BusinessBlogAngel

Typepad, Guest Authors & Keywords

An email from a client asks, "One of my guest authors is saying that there is no box on her post for keywords. She was asking if she needed to pay as she's on some sort of trial with Typepad. Have you any idea what's happened as my other guest author doesn't seem to have had this problem."

As I explain in this video, it's nothing to do with paying and trials - it's all to do with the Compose Post view which that guest author sees and she can make the necessary changes herself really easily as shown here:
 

Video Tutorial: Inserting Images into Typepad Margins using a Typelist (Notes type)

Following on from my last video tutorial about how to split your post up in the new Typepad compose editor so you get the "Continue reading..." link on the front page of your blog, Bebe Jacobs of BeginAfresh.com has asked me to show her how to insert images into the side margins.

Here are 3 little videos of 5 mins each which will show you exactly how to do it using a Typepad 'Notes' type Typelist*.  Eventually, Bebe will create pages to link the images to. In Video 3. I show her where she will need to place the page url for the new pages. Click on one of the images or links below to launch it in a new (much bigger) window:

Video 1                          Video 2                          Video 3

Assuming this is all new to you, I'm inserting a Notepad doc at the end of this post which will give you the HTML code 'skeleton structure' for creating text links and image links anywhere on a blog or a website, whether in a post, a Typelist or a Wordpress text Widget. You may notice a couple of differences from the code I used in the videos eg. alt attribute in the anchor string. These aren't hugely important so I'm not going to say anymore on that right now. Simply click on the link to download it.

Key to remember...If you want to include an image, it must first be hosted somewhere. In Typepad, you can upload an image into the Files area. Go to Control Panel and then click on the Files tab. 

Video Tutorial: Breaking Up Your Posts with Typepad 'New Generation' Compose Editor

Was doing a Typepad Coaching Call earlier today with client Bebe Jacobs of BeginAfresh.com. Something which came up which we didn't have time to go through on the call, was how to 'split up a post' so you end up with just 2 (say) paras on the front page of your blog, followed by a "Continue reading..." link.  Bebe knew how to do this with the old Typepad Compose Editor, but the 'new generation' Compose Editor had her confused - and I know she's not alone.  So... I thought I'd capture a quick 'over-the-shoulder' video showing exactly how to do it and share it here.

I captured this video using Jing, which I'm still getting to grips with, so the final screen view is LARGE! - too large to embed in this post. Instead, just follow this link:

Video Tutorial: How to split a post (extended-entry) using Typepad's new compose editor

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you can see it all on your screen.

Oh - and I apologise in advance for the barking!! 

My other half came home whilst I was in the middle of the recording and Tallis - our collieX pup - just couldn't contain himself!!

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Do YOU have a Typepad query? Or questions about business blogging and social media in general?  Be confused no more - use this link to book an hour with me now:
http://www.businessblogangel.com/bizblogangel/coachingtraining-hours.html

Writing with confidence - project confident writing

Was coaching a client this morning - teaching her about the technical stuff, showing her round the admin interface and talking about effective blog writing etc. when the topic of 'what to write when you don't know what to write' came up.  I immediately thought of a brilliant post on this topic which Joanna Young wrote on this blog.

Here are 3 super simple ideas to try when you're stuck:

1. Post a video. Got to YouTube, search one of your keywords and see what comes up. Chances are there'll be something fun or interesting or both. Use the 'embed' code to have the video appear on your blog.

2. Post a quote. Google 'quotes about xxxx' replacing xxxx for one of your keywords. Simply posting a really thought provoking quotation can sometimes be enough. Or at least provide the inspiration you need to write a quick 'top' and 'tail' for the quote.

3. Post about a post. Go to Technorati and search for your keywords under Blogs to see who else is writing on your topic. You'll almost certainly find something recent and relevant that you can create a post around - inserting a key paragraph of theirs, or simply linking to them. Remember to Trackback, or comment on, the original post.

There are loads more ways to get inspiration - what are your favourites?
Where do you go for blog content inspiration?

