Helpful Ways to Make Your Life Easier and More Productive

With 2018 looming large, now is the best time to add a few more tips for making your life easier and more productive. You could be buried alive in all of the information related to these topics. To keep this fact from having a negative impact on your time and your business, I suggest starting with a few great resources and branching out from there.

For tips to get you started check out:
Hubspot Marketing Resources
Infusionsoft Knowledge Center

Whether you're a serial entrepreneur trying to run several service start-ups or a creative type trying to expand online and offline venues for your products, it's important to stay focused. Segment the time you spend on creation and the time you spend on marketing. Segment the time you spend socializing and the time you need to put on your hermit hat.

If you're creative try to work with the time of day or evening that you feel most creative. If you're the entrepreneur wearing three hats, try setting your enterprises apart in two or three hour segments for each. Make a list of ways you can co-promote them. Trade some of your expertise with someone else who has expertise that you need.

Search for services or apps that can make your work life easier and your personal life more enjoyable and economical. Save more than you splurge whether you're talking about clothing, food or travel. After all,most people work to get ahead financially. If you find it really difficult to cut spending in one of these areas, look for ways to profit from your overspending. For instance, if you spend too much on food, consider blogging about food or building up a reputation as a food or restaurant critic.

Bottom line: Don't let 2018 roll over you. Establish some traction here at the starting line that keeps you upright and on track.

Is 2018 the Year the You Start a Blog?

If the approaching arrival of the New Year 2018 has you wanting to take the plunge into blogging, the first thing you need to do is choose a category or type of blog. Depending upon your interests, you'll want to pursue a blog that motivates you to learn more about your topic and to share your knowledge with others on a regular basis.

Creative types may want to consider:

*Art
*Home décor
*Music
*Crafts
*Fashion
*Makeup
*Photography
*DIY
*Specialized events such as weddings

If you're a health oriented person or a foodie you may pursue:
*Fitness
*Food
*Exercise
*Health
*Nutrition

If you're particularly good at motivating people try:
*Personal finance
*Relationships
*Self-help
*Education [pick a topic]

If you're a mom try:
*Any topic that would be helpful for young mothers
*Parenting
*Baby
*Teen
*Money-saving tips

If your interests are more generalized:
*Lifestyle [any number of variations]
*Pets
*Sports
*Humor
*Travel
*Entertainment

Business Majors or Entrepreneurs may choose such topics as:

*Marketing
*Tech blogs
*Starting a new business
*Public relations

Health Bloggers Mark Your Calendars

Health bloggers will want to mark their calendars for the 2018 BlogHer18 Health Conference January 30-31, 2018 in New York City. This event celebrates the female storytellers who raise awareness for our collective health. This 1.5-day event for female content creators in the health and wellness space is a roadmap for living your best life through information, inspiration, and innovation. Cost for conference is $99-$249.

#BlogHer18 Health topics will include:

•Find Your Flow: A sunset workout session and networking mixer

•Learn From Her: Trending health & wellness issues that impact women's lives

•#WinningWomen: Personal stories of strong women overcoming health obstacles

•Passion to Purpose: Health advocates who made an impact by doing what they love

•Wine + Gyn: Honest talk about reproductive health

•Influencer Workshops: Mentor sessions designed for health & wellness content creators

•Sponsor Experiences: Meet leading brands in the health & wellness space



Speakers include:

Jillian Michaels - Popular Fitness Expert, Wellness Entrepreneur

Arianna Huffington - Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, the founder of The Huffington Post, and the author of 15 books, including, most recently, Thrive and The Sleep Revolution.

Nastia Liukin - five-time Olympic Medalist and Founder of the Grander Sports App

For details visit http://www.blogher.com/blogher18-health

January 18, 2018 Deadline For Local Governments to Meet New Accessibility Standards

If you know someone who provides content to a local government site, you will want to let them know that by January 18, 2018 all local government agencies across the U.S. are required to make website content and all digital information accessible to all users. This includes those with visual, hearing or other disabilities protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

More than 60 million Americans have some form of disability that inhibits them from using electronic information or browsing with a mouse, so local government website ADA compliance is critical for community engagement. To ensure greater access for all, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, defines how to make the necessary changes.

