Okay, so you've decided to jump into the Wide Wonderful World of Blogging. I bet about now you're probably feeling the 'Agony of Defeat' a bit more than you are the 'Thrill of Victory!' Am I right?

 Well, don't get discouraged, Spanky. There's a learning curve here on ActiveRain, and we all go through it.

Allow me, if I may, to give you just a brief bit of advice on how to make your blogging experience more enjoyable and effective. My suggestions won't improve your SEO or Google page rank. Unlike the marjority of members on ActiveRain, I don't claim to be an SEO expert.

                                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Today's Blog Tip for Rain Drips is entitled, "How to Sabotage Your Own Blog."

Now, you may be thinking, "Why would someone want to deliberately sabotage their own blog?" But you'd be surprised how many people do this, unknowingly and unintentionally. So many times people approach blogging like they do other forms of Internet marketing or even like they do more traditional print advertising. They feel it necessary to brand everything they create. Every blog post is crammed packed full of 'website' links, and 'contact' banners. There's so much self-promotional clutter squeezed into the article, there's little or no room left for any meaningful consumer content!

And why in the world would you put a link button in your post, disguised with some cool eye-grabbing graphic, that steals your poor, innocent reader away from your blog, and forces them to jump through a series of 'Fill-in-the-Blank' hoops, just so they can receive one of your canned articles on "10 Tips to Sell Your House?" 

I've got a better idea: Why not write a really exceptional consumer-oriented article yourself - one that conveys your own unique personality, your experienced, professional perspective, and your personal passion - then publish it to your blog. Insert some nice, relevant graphics that support the topic, but don't embed them with hijacking links.

 When consumers access your blog, they don't want to be kidnapped or bombarded with every conceivable means of promoting your company & services. That's why ActiveRain has furnished you with a 'Profile."

Consumers want you to educate and inform them. They want you to 'engage' them in meaningful conversation. They want to get to know YOU.

I guess, that in some respects, a good quality blog article is like a well-staged home. There's no distracting clutter! 

~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~

social-media-is-a-conversation

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

Follow KitsapAgent on TwitterFriend Rich Jacobson on FacebookJoin Rich Jacobson's LinkedIn NetworkSubcribe to Rich Jacobson's YouTube ChannelListen to My Sweet Tunes on Last.fm

 
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: HELP/FAQ (Read 'Purpose Statement' Carefully!)
Post is included in group: Social Media Marketing
Post is included in group: Web 2.0

146 Comments on "How to Sabotage Your Own Blog" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

OCT
25
2007
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog
That is great advice... especially for consumer blogs. People are smart and they don't want their intelligence insulted by going to a blog with no real content, but just a big infomercial.
9:31pm • #127
520,678 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Ralph - you get added Brownie Points because you 'GET IT!"....
11:44pm • #129
520,678 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Melanie - thanks! Gotta through analogies in there for my Stager friends!
11:45pm • #130
520,678 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Natalie - I give you permission to be YOURSELF!  Allow the one and only YOU to come through in what you write. Be true to your calling and your passions!

 

11:47pm • #131
520,678 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Bryan - Rich Jacobson, Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc., www.KitsapLife.com, www.SoundBiteBlog.com, (360) 440-4758, rich@windermere.com

How's that?

 

11:49pm • #132
JAN
06
2008
2 Featured Posts
Excellent points Rich, these are good concepts to discuss with bloggers who do so for commercial reasons, too many blogs are completely ego-driven and that detracts from whatever it is they are doing, Lance
1:13am • #133
520,678 Points 229 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Lance - thanks for taking time to read through my posts! The days of ego-driven real estate are over. Thank Goodness!
1:32am • #134
2 Featured Posts

Rich,

Actually, that is very true, I want the real estate market to do well, but I also noticed that while it was going hyper-sonic, the humanity was completely depleted and the service was terrible, no one cared and the paperwork was so often botched. Hopefully there were some lessons learned there, I think so, but I also believe they were learned during the last go around 10-years the prior and so, I hate to be a cynic, but I just hope that the next go around at least some will stand up and say. Let's not make that mistake again.

Meanwhile I am very much enjoying reading your take on the enjoy blogging thing, I think I am in full agreement, the plagiarism has to stop that is a must. Also folks should remember that putting up four or five line blog posts is not really serving their purposes, because when outside internet surfers stop buy, it looks less than professional and that sheds a bad light on their public image. Thus, they are doing themselves no favors. I think this is why, I am glad to see your series of artcles on this subject and it has prompted me to put some Blogging Thoughts and observations on my Blog as well. Thanks for everything by the way, I really like this opportunity and have been meeting people from all over the country, this is a pretty cool experience and I would like to invite others to do the same at the one and only Active Rain! - Lance 

3:34am • #135
549,274 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Thank you for the practical advice! It's always good to see through another's eyes.
11:26am • #136
JAN
10
2008
That was really great advice, hopefully I won't make those mistakes in the future.
5:49pm • #137
JAN
27
2009

Rich~

Thanks for the enlightenment.

The secret to success!

Mott Marvin Kornicki // Real Estate In Miami // Associate | Broker

Aventura-The Waterways // Bal Harbour // Sunny Isles Beach • Florida

7:25pm • #138
MAR
01
2009
197,033 Points

Still confused as it appears that most of the 'Featured Blogs' have a ton of links to other people's blogs, other websites, etc. 

11:16pm • #139
MAR
20
2009

I am having trouble finding information regarding who can read my blog. My only options are members, associates, or draft. There is no option for public, yet the help shows "public" as an option. Should I post it to members only? Help please!!

12:00pm • #140
MAR
21
2009
204,621 Points 12 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

There's nothing wrong with putting links or graphics in your post stageworks. 

9:33am • #141
416,892 Points 63 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Geeze, I hadn't been here in a while. I just noticed those little thingies under our pictures.  When did that happen? lol

10:21am • #142
APR
16
2009
1,023,886 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The issue is always how much is too much we want some links.  I do vary my verbage some to great key words and work in links.  But the blog post are mine and the information is important.

12:44pm • #143
APR
18
2009

Rich,

I just reread your post.  It serves a reminder to keep the main focus the main focus.  It gets really distracting to see so many links.  Thank YOu!

1:05pm • #144
APR
26
2009

I couldn't agree more. My goal for the month is to write one blog each day. Hopefully during this time, I will be able to see a huge improvement between post #1 and post #31 (or 30?). There are so many fantastic resources here on how to write better, more effective and useful blogs. Glad you took the time to write this post!

 

 

7:11pm • #145
JUN
05
2011
701,737 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I think a good addition to this update would be a 6" signature bar at the bottom!

6:17pm • #146

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Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Poulsbo, WA

More about me…

Keller Williams West Sound Realty

Address: 3594 NW Byron Street, Ste. 101B, Silverdale, WA, 98383

Office Phone: (360) 499-6367

Cell Phone: (360) 440-4758

Email Me

Providing Knowledgeable Empowerment and Relentless Representation of Real Estate Clients throughtout the Western Puget Sound, including all of Kitsap County WA, and portions of Mason, Pierce, and Jefferson Counties.

"Helping You to Successfully Achieve Your Next Adventure in Life!"

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