The Blog-Studio

New discount code for Typepad blog account

Never got round to creating a blog on Typepad's blog platform? Now's the time to get going and:

Get 10% off for life on TypePad blogs when you use the coupon code TypePadspring10!

Typepad Plus and Pro with 20% discount - for life!

Open a Typepad Plus or Pro account before the end of FEB 2010, enter the promocode:

RESOLVE2BLOG2010 when creating you account and receive 20% discount for life (yes, that's as long as you keep your Typepad account life).

Get A Professional Looking Blog Today!

Typepad Pro with 15% discount

From everything.typepad comes this New Years Offer:

Open a Typepad Pro Account (the one I always recommend you use for business blogs) and get 15% discount.

The only thing you have to do to profit from this offer (which runs till the end of January, so get your skates on!) in to quote "2010RESOLUTION" in the discount code field when you register.

Another excuse for not starting your own blog down the drain: 15% discount and I promise you the blog platform is a piece of cake to get started with. You'll be up and running within a few minutes!

Remember to quote "2010RESOLUTION"

Using AWeber on WordPress.com

This is one tactic we don't use ourselves, we use Typepad as blog platform which accepts all AWeber webforms, no matter if you have Basic, Plus or Pro account. Self-hosted WordPress blogs and Blogger also accept the javascript of your webform, only WordPress blogs hosted on WordPress.com refuse every AWeber coding, even when you use the raw html code of the inline form.
But there's a solution.

Using AWeber to use an AWeber submit form for WordPress.com blogs

Sounds confusing? It's not, as will become clear in the following steps. When I was writing the lesson on publishing a broadcast/newsletter online the solution for WordPress.com blog-owners suddenly seemed obvious.

When you have a WordPress.com blog it is hosted on WordPress.com server. These blogs are mostly used by those not able to host any web presence themselves (otherwise they would IMHO use the free self-hosted WordPress.org blog software which gives you plenty more options, but require more css and html knowledge).

The beauty of this solution is that you can have a webform of AWeber hosted by AWeber. All it takes is:
1) a template that resembles your blog design or your AWeber broadcasts
2) an AWeber broadcast - doesn't even have to be send out
3) an AWeber inline web form
4) a link on your WordPress.com blog

Note: this tactic also works when you use only the plain text message, but I think an html message in a template works better. I leave the decision with you.

Step 1: create a broadcast in your AW list

In TACTIC S1-4 "The overall appearance of your messages" I discussed using a template for your messages (html message) and if you use this tactic you have a general template in one of your lists ready to use.

Copy the source from your template broadcast and paste this into the source of your new broadcast. The title of your broadcast can be anything you like, from "Sign up for my blog-alerts" to "Request your free guide".

Write a short message in the body of your message: explaining what's on offer etc.
Don't use any personalised fields though, they will not be filled with details but show like {!firstname}.

Step 2: copy your webform in your broadcast

Have an inline webform ready (see TACTIC S2-3: the web forms) and copy the raw html code so you can change various items later, like the tracking code.
In your new broadcast, go to the source and paste the code in the position you want it to show. Save the broadcast, no need to write the plain text message this time (or you want to opt for plain text message only).
DON'T queue the broadcast, it is not the purpose to send it out.

Step 3: link to the Syndicate Direct Link

Every broadcast created in AWeber has a Direct Link. So open the new broadcast again, tick the box Syndicate and click the hyper link behind Direct Link. This will show you (in a new window/tab) how your broadcast including the webform will look online.
If needed, edit text or lay-out and once you're happy copy the url of the Direct Link to place this in the sidebar of your WordPress.com blog (or in any post you like).

Follow the link to the example I've made: Direct Link

Conclusion

It is of course not the most ideal (or even elegant) solution, but it is the most simple solution for WordPress.com blog-owners without any other additional hosting available. Try it out and do test it for yourself to see how it truly works - it will follow the same opt-in process as any other AWeber webform.

This is just one of the many tried and tested Strategies and Tactics you will find in the (almost) complete E-training: The Best AWeber Strategies and Tactics for Small Businesses - created by 1 Plus 1 Makes 3.

The Best AWeber Strategies & Tactics for Small Businesses - maximise Permission Marketing!

The first tool in The WebMarketing ToolBox for Small Businesses is available!

The Best AWeber Strategies and Tactics for Small Businesses - maximise Permission Marketing.

The E-training/E-book is based on our own experiences and successful implementation of AWeber's auto repsonder for our ethical email marketing. As independent specialised (rural) retailer we now reach prospects and clients in the whole of the UK and even beyond. Our success rate?

