A bookmark is the standard compliment for online writers. We applaud singers, we laugh at comedians jokes, and we bookmark articles we find on the web. Bookmarks and links fuel your blogs success. What can we do to get more bookmarks? Why then do some get bookmarked while others get largely ignored? It's not just about writing great content. You can create valuable, interesting, well-written articles that get zero bookmarks. You can also build a fantastic blog that entertains or … [Read more...]

In my last post I said you have to choose a goal for your communication. If you don't decide a goal first, don't be surprised if you end up with a random outcome. A few people have wondered if you can write with multiple goals. It was pointed out that the examples I listed overlap. You might want your audience to get to know you, feel positive about your brand or accept your message all at once. I'm sure you are not shocked that I chose these examples precisely to start a discussion. Those … [Read more...]

What exactly are you wanting your audience to do? This is an important question. Do you want your reader to get to know you? Do you want them to have "positive associations" with your brand? Are you trying to spread a message? Good communication starts with your goal. Fuzzy goals create fuzzy thinking. Fuzzy thinking leads to fuzzy communication. It's like setting out on a journey, but not being quite sure where you want to be, you just enjoy the scenery until you run out of … [Read more...]

It's incredibly easy to be misunderstood. What people think you are putting out is never exactly what you intend. We all read and listen through our own brain filters, biases and broken ideas about the world. You can't blame your audience. It is up to us to speak and write clearly. How can you communicate in a way that will make sure you are understood every single time? Use simple words - I love the English language but so many words we use have more than one meaning, plus if you … [Read more...]

Have you ever visited a tourist location then browsed Flickr only to find everyone seems to have taken the same photograph? One of the principal techniques of better photography is to move around, look at the scene in different ways, approach from new angles. The same is true for writing. While the direct approach, the writing equivalent of taking a picture from where you stand, might not be the best you can produce. Yes, there is a lot to be said for developing a writing instinct. It will … [Read more...]

In the previous post I recommended that you should find your own stories or develop a unique take on the news. Basically implying that repeating was bad. Here's the funny thing ... repeating yourself can be good ... Now don't get me wrong, I do not for a minute suggest that you simply drone on each and every day about the same old tired topic. Repeating themes or revisiting advice though can be very effective. As Sonia says in the post comments, there are many bloggers like Seth Godin and … [Read more...]

Where are ewe?, originally uploaded by foxypar4. Several bloggers have complained to me about the number of feeds they find lately that simply echo the same old information. Think about your blog ... have you fallen into this trap? It's an easy habit to get into. Fear of not having something to say, or fear of being the only person not covering this particular news. I think there is also a large element where people do not want to stick their neck out and be found to be wrong. Fact … [Read more...]

In normal, polite conversation, people tell us that we should stay away from the topics of politics and religion. Does the same go for social media and blog discussions? There are probably other topics just as controversial, but I think in most cases these topics come under the heading of politics or beliefs for shorthand. This year the politics discussions will go into overdrive. In the last USA presidential elections political blogs did very well, both in terms of traffic and revenue. I … [Read more...]

It is no coincidence that I am writing this at the end of the year. Traditionally at the end of one year we look ahead to the next. I'm trying to make 2008 much more organized than 2007! I am often paid to manage projects, it is something I am good at and enjoy, so I find it funny that I can organize projects and other people much easier than I organize myself. My writing especially tends to be spontaneous rather than planned. While this gives certain beneficial qualities, such as being … [Read more...]

Mind Maps are a useful technique to learn for brainstorming, note taking, in fact any time you want to get thoughts down on paper. To show you how to use them I have created my first ever full length video/sketchcast. Man did I find this difficult, it is a lot harder than I thought to create a video. Hopefully you can get some value out of it despite my "ums and ahs"! Click To Play … [Read more...]