A company called Vision is providing a free, educational webinar series, 18 Minutes to Get You Ready for January 18, 2018, that provides critical compliance information. The free webinar will run from November 7th to December 12th. With the right resources and training, government agencies can learn to write, format and maintain content optimized for citizens with disabilities.

Vision conducted a 2017 "What's Next Survey" revealing that local government leaders across the US have a low level of knowledge of this web requirement. In fact, 87% indicated that they had moderate, weak or no knowledge of these Federal Web requirements.

For more information and to register for the free webinars copy the link below and paste into your browser:
http://info.visioninternet.com/webinar-18-minutes-to-get-you-ready-for-january-18-2018

Why Should You Start A Blog? Don't Wait for the New Year to Jump Into Blogging.

Blogging is not just for people passing along information and gaining followers for their opinion. For instance fashion and fitness bloggers may just be trying to establish a strong presence online. However, if you are selling products or services online having a blog is one of the most cost effective way to drive traffic to your site.

Even if you have been totally fcused on database marketing by staying in touch with your current customers and offering them information on new products or providing them with a discount code. The email or phone list that you use only reaches your current customers. Why not start a blog and provide information on your products or services to anyone who finds it online and make it a point to make sure that as many people as possible find it.

By making your blog posts informative and even by featuring some of your current customers [especially if your blog is B to B] you enhance the chances that the people who read these posts will find a reason to click the link to your site where they can find more information about your product line and/or services. Moreover, by providing customers on your email list with information about your new blog you can probably count on them sharing some of the informations with others that they know. And, if you regularly feature some of your customers on your blog, they will in turn have a reason to share your blog with their friends and customers.

Your customers will begin to feel as though they know your company better. You can certainly provide them with interesting information and perhaps choose to be a little entertaining. As you do so, they will begin to feel even stronger about recommening your company and become the reason that more people buy your products or use your services. Even those random people who wander onto your blog may find a reason to click over to your site.

You'll get more than random people hitting your site if you write your blog contents with a few important things in mine. First of all, what will people who use your services or who buy your products be looking for when the type some words into the Google search bar? Okay, be sure that your blog post headings and some of your copy contain these words and phrases. Please use phrases, because if you just put a single relevant word into your copy used over and over the copy becomes for lack of a better word stupid. It will be difficult to read and intelligent people want be inclined to click over to your site. This is Search Engine Optimization [SEO] in a nutshell.

If you add photos or even video, be sure that you title them with search engines in mind. If, for instance, you are featuring a pic of a burgundy velvet top, don't just name the pic "top" or even velvet top. The more precisely you can identify your photo the more it will help people find your blog and be able to click over to your website.

If your blog is on your website there's nothing really wrong with that, as you could link from a description on your website for a particular item to your site's blog that has additional info on it. You'll have more internal links, but having it hosted elsewhere and linked to your website has the potential to drive more traffic to your site from people who do not already know about your company. The more links from other places, i.e. your new blog or copy from your blog that is you can have hosted on another relevant blog, the higher you'll climb in search engine rankings.

Having a blog on your site kind of forces your hand to provide fresh content to your customers. This is good thing because it gives your whole business a more appeal. Bonus and payoff, Google likes websites with denser content and sites that are active, hence your ranking with Google has some new ways to improve. Afterall why should Google bore searchers by serving up sites that are not the type of sites that a lot of web searchers are trying to find.

Whether you are ranking for key phrases, inside links or outside links, denser content or more active content, the benefits far out weigh the trouble of creating some fresh copy or contracting with someone to do so.More people are blogging about more things than ever before and it is time that you jumped in.

If you need some help with blog content, online press releases or other public relations services, marketing or human resources services, contact Andersonandcompany.com or Andersonandcompany.biz.

Survey Reveals that 45% of Eleven Major Industries Will Increase Content Marketing Budgets in 2018

Okay, if you're a writer you know how important writing is to inform and connect with current and future customers. It appears that management is catching on, too. This fact is good for you and for them.

Informa Systems recently surveyed 11 industries and found that 45% of these intend to increase their investment in content marketing in 2018. Those surveyed represent a broad composition of 11 industries operating at the center of today's global economy, including: Aviation, Information Technology, Finance, Agriculture, Engineering, Trucking and Hospitality.

The survey also found that 70% of these industries are currently using B2B content marketing. However, despite the projected growth in content marketing, many B2B marketers still face challenges in measuring their content marketing success.

Informa reports that despite the projected growth in content marketing, many B2B marketers still face challenges in measuring their content marketing success. To learn more about how you should be measuring your content look to the Content Marketing Institute for guidance. They offer a field guide to the four types of content marketing metrics. These are consumption, sharing, leads, and sales. For more info visit their website. Even if you produce your own content and don't have to answer to someone's corporate office, the information is something that will help you gain insight.

How Important are Keywords and Keyword Phrases to My Blog Content's SEO

To increase their share of web traffic, every web blogger should always pay attention to keywords and keyword phrases in their copy. These are the magnets that draw traffic based on intuitive searches on Google. This all begins with keyword research. Know your market and know the words and terms that they will be exploring online.

When you have keyword-optimized content in your blog posts and, use but not over use those words and terms, searchers can find you based on their interests and your keyword "guideposts" that draw them into your content. If you're blogging for business, your blog can become a lead generator.

Please note that keyword phrases [known as long-tail keyword phrases] are increasingly important for rising up in Google search, because the pool of information is massive. If you're writing about fashion just using the word fashion as a keyword puts you into competition with zillions of blogs that use that keyword. However, if you select specific searchable "hot" fashion phrases you are defining the path to your blog for a sizeable group of online searchers by pulling your content up through the fashion word maze and into a smaller pool where it has a better chance to be found.

Very basic informational long-tail keyword phrases might begin with the who, what, where, when, how and why of something. As you search, you run across these all the time and they draw clicks because someone wants to know exactly how or why, etc.
Today, such motivational click phrases as five ways to organize your closet or the top ten places are likely to appear in headlines and meta tags. Likewise, use of the word Tip or Hack [as in an easy way to do something] draw viewers whether you are a fashion blogger, a food blogger or a business blogger.

The key is to incorporate precise words and search terms that your targeted market uses. Then use them, but do not stuff your copy with them. Your copy needs to be readable for your audience to relate to it. In other words don't beat them over the head with certain words and phrases once you get them to your site.

Remember that one of the best thing about blogging [whether you blog is on your website or linked to it] is your ability to slant each blog to a particular reader/searcher.

If you need help with blog content,PR or marketing, contact Anderson and Company.

Short vs. Long Content Posts: Which is Right For You?

Short versus long blog posts: which is better? Some sources such as Backlinko say that the average piece of content that ranks on Google is 1,900 words in length. They and others agree that writing longer copy allows a topic to be covered more completely, helps your blog stand out from the crowd and emphasis the importance of the topic being covered.

Long copy proponents say that the average user only reads 20% of each page because they are looking for a specific piece of information. In long form copy the addition of pics, stats and additional headlines make the content skimmable for the reader and actually gets them to read more.

Of course, the opposite side of the table points out that you should keep your posts short, because after 375 to 750 words you risk losing your reader's attention. The average post on WordPress is just 280 words in length. Although many of these will never rank high on Google, wildly popular marketing blogger Seth Godin is famous for short, daily posts that get shared. Some of his posts are less than 60 words.

From my point of view short is better. Generally, as a reader I don't have time to skim long content posts and as a blogger I don't have time to write long posts. If readers want more info on a particular topic, all they have to do is Google it. My work is done when I bring it to their attention.

For help with blog or web content, contact Anderson and Company.

How To Be Inspired By Other Bloggers, Including the One With The Highest Ranking

Yes it is the stuff of legends. The Huffington Post launched more than a decade ago by Arriana Huffington, is the number one money earning blog online. Today it is valued at more than $1 billon. [Yes, that is billion with a "B".] Who would have guessed that a blog providing one more very liberal view on life and politics would reach the apex of the entire field of blogs. In 2011 she sold it to AOL for $315 million and retained her position as editor.

Although she has since stepped down from her position, AOL and its parent company Verizon Communications, still benefit from her name attached to the property. What does that tell you? Well, for starters, a blonde, liberal female can succeed on the Internet, the medium that was once considered a man's technical venue. It also tells you that the management of AOL made a pretty good investment when you do the math. They leveraged a $315 million investment into a property that is now worth an estimated $1 billion. It also tells you that when Verizon purchased AOL, it knew a thing or two about the importance of web content. Verizon Communications is today a company worth more than $198 billion.

So, a 12-year-old blog became a big part of Internet history by doing what? Providing relevant content that built a loyal following.

If you need help with blog content, contact Anderson and Company.

How to Maximize Your Internet Income with Social Media Including Instagram

Are you a social media influencer? Are you maximizing your Internet income? If you are a blogger and/or maintain an e-commerce site you may already know that Instagram doesn’t allow users to add links in their posts, resulting in other users only being able to window-shop your Instagram. The fact that there are more than six million users with over 10,000 followers on Instagram leaves a lot of business to fall through cracks.

A service called Scoutsee solves this problem by allowing users to create shoppable posts on Instagram. For instance, you can create a storefront and add a link to it in your Instagram bio. Then when you share photos of your products, mention in the caption that users can click on the link in your bio for more info. Shoppers click on the link and are taken to your personal storefront.

Scoutsee provides a mobile app and tools that allow anyone to make money by promoting products in their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter posts. If a product is purchased via the post, the Scoutsee user receives a commission from the sale, typically between six and ten percent of the purchase price. When purchases are made, the commission is transferred to the Scoutsee user's PayPal or bank account.

Find Out More About the Appeal of Your Ads to Consumers

Those who have ads on their blogs or websites can now take advantage of information provided by The Coalition for Better Ads. This organization has developed initial Better Ads Standards for desktop web and mobile web for North America and Europe, based on comprehensive research involving more than 25,000 consumers.

The Coalition’s research identifies the ad experiences that rank lowest across a range of user experience factors, and that are most highly correlated with an increased propensity for consumers to adopt ad blockers. These results define initial Better Ads Standards that identify the ad experiences that fall beneath a threshold of consumer acceptability. Four types of desktop web ads (six tested ad experiences) and eight types of mobile web ads (twelve tested ad experiences) fell beneath this threshold. A summary of these types of ad experiences is presented below.

Extensive consumer input and empirical data shaped the initial Better Ads Standards. While the Coalition’s consumer research was designed to identify the least preferred ad types, it also provides insight into consumers’ evaluation of a far broader range of ad experiences, including those more preferred by consumers. By focusing the definition of Better Ads Standards on the least preferred ad experiences, the Coalition’s methodological approach leaves open the possibility for continued innovation in the development of new ad experiences. For more information visit Better Ads.org.

BlogHer Conference Orlando, FL June 22-24, 2017 Coming Up Hot!

Although blogging is mostly a solo gig, conferences can bring out the offline social side of bloggers. Next week bloggers will be gathering in Orlando, FL to network and learn from some stellar female bloggers.

The BlogHer conference is the largest annual celebration of women online content creators, social media influencers , entrepreneurs, media makers and brand marketers. BlogHer is a member of the SheKnows Media family,the number-one women's lifestyle digital media company, with 79 million unique visitors per month. .

Join an interesting mix of content creators, social media stars, entrepreneurs, top brands, activists and fans at #BlogHer17. Hear inspiring keynotes, and attend sessions where you'll learn the latest techniques, and find opportunities to network with your blog community.

BlogHer was founded in 2005 by Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page, and Jory Des Jardins to answer the question, "Where are the women bloggers?" Since then, BlogHer has become an unstoppable movement, inspiring women to find their voices and turn their passions into content, community and commerce, attracting some of the web’s best talent and top social sites, in topics from food and fashion to politics and parenting.

Is Your Blog Content Ready For A Blog Content Marketing Award?

PR Daily’s 2017 Content Marketing Awards is seeking brand storytellers who know their way around a clickable headline, a viral video or a fleeting social trend. They want to know how you tapped into the way people consume content today and used that to your brand’s advantage.

PR Daily will recognize marketing and communications professionals who write, edit, film, curate, broadcast, publish and just plain create superb content to promote their brand or organization. There are 18 categories for entry, including six new or revamped additions that reflect this rapidly changing industry.

Our new ‘Content marketing for the purpose of …” subdivision was created to celebrate blogs, videos and other content that created to help meet a larger marketing goal, such as building brand awareness or finding a fresh new talent pool.