90% confirm their subscription, only a hand full ever unsubscribe and we convert many subscribers into clients.

The Strategies we use (trial and error discoveries) and which are now available to you too:

1. Being Effective and Efficient with your email marketing from the moment you start with AWeber (if you have been using AWeber for some time now I will tell/teach you what, where and how to change certain settings to improve your results immediately)
2. How to turn your 'sales' pitched into a logical sequence of messages, building up more trust between you and your prospect with every single message you write. Spreading your eggs over more baskets, baskets which all contain relevant and anticipated information that solves a pain/problem your prospect has.
3. I'll show you where and how you can substantially grow the number of self-qualifying subscribers in the most ethical ways. Our own list, as small retailer, has grown over 250% in 1 year time and continues to attract 45 - 50 new prospects per month. No matter how small or large your existing list is or how large you want it to be, these simple and effective tactics are guaranteed to make the numbers soar.
4. And I will show you, step by step, how you can combine AWeber with other (online) software programs to automate your email marketing campaigns even further without loosing a 'personal touch/voice'. PayPal is only one of the programs discussed.

The Strategies and Tactics (tried and tested) are available now here - the following page will also tell you why this first Tool is a must for both new and existing AWeber account holders. No matter if your list/lists have 100 or 10.000 subscribers, The Best AWeber Strategies and Tactics for Small Businesses will improve and further automate your ethical email marketing immediately!

Maximise the Permission Marketing principle and add real money to your business now.

Free report on using a blog-platform for your business website

Over at the  1 Plus 1 Makes 3 dynamic website (aka blog) you can request a free 5 page report with the "7 Key Reasons to use a blogplatform for your business website" (or fill in your details in the form below). This report is part of the Blogging and WebMarketing tips to grow your business.

"Blogs (short for weblog) are mostly know for their ability to 'produce' articles (also called blog posts). It is a misconception that blogs are only used by freelancers in the service business - mainly in the marketing or finance sector - geeks dissecting software packages, teens fantasizing about their 'heroes' in tv-series, movies or about boy-bands, social media pioneers about the latest social media communities.
Nothing could be further from the truth than this. Of course there are many of the above mentioned blogs around, but there is an increasing trend for small business to use a blog to increase 'brand-awareness', to give advice on various subjects and much more. Many multi-nationals use blogs to keep in contact with their clients/users all over the world. It's simple, straight-forward and effective. And not to mention: profitable.

Every business - small, medium or large - should consider creating a weblog. If done properly (and consistently) it has a tremendous positive effect on a business' turnover, nett profit and brand awareness."

The Ultimate Web Marketing Strategy - a tip from the Blog-Studio

Four very successful “introduction workshops” since August last year have resulted in the great total of 16 new blogs.
One of the main items we discussed during the workshops was: “making your blog work for your business” and the various ways to go about this. “Working on your blog” was an important one. We are sure you are as aware as we are that it is more a time-commitment than anything else in this matter. But it does work and does bring in the ROI. This can happen rather quickly too as some of our blog-studio students have noticed.

Don’t say: “but time is money” - of course it is - but sometimes you need to invest that time to make that money.
One of the most effective ways to invest time is to ‘not having to re-invent the wheel’. Learning from the experts (with of course a proven track-record) can do this. It is for that reason and from own experience of having successfully implemented various tips from this source we recommend the following excellent book:

The Ultimate Web Marketing Strategy by Ed Rivis

208 pages filled with easy to implement ideas and tips on how to make your blog (and/or website) work even harder for you, bringing in all those extra prospects, those extra converted clients and that money we all are hoping for. At Wood You Like we see the result of this daily: instead of only 1 website/blog visitor per week asking for information (a definite lead we can start a conversation with to convert into a client) we now covert 2 visitors per day into definite leads.

Ed’s book costs only £ 19.97 + p&p and comes with a 90 days 100% zero-risk money back guarantee. If that doesn’t convince you, perhaps a review of the book will? Or an article of how implementing only one simple idea from the book brought a 600% increase in prospects?

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

Writing for your readers

Your blog (be it purely promoting your business, handing out business advice, talking about recent topics etc) likes to be read. There are many ways (free, paid-for) methods to attract readers to your blog, there are even many blogs around to help you do so.

