart beat
Rise in temperature
Short, shallow breathing

Typical symptoms of chronic stress are:

High blood pressure
Increased allergies
Depression
Weight gain or loss
PMS and hormonal disturbances

1) Treat blogging like a business not a hobby.

Tags: blogs, blogger, blogging, internet

16 Ways to Expand Your Blog’s Reach in 2008

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:32:12 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.doshdosh.com

It’s 2008 and you’re looking forward to growing your blog even more this year. You are eager to build a large readership and maybe even make a full-time income from blogging. You want greater influence and a stronger reputation. What you need is an expansion plan.

16 Ways to Expand Your Blog’s Reach in 2008

Create Multiple Channels

User Generated Content

Localize Your Blog

Build a Blog Network

Set up a Forum/Social Network

Establish an Email Newsletter

Clone Your Blog

Participate in a Social Community

Optimize For Social Media

Bring in New Writers

Sell a Product or Service

Create Premium content.

Create an Industry Event.

Partner with Other Blogs

Make Your Blog Mobile.

Start Doing Video/Podcasts

Tags: social media, blogger, blogging, blogs, web 2.0

7 Types of Blog Posts Which Always Seem to Get Links and Traffic

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:42:59 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: Here’s a really good question: what kinds of posts should I write to get more links and traffic?

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

It’s a question every blogger asks themselves. I want to answer it here by outlining 7 content methods that seem to work wonders on social media while also generating a lot of grassroots in-bound links.

1. Resource lists.

2. Lists of tips.

3. Good advice.

4. Arguing a popular point of view.

5. Anything with a killer headline.

6. Q&As with high profile people

7. Best-of list

Tags: blogs., blogging, blogs, blogger, writing