WordPress.org does a decent job of providing text editing buttons. But I’ve always longed for a button that lets me add a table… or one that lets me easily highlight words… or even one that lets me add one of those goofy emoticons. 🙄 Problem solved. Enter TinyMCE Advanced, a nifty WordPress plugin that helps […]
[ Read more ]My son and I were in the waiting room of his physical therapist when we spotted Horse Illustrated, a magazine for equine enthusiasts (the cover horse was quite handsome!). What’s your specialty? Chances are, there’s a trade magazine or newsletter (either print or online) for that industry. Here are a few “trades” I discovered: Today’s […]
[ Read more ]“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 ]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 ]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 […]
[ Read more ]An increasing amount of blogs are implementing interactive commenting systems that encourage readers to engage in conversation — not just with the blog’s author, but with each other. I’ve enjoyed participating in these forums on others’ blogs, and after evaluating several commenting systems, I installed Disqus (dis·cuss • dĭ-skŭs’), a free, easy-to-use comment moderation tool. […]
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