The Issue of Old Content

One of the most upsetting things about seeing slow progress on your website is what happens to your content. You work hard on all the posts you upload to your site. Each time you add something new, it involves research, planning and a lot of time sitting down just writing. Sometimes you’ll feel a little uninspired. Other times you’ll create posts that you’re truly proud of and that you can’t wait for the world to see. You upload them and they get… 10 views.

Then you do it all again. Yes, this is a pretty crushing feeling but there are a few reasons that you shouldn’t feel so bad. And in fact, this can be turned into a strength.

The Power of Old Content

The first thing to recognize is that just because old content isn’t getting read, it is still providing value to you. It is building up your SEO and it’s helping you to gain traction and attract bots. Over time, doing this will help your newer content to actually get seen. What’s more, is that it looks good for viewers. When someone visits a site and finds it completely empty, they’ll often just leave and think it’s amateurish. But if your site is filled with old content, it looks established and important. While some posts won’t get read, if they contribute to your mission statement and they serve an important purpose, they can still add a lot of value that way by establishing your authority.

What to Do With Old Content

One other important thing to consider is if your content is ‘evergreen’ (meaning that it isn’t time-dependent like news). Then you can simply re-share it later on. Just post that old content on Twitter or Facebook again and remind your audience why it’s so good. Once posts are popular, your old content can work wonders for you and gain thousands of views that it never got the first time around!

Better yet, why not frequently update and improve your old posts? If something is somewhat time-dependent, you can then come back to it year after year to improve it and make sure that it’s still relevant. Not only is this good for your site’s accuracy and reliability, but it’s also something that Google loves to see and that can be great for your SEO!

The post Is There Any Value in Using Old Content? appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Blogs. What are they good for? Blogs are actually fantastic whether you are running a business website or you are simply using blogs for fun. In terms of business, blogs can prove to be a supplemental form of advertisement and you will find them to be a unique device that you can use to keep in contact with your clients. Further, in terms of personal use, blogs are definitely an excellent way to stay in touch with your family and friends, even if they are across the globe. Best of all, blogs can often be established for free.

Blogs are still quite popular and appear all over the Internet. In fact, the more people realize the great benefits that they can get from using blogs, the more people will be using them. Blogs not only serve as personal journals, but they also serve as business supplements. People love communicating with others by using blogs and allowing others to comment on their postings.

Blogs are regularly updated which means that they have fresh content on them all the time. This makes them appealing to visitors and search engines alike. Every new posting means new content. When you update your blogs daily or weekly you will see them grow rather quickly. With fresh content, you can improve your search engine ranking. Whether you use the blog alone, or you used it to accompany an already existing website, your fresh content can be used to draw more and more traffic to either your blog or your website, or both.

Additionally, you can add links to your blog and start a link exchange campaign. In doing so, you will see your page ranking increase in search engines because SE algorithms frequently focus on the number of links that are pointing to your website. The more external links that recommend your site or blogs, the easier your site or blogs are to find in big search engines like Google.

Blogs can be used to freely advertise your products or services. Blogs can serve as free web space for you to use to advertise your business. Blogs are also great for providing existing clients with updated information about new products and services you may be offering. Want your clients to share their feelings about your products and services? You can use blogs to receive and share client testimonials. There really is no end to the benefits one can derive from using blogs.

What is equally fantastic about blogs is that there are ways that you can create blogs for free. Sites like Blogger, owned by Google, allow you to establish a blog free of charge. Moreover, there are a variety of layouts, fonts, and templates to choose from and Blogger even allows you to post images. Finally, sites like Blogger give you the opportunity to archive your postings so that visits can return to them again and again. WordPress.com is another excellent resource with tons of themes and plugins.

Finally, creating blogs can be simple and fun for everyone. Friends can create clubs and use blogs to establish them, friends and family can share photographs and sentiments, and finally, personal expression can be satisfied when creating blogs. In fact, if you have a particular passion, why not share that passion with the world by starting one or more blogs? Communicate with people from all over the world that share the same passions that you do!

If you find yourself out of time, we can do the writing of original content and promote the posts for you. Complete the form below to get started.

The post Blogs: What are They Good For? appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Here are 6 blog topic ideas for coming up with good content.

• Stay Up-to-Date with Current Events – This will give you ideas about the future of your market. This also includes focusing on news that involves your market niche.

• Hire Researchers – Research isn’t an easy task. If you don’t have the time, hire someone to do it for you.

• Think Out the Box – Come up with something unique. Try going out of your comfort zone. Think of new ways to make your posts more exciting to your audience.

• Recycled Content – Sometimes you just run out of fresh content. Other times you may just be too busy. Sometimes the only thing that can save you is to recycle old posts. Make sure you make old content look fresh.

• Ask Your Audience What They Want to See – Your audience (as well as your customers) like being able to give their input.

• Check to See What Previous Content is Missing – Updates and improvements are inevitable in any market. Check old posts to see what updates you can come up with and post about them.

Tips on Writing Your Comments and Posts Effectively

• A Good Title is a Must – People are busy. Some people won’t read a post that is too long. Pique their interest by using a catchy and intriguing title.

• Use a Catchy Headline – Start the headline and first sentence of your post with something catchy and interesting.

• Use the Inverted Triangle Method of Writing – This means that you write your posts by including information at the beginning.
• Example:
  • The Lead: The top part contains the most critical information.
  • The Body: The middle part of your post is addressed as the body.
  • Conclusion: The final part is known as the conclusion.

There are many resources for finding blog topic ideas. If you are out of time or simply want someone else to handle your posts, contact us. That’s what we do.

The post Short on Blog Topic Ideas? appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Probably the most common way to promote and grow a mailing list is through a landing page. This is a single page on your website that will be dedicated to selling the merits of signing up. It will detail what the new subscribers can expect to get from signing up and it will provide the opt-in form where they can go ahead and enter their email address and name.

But while this can work well, it’s important not to overlook one of the other most effective ways to grow a mailing list: through your blog.

Why a Blog is Perfect for Growing a Mailing List

There are several things that will make a blog ideal for growing your mailing list.

The first of these things is that a blog is well-suited to gaining more traffic via Google. Google brings people to websites based on the content. This is what people are searching for in the first place in most cases and it is what you use in order to provide value for your readers.

Simply by blogging regularly, you can get more people to actively look for the page where your opt-in form will be and this is something that you wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as easily with a landing page – seeing as that will only have a small amount of copy focussed on promoting the list.

The other big benefit of a blog is that it is perfect for growing more readers over time. The more you will attract people back to your site. They’ll eventually start checking your site regularly because they will know that it’s likely to provide information that is useful, interesting or just entertaining.

And if they read your blog enough and become fully engaged, then eventually they might decide they want to get more information from you. Thus, they might choose to sign up for your mailing list when otherwise they might not have done. You’ve given yourself the time and the space to build interest and trust and this is what has eventually led to people signing up for your list.

How to Make it Work for You

To make this work for you then, you need to make sure that you place your opt-in form somewhere prominent alongside your posts. One good tip is to put it in a widget in the sidebar, as this way your readers will see it at all times, even if they skipped the homepage. Likewise, consider adding it to the bottom of your posts. And while you’re at it, make sure you mention it in your content – sometimes the best way to get subscribers is simply to ask!

If you need help with blog posts, landing pages or email marketing, let us know. We’re here to help!

The post Start Promoting Your Mailing List With a Blog appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

What’s more important than consuming all that information is to focus on just the good information – just the accurate information that is relevant to creating a great blog. And when we do that, we realize that actually, it is a lot easier than you probably think.

• The Mistake – Mistaken or misguided SEO is all about trying to hack Google. It’s all about trying to trick Google into thinking your site is a top authority, by building specific links and by posting keywords. It’s highly technical because it is based on algorithms and ‘systems’ thinking.
• And sometimes this works! But then Google gets wind of whatever new technique is all the rage, it plugs that loophole and the related site gets penalized.
• So instead focus on the same thing that Google is focused on: the user. Stop writing ‘for’ the search engines and write ‘for’ the readers. When you do this, you are doing what Google wants you to do. Google wants to provide useful and entertaining information for its users. And if you get this right, then eventually Google is going to reward you with future updates.

• The Most Important Trick – Write long, high-quality blog posts. If you do this, you will get people to your site naturally and they will link to your site because they want to share the excellent content they are seeing.
• At the same time, you also do need to build those links. The thing we do need to take from SEO strategies is that the best links are the ones that come from the most highly regarded websites. These sites are invariably the ones that Google trusts – and if you want to see which sites Google trusts you can just take a look at the sites it features in its news section. Other popular sites are those that have a .edu TLD or a .gov.
• Finally, big brands will also invariably be trusted by Google. If you can get links from those sites, they will boost the credibility of your site by a huge margin. If you can’t, you need to get links from sites that have links from those sites.

Put these tips into practice to see the best return on your blog posting and marketing efforts.

The post Bloggers: Good Search Engine Optimization is Key appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

An Influencer is a person or group of people who have the ability to influence the opinions of others. Having a blog is one of the best ways to set yourself up as an influencer. Blog posts give you the opportunity to promote yourself and demonstrate your expertise. The challenge is getting noticed by the crowds of people in your target market.

Great content is a must. Here are four tips that will help you do that.

• Narrative Structure – In search engine optimization (SEO) circles, there is a saying that says “storytelling is SEO for the human brain”. This means that the human brain is optimized to hear stories. This is true in a far more literal sense than you might expect. From the beginning, telling stories is how people understood things and passed on knowledge. Stories help us feel like we know the writer and develop trust in them.

• Keep Your Audience in Mind – Think of your blog posts as your product. Be aware of who your target market is. The more connected you are to your demographic, the better your chances of spreading your posts will be. This is a great time to mention that your blog posts must be made “shareable”.

• Skim-Worthy Articles – People are busy and, let’s face it, have a short attention span. This issue has exacerbated with the popularity of social media. Take Facebook for instance. When we check-in, it’s normally a distraction. We don’t have time to read pages of text. Your articles need to be made easy to skim through. This is easily accomplished with the use of headers, bolded text, and bullet points. Your readers can quickly glance at your posts and get drawn into what they are especially interested in.

• Be the Expert – Let your readers know that you are the expert in your field; that you know your position inside out, upside down, and backward. If you decide to hire a blog writer, be sure they know your niche and subject matter. If you’re a Realtor®, find someone who works with individuals in that field. Otherwise, you could run the risk of hiring a writer who will write bland content.

BONUS TIP: Blog promotion is essential to be seen in a sea of other posts. Whether you write your posts or hire someone else to write them for you, have a promotion structure in place. Post to your social media accounts, email to your appropriate contacts, and include your blog link and/or posts in newsletters and other promotional materials.

To become a better influencer through blog posts, implement these four tips as well as the bonus tip. Check your analytics to see which posts resonate with your readers. Watch your readership grow as you are seen as an influencer and thought leader in your market.

The post Be a Better Influencer Through Blog Posts appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

To make your site as successful as possible, you need to know how to add “Google Juice”, commonly known as SEO (search engine optimization) to your blog posts and articles.

What does an SEO blog post or article look like? It’s written with search engine optimization at the forefront. This doesn’t mean keyword stuffing. It means a balance between being good for Google’s algorithm and makes sense for your readers. While both are important, the reader should always be considered first.

Google wants to provide quality information to its users. In doing the same for your readers, you will ultimately have the same goals as Google. And, Google is more likely to promote your articles and posts.

Below is an example of how a well-optimized website can rank on Google. When real estate support services is typed in a Google search, the paid ads come up first. The website listed third has been “selected” by Google to be first in their organic searches. That means the site is deemed most helpful to anyone searching that term.

Steps You Need to Take

• Research and Implement Keywords – Choose the keywords you want to use in your post. Use a free keyword research tool like Wordtracker. The keyword you enter will tell you how many times your keyword has been researched, what phrases were used in the search, suggested keywords, and other helpful information. Choosing a word because it’s popular and yet fails to actually answer your reader’s question will lead to a disappointed reader and a higher bounce rate. (Leaving the article immediately.)