Liz Strauss on Successful & Outstanding Bloggers is a great source for this. Liz is all about creating conversations, the whole blogging world over. One of her latest post is on "The 7 Secrets to a Fiercely, Loyal Community of Readers":

• Be Interesting
• Be Simple
• Be Positive
• Be trustworthy and Respectful
• Be Consistent
• Be Remarkable
• Be Readable
• Be Generous and Satisfying

"Readers and a writer work have a relationship like diners and a chef. Only part of that relationship is what is served up from the menu, the rest is the experience. Every successful chef . . . writer . . . first grade teacher knows that."
ME “Liz” Strauss

While you're at Liz's blog, grab the feed of her blog, start reading, learning and join the conversation. But.... be nice.

 

The importance of the 'about page'

The 'net' is filled with useful information, be it on 'static' websites or on blogs. Perhaps your blog will fill a gap in someone's knowledge base too someday. Starting a blog can feel/sound like a massive and/or time-consuming task, but mostly it's about getting the basics, the foundation right. 

David Peralty on eXtra For Every Publisher has written an excellent post about one of those basic issues: the about page on your blog:

Picture, Purpose, Power, Personality and Promotion.

Summarised:

"With the above tips and a little creativity, your about page can help promote your site, your brand, and yourself. Make sure you take your time, plan it out, give it your best, and a proper picture never hurts."

Your about page is important; reading and implementing the tips from David gives you a good start in building those foundation blog-blocks

 

Quick Guide Typepad 4: The look and feel of your blog

Time to play around. Create Your Blog Today TypePad

Typepad comes (at the moment) with 67 different templates and 10 different lay-outs - unlimited combinations - well almost of course, 'only' 670 to be precise.
In the Weblog tab in your account you find the design tab. This will bring you here:

The design choice starts with selecting one of the 67 pre-defined themes. Have a look at them all, try some out (by ticking the box underneath a theme you fancy and click pre-view - this will show you the template with your blog title in the banner). Every theme has its own (fixed) style in font type, font size, colour of links and titles.
Choose the one most suited to you, your unique blog, your personal style or interest by clicking the 'Save Changes' button.  You decide. (And change the theme after a month, a year if you like; nothing is set in stone.)

Next up is the lay-out of your blog. Since most of you have had a look at several other blogs you have noticed that most (professional, serious) blogs have two columns or more. One wide column for the articles and one, or more smaller, columns filled with links, lists, pictures, web-tools etc that show up on every page, post. Some prefer to have the text - articles - left, others in the middle and some on the right hand side of the screen.
Again, play around, pre-view and 'Save Changes' once you have found the one most suited to you. You decide. (And change the lay-out after a month, a year if you like; nothing is set in stone.)

A bit more complex is the following step: select your content.
There are some fixed and some optional. First up are those items added to every post you will publish and how posts are archived. Most of them are self-explainable, like post title and post date header. The post footer you can configure yourself by selecting the options available (like 'author', category, time etc). What FeedBurner's FeedFlare means will be further explained during the workshops - is part of web marketing techniques, nothing to worry about now.
You can also 'organise' your sidebar modules here, but again we will delve deeper into this during the workshop. For the time being always select at least the following modules: Archive links, Categories, Recent Posts, Recent Comments, email link.
'Save Changes' will allow you the next step in finishing your design. (Once again, nothing set in stone.)

Last quick guide step in designing the look and feel of your blog: Order Content. Very simple: drag and drop the selected modules to the place you want them in your sidebar column or columns if you selected a three column lay-out. Pre-view to see if you're happy and 'Save Changes'.

(The Edit Custom CSS needs knowledge of Cascading Style Sheet coding, best left alone for now. In here you can change - among other items -  the fixed font type and font size - however, code wrong and your blog might go haywire.)

All you have to do now is click on "Republish Weblog" to activate all design choices.

As promised in an earlier post: adding the sub-title, catch-phrase in the blog title banner.
In your Weblog tab select the tab Configure and if needed the weblog basics tab.
Your weblog name is shown in the first box, followed by another box: Weblog description/catchphrase.
In here you write your additional info. Adding a 'hard return' to show an empty line below the title and the subtitle is done by simple HTML-coding: <br> is the code for a 'hard return'.
'Save Changes' will activate your edited title banner immediately.
(For checking the result when you haven't published a test post yet: go back to the design tab and select pre-view - button can be found at the bottom of this page, next to 're-publish weblog)

Done, your blog is ready for its first (test) post.

(New online home-study program now available on the 1 plus 1 makes 3 blog-site: The Practical Typepad Guide on sale now! Learn how to grow your business in a simple and effective way using a blog platform)