Below is my awesome Google Analytics talk for fitbloggin.
In it, I describe how to set-up Google Analytics. I walk through some of the key terms. I describe how to use Analytics to make your blog better. By answering important questions such as:
What should I write about?
What pages should I improve?
How engaged our my readers?
Do I have any fans?
How are my Link Building, Social Media, or Ad Campaings working?
As promised, here is my Slides for my WordCamp Chicago 2010 AIOSEO Plugin.
Right now, the All In One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin has been downloaded over 5,000,000 times and is one of the most popular wordpress plugins. Finding an answer on why it is popular can be found by looking at why we blog. For some, we blog to be more accountable, we blog for recognition, we blog for fun, we blog to help others, we blog for money. Ultimately, we blog to be found. One way to be found is to make sure your wordpress site is optimized for search engine readability by using the All In One SEO plugin. During the session we will discuss:
Should you even install the All In One SEO plugin? Doesn’t WordPress do SEO for me?
After activating the All In One SEO plugin, what are the initial settings? Home title, Home Description, Different Title Formats, Noindex
AIOSEO is Installed, Now what should you do for each post? what’s the difference between the Page Title and Post Title? Do I worry about Description and Keywords?
As promised, Here are my slides from fitbloggin. I’m glad everyone enjoyed the talk. I’m open for questions, and of course, if you are in need of any blog, seo, or technology consulting, I’ll be happy to help.
Watch http://simpleweight.com/blog for new updates to my Weight Management website.
Writing Blog posts is something I know I NEED to do. In fact it is something I WANT to do. Yet, I have not been consistent. Why is that and How can I change that if it is really something I want to do?
As a Computer and Business Consultant, that’s my role. I’m an expert who gives advice. Recently, I’ve been doing more and more consulting around Social Media and Search Engine Optimization. People who are used to traditional marketing must adjust their plans to today’s consumer dominating market. Here’s an example I like to use:
Imagine you are training for a triathlon. Your current activity level is getting up out of bed, driving to work, and coming home to go to sleep. In other words, you don’t exercise. What would you recommend for this person wanting to train for a triathlon?
Would you recommend they sign up for a Triathlon tomorrow? -or-
Would you recommend they train to build the stamina and muscles necessary to complete a triathlon?
Of course, the answer for most people is the second one. We must crawl before we walk, and we must walk before we run. Sure, some people say, just jump in the pool and get started. Yet, I have seen people who do that give up very early. They try to build too many muscles and too many habits at once.
Now, let’s compare that to Blogging and Social Media. You’ve heard all these great things about twitter, facebook, and blogging, and know you need to get your business or your own personal brand more search engine optimization. In other words, you want to get more business. Do you, just start twittering, blogging, and asking everyone to become a fan of yours on facebook?
It seems ludicrous, but that is exactly what some businesses do. In fact, I have made the mistake myself. Blogging and Micro-blogging is a muscle. It takes thought and creativity to generate the content necessary. If your company culture is not set-up to promote that inner-creativity of content generation, it is going to take time and methodical practice to build those muscles.
The Small Business Blogging Exercise Plan.
To paraphrase Twyla Tharp, Creativity is a habit. We must take time to build that habit and build the muscle of creativity. The more we use it the better we get. It takes time.
So, my suggestion is to pick one thing and do it. Twitter, Facebook, blogging, email newsletters, or youtube. It doesn’t matter which one, just take consistent small actions on one of the major social media marketing techniques.
Which one to start?
It is easier to start with twitter or facebook since the quantity of content by their very nature is short and sweet, but you’ll get the greatest Search Engine results from blogging. Be consistent. The Same Bat Time, the Same Bat Channel. In other words, create a plan for yourself. Here is an example workout plan.
Every Monday brainstorm blog post ideas.
Every Tuesday write one twitter update.
Every Wednesday write the draft for your blog post.
Every Thursday write one facebook update.
Every Friday revise your draft of your blog post, and include a photo. Schedule your Blog post for the next Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Every Saturday find one blog post to comment on and leave value.
Every Sunday record your progress, meditate on your activities, and rest.
The key here is consistent activity. For someone who is completely new to social media marketing, this plan above would be too intensive.
If you were a complete new person, your plan might be:
Monday: Read Twitter Updates
Tuesday: Read Facebook updates
Wednesday: Read Google News Updates
Thursday: Read Google Blog updates
Friday: comment on someone’s blog.
Saturday and Sunday Rest.
I’ve used this parable in the past, Sparse-ness Where are you?, The cobbler’s children go barefoot. I’m good at what I do. My clients and students say: I give great advice, I am excellent trainer, and I can create and execute multiple technical plans. Writing blog posts is still a weak muscle for me. One that I too must exercise more often.
What’s your Blogging Exercise plan?
Don’t have one?
Contact me and we can create a custom plan for you.
Thanks to all who attended my Social Media Optimization class at Harper College Tech. It was great to meet you all, and good luck. Let me know what I can do to help.
I’d watch these videos: http://www.commoncraft.com/social-media-pack
read this e-book: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/free-ebook-using-the-social-web-to-find-work/
While Reading and Taking these actions, I recommend you keep a notebook nearby, and decide what your next actions are and prioritize. I think you’ll see your next action is to call, email, or write someone a note.
Be social, be useful, be interesting, and be good.
This is the first article in a multi-part series about the Traits of a good Technology class.
One of the questions I get asked all the time is What makes a good class? Is it the trainer? Is it the book? Is it the students?
We’ve all been to class. Some of you may remember looking at the clock in grammar school, counting down the minutes until the day was over. Others may have fond memories of listening to a Professor lecture to 1000 students in a gigantic college lecture hall. Still others are taught at home at the kitchen table, learning science through every day experiments.
What’s related? The objective of knowledge transfer. The idea of transferring knowledge from the teacher to the student. Some modes of learning are more effective for some students than others. Yet, there are still some standard commonalities.
As a facilitator, teacher, trainer, attendee of 100’s, if not 1000’s of classes. I have identified some common traits that all Good Technology Training classes have. The first of the Traits is: good books.
Image: 'Belinha has more than good looks' www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/2200198472
Imagine you are training for a triathlon. Your current activity level is getting up out of bed, driving to work, and coming home to go to sleep. In other words, you don’t exercise. What would you recommend for this person wanting to train for a triathlon?
