How to keep up with regular blogging

Blogging is a pretty handy marketing tool for businesses. You know that. I know that. We all know that. What not everyone knows is how to keep up with a regular blogging schedule.

Sure, you start out, things are going just great. The ideas seem to magically flow from your brain through your fingertips and onto your screen. You've got tons of stuff to talk about. In fact, you might even write a few posts in advance, because you're just so damn organised. But it happens eventually.

Can't bear the thought of writing another blog? (Pardon the pun)

You run out of ideas. You run out of steam. You run out of inspiration.

And then what, hmm? Why, then you read this spangly article about coming up with inspiration for new blog posts. Here are just a few of our fabulous tips:

 

Do a roundup

Whatever your market, there are bound to be others out there talking about the same kinda things – things your own readers might like to read. Enter: the curated roundup list post (or something). Many blogs actually choose to make this a regular feature, because it has numerous benefits. Basically, you hunt down the best blog posts written in your niche, and you share them in a single, well-curated article each week. Make a few notes as to why they're such great reads, or simply include excerpts so people can see for themselves.

But how does this benefit your business, we hear you cry? Why, because the people mentioned in your post will almost certainly link back to it, thus driving more traffic towards your site, boosting your Google rankings, and generally making you seem like a swell guy.

Infographics

Perhaps you're just sick of writing 1000-word articles every week? Even just 500-worders can be a drag after a while. Enter: infographics. Informative er, graphics. Basically, take some of your knowledge and transform it into a wonderful, entertaining (and informative, obvs.) piece of imagery... or hire someone else to do it for you, if you're not graphically inclined. Here's one we made earlier.

Cover news items

Know which well never runs dry? The news well. New stuff happens every day, and people report on it (journalists, I think they're called). Stuff probably happens in your field of expertise too, and this is where it gets interesting. Has there been a new development in your niche? Write about it. You can either sum up the events for yourself, or go even further and write your own take on it. This'll show you're well informed in your arena, and could even paint you as the place to go for the latest news in your market.

How-to guides

People love learning how to do stuff, and one of the reasons they read your blog is because they view you as an expert at what you do. They want to know what you know. So why not tell 'em? Write up a simple guide that teaches people how to do something you do on a regular basis or as a part of your job. And don't worry about giving all your secrets away – showing your expertise will only make people want to buy from you more.

These are just a handful of ways you can find inspiration for your next blog post (and many more to come!). Check the latest news, see what other people are up to, browse your calendar to see if any relevant events are coming up... and then write about it. Easy.

Need help with your blog? Think maybe it's time to outsource the content creation? Give the guys at Art Division a call.

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Is Twitter really good for business?

Listen, we love social media here at Mission Imblogable. Twitter is totally our thing (although just to confuse you, we tweet as @artdivision). But take your eye off the ball for a while, and all of a sudden you're spending 60% of your time tweeting and only 30% doing actual work. (The other 10% is reserved for playing Candy Crush Saga, obviously.) Which doesn't make for a very merry business.

So is Twitter a help or a hindrance to your business?

How often do you tweet?

Let's be honest: Twitter is only useful if you actually use it on the regular, like our pals at @PropertyDvision. Posting multiple times a day is the only way you're going to be able to have meaningful conversations and get noticed. If your tweets are few and far between, you should probably get your act together and make a good go of it, or quit altogether – because nothing says “I don't care about my business” more than a derelict Twitter account.

The downside of launching a full-frontal Twitter attack, of course, is that you might not have enough time leftover to get all your work done and play Candy Crush. And there's no way you're giving up Candy Crush, so your work will suffer, right? There's a fine balance between tweeting just the right amount and not letting it distract you from your actual work. But third party apps can help... or can they?

Are you using third party apps effectively?

Third party apps that allow you to schedule tweets in advance, such as Buffer and Tweetdeck, can be super handy for making sure you keep up with your tweeting without letting it take over your life. Lining up tweets for the whole week in one short blast can be a mega time-saver that allows you to continue on with your work as normal throughout the rest of the week. But it's not all butterflies and rainbows...

If you rely wholly on scheduled tweets, you're kind of missing the point. While knowing your tweets are taken care of for the rest of the week can be a welcome relief, it won't necessarily play well with your followers. Are you checking in to see if anyone responds to your tweets? Or are you ignoring your loyal followers, ensuring they don't remain loyal for long?

Some people can spot buffered tweets a mile off, and if yours are particularly obvious it might not end well for your reputation. The whole point of Twitter is to grow user engagement, have conversations and make connections – which doesn't really happen if you're only checking in once a week to line your tweets up.

What content are you posting?

So you've nailed the fine balance of tweeting just the right amount while still getting your work done, and you've figured out this whole buffering thing while still managing to check in every day and have conversations with people. But none of that matters if you're posting useless content.

Your tweets should be a nice variety of text, pics and video. Witty one-liners are all well and good, but if it's all you post, your followers could tire of you quickly. Posting photos and videos is a great way to boost engagement, so take advantage of the tools at your disposal: Vine is a fabulous little app for posting videos, and uploading a photo on occasion isn't exactly hard, is it?

