Successful Blog

Search Results for: Introducing

Blog Promotion: May I Introduce You?

by

If you have one of these . . .

You are listed in the SOB Directory

I’m delighted to report that the SOB Directory is one of the MOST VISITED pages at Successful Blog. The story in the stats says that referrals come regularly to that page during the week and on the weekend. During the week, daily readers and their friends often visit both past SOB pages and the SOB Directory. I guess they’re looking for blogs they know and want to read again. On the weekend, new SOBs and their friends join the traffic to see what being an SOB is all about, I guess.

Let Me Introduce You.

In the SOB directory, you’ll see some blogs have a blog description. Do you know about this opportunity? Send me a brief two or three sentence description of your blog. Using your description, I can write an official introduction post for you blog. I’ll feature that post on the front page before I add the description to the SOB Directory.

Introducing Brightmeadow
Introducing Clear Your Mind
Introducing The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy
Introducing Cottontimer
Introducing Simplenomics

Seems like everyone must have directory description already written somewhere on their computer. Dust it off and e-mail it to me at lizsun2@gmail.com.

Let me introduce to you all of the Successful-Blog readers.

It’s Free Promotion

It’s free promotion for you, your brand, your business, and your blog. Free Promotion! How much nicer could it get?

Gee, I really am the nice one.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
What IS an SOB?!
SOB Hall of Fame

FIOTB–Tool 1: Content Development Tool

by

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

Because thinking outside of the box is unstructured, it can can lead to “swiss-cheese solutions”–answers that have holes in them–things that we just didn’t think of in our unstructured thinking. So I find that using structured tools relieves the stress of checking to make certain that all bases have been covered.

Content Development Tool

Ironically using boxes makes it easier to think outside the box. I use this content development tool to make sure that I have considered a topic from every direction before I start getting it ready for any audience. This tool works equally as well for planning an interview, a brand, an article, a small meeting, or a major presentation.

Purpose/Getting Attention: What does my audience want to know?

  • What are my main points and ideas?

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • What facts and details support them?

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

Presentation/Keeping Interest: How is it that I will show and tell them?

  • How will it look?

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • How will I say it with simple elegance?

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

Brand YOU/Reader Satisfaction: Why will they be glad they listened?

  • Analysis, predictions, interpretations

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • What value-added will leave my audience feeling satisfied?

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

  • __________________________________________________

Whether you’re inside or outside of the box, you need to know the what, how, and why of the information you’re offering any audience about any topic. That’s why I’m sharing this tool before we begin talking about getting ideas and solving problems.

I use it all of the time. It’s here now, if you need it.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
Got the Idea. Now What Do I Do with It?
Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist
Introducing Power Writing for Everyone
Why Dave Barry and Liz Don’t Get Writer’s Block

Finding Ideas Outside the Box

by

There Is No Box

There is no box. There never was one. We just got taught to think inside one. You see, it was a management issue. With so many kids to teach at once, it’s more productive to teach one way of thinking than to manage a room full of creativity. . . . So when we weren’t looking, many of us learned the fundamentals of problem-solving, how to color inside the lines, and a way of thinking about things that isn’t all that different from a mime inside a box.

Just like the box that the mime pushes and touches even though you can’t see it. The box that we think inside isn’t real. The way to get out is easy enough–just stop believing in the box.

Life Without the Box

Life without the box is so much easier. It’s as if you now can use all modes of transportation available rather than always having to walk. The resources of your brain are freed up. Even better, it’s a lot more fun, once you get used to it, because thinking outside of the proverbial box involves playing with ideas not just thinking.

DaVinci knew it. So did Einstein. Most inventors couldn’t find the inside of the box if they tried. All great thinkers–folks we call geniuses–know that there’s nothing new to be gathered by staying where everyone else is doing their thinking. So let’s get on with getting out of it.

What You’ll Find Outside the Box

Every day, I’ll offer a strategy and some ideas for approaching your business from a new direction. Each strategy will be flexible and realistic. I’ll show you how to apply it to writing, problem solving, or refining your brand.

To be useful, even thinking outside of the box needs structure, so I’ll be using a problem-solution format. Then within each solution I’ll offer three content subsets: Information, Presentation/Form, and YOU/Function. Those three subheads come directly from What Is Content that Keeps Readers?

So, if you’re ready, I am. Enough with this introduction, let’s let the games begin. Everyone can think like a genius. It only takes a little practice, and a firm commitment to throw away the darn box.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related Articles:
Introducing Power Writing for Everyone
Don’t Hunt IDEAS – Be an Idea Magnet
SEO–Five Traits of Relevant Content

Before You Publish–Check for Spiders and Opportunities

by

Before you hit that PUBLISH button . . .

Publishing occurs whenever an author shares a work with an audience. An email memo, a note that says where you are going, a paper you wrote for a class in Econometrics, these are all forms of publishing.

–ME Strauss

Reading for Spiders

Power Writing Series Logo

Publishing for the web has two audiences–people and search engine spiders. The first time I read my work over, I read it for people. I checked for errors that get between my readers and the message. I also had my proofreader check it to catch what my dyslexia missed. Yesterday, she caught quite bit.

Then I go over it a second time quickly for my second audience–search engine spiders–to make sure the spiders don’t trip and have plenty to eat.

Making Sure the Investment Pays Off

Prorating the time that I spent gathering ideas, I’ve probably spent 60-90 minutes on this one post. Time is money, and I think of that time spent as an investment. Now is when I make sure that investment pays off. I’ve made a short Pre-Flight Publishing list that I run down, before I pass say, “Go.”

  • Is the content keyword rich? By waiting to read for keywords until after all other checks, I make sure that I don’t forfeit quality to pray at the altar of SEO. Now, I can look for keywords my readers might search for and make sure that they find the relevant content that I have to offer. I won’t be reaching, and they won’t be disappointed. Current relationships will stay strong, and new readers will be pleased with what they encounter here.
  • What tags might I add that belong with this post? Tags can help search engine spiders properly index my post. Post tags are definitely blog, brand, and business promotion. If your blogging software doesn’t easily allow you to tag your posts, there are plug-ins and hacks for every platform out there.
  • What related articles do I have that readers might be interested in reading? Offering related articles for readers to go to when they finished your post, gives people more information about a subject they’ve already shown interest in. It also gets readers more involved with you, your blog, your business, and your brand. The intra-link that you make at the end of your post shows people how your content relates and is relevant throughout your blog–this helps search engines index it as well.
  • Are there opportunities for trackbacks? If you’ve mentioned another blogger’s work or if what you’ve said meshes beautifully with the conversation on another blog, send a trackback to let that blogger know.
  • Is this that one-in-a-million post that I should self-promote to other blogs? If you’ve written the post that reveals the nature of how to get “Google Goodness” from every post, carefully write a brief introduction of yourself and your post to a select few bloggers you wish to share it with. Do be sure it’s a one-in-a-million post, and do explain your reasons for thinking it’s a match with their blogs. If you don’t read a blog, don’t send a link. Period. Either way, it’s a long shot that a post really is the one-in-a-million post that we think it is.

Those are just a few ways I try to diversify and grow my investment. I like to make sure the time I spend continues to pay off, compounding interest well into the future.

You probably have other ways that you build promotion into the posts you write. Will you take a minute to share one with us?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related Articles:
SEO–Five Traits of Relevant Content
Introducing Power Writing for Everyone
Check It Out–For Your Readers
Blog Promotion Basics [for Everyone]

Check It Out–For Your Readers

by

The rule is

Allow half again as much time for editing.
If it took 20 minutes to write it, allow 10 more to check it out.
For me, it works the opposite, if it took 20 minutes to write,
it will take 40 minutes to check it out.

Why I Know What I Know about This Step

Power Writing Series Logo

I’m probably the last person who has any credibility in writing about this topic–but maybe that makes me the one to whom you should listen. You see I have so many strikes against me in this area–I come from a family of dyslexics. I suffer from the writer’s curse of seeing what I meant to say, instead of what’s on the paper. I’m a big picture person, which means focus on details takes an extra effort–that I’ve had to find ways of building in safety nets to avoid embarassing myself and the people I work for.

Reading for Your Readers (2-4 minutes)

The writing is done, but it’s not over. Time to check for all of the little glitches that occur when words move from your head down through your finger to the screen. We owe it to our readers to give what we wrote a good and thorough reading. Here are some power steps to follow to make sure that you catch all of the errors in the shortest time possible.

  • Switch your document into the preview mode.
  • Set your browser to a type size at least two sizes larger than you’re used to reading.
  • Print the document and read it on paper.
  • Run a spell checker on the document.
  • Use a checklist to guide you through longer articles.

Printing and reading the document in a larger type size on paper as opposed to on the screen will help you see errors more quickly. Read with a pencil and point to each word as you read it. That will help to prevent your mind from filling in words that you expect to be there but, in reality, are not on the page.

Try to get the basic grammar rules correct, but know this about commas–even the most experienced copyeditors have problems with commas. Be consistent with your use of punctuation and your readers will be able to understand your message.

At this point I copy the document out into a text editor for a spellchecker. I find WordPress spellcheckers to be unreliable. Even if I spellchecked in an offline editor before moving to my blog software, I make changes that haven’t been checked. Checking again is one more safety net that only takes a few seconds, and saves me errors that others would see.

Inputting Changes (2-4 minutes)

If you’re like me, you’ve probably found an error or two. Actually, if you’re like me the number is probably closer to 20 errors. Know this before you start inputting changes. There are three risks I’ve observed from working with professional inputters who have input changes from whole departments of editors.

  • Look closely again near any error you found. It’s human nature to feel so good about finding one error that we miss one right next to it.
  • Tick off each error as you input the change . Missed changes are a common problem with inputting corrections.
  • Introducing new errors at this stage is often a problem. Watch what you input that you don’t accidently add or delete too much. A common mistake is to change a verb that affects the use of the word “to” later in the sentence. For example, if the sentence Ask them to stop. becomes Have them to stop. it is common for folks to forget to delete the word “to” in the second version.

Do yourself and your readers the favor of printing and reading the document again to check that all of the changes have been made and that the document reads smoothly. If you’re as impatient as I am, you want to just publish it . . . but use the few seconds it takes to read it anyway.

The ethic here is spare the reader.

Your readers won’t notice if your work is a few minutes later, but an error will be there until you find it and fix it.

Let me know if you have any questions if your process works in a different way. You might have ideas that will help someone else be a power writer.

Remember every writer’s process is personal. Hope this helps you find out what works best for you.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related articles:
Introducing Power Writing for Everyone
Don’t Hunt IDEAS Be an Idea Magnet
Why Dave Barry and Liz Don’t Get Writer’s Block
Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist

Got the Idea. Now What Do I Do with It?

by

A quote I like a lot says

I hate writing. I love having written.

Make a Five-Minute Writing Plan

Power Writing Series Logo

You can at least get to be friends with writing, if you start with a simple writing plan.

I’ve got a pile of ideas. Writing the article should a breeze. Right? Well maybe. But sometimes, it isn’t. Why is that? Usually it’s because I haven’t really decided what it is I want to say. This is how to avoid that problem by making a quick writing plan.

Decide What You Want to Say (1 minute)

  • Choose the idea you’re most interested in.
  • Write one sentence stating why readers need to know about it.
  • Use that sentences a working title for now.

Plan How You’re Going to Say It (2-4 minutes)

  • Sketch, visualize, or tell yourself what three main points of the article will be. “I’ll say this and this and this.” Most articles that aren’t how-to articles only need 1-3 points well-said.
  • Add something from your personal experience–one bit– that will make a point more clearly or make the article more appealing.
  • Let the research sit there, unless you need it to look something up. It’s served it’s purpose. (See Don’t Hunt IDEAS Be an Idea Magnet.)

Five are minutes up, time to start writing!

Starting, Going, Done in Minutes

When I write I think about my audience–one person that I might be talking to. That makes it easier to frame my message. I picture a prototypical reader–always someone who likes me. Why start out with someone who doesn’t? Then the writing would take on a defensive tone. I want my writing to be friendly so I choose a friendly audience. It’s as simple as that.

Middle, Beginning, Ending

Ever sit down to tell a story and not know how to start it. Inevitably a listener will say, “Start at the beginning.” But just where is the beginning? Sometimes the beginning is the hardest part to see. That’s why I start from the middle with the main points that I just sketched out.

By starting from the middle, no blank screen can intimidate me. I know exactly what I’m going to write and in what order. I get my ideas on paper and flowing. I begin to see the article take form and imagine my readers reading it. I also get a feeling for what exactly it is that’s working.

Write Until You Need to Walk

While I write I add flourishes–metaphors and explanations. Occasionally my mind gets stuck on a word or an idea. It’s that feeling where I know what I want to say, but just can’t seem to find the words or the image to express it. That’s when I move around. Movement helps let the ideas gel. I walk around the apartment, looking at the floor and thinking–this is a no talking, no listening time–it’s sort of like putting my brain on a swing set. The sentence I am trying to write plays in my head–over and over in new versions. When I get back and sit down, I’m ready to write again. In fact, that’s how I got from the words Sometimes I walk in this paragraph to here just now.

Beginning, Ending

When I get the Middle set, I stop to read it and set the subhead. Then it’s time to tackle the Ending and Beginning, which are usually about the same thing–why the heck should people read this and why the heck should they be glad they did?

As the old presentation adage goes:

  • Beginning: Tell them what you’re going to tell them (and why they want to hear it.)
  • Middle: Tell them what you said you’d tell them.
  • Ending: Tell them what you just told them (and why they should be glad they heard it.)

So that’s exactly what I do to call the writing done.

What I Just Told You

Starting with a simple plan–a sketch what you want to tell your readers–and starting in the middle are two ways that you can get yourself into the writing with less pain and more productivity.

Only two things here are critical: know what you want to say and a change of venue when you feel stuck. Don’t feel a need to follow my process. A writer’s process is fluid and personal. Find the gems in what I do that work for you and toss the rest aside.

As always, I’m here if you want to talk about this. Writer’s have so many cool techniques and strategies. I’m really interested in what works for you.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
Introducing Power Writing for Everyone
Don’t Hunt IDEAS Be an Idea Magnet
Why Dave Barry and Liz Don’t Get Writer’s Block
Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist