It wasn't so long ago that we, as marketers, heard the term Attraction Marketing all the time. Sometimes multiple times daily. But not so much anymore. So what happened with attraction marketing? Will there be attraction marketing for 2019?

Or It's just not a thing any more?

Was it just a fad? Is it gone now?

Make no mistake, attraction marketing is still very much a thing. The concept will never die. It may have taken on other names or references, but the idea remains the same, and it remains legit. In fact attraction marketing for 2019 will not only be a thing, but a necessity.

Either way, here's what's really happened to attraction marketing. It has become even more of a necessity. Attraction marketing for 2019 and beyond will be alive and well. In fact, the need for it is stronger now than it has ever been.

Let me explain. I'll be talking mainly about online marketing as I always do. I will also be talking mainly about team building with a network marketing or an MLM company as that is the profession I am in. 

We are network marketers at heart… it’s our passion and it’s how we pay the bills. So we talk about it frequently. Most of our contacts and friends are network marketers as well….we know this is a large percentage of our audience, so we work hard to deliver the goods.

And attraction marketing for 2019 is definitely one of those things we will be talking about.

You'll have to do the same thing. You'll have to learn. Training is critical to your internet marketing success. It's a double dip. You learn the skills to use the internet to drive traffic to your websites, but you also learn the skills so you can teach others.

You become that attraction marketer for 2019 that others want to join.

Making the transformation and obtaining that attraction mindset will require a shift in your thinking. It’s a process, and in the process you will go through some changes. Understanding the “learning process” is part of this.

Trying to do it like everyone else is hard. There's a lot of resistance. Learning to market in such a way that attracts other networkers to you, as opposed to chasing around your friends and family, is like learning to swim with the current and not against it.

That can happen. That will happen. Start learning the techniques to market your business online, and then teach others. You will be amazed. You will learn things that your upline didn’t tell you, and that your company didn’t tell you.

Marketing at it’s finest. Marketing yourself, your brand, and your skill-sets. Nothing else matters in business if good marketing is not in place.

The attraction marketing model is the right way to start for beginners, and for others it’s the right way to restart. Think hard about your foundation and how strong you want your organization to be. 

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Once you are known for providing high-value content that people can benefit from, then you’ll start to build up your followers. There’s a lot you can do. Everyone is good at something and everyone has something to offer.

Getting Yourself Noticed Is Not That Difficult

Anyone can do it. Here are a few examples of what you might want to share with others and teach to people.

• How to set up a hosting account
• How to buy a domain
• Why a person would want a domain name
• How to set up a blog
• How to set up a facebook fan page
• Tips and tricks for getting engagement on your Facebook posts
• Building relationships online
• How to do Facebook ads
• How to set up and use a lead capture page inside Facebook
• Setting up a Youtube Channel
• Why a person would want to start video marketing
• How to edit videos
• What to blog about
• Image software and how to use them
• List building principles

Those are just a few examples. So you see, there is tons of stuff that anyone can do and teach to provide value online. This is content marketing and it’s also attraction marketing. People are attracted to those who can help them in some way. People want to work with others who provide training, leadership, and direction.

Be Serious About Your Business

If you let people know that you are serious about what you are doing, that you are in it to win it and that there are no other options but to succeed, and that you are dedicated to your business and there for the long term, then you will get their attention.

On the other hand, if you put yourself out there as someone who is just part time, or just dipping their toe in the water, or if you are jumping all over the place and promoting multiple programs and every next new thing, no one is going to take you seriously … at least not a business builder.

Let people know that you have some knowledge of your industry, and that you stay up on the latest in strategies, and that you are always testing new business building methods that you will be reporting on. Things happen fast and they change fast on the internet… what worked last year might not work so well this year. So read, study, and learn about the industry that you are in, and share what you learn.

By doing these things, you will differentiate yourself from most of the amateur program promoters online pitching their businesses, yet not providing any value and substance and reasons why a person would want to work with them.

Give People A Reason To Want To Join You In Business

Anyone can join anyone, and people join people for a reason. Give them a reason. A lot of people sponsor shop…at least those who are serious about making something happen. They know they need a good leader and good support, so you darn well better let them know you can provide those things.

