“I have a Website for my business, but only a few people visit it. How do I get more traffic to my site?” It’s the question of the decade. For years, I’ve picked the brains of experts in hopes of discovering a magic key that unlocks the mysteries of search engine optimization. Turns out there […]
[ Read more ]TMI. Too Much Information. That’s what people are saying about a new site called Spokeo. The site bills itself as “Not your grandma’s phonebook.” I’ll say. Spokeo says it is “a search engine specialized in organizing people-related information.” It “aggregates data from hundreds of online and offline sources, including but not limited to: phone directories, […]
[ Read more ]Think blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, online socializing can’t help your business? Think again! John Wolcott, editor of the Snohomish County Business Journal, featured Blogging Bistro as the cover story for the May 2010 issue. John, who’s the first to admit that he’s a social media neophyte, asked me about how social media helped me promote my […]
[ Read more ]Linkbaiting: the practice of generating incoming links to your Website or blog from other sites. In common English, you “bait” or entice someone to link to your site by posting any of the following: quality content breaking news hosting contests or giveaways polls or surveys top 10 lists that people want to share with other […]
[ Read more ]Well, folks, it finally happened. I am now a Cover Girl. It’s not Glamour or Vogue, but it is a magazine cover! Here’s a sneak peak at the cover for the May issue of the Snohomish County Business Journal. For those of you who don’t have the slightest idea of where Snohomish County is, or […]
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Roundup blog posts are an effective way to build your reputation as an expert source of information.
A roundup post highlights and links to several articles in your niche – they can be articles from your own blog or from other sources.
[ Read more ]I was reading John Kremer’s Book Marketing Tip of the Week newsletter, and was astonished by the fact that over 1 million book titles were published in 2009. The Books in Print database announced the following numbers for 2009: Traditional (royalty) publishers – 288,355 titles Here’s a further breakdown: Fiction – 45,181 (down 15% since […]
[ Read more ]Marathon runners adhere to a rigorous training schedule. Six months before a race, they settle into a routine that lessens the possibility of over-training and burnout. Blogging is similar to training for a marathon; it requires stamina and long-term commitment. Many business professionals, however, mentally approach blogging as a sprint. They launch their business blog […]
[ Read more ]My office phone jingled. “Blogging Bistro. This is Laura.” “Hi. My name is Beth.* I own a local store.” Long pause. “I started a blog. But it’s… well… really ugly. And I hate writing it. But I know I need it. Do you write blogs? How much do you charge?” I smiled. More than a […]
[ Read more ]Joshua Williams listens to his customers… and responds. The manager of The Salt Shaker bookstore in Enumclaw, Washington, Joshua has created a comfortable space for folks to browse everything from books to video rentals to gifts to church supplies. The store’s children’s department features a custom Noah’s Ark reading and play area. In addition to […]
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