The “Content marketing assets” subdivision will honor the content and campaigns themselves. We invite you to enter as many categories as you’d like in this year’s competition. Don’t forget our Grand Prize category, “Content marketing strategy of the year,” which will shine a spotlight on the best work in the bunch.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between Jan. 1, 2016, and May 15, 2017, inclusive. Early Bird Deadline: June 16, 2017 (Save $50 per entry!) Final Deadline: June 28, 2017. For complete contest details go to PRDaily.com and click on Awards.

How Using Effective Key Word Phrases In Your Blog Can Push An SEO Button

Okay, you know about key words, but what about choosing effective key word phrases. Although there is no SEO button, one of the easiest ways to increase your Search Engine Optimization[SEO]is by using key word phrases and focusing the content of your blog.

To start, choose five content marketing topics that define your blog. These will be topics that you either already blog about frequently or,if you are just starting a blog, choose topics that you believe your target readers would most like to read.

Under each of these main topics, list key words that relate, but don't stop at just the single word. Think what a reader wants to know about that word and develop a list of key word phrases. Why? Millions of blogs that cover similar topics will use the same key words.

To raise your blog up through the clutter, you will need to hone in on specific key word phrases that are being searched on Google. To test your possible key words phrases, simply type them into Google and see what comes up.

Are the search results pulling up two or three pages with your search term? Good, that means it's relevant. To move it up in the Google search ranking, try changing your key word phrase slightly by adding other words to the phrase and testing that search.

If you can come up with key word phrases that show up on the second, or even third page of a Google search, this is still a good result. Why? Many people who are interested in a particular topic will "drill down" a few pages and read all of the items of interest.

By developing longer key word phrases you are aiding "long tail keyword search", which is the term that describes a key word search phrase as opposed to a key word. As certain key word phrases become more and more common among bloggers of a particular topic, the more specific you will need to be in choosing phrases. These will be more likely to put your content before more reader groups, each searching a more specific topic.

Bottom line: frequently test your choice of key word phrases and use them in your blog headings and near the front of your copy.

For help with web content and blog posts, contact Anderson and Company.

Need More SEO and SEM? Save the Date for SMX Advanced Conference June 12-14 in Seattle

Ever wondered how much you really don't know about Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Well SMX Advanced is the place to dig deeper. The 2017 conference runs June 12-14 in Seattle and costs $1,995 for the whole enchilada. [Seventy-five percent of the seats are already taken.]

However, if you aren't seeking a major business deduction or just don't have the extra cash, you can get a Networking Pass for just $199. So if you live in the Pacific Northwest or want a business vacay, this could be your opportunity to become uber informed. Even if a lot of it may sound like another language, you'll no doubt come away more enlightened.

So, if you're ready to" take a deep dive on mobile SEO, get in-depth AdWords training or learn advanced paid social media marketing tactics," you might want to sit through the sessions and come out with the knowledge needed to advise others. If you're just wading in, a little noshing and networking could go a long way. Check out the details at http://marketinglandevents.com/smx/advanced/workshops/

How to Get The Word Out About Your blog

Once you create a blog, your next step is to get the word out. First make sure that your content is worthy of being shared. To do this make it informative, useful, motivational or entertaining for your readers so that they will want to share it with their friends. Lots of plugins available that make this very easy.

Second, become an interactive member of the blogging community by leaving some of your useful, informative or entertaining comments in the comment section on other blogs. Research and choose these carefully.[See prior posts.] This will help get the word out about your blog and with time increase your blog traffic.

The overriding goal of any of these strategies is to get the word out about your blog and create the kind of 'word of web' that leads to others seeking your advice, services or products. The brilliant thing about promoting your blog is that it can promote you as a thought leader in your field or promote a product or service that you offer. Whether you reside in a big city or small town anywhere is not a real factor in your blogging and business success on the web.

How to Find The Right Type of Information For Your Blog.

To answer people’s questions, you first have to find them. Discussion forums are a great place to start. You can also work with the comments section of just about any blog.

The idea is to find questions that a lot of people want answered and then answer it on your blog. You can share the link for reference after, where the questions have been asked.

It isn’t easy to scour the internet looking for questions to answer. Instead, you can insert links on FAQ fox and type in your search term and get a list of questions that have been asked instantly.

