Are you blogging to an invisible audience?

Blogging outreach can be an incredibly powerful part of the mix when working an effective social media marketing strategy. It can also be a time-intensive, expensive, and fruitless exercise in online vanity, if done poorly. The differences between good and bad blogs are stark, simple and straightforward. Good blogs are well presented, well written, well informed and well optimised, to capture as large a potential audience as possible. Good blogs are, quite simply, well marketed. Poor blog marketing succeeds in nothing, apart from talking incredibly well to an invisible audience. So, the million dollar question is a simple one – are you blogging to an invisible audience? There are a few tried-and-tested ways to determine whether your blog marketing is bound for success or doomed to failure: * Jump up your Google Juice Are you using Google Analytics to measure and monitor how each blog post is performing? It’s free, easy to integrate into your blog, and helps ramp up your blog visibility. * Step up your audience awareness Are you using Hootsuite to track the conversations and hot topics on social media platforms? It’s got different packages, including a free version, and helps you listen effectively before writing a blog. * Go crazy for keywords Are you tracking Google to see what’s hot and what’s not? Integrating SEO keywords and Search phrases into each blog post is possibly the most important element in the blog marketing mix. * Remember to be real Are you being creative, genuine and real? A good blog talks in a light, conversational and relaxed way, whilst also imparting nuggets of highly-personal, valuable and individual expertise. Be the expert. Be the thought-leader. Be real. * Ask the audience Are you engaging with your audience? Are you asking for their feedback, comments and support? Blog readers love to be a part of a successful blog. If you give a little, it comes back many times over on the blogosphere. But you’ll need to give first. * Viral equals visibility Are you spreading the word, and ensuring your visibility is guaranteed? A crucial piece of blog marketing advice is simply this: to increase visibility, you’ll need to get viral. Utilise social media platforms. Get your audience to pass it on. Give great content.