You have heard them"Build a list""The profit is in the list""It's all about the list"blah blah.Most people who have read up on internet marketing will have come across this idea.But then blogs, or rather RSS, came on the scene and confused the issue. Several people have asked me if they should close their email newsletters now they are blogging. Should you build an email list or a blog?Let's first compare the two:EmailBlogPushPullPersonalisedAnonymousDelivery problemsNo delivery … [Read more...]
Should Every Company Blog?
I have been asked a question by many business people over the last couple of months. While I am still working on what my answer ought to be I have developed some thoughts. One of the great things about blogging is if you don't know the answer then your readers will usually fill you in, my hope is you will help me come up with a better response!So, on with the question.Should every company blog? (or more usually phrased as "Should my company blog?")Before you give me your thoughts, here is what I … [Read more...]
Blog SEO: Get Your Blog out of the Supplemental Index
Little blog SEO tip today, check to see if, like my blog, you have a "supplemental index problem". Check out my Google search result, as you can see I have about 106 pages in the supplemental index. Change chrisg.com to your own domain to test your own result. So what is this "Supplemental Index"? I like the answers from Tropical SEO best: The Google Supplemental index is the Siberian work camp for web pages. The Google Supplemental index is where they put web pages with little … [Read more...]
Using Stumbleupon and Squidoo Advertising to Promote Blogs
This post is a summary of the advertising experiment I have been trialling. Although all the tools are there and costs aren't always super high, it is rare to see a blog promoted with advertising. The main reason of course is because the income from many blogs either is not at a level to support advertising, the income is not certain, or the income is already sufficient that the blogger does not see the need.I know there are a couple of blogs being promoted with Google Adwords in both search and … [Read more...]
Web Tourists Part 2 – Helping Your Prospects Find Their Way
In part 1 we looked at how web prospects are a lot like tourists visiting a foreign country for the first time. In this post we will look at how we can make it easier for our visitors to find their way without wandering down any dark alleys or tourist-traps. Making a destination decision Even before a tourist decides where they want to go they are being influenced. We don't completely trust brochures, everyone seems so forced and fake, we know what can be done with clever photography and … [Read more...]
Why Your Prospects Are Like Tourists
When you are thinking about visiting a new place, what do you do? And when you get there, what do you look for?Picture it.You are sat on the floor with brochures all around you. Each picture and blurb seems more appealing than the last. It's hard to make up your mind. Who is telling the truth? Which attraction or activity will be most fun? What are the accomodations really like?Somehow you choose where you want to go, how you will get there and such. A while later you are at your destination. … [Read more...]
It’s All About the Content … Right?
It's been said so many times it has lost all meaning. Focus on the content. Content is king. Write! Fine. Why then do some people create crummy but popular content? How is it that brilliant writing is often overlooked? So it can't be just about the content. Something else is necessary. Do you buy bottled water for the content? Does a Rolex tell the time better than a Timex? Why does a coke from a vending machine cost more than a larger bottle from the supermarket? How is it … [Read more...]
Sean D’Souza Is Blogging and The Vital Importance of Consumption
Recall my interview with Sean D'Souza? Since the interview I have been poking him with a pointy blogging stick and he has finally started his blog to stop me nagging at him. He has already posted some great stuff, like this one about getting your customers to actually consume what you deliver them ... Why Customers Buy And Still Leave Shortly After (The secret of consumption)why on earth would you order such a delicious meal and not eat it? Even as you read this piece you're salivating about … [Read more...]
Are You Clark Kent or Superman?
In my last post I said I loved Seth Godins blog but hated that he doesn't have comments enabled. He responded to my complaint with an email saying he reads and responds to his own email. I'm honoured. That's great. It's good to hear, but who would know?The public perception is still, and please do correct me if I am wrong, that closed comments means comments of any kind are not welcome. Seth writes about business theatre, how some things are done for show rather than being based in any practical … [Read more...]
Why Being a Success Means People Hate What You Do
I know this blog is not a success just yet. Why? People do not hate it. Wuh? It's true. People do not dislike it so bad that they just have to tell me about it. There is no "love" feedback either. I just don't get those sorts of messages. Sure, I get plenty of "You suck" emails. I also get plenty of really nice "Thanks" emails. But I am not pressing peoples buttons. Not in a good way, not in a bad way. Not enough. Dilbert creator Scott Adams wrote a while ago about "knowing when … [Read more...]
Hi, I’m Chris Garrett: I work with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them build lasting and profitable relationships with audiences who grow to know, like and trust them