How to Effectively Include Keywords in Your Content

• Keyword density should be 0.5 – 2″ for every 50 to 200 words
• Use keywords naturally in your articles
• Include keywords in the opening paragraph, the last paragraph, and in your headers.
• Add keywords to your alt tags and meta descriptions (images)
• Maintain your website. Be sure it loads quickly, is well designed, and is mobile-friendly.

Use these simple tips to add Google Juice to your blog posts and other content. Your articles will be found easier by readers because Google is able to find them in a search.

Can’t find time to write your blog posts? We’ve got you covered. Just complete the form below and we’ll give you a call.

The post Adding Google Juice to Your Blog Posts appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Most people think getting traffic to their blog is all about using social media. Something they may not have considered is how you can get more traffic just by making a few tweaks to your blog.

[bctt tweet=”Attract More Traffic TO Your Blog FROM Your Blog”]

• Install Sharing Icons – Make sure your blog is shareable by installing social icons. WordPress users will find a variety of sharing and social media icons.
• Include a Memorable Tweet – If you have a WordPress website, find a plugin such as Better Click To Tweet. Your readers will automatically be able to share your content on Twitter, thus driving traffic back to your post.
• Ask Your Readers to Share – Add “Share” icons to the bottom of your post. Or, as an alternative, simply ask, “If you like this post, please share it on Facebook”.
• Use Tags and Categories – Tags and categories help people find your content in search engines. They help your readers find more of your content and decrease bounce rates.
• Add a Search Feature – Readers may come to your blog to read a specific topic. Lead them to other topics by adding a search feature on your blog.
• Link to Other Authority Sites – Hyperlink appropriate text to specific high-traffic sites. For example, when discussing a topic such as WordPress plugins, hyperlink “WordPress Plugins” to the appropriate page on their site.

[bctt tweet=”[bctt tweet=”Traffic-Boosting WordPress Plugins”]

• Social Media Scheduler – Schedule your posts as soon as you’ve created them with Blog2Social. Auto-post to several social media accounts at once.
• Add a Pinterest Button – Don’t overlook the value of Pinterest. Your interesting graphics will draw attention to your post. Each graphic will be linked back to your post. Adding a rich pin allows you to add more information about your business.
• Connect Your Blog to Buffer – Buffer is a social networking scheduler. It allows you to schedule your upcoming blog posts as social media updates.
• Add Links to Your Social Profiles – Adding links helps readers connect with you on social media. This also encourages them to share your content. Simple Social Icons plugins can help with this.

[bctt tweet=”[bctt tweet=”Get Media Exposure”]

• Create a Media Page – Dedicate one of your website pages to include your bio, headshot, and social media links.
• Be Available for Interviews – Include your bio at the bottom of each post. Mention that you are available for interviews and other media inquiries.
• Accept Guest Posts – Accepting posts from niche and industry leaders gives your posts more credibility and exposure.
• Add Audio and Video to Your Posts – Short videos show reporters and other interviewers that you are comfortable being interviewed. They’ll be able to hear your voice, too.

Use these unique blog-posting tips to boost your blog’s readership and exposure.

Contact Us for more information about Blog Promotion

The post Unique Ways to Boost Your Blog Visibility appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Nearly every website comes with a blog component. Having a ready-made platform for your posts is the easy part. Maintaining a successful blog, though, can be a lot more challenging. Factors to consider are developing a focus, gaining popularity, and how your blog looks and “feels”.  Knowing how to promote your posts to a large audience is challenging.

Many factors go into creating and maintaining a successful blog. Here are 5 basic tips to help you create the best formula for your blog.

Posting on a Regular Basis – Consistency is the basis for any endeavor. It forms a habit and builds upon effort. Initially, readers will find your blog through promotion; email, social media, word of mouth, etc. By posting consistently, your readers will refer back to your blog with an expectation of new and interesting content. Readers quickly lose interest in a stagnant blog.