Getting yourself noticed online is just the beginning, but it’s the first step. Self-branding is critical to establishing your online presence.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

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Why? Because multi platform marketing boosts exposure, leads, and sales.

So what does this mean really … what is a platform? Every different social media site, website, video host, forum, search engine, etc, is a separate platform, also known as a channel. So it stands to reason, the more platforms you are advertising on, the more exposure, and engagement, you will receive.

Multi platform marketing can lead to higher returns on your investment, regardless of what you are marketing. If you are not getting your message out to a broad audience and taking advantage of all the platforms available, you are going to miss at least some of the audience you want to hit.

Having said this, there are some challenges involved in marketing this way. We’ll cover those now.

Keeping the Message

Have you ever noticed how users personalities and mannerisms can differ across separate platforms? Those on Linkedin may be distinctly different from the people on Facebook for example. You might find yourself trying to conform yourself to these different types of people. In doing so, however, your delivery might change and that’s not necessarily the best thing. Let’s not lose the message in the process. We might be on multiple platforms, but we will be constructing a link among all our channels, creating a path to follow. Stay recognizable throughout, and keep the same message throughout.

Consistent Branding

It’s crucial for our branding to be consistent as well. The goal is to be recognizable at a glance. Think of the big brands out there. It doesn’t matter where you are when you see them, you know who they are instantly. That will be our goal as well, although maybe on a slightly smaller scale, it’s as important to us as it is to them.

Using Channels That Matter

Your audience might be diversified, but it’s not everywhere. If you know who your target is you can learn where they are gathering. Having a target audience doesn’t do any good if you are not putting your message where they are hanging out. This is a big part of getting conversions and results. Having the right people see the ads is as important as the ads themselves.

Learning How To Deliver The Message

We talked about it. Not all people are the same. They can still need and want what you have, but they may be more responsive to different methods of delivery. So while the message remains the same, the way it’s transmitted can vary. A quick example is Twitter with its 140 characters, Facebook with its very popular live feeds and videos, and Google search engines being good for blog posts, videos, and articles. There are many variations and some styles work better across alternate platforms. Learning how to re-package your content can have big advantages with multi platform marketing.

Knowing What Your Audience Wants

It’s important to know just what your audience needs and how they want to receive your message, if at all. What do they need to hear? Can your product benefit them? What are their hot buttons? Do you know their likes and dislikes? Do they have a problem that needs to be solved? If so, can your product or service solve that problem? It’s never about you…. it’s always about them.

Putting All The Pieces Together

Staying consistent and on point can be tricky across multiple platforms. But even though the platforms are different in structure and name with various formats, they still work together. Keeping a cohesive and well-balanced message and approach across your multi platform marketing will help your brand immensely. Your audience will recognize you and you will appear more organized and cohesive.

Good luck with your marketing.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

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In my mind, everyone that is starting out or attempting internet marketing should for sure be doing some basic foundational activities. One of those activities is blogging. Blogging can take you down a lot of avenues because of the sharing aspects available online now. Your blog is your hub and everything branches out from there. It’s your home base. Everyone should have a blog.

So …to get started… of course you need to install and set up the blog, but first, you will want to have chosen and acquired a domain name. This is something that you should put some thought into. It will be your name tag online. Just the simple fact that you have your domain name can change the way people see you online. Now you are a serious marketer. It will set you apart from those who are not serious. Doesn’t sound like much I know but you would be surprised.

Put Some Thought Into Your Domain Name Choice

Your domain name will tie in with the niche market that you are going after. Targeting a select group of people will create far more efficiency in your marketing efforts and create better faster results. This is another area you would want to put some thought into …. but don’t over think it. I see far too many people get stuck with this and never get past the planning stage. This is a critical mistake that people make and it takes them right out of the game. We will teach you to just do it.

To install a WordPress blog you will need a hosting account. The blog itself is free but there is a minimal charge for hosting account…. however hosting is something that you are going to need anyway. If you continue on to learning how to set up lead capture pages and sales funnels you will need a hosting account. I use HostGator and it works just fine for me. Perfectly adequate and easy to navigate. Once you have HostGator you can install your WordPress blog right inside your hosting account C-Panel (back office) with just a couple clicks – super easy.

You will also want to learn how to create image banners and edit images. This is also free and fun. Microsoft Paint is fine for this, or any number of other image editing software. Some are free and some that are more advanced you can purchase. Images are important for blogging. Your cover image of course … but also images in your posts have a purpose as well.

And the icing on the cake is your lead capturing opt-in form that will be included with all your blog posts. The opt-in form is the beginning of a funnel that will capture leads, drip info on those leads, and direct them down the path to wherever you want them to go.

Watch this video for more clarification on who should have a blog

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

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Do you believe it could be of some benefit if you were looked upon as an internet marketing leader or an expert in your niche?

What about staying consistent with your presence online and on social media… do you think that matters?

In this blog post, we are going to discuss methods to become known and recognized as an internet marketing leader.

There is no cookie cutter formula. It’s not a black and white step by step process. There will be unclear areas in your journey, but you will gain focus as you go. As long as you lay down a path for yourself and follow it, you will get clarity. I’ve included some steps that should help you along.

Blogging

Blog often – even if you don’t have a following yet. When people start coming around to visit your blog you want them to be greeted with plenty of content. Every post doesn’t have to be about your main topic. Still, it’s best to weigh more heavily in favor of showing yourself as having a knowledge in your chosen niche. This is a calculated process in slowly becoming known as a well-balanced individual and an authority in your field. You could start from a beginner’s perspective and work your way up from there. This way you won’t lose those who are young in their own journeys.

Social Media

Post on Social Media – you can post in ways that will get you followers. Provide thoughtful tips and encouraging words. Motivation is always a winner, everyone loves humor, and offer expertise about your niche or topic of choice. This way you are giving a mix that will keep people from becoming bored with your material. Readers don’t want to see the same thing all the time, or to be pitched about something they could care less about.

Video

Video Marketing – even if you don’t like getting in front of the camera. It doesn’t matter …you can learn about creating cool videos without ever having to show yourself. If you are not shy then get yourself out there. We are in the age of video and that’s what a lot of people expect to see now. There’s a ton of info available and you can learn how to do small edits, so it doesn’t matter if you mess up. If you do, then just cut that part out…. no big deal. But using video is a great way to become known, and you can start offering info and teaching people about your passion.

Groups

Engage in Groups – like forums and social media niche groups. Find groups whose topic you know something about, and engage. Make conversation with others and you’ll make friends at the same time. Groups and forums are great for networking if you’re not just pitching your deal. People who see you offering useful ideas and constructive conversation often will reach out to become better acquainted.

SEO

Study and Learn – about SEO, and how you can optimize your content to be found in the search engines. You don’t have to be an expert here. You only need to know the basics to be as good, or better, than most of the other marketers on the scene. There are even plugins and programs that will do a lot of the work for you. For example, if you are blogging with WordPress you can get a Yoest SEO plugin that will tell you exactly what to do to optimize your posts. Google+ posts also get priority indexing with Google search, just as youtube videos do. It’s a great way to get “seen” by other networkers and prospects.

Articles

Articles – are also effective ways of delivering your message online, and you can easily find 3rd party
resources that will distribute those across the internet. Press releases can be categorized into this group too. Google could even pick up some of your content with these services and if you spread your messages far and wide there is a better chance of that happening. Write as many articles as you can and distribute them as often as you can. Chances are you will be seen and you will be recognized.

Education

Teach and Educate – as frequently as you can. Providing useful content such as how-to tutorials is an excellent way to get yourself known as a leader. Informative manuals and articles are also great ways to render high-quality material. It doesn’t matter how it’s delivered, any of the platforms mentioned above will do just fine. You might have your own ways that suit you better. What matters is that you create the content and make it available to others.

To summarize …getting yourself recognized online and becoming known as an internet marketing leader is crucial to your online success. Not everyone is able to accomplish this feat, but it can be done by having a plan of action and sticking to it. Providing high-quality content that people can use and benefit from is the fastest way we know to get there. The goal with this type of marketing is to have those you network with, seek you out as the person they want to work with, as opposed to you having to chase people around.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

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What makes the best resources to grow your online business? How do we know? Are some really that much better than others?

The truth is, the best resources to grow your online business are the one’s you’re using and the one’s you’re good at. What works for some might not work as well for others. We all have different styles, different methods, some of us have more times than others, some have bigger budgets, or more online knowledge or experience. There are many different factors.

But, if you are not taking advantage of some of the more popular and easily accessible resources available today for marketing your online business, and if you are not using a mix of those resources to distribute your message, then you are not leveraging yourself, or all that’s available, as well as you could be.

Look at everything that’s available today…. much of it is free or close to free. There’s blogging, newsletters, email marketing, social media marketing – free and paid services, video marketing, article marketing, SEO ranking – free and paid services, forum marketing, solo ads, and more.

Content is still king, and will remain king. If you are not giving people a reason to want to work with you … if you are not providing value and education and solutions to problems, then your prospects will go find someone who is. It’s all about the content you are offering… either it has value or it doesn’t. You don’t have to be an expert at anything. If you just provide stuff that people can use to help them, if you just teach something, then you will acquire a following. If you don’t, then you won’t.

So what forms of content should you use? Well as mentioned above, there are many forms you can use, and eventually, you should use them all. But start with whatever you feel most comfortable with and get good at it. Then add to it. Don’t try to learn everything at once you’ll get overwhelmed and frustrated. I like video, blog posts, and Facebook posts. Everyone should be doing all three of those things in a fairly short amount of time, but start with one. As you get better you want to continue to add to your arsenal. Having multiple forms of distributing your message will allow you to reach a broader audience.

But you do need a plan of action, and this might be something I should have mentioned first. I teach all this in my Internet Marketing for Beginners book. Having a plan of action will allow you to stay focused and make progress. You will not be running around in circles wondering what to do next, or wondering why you are doing what you’re doing. It’s crucial to have a plan of action but to also understand why the plan is there and how the pieces will eventually fit together. What is your short goal, and what is the end result?

Some people will tell you to create a publication calendar, or something similar. I say just create a basic plan, and stick to it. Get away from too much planning and not enough doing. Just do something…it’s the only way to learn is to just do it. It won’t be perfect. It might even look ugly to you at first, but it will get better, and the self-satisfaction of moving forward and providing content is a major motivator. Just get some stuff our there because quite frankly branding yourself is everything. If you want to get followers you need to start putting out some content so people will start recognizing your name.

The email list is arguably the most important thing to an online marketer. I like the argument, and I teach it.The money really is in the list. Everything else that you are doing ….all the content marketing … is geared towards getting an email address. You provide something people want and can use, in exchange for an email address. Some might tell you social media marketing has replaced email marketing… they might even actually think that… but in reality, social media marketing is just another platform to lead people to your email list. All your distribution channels are simply paths to acquiring email addresses.

Once you have built your email list, and you manage your email list like a professional, then you market to the list. You continue to offer and provide value and high-quality content, but you also send your offers … and now you will get results.

So the moral of the story, is to start. Just start .. and learn as you go. Get better as you go. Start adding pieces as you go. And the flow will come. You will figure it all out if you just start and go. You will learn how to link it all together. The end result is a loop that interconnects all your distribution channels so you saturate the space with your content and your name. Your name will begin to resonate in people’s minds. The more they see you, the more they will expect to see you, and want to see you. Because then they are beginning to realize that you are serious about what you are doing, and you have something to offer.

The best resources to grow your online business, are the ones you are using.

So just start.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

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Are you doing the same things over and over with little to no results?

That gets old and frustrating …am I right?

Well, it’s not you…. or maybe I should say it’s not just you. It’s something that many of us are feeling now. Truth be told, a lot of the marketing methods that used to work online, just don’t work anymore. Times are changing…. the internet is a fast moving vehicle and what worked yesterday might not work today.

Nowadays, it’s not good enough, to be just good enough. Nowadays you must be better. The competition is brutal. Everyone’s getting in on the act and it’s like a swarm of bees out there.

There are so many “new” people online trying to do the deal, that it’s real easy to get lost in the crowd. Everyone trying to market the same way…. the same old way. However… this can work to your advantage. If you are just a “little better” not only will you not get lost in the crowd, but you’ll shine in the crowd.

Do things exemplary, and you’ll be like a shining beacon. The good part…. it’s not difficult to be better. It’s just a matter of knowing what needs to be done to be better.

Back in the day when you could simply place an ad just about anywhere, attract consumers, and make sales are long gone. People have become numb to the overabundance of ads more recently. Today’s marketing methods are all about “attraction and connections.”

In the remainder of this post, I’m going to bring your attention to some of those marketing methods that can create the “attraction and connections” that are so much needed in this day and age.

Responsive Websites – What do I mean by responsive websites? Mobile optimized. In case you didn’t know, the world has gone mobile. Or at least half of it has. Mobile technology is the now and the future. If your websites are not mobile responsive, you are losing your shirt tails to those whose sites are mobile responsive.

Social Media – Everyone is aware of social media, and most people are on social media, but not everyone knows how to use it to their benefit when it comes to business and marketing. It’s not enough to just join Facebook, you have to also participate. You must present yourself as a person who is there to market and who is serious about it. That means filling out your profiles completely, showing your brand in a good positive light, sharing your content regularly, sharing other people’s content regularly, engaging with other people regularly with likes and comments, participating in discussions and conversations in groups and on pages, and creating relationships with those who have something in common with you. Participation is key.

Teach Something – The minute you show you have knowledge in something, and you are willing to share that knowledge with others, you become an authority figure that others will follow. Teaching something breaks down barriers, get’s people’s attention, fills a need and a void, and it shows people you are bringing value to the marketplace. Everyone is good at something. You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to know more than most of your audience, on any given subject.

Become an Author – Whatever your niche or your topic is…. whatever you are good at, you can write about it. Providing information, tutorials, stories, examples, resources, and marketing techniques are just a few of the formats you can write on. Authoring a book is an exceptional way to bring attention to you and your business. The costs are extremely low, but the results can be highly effective. Pay particular attention to the quality of the cover. It should be professional and appealing and this will go a long way.

Use Videos – People love videos and they have come to expect them…. they often look for videos when they are surfing about for information. Video marketing has exploded recently and a lot of networkers consider using videos in their campaigns to be mandatory. There are different types of videos and you can make your own, or easily outsource it. Sales videos, explaindio videos, tutorial videos, videos that tell a story, product launch and review videos, how-to videos, company management introduction videos, team training videos, and the list goes on.

Special Landing Pages & Funnels – Nothing get’s the attention of a potential prospect more than a smooth flowing funnel that takes a person on a tour to get all the information they need, before ever having to talk to anyone. This shows them they are dealing with a professional marketer who knows their stuff and has something to offer. Keep in mind there’s more to it than just the funnel …you still have to make yourself available. There will always be human interaction required, but if you couple a funnel with the other items listed here today, you’ll have your prospects in the bag before you ever even speak with them, and when you do speak with them, you’ll know you’re talking to someone who’s already highly interested in whatever you are offering.

And finally, Mix up Your Delivery – Use a variety of different forms of content delivery on your blog and/or website. Don’t just use text – use video, podcasts, audio and more to give your visitors a lot of ways to consume your content. People have different preferences and different likes and dislikes when it comes to how they best absorb information. You just give them a variety to choose from.

So if your online efforts have stagnated and producing little results, try utilizing the marketing methods mentioned above and see if you can take to a next level.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

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You are excited and you join with big hopes and plans. You are pumped, motivated, and ready to go. This product is so good it’s going to sell itself! That’s what they told you. You are going to tell some friends who are going to tell their friends and it’s going to take off! That’s what they told you!

Newsflash … no product sells itself, and no one has built a big successful business just telling their friends … sorry to say.

It’s a business, and like any other business it requires marketing …real marketing. Something you are going to have to get your mind around, and skills you are going to have to learn and apply.

Think about this….a master mechanic who knows engines inside and out, who can troubleshoot and is handy with tools, may not necessarily be able to build a successful auto repair business. It takes marketing, customer support and satisfaction, team training and assistance, lots and lots of followup, and more.

It’s the mindset that distinguishes the technician from the successful business owner. The mindset that drives you to take the necessary actions, get the necessary training, do the necessary daily tasks, the follow ups, and all the rest of the duties that need to be done aside from just fixing the car. The same applies to the beginner network marketer. You have to become, and portray yourself as the leader and the marketer…. not the “I’m a rep for such-and-such a company”. The product is not going to sell itself, and your friends are not going to tell all their friends.

You want to be a network marketer?… you need to start walking, talking, and acting like a network marketer. You need to get yourself all the necessary training and coaching and mentorship. You need to learn how to define your target market, connect with those people, show them how you can help them, provide a solution to a problem, convince them that you are a good reliable hard working sponsor, mentor, and coach, and show them the way.

Not everyone is your prospect…. not everyone cares what you are doing or what you are offering… not everyone has the same desires needs and wants that you have, and not everyone dreams like you dream. You have to learn how to find those people by analyzing, sorting, sifting, and priming your market.

There’s a saying you may know. If you owned a car wash who is your market? No it’s not people with cars, and no it’s not people with dirty cars… it’s people who want a clean car. Do you see? If you have a hot dog stand, you don’t need the best most super duper dog in the county, you don’t need the cheapest dog available, and you don’t need a supersonic advertising budget. You just need a hungry crowd.

Learning how to target a market… your market… capture leads from that market, and follow up with those people in a non-obtrusive fashion and in a way that makes people want to listen to you, or maybe even work with you, is the secret sauce. This is a skill in itself …attraction marketing, relationship marketing, content marketing…. whatever you want to call it… or sometimes just simply being likable. will get you a long long way.

We will continue to talk about these things, of course. This is what we do and it’s what we teach…. but for now it’s all about your mindset… are you, the beginner network marketer willing to do the things necessary? How bad do you want it, how hungry are you, how determined are you, and how persistent are you. Do you have what it takes to stick with it through the tough slow times, because there will be tough slow times.. and do you have what it takes to go the distance. Not everyone does… do you?

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

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Does your writing have much to be desired?

Relax, it’s ok … it’s not so uncommon. In fact, it’s really quite common.

Some people just hate to write. They are not good at it. They write anyway, because they want to blog, but it just stinks. It’s not readable. It looks and sounds like a mumble jumble mess. Sound familiar?

Others love to write… they are good at it… but maybe too good. They could write a novel, but is that good for a blog post? Stories are awesome, but is the reader staying on the page? Is it captivating enough to keep their attention? Are you getting your message across?

Your writing has to be readable for the common man (or woman).

People love to scan…. they are busy….they are in a hurry but have a few quick minutes to see what you have to say. So how do we keep those eyeballs on our blog post’s long enough to get the message across? How can we present this in a friendly way so as not to lose our readers?

I think this is something that a lot of people deal with…they want to blog, and so when I came across some great content on this very subject I got to thinking, and decided to share it with you in a blog post.

Question: “You want to blog, but do you think you need to spend hours and hours perfecting your writing skills?” The answer…probably not. In fact you might need to dumb it down some. The solution may be a lot easier than you expect. Writing less and styling your text so it’s easy to read could be all you need to do to attract and hold attention.

To write successfully for the web, you need to forget some of what you learned in English composition class, accept that people scan web pages rather than reading them in detail, and work with this reality rather than fighting it.

If you want to cover a complex topic, consider breaking it into a series of posts. It’s a great way to keep people coming back for more, and your reader will find it easier to digest your content if they get it in portion-controlled sizes.

Here’s a few simple ways to simplify your writing and to get more people to stay on your page and read ALL your content.

1) Use the line break.

It’s an easy way to make your content more readable. Lots of white space makes it easier on the eyeballs. Feature one idea per paragraph, and keep them short — three or four sentences at most.

And try writing some paragraphs with one sentence only.

2) Break up the content with subheads.

Subheads help keep the reader engaged, acting as “mini headlines” to keep them moving through the rest of your content, and give clarity to the content.

3) Use bullet lists

• They create eye magnets your readers can’t resist
• They’re an easily-scannable way to present multiple points
• They look different, so they provide a visual break

4) Use images with captions.

Images draw attention and eyeballs, and are known to intrigue the reader making your content more interesting to them.

5) Add relevant links

Internal links back to your own content will keep people on your site and reading your best material, and external links demonstrate that you’ve researched the topic and want to highlight other experts.

Good content uses both to expand your reader’s understanding, adds value, and helps with SEO indexing.

6) Use formatting

Add emphasis to your web copy by bolding important concepts. You reader will be able to scan through and pick out the most important information at a glance.

Don’t highlight everything (which would have the same effect as highlighting nothing). Instead, emphasize the key points so the scanner can quickly pick them out.

7) Use numbered lists

Numbers are an effective way to both capture attention and to keep the reader engaged. You can often make a post more compelling just by numbering your main points. Give it a try.

8) Don’t hype

Forget about the caps, exclamation marks, multi-colored font, and pitching your deal. Your blog post is not a billboard and it’s not a classified ad. Think instead about teaching, educating, motivating, explaining, sharing, telling stories, sharing testimonies, and offering help. Calls to Action are not hype, and are ok, and even recommended, if not overdone.

and finally …proofread. Do you find it easy to read and understand. Will the reader keep from getting lost, and will they get the main points. Does it look like something you would want to stumble across online and would it captivate your attention.

So for those that want to blog, practice these simple steps and you’ll be a blogging pro in no time.

I hope you received some value from this. Please feel free to leave a comment or two

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

P.P.S. If you find this information valuable please subscribe to get future posts delivered to your email, and please leave us a comment…thanks!

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The post You Want To Blog, You Need To Blog, But Your Writing Just Stinks? appeared first on Internet Marketing For Beginners.

Would it be your list, your website, your system, your company, or your product? All those things are vitally important yes…. but which is the most valuable to your business?

This is a topic that has slowly come to make more sense to me the longer I am in this business. What really is my greatest business asset? …and what really is my greatest contribution to that asset?

One will get a lot of varying answers to this question…. but when i realized my greatest business asset was my audience, and that the way I connected with that audience was so critical… then things began to change. Coming to the realization that the content I created and put out had everything to do with them, and not me… what they wanted and not what i wanted, it all became crystal clear..

Our audiences require, and demand, relevant content to their needs…. not what I want to hear and see, but what they want to hear and see. The content we create must be helpful… it must be interesting and informative, and easy to read, listen to and watch… for them not for us.

The stuff we put out really doesn’t have to be cute, or in-depth… it doesn’t have to be hyped up, or overly clever… it simply needs to fill a need and solve a problem … simply. Easy to understand, easy to comprehend, and easy to please. If it can solve a problem or fill a need, that’s really all that’s required.

If the content can do that, then it’s good content… if it cannot, then it’s not good content. Does that make sense? It’s only relevant if your audience says it is… it’s only helpful if they think it is, and it’s only rewarding if it’s rewarding to them.

I’ve learned that putting my needs and wants aside, and putting my audiences needs and wants as the top priority…the following things began to happen….

• The content became easier to write.

  

• My focus became content that was more reader-friendly.
• I started sounding less like a giant business and more like a friendly human being who was simply providing answers to questions.
• I stopped trying to make my content “impressive” and started trying to make it clear and useful.
• The answers to the questions became more precise, clear, and to the point.
• I quit using “clever” headlines and start using benefit-rich ones.
• I started to see more engagement to the content I was delivering.

My conclusion … stop talking at or around your audience, and start talking WITH them… more like a two-way conversation. When you serve your audience with what they need and want, in a friendly useful easy to understand manner…and provide helpful material that they can relate to, benefit from, or that will help fill a need or solve a problem… then they want more. So you see… it’s your audience that is your greatest business asset.

by Brett Gurney

Striving for Excellence

P.S. Stay tuned for more Internet Marketing Tips & Techniques and guides to building the brand of YOU.

P.P.S. If you find this information valuable please subscribe to get future posts delivered to your email, and please leave us a comment…thanks!

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The post What is Your Greatest Business Asset? appeared first on Internet Marketing For Beginners.