September 23, 2008 96 Comments

Set Your Blog On Fire

fireball Your blog topics are getting weak. You had a nice run with passion for a while, but now, you’re looking for better blog topics, more interesting content, and you’re still trying to grow that elusive community. How are you going to succeed? There are many simple tweaks you can make to the way you’re writing that turn posts into punches, and that turn readers into participants, and that should set you up with a chain explosion of added potential for your blog down the line. Here are some ideas.

The Content Itself

  • Build a text file of great potential blog post titles. Work on the titles every few days, sharpening them into punchy titles that convince someone to click.
  • Get great blog topics from reading the covers of popular magazines and from seeing what makes its way to the front of Delicious.com/popular.
  • Make your text punchy. Use short sentences, small words. Be willing to break a few grammatical rules, if only for effect.
  • Pay attention by way of stats as to what posts do the best. Repeat often by writing new posts on the similar theme.
  • Think long and hard on what you want your posts to do for your audience. Want them to link to it? Make a thoughtful piece they want to remember. Want more comments? Ask for feedback.
  • Do something new from time to time. Way new. Totally and completely off the typical radar of your blog. And yet, tie it back to what your community cares about.
  • Use pictures. Go to Flickr and use Creative Commons shared photos to punch up your posts.
  • Deliver USEFUL information, not just opinions. Give people something to focus on.
  • But, have a strong voice, and an obvious opinion.
  • Write for your audience. Write as if you’re them. Write to tug at their thoughts and attention.
  • Finish the post as quickly as you can. Let people move on. (Unless you want it saved in Delicious/popular).

Promoting Your Content

  • Try out Zemanta, a plugin that lets you find related posts (and art and other stuff). I’ve noticed that by using Zemanta, and when others use it, my posts are suddenly showing up as links on other people’s blogs, thus driving more inbound links and driving more people to my site.
  • Write guest posts for related blogs.
  • Bundle your best posts into a free ebook and distribute them widely. Be sure to include links on how to subscribe to your blog within the ebook.
  • Have outposts on all the social networks. (I say this all the time, I know.) Outposts means building a profile there, and being sure that people know how to reach your blog.
  • Keep your eye out for new tools that will spread the word of your blog even further.
  • Make your RSS subscription buttons very visible, and also your social bookmarking tools.
  • Send out the occasional post via email to people who might not read you daily. Be brief and tactful in doing this one.

Above all else, consider who you’re trying to build the relationship with and write in such a way as to deliver that person the best possible experience with your blog they can have. Think like an entertainer in that regard. Give them the best show possible.

Is there anything else I missed? What do you see in your own blog that might be made better by any of the advice above? Look at my last few posts. Am I practicing what I preach? If not, call me out.

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Photo credit, Focal Intent

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Newer Comments →
  • http://www.ribeezie.com Ricardo Bueno

    I carry a note-pad around to write down those titles! (You won’t always have your computer on you ya know?). And when it comes to trying something new, I know it’s uncomfortable, but like Nike says, “Just Do It!” The interviews series I was doing at Blogworld is my first time working with video :-)

  • http://eyeslitcrypt.wordpress.com JG

    Chris,
    Another brilliant and helpful article. I have been using Zemanta for awhile and it has proved to be useful and intuitive. Thank you for helping me set fire to my blog.

  • http://www.ribeezie.com Ricardo Bueno

    I carry a note-pad around to write down those titles! (You won’t always have your computer on you ya know?). And when it comes to trying something new, I know it’s uncomfortable, but like Nike says, “Just Do It!” The interviews series I was doing at Blogworld is my first time working with video :-)

  • http://eyeslitcrypt.wordpress.com JG

    Chris,
    Another brilliant and helpful article. I have been using Zemanta for awhile and it has proved to be useful and intuitive. Thank you for helping me set fire to my blog.

  • http://www.saranx.com Saravanan Sahadevan

    Marvelous Piece once again Chris!
    I decided to just go for it.
    Extra hard work.. Extra Hours.. That’s the secret.

  • http://www.saranx.com Saravanan Sahadevan

    Marvelous Piece once again Chris!
    I decided to just go for it.
    Extra hard work.. Extra Hours.. That’s the secret.

  • http://www.lostinsearch.com/ Chris Leonard

    All great stuff. Hadn’t even heard of Zemanta, I’m going to have to check it out. Coming up with blog content isn’t always easy, these are great tips. I just blogged about this last week.

  • http://www.lostinsearch.com/ Chris Leonard

    All great stuff. Hadn’t even heard of Zemanta, I’m going to have to check it out. Coming up with blog content isn’t always easy, these are great tips. I just blogged about this last week.

  • http://blogsolace.com Sherryness

    Great stuff! I also subscribe to Google Alerts for the subjects I am focusing on. Not to copy or link to, but for inspiration, fact-checking, freshness, etc.

  • http://blogsolace.com Sherryness

    Great stuff! I also subscribe to Google Alerts for the subjects I am focusing on. Not to copy or link to, but for inspiration, fact-checking, freshness, etc.

  • http://twitter.com/franswaa frank

    Great tips Chris.

    One tool that i think you have mentioned before that might be worth noting here:

    http://aiderss.com/

    they have a great new extention that even plugs in with google reader to ‘score’ or ‘rank’ stuff.

    http://gr.aiderss.com/

    I also know that reading is vital to having an opinion/voice. The more i read, the more i want or have to say about a given topic, tool, etc …

    Being that i’m in the think of getting ready to launch a new company blog, i find that reading to stay up on the industry is very important.

    what i struggle with … How to stay on top of the industry? how does everyone else out there sggregate it all together, pick what is really important, and focus time where it counts?

    –
    http://twitter.com/franswaa

  • http://twitter.com/franswaa frank

    Great tips Chris.

    One tool that i think you have mentioned before that might be worth noting here:

    http://aiderss.com/

    they have a great new extention that even plugs in with google reader to ‘score’ or ‘rank’ stuff.

    http://gr.aiderss.com/

    I also know that reading is vital to having an opinion/voice. The more i read, the more i want or have to say about a given topic, tool, etc …

    Being that i’m in the think of getting ready to launch a new company blog, i find that reading to stay up on the industry is very important.

    what i struggle with … How to stay on top of the industry? how does everyone else out there sggregate it all together, pick what is really important, and focus time where it counts?

    –
    http://twitter.com/franswaa

  • http://stuandrews.com Stu Andrews

    Chris,

    Fantastic post. Can’t wait to get home and try out Zemanta with Windows Live Writer.

    Cheers!

  • http://facebook.com/marismith Mari Smith

    Hi Chris!

    I must say I aspire to your blogging talents! (I’m working on cloning myself so I have more time to manage my 3 blogs. ha!!)

    Seriously, it was such a delight to get to meet you face-to-face at the BlogWorld Expo this past weekend, after being your online bud for over a year. I just love how social media allows us to create “virtual rapport” such that when we meet in person, we’re like long lost pals!

    And re blogs on fire, one of the many tips I learned from you a while back is to always end posts with question(s) to invite feedback. I admire how well you do this!

    Cheers,
    Mari
    @marismith

  • http://stuandrews.com Stu Andrews

    Chris,

    Fantastic post. Can’t wait to get home and try out Zemanta with Windows Live Writer.

    Cheers!

  • http://whyfacebook.com Mari Smith

    Hi Chris!

    I must say I aspire to your blogging talents! (I’m working on cloning myself so I have more time to manage my 3 blogs. ha!!)

    Seriously, it was such a delight to get to meet you face-to-face at the BlogWorld Expo this past weekend, after being your online bud for over a year. I just love how social media allows us to create “virtual rapport” such that when we meet in person, we’re like long lost pals!

    And re blogs on fire, one of the many tips I learned from you a while back is to always end posts with question(s) to invite feedback. I admire how well you do this!