Practical Tips For Business Bloggers: Introducing A New Series At BizBlogAngel

There's nothing like blogging about something to get it clearer in your mind. 

Now that we've convinced ourselves (and hopefully you too!) of the merits of writing a blog series, branding posts and creating a product that's going to have a long shelf-life Claire and I couldn't wait to launch our new mega-series.

It's called Practical Tips For Business Bloggers... and yes, it'll do just what it says on the tin :-)

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UPDATE: 06/06/08 - Episodes to date include:

Intro: Showing off Your Content
Part 1: Should I Have A Welcome Post On My Blog?
Part 2: Use Bold And Bullets To Break Up Your Posts
Part 3: Break Up Your Posts With Quotes
Part 4: One Simple Programme That Can Save You Blogging Time
Part 5: "Continue Reading" With Style
Part 6: How Do I Format Links?
Part 7: How A Footer Helps You Blog for Business

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The series is aimed at business bloggers who:

• are just getting started
• have been blogging for a while, but always wondered how to (x, y or z...)
• are always looking for ways to improve their blog

And if that sounds like you, read on.

Cardinal Business Blogging Sins - is writing off-topic a no-no?

OK... so what excuse can I find to post a picture of our new puppy on my blog... um... tricky...

You see, the majority of visitors to this blog are here to find out about blogging for business or social media marketing - not to see pictures of puppies - no matter how cute.  Puppies are off-topic.  So does that mean I shouldn't post the picture?  Well, you tell me...

Is off-topic content always a cardinal sin?  Or are personal posts ok?  Does it depend on other factors? If so, what are they?

While you ponder these questions, enjoy the above pic of Sgt. Pepper - a super-charged, 19wk old Heinz 57 rescue pup who 'came home' to us just last night.  (Click to enlarge it.) I'm not a mum, but boy do I feel like one today - knackered, sleep deprived and totally blissed out!

What are your business blogging goals for 2008?

Although January can sometimes feel like a slow month, it's also a time when our thoughts naturally turn to our goals, dreams and ambitions for the year ahead, to the things we resolve to do or intend to set out and make happen.

I know that we've all got our own ways of thinking about goals, resolutions, intentions but I'm guessing most of us will be spending some time this month thinking about where we want to be by the end of this year.

And if that includes the plans for your own business you want to be asking yourself this:

What are your business blogging goals for 2008?

5 blogging mistakes that are so last year

           

Prologue: We don't claim to be blogging saints round here (though Claire is, of course, a blogging angel).  Although this post was drafted a little while ago we couldn't post it until we'd done a little bit of blog housekeeping ourselves... Well one thing we do believe in is being willing to take our own blog medicine:-)

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It's a funny thing about the New Year, isn't it?  A few weeks into January and suddenly 2007 seems like an eternity ago.  A time that's over.  Things that we've let go.

And all of a sudden things that are dated 2007 can look just that: dated, tired and over.

And yes, that includes your business blog.

This is the perfect time to make sure your business blog is bang up to date - and that you're avoiding these 5 blogging mistakes that can keep you stuck in last year.

Joanna 'Confident Writing' Young - My Secret Weapon & Success Story!

OK, truth be told - in her role as Business Blog Angel Team Blogger, Joanna (left), had prepared 2 posts sooner than that last one - it was me that held them up because I wanted to finish something else I was working on before they went out.  Seems reasonable doesn't it, but it was taking ages to do.  Fortunately for me, Joanna is a stickler for regular and consistent posting and she took the initiative and wrote an alternative post which she knew we could publish straight away.

Now that blockage is removed, I feel the urge to share a few random thoughts with you. Since I haven't written here (other than my Holiday Greeting) since October 12th this may ramble on a bit, but anyway... staying with Joanna for a moment...

Getting back to blogging

Happy New Year everyone!  I don't know about you but I'm still getting back into the swing of things after the Christmas and New Year break and working my way through the gloom that can be January in Scotland...

We've got a few goodies lined up for you over the next few weeks including some back-room stuff on new products and services that Claire is working on.  All will be revealed soon :-)

Meantime here a few suggestions that might help you get back into your stride if you haven't blogged for a while: