Sometimes it can be hard to sit on the computer and force yourself to write a high-quality blog post.  I’m sure the bloggers out there can relate to this and know exactly what I’m talking about.   You are sitting there, spinning your wheels, trying to figure out what to write about that your readers will like.  Well you are in luck!  If you are in need of some places to find inspiration and passion for your next blog post, check some of these places. Start with Your Blog That’s right, start by looking through your old blog posts to see if something sparks an idea.  It may...

I recently just finished reading the book, 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.  I want to start off by saying I wouldn’t write a review on something that I didn’t truly believe in.  But there are so many great ideas in this book that I wanted to share some of my insights. To start, this is the blueprint for starting and maintaining a successful blog.  It is jam packed with innovative ideas that will help you generate content, drive traffic, and increase your readership.  I don’t want to spoil the book, but I did want to highlight a few things that...

Darren Rowse from ProBlogger recently wrote a blog post encouraging people to write a ‘Bloggers To Watch’ post, to promote bloggers in your prospective industry.  I thought I would do my due diligence and make a list of 10 SEO bloggers I feel you should follow for 2010. Lisa Barone Lisa is Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Outspoken Media, an internet marketing company and consulting company.  Besides contributing to the Outspoken Media blog, she also contributes to SmallBizTrends, Search Engine Land, and Sugarrae.Ann Smarty Ann is known for providing useful tips and tools...

With all of the new communication tools and technology being introduced, the way that companies handle customer service has been transformed into a more effective and efficient manner.  Users want to be able to receive real-time support and have multiple options to contact a company.  So in order to meet the demands of customers, you need to be able to adapt and embrace these new forms of communication. Here are some examples of how companies are using Web 2.0 and Social Media to increase their level of customer support. Customer Service using TwitterMost people would think this is a bad...

It is true that having unique content on your site is a big part of search engine optimization and continuing to build quality traffic.  However your content development strategy can have a big impact on how fast and how much traffic you can gain.  There are a number of ways to generate content; blogs, forums, articles, whitepapers, press releases, discussion boards, etc…  But ultimately the quality of your content is going to be what brings visitors back to your site.  Here are a number of real life scenarios companies deal with when putting together a content strategy, along with downfalls...

Blogs can be a great way to earn revenue, but not without the effort of building site credibility, valuable content, and a readership.  This is why the majority of blogs fail!  Most people who manage blogs don’t have the patience or frankly the time to maintain a blog that continually produces great content and value to its target audience. However this is not a blog about how build an audience and generate traffic.  It is meant to discuss the different types of blog monetization models.  Traffic, visibility, and brand awareness are what determines what you can charge an advertiser. Advertising/SponsorshipHaving...

Pick a Niche: Blogs that have the most success stick to a specific niche. Do not just write about anything that comes to mind, write about your area of expertise. Cater your content to a specific audience and industry.Find the Right Blog Solution: Self-hosting or 3rd party hosting? WordPress, TypePad or MoveableType? You will want to do a bit of research to see which blog software suits your needs. I prefer to use Wordpress for its ability to customize, user-friendly interface, and plug-in add-on capability.Main Domain vs Separate Domain: You will have to decide if you want to add...