    Cheers,
    Mari
    @marismith

  • http://websuccessdiva.com Maria Reyes-McDavis

    Chris, great post with some real solid tips. What sets you apart is your ability to really break it down and make it simple. Super.

    Maria
    @websuccessdiva

  • http://websuccessdiva.com Maria Reyes-McDavis

    Chris, great post with some real solid tips. What sets you apart is your ability to really break it down and make it simple. Super.

    Maria
    @websuccessdiva

  • http://bilingualhireco.com David Molina

    Hey Chris– phenomenal advice once again!! I use my BlackBerry to punch in notes, ideas and titles then revisit the next day and email them to myself and then upload to blogger for edits. I usually run 2-3 blogs at a time, then post one by one. But what I found most useful from this blog, was “Write for your audience. Write as if you’re them. Write to tug at their thoughts and attention.” Outstanding!
    David

  • http://bilingualhireco.com David Molina

    Hey Chris– phenomenal advice once again!! I use my BlackBerry to punch in notes, ideas and titles then revisit the next day and email them to myself and then upload to blogger for edits. I usually run 2-3 blogs at a time, then post one by one. But what I found most useful from this blog, was “Write for your audience. Write as if you’re them. Write to tug at their thoughts and attention.” Outstanding!
    David

  • http://rebelzen.com Seamus Anthony

    Great posts, thanks for the bits of advice I hadn’t come across before.

    I was wondering if others find too many links out during a post (especially without a real point to them) distracting and even annoying, and if so, would using Zemanta in this way really be such a good strategy?

    I already use Zemanta for tag suggestions and sometimes photos which is great.

  • http://rebelzen.com Seamus Anthony

    Great posts, thanks for the bits of advice I hadn’t come across before.

    I was wondering if others find too many links out during a post (especially without a real point to them) distracting and even annoying, and if so, would using Zemanta in this way really be such a good strategy?

    I already use Zemanta for tag suggestions and sometimes photos which is great.

  • Nicholas Chase

    Chris, Saw your panel at BlogWorld. Nicely done, you are worth every penny those corporations provide to you for speaking. (I was the video guy at BlogWorld Expo 2008, on the platform at the back..).

    Can you please send me the AKOHA kit you mentioned in your panel discussion?

    I’ll be sure to blog about it and my BlogWorld experience.

    Please send me an email, and I’ll email my address to you.

    Respectfully, ‘a new subscriber’, Nicholas ‘the video guy’ at BlogWorld Expo 2008, Las Vegas

  • Nicholas Chase

    Chris, Saw your panel at BlogWorld. Nicely done, you are worth every penny those corporations provide to you for speaking. (I was the video guy at BlogWorld Expo 2008, on the platform at the back..).

    Can you please send me the AKOHA kit you mentioned in your panel discussion?

    I’ll be sure to blog about it and my BlogWorld experience.

    Please send me an email, and I’ll email my address to you.

    Respectfully, ‘a new subscriber’, Nicholas ‘the video guy’ at BlogWorld Expo 2008, Las Vegas

  • http://dcblog.net Doug C.

    Chris, I want to thank you for this article. For me the best tip is the one about the free ebook. I’m going to make up a PDF of the best tutorials from my blog and offer it up there for the visitors.

    Thank you.

  • http://dcblog.net Doug C.

    Chris, I want to thank you for this article. For me the best tip is the one about the free ebook. I’m going to make up a PDF of the best tutorials from my blog and offer it up there for the visitors.

    Thank you.

  • http://smarterwealth.net Ryan McLean

    I have found that promoting the blog is one of the absolute essentials. If you write great content but no one reads it you may as well not write it. Good tips on promotion

  • http://smarterwealth.net Ryan McLean

    I have found that promoting the blog is one of the absolute essentials. If you write great content but no one reads it you may as well not write it. Good tips on promotion

  • http://start-up.co.nz Patrick MacFie

    Just been trialing Zemanta, looks like a really great tool. Going to get my writers to start using it tomorrow will get back with the results.

  • http://start-up.co.nz Patrick MacFie

    Just been trialing Zemanta, looks like a really great tool. Going to get my writers to start using it tomorrow will get back with the results.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    Have a major financial crisis and be the financial guy in social media ;)

    Seriously – become an expert in your niche.

  • http://clarityworx.com/ Jack Hadley

    Above, you mentioned delivering USEFUL content. Can’t emphasize that enough. At BlogWorld this week, one of the presenters suggested that you think about your very best client when you write. You wouldn’t just push a bunch of dribble on them, just to post “something”. You would think long and hard to write something useful and meaningful.

    I fear that many bloggers may be posting just for the sake of posting (and for the sake of self promotion). Over time, that will surely compromise the medium and the credibility of blogging in general. So, I say, think USEFUL, USEFUL, USEFUL.

    Thanks, Chris. Not sure how you continue to write so much USEFUL content… but thanks.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    Have a major financial crisis and be the financial guy in social media ;)

    Seriously – become an expert in your niche.

  • http://clarityworx.com/ Jack Hadley

    Above, you mentioned delivering USEFUL content. Can’t emphasize that enough. At BlogWorld this week, one of the presenters suggested that you think about your very best client when you write. You wouldn’t just push a bunch of dribble on them, just to post “something”. You would think long and hard to write something useful and meaningful.

    I fear that many bloggers may be posting just for the sake of posting (and for the sake of self promotion). Over time, that will surely compromise the medium and the credibility of blogging in general. So, I say, think USEFUL, USEFUL, USEFUL.

    Thanks, Chris. Not sure how you continue to write so much USEFUL content… but thanks.

  • http://www.morningstarcomm.com Matt Dunn

    We’ve recently started a company blog here at Morningstar and I feel these tips will be a great tool to help us get our content headed in the right direction.

    As others have mentioned, promoting a blog can be a tricky thing, but very important. One thing we are experimenting with is adding a blog link to our email signatures. Anyone have thoughts on this tactic?

  • http://www.davidhenderson.com/ David Henderson

    Outstanding blueprint for setting cyberspace on fire. Thanks. For those who use WordPress self-hosted blog, here’s the link to download the Zemanta plugin – http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/zemanta/.

    David

  • http://www.morningstarcomm.com Matt Dunn

    We’ve recently started a company blog here at Morningstar and I feel these tips will be a great tool to help us get our content headed in the right direction.

    As others have mentioned, promoting a blog can be a tricky thing, but very important. One thing we are experimenting with is adding a blog link to our email signatures. Anyone have thoughts on this tactic?

  • http://www.davidhenderson.com/ David Henderson

    Outstanding blueprint for setting cyberspace on fire. Thanks. For those who use WordPress self-hosted blog, here’s the link to download the Zemanta plugin – http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/zemanta/.

    David

  • http://www.afpr.com Andy Finkle

    I want to add (highlight) one comment in particular that you made;
    “Make your RSS subscription buttons very visible, and also your social bookmarking tools”

    To many blogs relie upon the new ShareThis / Addthis button IMO, and sometimes too much choice leads to no choice. Look at how I end my post here…I “ask for the order” with DIRECT links to what I believe are the most important actions …(follow me on twitter, comment on my post, DIGG this). Look at the very end of this post for the example:

    http://bit.ly/4cNVbr

    http://www.twitter.com/A_F

  • http://www.afpr.com Andy Finkle

    I want to add (highlight) one comment in particular that you made;
    “Make your RSS subscription buttons very visible, and also your social bookmarking tools”