Happy Earth Day 2017 to All Bloggers and Online Shoppers!

Earth day was first celebrated in April of 1970. That's almost a half century ago, but it seems as though it hasn't been until the last few years that we have really seen an increased emphasis on year-round TLC for our planet. We're dining more farm-to-table, we're recycling and upcycling, buying electric and hybrid cars, caring about our forests, and our water. Just for fun I Googled eco blogs and got 19.7 million returns. So more information is being spread and green businesses are flourishing. I, too, have an eco blog called Eco Fashion Chic, mainly to erase the old idea that all eco fashion is "granola" style. Hats off to everyone who is doing more for the earth each and every day.

Do you Blog For Fun Or For Profit?

Are you blogging for fun or for future profit? If you have your eye on turning your hobby into a money-making venture, it's worthwhile to know what type of blogs are the most profitable. Several sources could help you find this information, but the Insider Monkey has compiled a list based on several different tallies. If you have an interest in any of these blog topics you might just be the new "voice" that readers are seeking.

The most profitable blog topics are the following:
10. DIY/Crafts/Décor
9. Politics
8. Insurance
7. Personal Development
6. Dating & Relationships
5. Money/Business
4. Beauty/Fashion
3. Technology
2. How To Make Money Omline
1. Health & Fitness

For the complete scoop check out Insider Monkey.

How to Draw More Readers To Your Blog

So...you're a blogger and have been mostly focused on coming up with new content. In fact, at first that was all that you cared about and rightfully so. Now, you may find yourself at the stage where you want your traffic to increase not at a snail's pace, but at least a little faster. By now you are probably writing with key words in mind. Not to insult your intelligence, but these are simply words that draw in the people that you want to read you blog. So the words you choose to incorporate into your blog content need to be words or phrases that the readers that you want would likely be searching online.

Whether your blog supports a service business or supports a business that sells products or perhaps it is just to share your knowledge with others. Whatever your particular scenario once you hone in on what your readers are seeking work these words and phrases into your blog, but don't stop there. Identify other blogs that might have an interest in your content. They are often willing to use your blog post as a guest blogger on their site. When they do they will offer a link back to your site. These links are just as important as your key words in reaching a larger and larger audience.

You can also increase your blog's readership by sending it out it newsletter form or a teaser with a link that can be emailed to a list of your readers. If you don't have a sign-up on your blog or social media you can compile a list based on your own customers or clients or upon a shared list if you can locate a non-competing business that finds your content relevant to their customers.You can even rent an email list. The purpose of sending out some of your content via email is that you have the opportunity to draw these email readers to your blog site, hopefully on a regular basis.

To find even more readers, write a key word press release. It's more work and should actually contain news. For instance you could decide to turn your blog posts into a short booklet or guide. Great write a press release and link the release to your blog where you offer the new booklet for sale. Perhaps, you decide to launch a survey on a topic related to your blog. Great, now write a press release about the survey and how to take it. If your blog supports products, write a press release on your newest product and how it is different from others of its kind.

Bottom line, great content is the first step to a great blog. Great outreach is the way to draw more readers to your great content.

Have a Dot Biz? Three Reasons Why Blogging Should Become a Key Part of Your Business.

If you have an e-commerce site only blogging needs to be a key part of your business. The number one reason is for the traffic that it can bring to your website. Not only do your customers like fresh content, search engines love it, particularly Google! What is the easiest way to get fresh content out quickly? A blog.

Ideally, you will aim for creating two or three new blog posts each week. This is frequent enough to encourage your customers/readers to check back which increases your traffic stats and provides you with the opportunity to inform or soft sell to your niche market.

Second reason: Fresh blogs help you expand your market. Not only do the search engines prefer fresh content, your when people use search engines for what is known as organic search, they are often simply entering terms related to products and services that they have an immediate need for or have an interest in. Even if people don't know the name of your company or your products, with consistent blogging you are populating the web with information that could be just what they are trying to find.


Third reason:the bond that fresh content can build with your current customers and the new customers that your blog content can bring to your business. Whether you have a B to B business or a consumer focused business word of mouth is still the best way to grow it and new info is the best way to fuel that word of mouth marketing. If you like most businesses you're not going to revamp the basics of your website all that often, but you can always feed some new information through your blog.