BusinessBlogAngel

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

Sharing content - ShareThis er... share research

I know, I know... it's been ages since my last post... there's just so much going on. I'll update you on all that as and when, but in the meantime, I just had to share this with you:

Remember that ShareThis research I blogged about early August, well there's more... the following is taken from the latest ShareThis update:

* Email is still primary channel for sharing – 69% of adults cite email as the primary source of sharing information

* Less than 1/3 of online adults said they learned about the new content from generally shared content sources such as YouTube, a wiki, or social networking sites

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.

How To Make A Bigger Bang From Your Blogging Buck

So you put all that time and effort into thinking up fresh content, weaving in your keywords, crafting a killer headline and then poof! it's yesterday's news.  Before you know it it's time to reach for your blogging-brilliant thinking hat again and draft another post...

Except it doesn't need to be like that (which is just as well, as we'd pretty soon get tired of blogging if it was).

There are simple but effective techniques that you can use to:

• generate ideas for new posts
• link posts together for greater impact
• repeat and emphasise your core message
• make it easier for your readers to follow you
• create content with a longer shelf-life

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.

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:

Time to get social: networks real and virtual

Photo by alexdecarvalho

The festive period is upon us already, which seemed like the perfect excuse to get a little social, learn a little about the power of networks, oh and share a little link love too.  Well it is nearly Christmas :-)

One of the things I get to do as part of the Blog Angel Team is dot around the blogosphere looking for good resources to bring back here, and to follow what Claire's blogging clients are up to.  (It's a pretty long list now - just take a look at the length of that client blog roll!)

There's been a distinctly social theme to some of the posts that have been pinging my feed reader over the last few weeks, and without further ado here's a serving of some links to the best of what you've been writing on networking, social media, and making them work for you.