Length of a Post – The length of a post varies considerably based on the subject and your target audience. For SEO purposes:

According to Searchengingland, longer content (1,000+ words) tends to help websites show up in search results. Forbes indicates that an average of 600-700 words per page is optimal for SEO. (Jan. 2018)

Short blogs should not be discounted. Even a relatively short post can keep your readers interested.  People are busy and want to be able to get a lot of information without having to read a long post.  A lot of times long posts get put in the “I’ll read this later” category by the reader.

Search engine optimization and ranking should not be ignored either. Shorter posts, though, are acceptable and will keep your short-attention-span readers interested and returning for future reads.

Speaking of Post Lengths – Keeping search engine optimization and ranking in mind, there are ways to get the search engine’s attention while catering to busy readers.  This includes formatting your content.  Break up your text with quotes, graphics, bullet points, and asides. Bullet points draw the reader’s eyes to the specific information they are most interested in.  Asides are information provided in addition to what you’re writing about without adding more text to your post.  This could be in the form of an external link to an article or to one of your previous posts.

Know Your Audience – Successful blogs focus on their target market. Your post topics will have an exclusive focus on information that is of interest to your niche. In addition to writing relative posts, you’ll know how and where to promote them for maximum exposure.

Add your blog to Google Analytics. Find out what topics resonate with your readers and continue writing and expanding posts in that vein.

Evaluate What Works – Take a look at the design of your blog. Is it easy to read? Is it formatted correctly? How is the information being received by your readers?

The Search Bar –  Include a search bar on your blog. Readers want to be able to search for the topics they’re interested in.

Subscriptions – Include a subscription form and RSS feed subscription opportunity.

Sharing – Include social share buttons on each post.  Social sharing is a great way to gain exposure to people you may not otherwise be connected to.

Comments – This is a personal choice. Unfortunately, spammers are experts at exploiting comment forms. You may prefer to forego comment forms for that reason. Instead, promote your posts on social media and via email marketing. You’ll still get direct exposure without having to deal with spam.

Incorporate these 5 tips for maintaining a successful blog and see a quick and positive change. If time’s not on your side, give me a call. I can help!

The post 5 Tips for Maintaining a Successful Blog appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.

Creating a blog post is more than putting “ink to paper”.  A blog will rise and fall according to the readers’ perception of your knowledge and credibility.  Protect yourself by avoiding these blogging pitfalls.

Information – Not Sales – The best blog posts are the ones the reader learns from.  The worst blogs are those that filled with sales pitches and links to “buy my product”.  When readers feel the only thing they’re getting from a post is a sales pitch, they will click away and never return.

Length Matters – Blog posts should be no less than 300 words long and no longer than 750 words.  The minimum number of 300 words is acceptable to Google.  The longer the post is, the more likely the reader will “save it” to read later.

Spellcheck and Grammar – Read and reread your posts for spelling and grammar.  It’s easy to overlook an error.  I’ve been guilty of this until I found a cool little tool called, Grammarly.  It’s a free grammar and spell-checker.  It’s added to your Chrome browser.  Anytime Grammarly finds a misspelled word or incorrectly used grammar, it underlines the error.  Put your cursor over the error and a pop-up appears with the correction you need to make.

Tell the Truth – Use catchy headlines to capture the reader’s interest.  Be careful, however, to state only the facts that you have thoroughly researched.  Take the time to do your homework.  Incorrect information can lead to the downfall of your credibility.

Don’t Copy Your Neighbor’s Post – We could get away with copying our neighbor’s test answers in school.  The classroom we’re appealing to now, though, is a worldwide bigger.  It’s okay to quote someone else or acknowledge your resource.  It’s not okay to plagiarize.  Copyscape is a great tool to check to see if your website content has been copied.

Use these five tips to avoid blogging pitfalls in your posts.  Make your posts informative, the right length, with correct spelling and grammar.  Check your facts and be careful that none of your content appears copied.

The post Don’t Fall into These 5 Blogging Pitfalls appeared first on Second Self Virtual Assistance.