Successful Blog

Are You Allowing Your Blog To Be Spamtastic?

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By Terez Howard

Spamtastic is not good.

I went on vacation for one week and didn’t touch my blog. When I returned home, I found 112 comments on my blog. Do you know how many I approved as legitimate? Two. And I wasn’t even sure if one of those two was just really good-sounding spam.
Last week, I talked about making valuable comments on other people’s blogs. What about your own blog? Do you give just any comment a passing grade?

 

How can you determine if you’re receiving an actual comment to your work or plain old spam?

Here is one basic rule of thumb: Approve a comment if it contributes to your discussion. If it doesn’t say anything meaningful, trash it.

Some spamtastic comments that don’t belong in your blog

The empty compliment. Perhaps you’ve seen the commenter who says this: “Sweet post.” I’ve gotten that one dozens of times. There’s nothing wrong with a compliment. We all love to get them. But it does not contribute to your blog’s discussion. It doesn’t say anything at all.

Here are a couple comments from my blog that I sent to the spam folder (I did no editing to these comments):

“I found your blog on Yahoo , this is a good blog , i will come back.” People like to say they bookmarked your blog and will return for more. Check out what website they link to, and you might find that exact same comment over and over again waiting for approval, linking to the same blog. That’s what I discovered.

“Keep posting stuff like this i really like it, Good job My friend” This direct quote was from sunglass. I don’t know who sunglass is, but I oftentimes (not always) will not approve authors who do not provide a name. Sunglass, Pc tv and replica handbags have not as of yet provided anything that contributes to my blog. Yet, they keep continuing to post their spam.

Unrelated nothingness. I cannot stand the person who goes off on a topic that has nothing to do with my blog. Perhaps such comments would be of value on another blog, and perhaps not. I’m not really sure. I know one thing: They do not fit my blog.

Let me share some of this nonsense:

“If you are willing to buy real estate, you will have to receive personal loans (There was a link on the keyword personal loans). Furthermore, my mother commonly utilizes a financial loan, which is really useful.”

“Kyle Shelley of All in Education has given me very substandard service. I am amazingley angry in the data that he has provided.”

String of html text. Lately, this has been the most popular form of spamtastic comments on my blog. I will get seven or eight of these in a row every other day. They say absolutely nothing. Their obvious sole purpose is to provide the webmaster with endless links back to their site.

English, people! Besides English, I have gotten comments in Spanish. I can only tell because I know un poco from my four years of high school Spanish. I also get comments in what appears to be German. Isn’t it obvious that these comments don’t contribute to my English-speaking audience? I would post some examples of these, but I have no idea what they say.

Be fantastic, not spamtastic

Don’t approve every comment that comes your way, just so it looks like your posts are getting tons of conversation. It’s not conversation if there is no real communication.

Make your blog a high quality one by encouraging discussion with your readers. When those comments appear, savor the real contributions and don’t hesitate to trash the garbage.

What kinds of spamtastic comments do you avoid?

 

—
Terez Howard operates TheWriteBloggers, a professional blogging service which builds clients’ authority status and net visibility. She regularly blogs at Freelance Writing Mamas . You’ll find her on Twitter @thewriteblogger

Thanks, Terez!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Social Media Book List – Red Fire Branding and The Zen of Social Media Marketing

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A Weekly Series by Teresa Morrow

I’m Teresa Morrow, Founder of Key Business Partners, LLC and I work with authors to help manage their online book promotion. As part of my job I read a lot of books (and I love to read anyway!). I am here to offer a weekly post about one book author I am working with and one book I have put on my reading list. This week I will be highlighting ‘Red Fire Branding’ by Liz Goodgold and ‘The Zen of Social Media Marketing’ by Shama Hyder. The books I discuss will cover a range of topics such as social media, marketing, blogging, business, organization, career building, networking, writing, self development and inspiration.

‘Red Fire Branding’ by Liz Goodgold

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Talk about a book chock full of some great information—this is one of those books! One of the first things Liz states in this book about branding, “The invisible secret to success in business today is your personal brand; you need people to remember you in order to do business with you.”

Here is another great bit of advice from Liz, “…but that we can become a star in our own field by taking a page from their (rock stars and celebrities) stage notes.”

And the book includes after every chapter concludes with hands-on exercises entitled Your Turn to Act. These exercises allows you to take the advice you read into action with your business right away.

Another great bit of advice from Liz, “I recommend that you create a Council of Advisers: colleagues, clients, investors, or even family members to help you get an outsider perspective. You’ll see the Council referred to often in your exercises to act as a reality check.

These helpful tips were in the first few pages…see what I am saying. Great information throughout the book such as her Words of “LIZdom”.

Here are a few:

***SPECIALIZATION IS THE KEY
Great brands are specialized; they stand for one thing only. To brand successfully, you cannot be all things to all people.

***USE SIGNATURES AS GREETINGS AND FAREWELLS
See if you can create a signature hello and goodbye. It can be as simple as “hola,” or as casual as “yo.” Of course, just make sure it’s already a natural part of your speech.

***MUSIC
Explore any type of trademark music that might fit with your brand. Transcriber or wordsmith? Try “Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.” Perhaps a travel agent? Try “Red Sails in the Sunset.” Sell whirlpool baths? Try “Tiny Bubbles.”

***NETWORKING
People do business with people they know, like, trust, and respect. Without any of these qualities, you cannot succeed. Take the time to truly learn about your colleagues and you might be able to help in growing their business, resulting in a possible chance to grow your own.

About the Author:

Liz Goodgold is a marketing and branding expert, speaker, and author, with more than 25 years of experience working for such major companies as Quaker Oats, Times Mirror, and Arco Oil. Currently she is Chief Nuancer and CEO of The Nuancing Group, an identity-consulting firm that helps companies understand the nuances of naming and branding.

Some of her clients include Proflowers.com, Fair Isaac (of the FICO score fame), Univision (largest Hispanic Media conglomerate in the world), and Sharp HealthCare (2008 winner of the prestigious Baldridge Award.)

She also works with a myriad of corporate clients and entrepreneurs for whom she has developed compelling product names, taglines, brand identities, and Internet domains that have generated flawless recall and increased market share.

You can purchase a copy of ‘Red Fire Branding’ online at ThinkAha Books or at Amazon

This blog post is part of a virtual book tour done by Key Business Partners, LLC and I have received a complimentary copy of ‘#PROJECT MANAGEMENT TWEET’ by the authors.

‘The Zen of Social Media Marketing’ by Shama Hyder

Now I would like to highlight a book on my “review” reading list–‘The Zen of Social Media Marketing’ by Shama Hyder.

This book offers:

*Why and How social media works, and how to use it to drive traffic to your website

*Step by step guidelines for Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, plus effective web video

*Insights from more than two dozen leading online marketers and entrepreneurs

*Shortcuts and tips to help you make the most of you time and energy, and proven strategies for success from the businesses Shama works with every day

Here are a few tips she gives in the book:

~ Bring offline networking online (page 53): When you go to conferences or mixers and bring home a stack of business cards, search for the people on Facebook and add them as friends. Then throw away their cards! Facebook will even remind you of their birthdays.
Teresa’s added tip — when it is a colleagues’ birthday, take the time to send them a card.

~Regarding following on Twitter (page 82): Leave out mundane details unless they add value. Avoid things like, “loving this veggie burger.” Use, “Loving this veggie burger at the new San Francisco join on 45th and Lemon.”

~About web video (page 130): After training thousands of people across the world on how to create, get traffic from and profit from web video, I can tell you without a doubt that those who find success always follow these principles: they stop thinking about it, they start doing it and they never quit.

About Shama:

Shama Hyder is the founder of The Marketing Zen Group, a full-service online marketing firm that serves clients around the world. Fast Company has dubbed her “an online marketing shaman and a millennial master of the universe.” She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. Her Web sites, marketingzen.com and Shama.tv have turned into high-traffic destinations for people looking for advice on how to successfully market their businesses online. Companies of all sizes and the media look to Shama to guide them when it comes to the vast world of social media marketing. She has been named one of the 10 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social Media and, in 2009, BusinessWeek honored Shama as one of the Top 25 under 25 entrepreneurs in North America.
*courtesy of Amazon

You can purchase a copy of ‘The Zen of Social Media Marketing’ on Shama’s site at MarketingZen.com or Amazon.

I truly hope you will check out these books and please comment and let me know your thoughts on them.

The Mic Is ON: We’re Back to Talking about Summer Before Twitter!

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Has Twitter Ruined Blog Conversation?

Just a few years back, it was so simple. We met on each other’s blogs like meeting for coffee or wine at the back fence. Now we meet on so many public platforms that we’re talking more, faster, and in shorter bursts.

Are we losing the long conversations we used to have?

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And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring example links to share —

–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

12 Outstanding Managers Share How They Delegate for Success

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Take Too Long to Teach Someone? How Long Will It Take if You Don’t?

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Personal bandwidth who has enough?
Whether we work for a huge corporation or work for ourselves, learning to ask for help in positive, profitable ways is a learned skill. We all have to learn to delegate well or we can’t grow beyond what we can do by ourselves and do well. Without delegation skills, we’ll be stuck as builders, line item worker, mid-level of execution because we won’t be able to …

  • grow past what one person can do in day.
  • trust people who have skills we don’t.
  • move to higher level thinking by passing on what early learners can do.

With that thought in mind, I asked 12 outstanding managers (13 if you count me) this question …

How do you delegate responsibility to inspire the best performance from people you work with?

Here’s what they said.

Know the Outcome You Want

The key to be really clear on what you are looking in a position or on a specific project — and by that I mean, first with yourself. If you don’t have a clear idea in your own mind — if you instead have only a vague notion — it’s pretty difficult for anyone who works with you. And that’s a frustration for everyone. Do I sound like I’ve been there? Uh.. yeah! — Ann Handley

Work with and Trust the Right People

Simple as it sounds, sometimes we reach for the nearest person to help, rather than taking time to identify the person best suited for the work we have. Taking a moment to look at the skills required and match the person to the job can make a HUGE difference in the success of a job.

You are correct, not having enough time to get everything done is a top concern for most of us. I know it is for me. I think that the key is to recognize that you absolutely cannot do it all on your own. And the responsibilities will only increase, so it becomes a necessity to bring in an assistant or even a team to help with time-draining details. Spend time hiring the RIGHT people that can be reliable and trustworthy and then TRUST THEM TO DO IT. — Kelly Olexa

I make sure to delegate squarely in the sweet spot of the other individual’s skill set, which usually maps to one of my weaknesses. This gives the teammate the opportunity to take ownership and feel important (which, in fact, they are!) — Steve Woodruff

First, pick and work with great people, if you want the best performance. Second, never let an issue fester, when you could address with an open honest, if painful, communication. — Becky McCray

Set Clear Expectations

Often when we work with someone we respect, we “endow” that person with great traits. We unconsciously assume he or she will deliver things that we don’t mention when we “hand over” a task.

Clearly state the task to be done, set a clear goal and give feedback when the task is completed — Barry Moltz

I am a control freak, so it is not in my nature to delegate. It has to be a process of discussion and mutual trust, then I let go (as best as I can). This means agreeing time frame, ensuring the person I am delegating to knows EXACTLY what is expected of them, and talking through everything they need before they can get started. — Chris Garrett

First, I make sure I’m clear about what I’m delegating. In other words, I try to make clear the work I expect the person to complete and the decisions that they will be responsible for making.

Second, I try my hardest to trust. This is the only way to not be a micro-manager. Truth is, people have brains and ideas of their own…they might make choices that are different than what I would choose. When they do, I want to learn how why they did, so I ask their rationale. More often that not, it’s sound.

Combined, I believe that these two things allow me to get the best performance from the people I work with. — Scott Porad

Let People Know Why You’re Counting on Their Performance

To get great work, communicate how it important a project is and why it’s important. Let people know that you’re counting on them for their best. Nothing ruins performance more than thinking someone might come behind us to “redo” what we’ve just done.

I get the best results when I explain not only the tasks at hand but also the purpose. Understanding the reason why something needs to be done and the general purpose / objectives behind the work gives the person performing the work extra insight and inspiration to do their best. — Carol Roth

Rather than delegating responsibility I try to delegate “soul”. Always make sure the person knows “why” what I am doing and delegating is so important to me. It becomes an emotional bond rather than a functional responsibility. — Hank Wasiak

Be There After the Assignment

It’s a risk to delegate and forget a project. Often a check back will reveal something that we’ve not communicated well. Sometimes a question or an offer to “take a look” can empower someone to perform at even higher levels.

I work my best to create simple systems and empower those I work with by asking how I can serve them to get the job done better, easier, and faster. — Lewis Howes

Value Great Performance

Everyone likes to be paid well, but payment comes in many forms. Gratitude for great work, referrals, and citations add to the mix of what inspires people to want to do their best work for us.

Explain the task. Illustrate its importance. Communicate the benefit to them. Then make sure the benefit happens. Even if it’s just a “good job” you can’t forget the praise or next time they’ll forget to follow through. — Jason Falls

and Remember to Delegate Even When You Don’t Want to …

The point is that delegating today might mean that it will take you two days to teach someone how to do something, but two days from now they’ll know how … If you don’t delegate now, two days from now you’ll still be someone who has to go it alone.

I suck at actually IMPLEMENTING this, but I DO try to remember it as guidance….learned it from a smart guy on an Admiral’s staff….

“It’s not a question of ‘What must I do?’ It’s a question of ‘What must get done?’ Stuff has to get done, but that does not mean that I – personally – must do it.”

— Sheila Scarborough

Asking for help clearly with focus on the person and the work that needs doing can actually improve our performance and make our value greater. After all, who doesn’t know someone who does something better than we do?

Where might a little delegation raise your visiblity, your performance, and the amount of work you get done?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

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Checklist: Opportunity Is Knowing Your Position on the Playing Field

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Every commander knows that on the field of battle we want to be on the higher ground. Every brand manager, every business owner should really be thinking the same. In order to grow a brand and business, we have to know our position before we can advance.

Opportunity Is Knowing Your Position on the Playing Field

Position is relational. It’s part property — what we own. If we own more and manage more we become more visible, more audible, more amplified.

Position is part expertise — what we know and can do well. Keep learning. We’re constantly offered opportunities to learn new strategies, skills, and techniques. It’s also good to teach. Teaching builds position and visible expertise.

Position is part perception, packaging and communication — what others see. If we live the values we want to be, then people see, perceive, and know us as those values. Do you live and talk a clear message? Do you hear and encourage other people to pass on that message about you?

Position is part the networks and relationships — how we interact with the industry. Do you have a brand and a business that attracts others to you?

Use this checklist to build yourself a view of your current position.

where you stand Are you standing on solid ground? Is your foundation connected and stable?

  • as a player in the industry Who’s next to you? Who do you need to meet? Who’s irrelevant to where you’re going?
  • as a citizen in your customer, partner, vendor networks What sort of people value you? Who needs to know more about you?

where you’re seen Are you visible in the places that you need to be to meet the people you want to meet?

  • on the blogs, sites, webinars, and spaces online What does your web presence say about you? Do you only hang with people who do what you do? Do you only talk to people who buy what you sell?
  • at the stores, events, meetings, and campaigns offline Do you go out to meet people in person? Are you as social offline as you are online? Is your offline presence projecting the same image of you? Do you show up before and hang around after you speak?
  • in the books, mail, email, and videos sent out about you Do you have a presence in print and video? Should you? Do you need a newsletter?

where you’re heard What’s being said? Who is listening? Who is talking about you?

  • when you speak, talk, visit clients. Do you initiate contact with new people in the networks you want to reach?
  • when people talk about you. Do you know what people say about you?

where you’re investing How do you invest your expertise and time?

  • when you offer your energy, advice, help, or service Do you share your expertise with the right people at the right times? Who wants to be you? Do you keep your promises, answer questions, and offer your best consistently?
  • when you claim your success Who knows what you know how to do? Who should?
  • when you grow How often do you connect outside of the network of people who do what you do?

Think through where your brand and your business is right now. Find a question that stopped you, that made you think longer than the rest. Work that first. Once you’ve worked most of them through, you can plan a campaign that truly leverages your position, plays to your skills, and advances your position toward higher ground.

Position is all opportunity. Knowing where we stand lets us see the possibilities of where we can go.

Which question offers the most opportunity for you?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

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How Do You Work Around the Things You Do That Get in Your Own Way?

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I woke up today a morning filled with a brilliant sun shining over the lake. Wish I could say it’s this one …

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Today is even sunnier and more inviting, but I can’t show you the photo I took because … um … I’ve lost the cord to connect my camera to upload the photos I take.

I’m the sort who has to watch — literally keep my eyes on — where I put things and always put things in their assigned place. It’s a discipline I’ve learned to keep me from getting in my own way. Otherwise I set things down without paying attention and can’t find them when I need them.

We all have personal tendencies that don’t work in our favor. We can let them define us, figuring the world will adapt what we can’t change

… or we can find our own “work arounds” that work for us.

I’ve renewed my commitment that I need to keep things in their place … always. Whether I find it or buy a new one, I’ll never let a missing cord get in my way again.

What do you do that gets in your way? How do you work around that?

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