    To many blogs relie upon the new ShareThis / Addthis button IMO, and sometimes too much choice leads to no choice. Look at how I end my post here…I “ask for the order” with DIRECT links to what I believe are the most important actions …(follow me on twitter, comment on my post, DIGG this). Look at the very end of this post for the example:

    http://bit.ly/4cNVbr

    http://www.twitter.com/A_F

  • http://agencycritique.com Eric Holter

    Hi Chris. When I advise my advertising agency clients about their content strategy (which usually includes blogging) I try to help them see how their firm’s positioning can really help with maintaining the content strategy. For example, a generalist design firm can come up with a bunch of initial post ideas (designs they like, cool typography, new projects, etc.) but soon they run dry and slow way down–or stop. In contrast, a highly positioned firm (ex. one that specializes in credit union marketing like currencymarketing.ca) will rarely run dry on ideas, in fact the hard part is for them to find time to write them all out.

    Not only are post ideas for generalist firms hard to maintain, but they are also usually less impactful. They tend to be similar to most other designer blogs, and the content interesting mostly to their peers rather than to clients. Blog posts from specialized, well positioned firms, on the other hand, flow freely and are often more compelling and helpful. Like yours.

    Thanks!

  • http://agencycritique.com Eric Holter

    Hi Chris. When I advise my advertising agency clients about their content strategy (which usually includes blogging) I try to help them see how their firm’s positioning can really help with maintaining the content strategy. For example, a generalist design firm can come up with a bunch of initial post ideas (designs they like, cool typography, new projects, etc.) but soon they run dry and slow way down–or stop. In contrast, a highly positioned firm (ex. one that specializes in credit union marketing like currencymarketing.ca) will rarely run dry on ideas, in fact the hard part is for them to find time to write them all out.

    Not only are post ideas for generalist firms hard to maintain, but they are also usually less impactful. They tend to be similar to most other designer blogs, and the content interesting mostly to their peers rather than to clients. Blog posts from specialized, well positioned firms, on the other hand, flow freely and are often more compelling and helpful. Like yours.

    Thanks!

  • http://www.ecommtips.com Dan Patterson

    Hey Chris,

    Great article. I ran into the guys at Zemanta at BlogWorld and honestly didn’t give them enough attention to really find out what they were all about. Since you mentioned them, I’ll have to check them out and see what they can do for me. Thanks for the tip!

  • http://www.ecommtips.com Dan Patterson

    Hey Chris,

    Great article. I ran into the guys at Zemanta at BlogWorld and honestly didn’t give them enough attention to really find out what they were all about. Since you mentioned them, I’ll have to check them out and see what they can do for me. Thanks for the tip!

  • http://www.onlinefundraisingblog.com BethP

    Great advice, Chris. I also try to incorporate conversations and discussions I have with friends and acquaintances into my posts, as they often inspire or take my brain in a new direction.

  • http://www.onlinefundraisingblog.com BethP

    Great advice, Chris. I also try to incorporate conversations and discussions I have with friends and acquaintances into my posts, as they often inspire or take my brain in a new direction.

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  • http://kevinsgreatadventure.blogspot.com Kevin Cimring

    Hi Chris,
    Thanks as always. Could I ask you to share some advice related to analysing blog traffic. Currently, I am getting different information from Feedburner to the info I get from MyBlogLog, for example. Could you suggest one comprehensive analytical tool that shows traffic to the site, page views, offsite clicks etc.
    Kind regards
    Kevin

  • http://kevinsgreatadventure.blogspot.com Kevin Cimring

    Hi Chris,
    Thanks as always. Could I ask you to share some advice related to analysing blog traffic. Currently, I am getting different information from Feedburner to the info I get from MyBlogLog, for example. Could you suggest one comprehensive analytical tool that shows traffic to the site, page views, offsite clicks etc.
    Kind regards
    Kevin

  • http://kevinsgreatadventure.blogspot.com Kevin Cimring

    Hi Chris,
    Thanks for the great info. Could I ask you to share some advice related to analysing blog traffic. Currently, I am getting different information from Feedburner to the info I get from MyBlogLog, for example. Could you suggest one comprehensive analytical tool that shows traffic to the site, page views, offsite clicks etc.
    Kind regards
    Kevin

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