While we're on the subject of your tweets' content: make sure you don't just share your own fabulous work, you selfish thing, you. Retweeting others and sharing useful, interesting articles that are relevant to your target audience is a great way to provide value to your followers. And that's what it's all about really, isn't it?

Image credit:  Master isolated images at www.freedigitalphotos.net

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Our top 5 social networks for businesses

Image credit:

Sean MacEntee

Since Friends Reunited - the first online social network to achieve prominence - was founded here in the UK in 1999, social media has evolved into a crucial business tool.

Business owners now know the significance of engaging with their customers and prospects online. But which social networking platforms are best for business, rather than finding long lost friends and relations?

Here’s a list of social media networks, we think could work best for you…

  

Image credit:

Nan Palmero

LinkedIn
What many consider the social network for business, LinkedIn has been accused of being the platform where people you don't know ask you to recommend them to people you barely know.

But it’s a great place for making connections and spreading the word about your business activity. Just beware, though: The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary now defines "procrastination" as "working on your LinkedIn Profile."

Addictiveness: 5 (Market yourself and your business)

Fun factor: 3 (Almost devoid of amusing pictures of people or cats, but the misspellings can raise a smile)

Usefulness: 8 (LinkedIn is a great way of grow your B2B network)

Image credit:

Shawn Campbell

Twitter
There are more than 284 million monthly active users on Twitter, which is why it’s a powerhouse networking tool. Twitter is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it, but here at Mission Imblogable we are going to convince you fall in love with it.

Twitter is an amazing tool to engage in different conversations happening over the social web and to meet new customers and leads. Did you know 51% of active Twitter users follow companies, brands or products on social networks? What are you waiting for?

Addictiveness: 9 (Some users have been known to forget to eat and drink while engaging on Twitter)

Fun factor: 10 (You can get retweets from celebs)

Usefulness: 9 (Used well, Twitter can amplify your digital marketing)

Image credit:

Coletivo Mambembe

Facebook 
Now more than 10 years old, Facebook is the granddaddy of social networks that remains one of the most popular. And it is going from strength to strength following the purchase of WhatsApp messenger.

Marketing on Facebook can help you reach all of the people who matter most to your business, it allows users to generate awareness. Creating a page to introduce business ventures, products, events or services is worth the time and effort.

Facebook also offers a company page, which provides companies with a huge platform to endorse different types of events.

Addictiveness: 7 (Can you name a single day when you didn’t take just a peek at Facebook? We can’t either)

Fun factor: 7 (There is so much to LIKE about Facebook)

Usefulness: 9 (Facebook is the true test of your popularity)


Google+

Image credit:

Widjaya Ivan

The new kid on the block, Google+ is an extension of the search giant’s power. Unlike Facebook ,Twitter and LinkedIn, which are primarily social platforms, G+ is combined into every Google facility, such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps, Google Drive, AdWords, Blogger and more.

And while you use Facebook to connect with contacts, G+ allows you to find new friends through the power of your posts on the network – plus it drives traffic to your own site.

And have you heard of the term Google Authorship? Well, this gives users the ability to link their written content on a domain to their G+. Therefore this allows Google to recognise who you are and what you’ve published online.

Addictiveness: 5 (It can take time to get the hang of G+)

Fun factor: 8 (We can’t start to describe the feeling a satisfaction when someone you don’t know plusses your post on the network)

Usefulness: 8 (As a means of finding new friends and contacts, G+ is unbeatable)

Ok, we’ve given you the low-down on some of the best social networking channels, it’s now your turn to get out there and GET SOCIAL!

Making the Most of your Online Strategy

Does your business have a successful online marketing strategy? Can there really be anyone left out there who still needs convincing that their web presence really matters?
There are many businesses now who are doing one of the things that this infographic advises, but have you considered all the options?

Follow this step by step guide to online happiness. These steps include creating a website, blogging, search engine optimisation and  making a social media account to boost to generate more leads to your business. Do you need to do all of this? You certainly need to consider the options.

Follow these steps and tell us how you get on in the comment section below!

How to choose the right colours for your website

Colours are a powerful tool in web design and branding your company. They can be used to evoke emotion, which is pretty damn important if you're trying to sell something. With that in mind, let's take a look at which colours would best suit your business' style and website.

Red

Image by valeyoshino

Red is a passionate, lusty and aggressive colour. It's ideal for companies that want to appeal to people who are (or, more importantly, want to be) sexy, feisty and empowered. Businesses that use red include Virgin and Christian Louboutin (famed for the red soles on its shoes), both of which totally have that whole sexy, feisty thing going on.

Orange

Orange isn't a common choice for branding, as it's sometimes seen as unreliable (hello easyJet). But it does have some things going for it: it incorporates the boldness of red and friendliness of yellow, which is no bad thing. Used in conjunction with a safer, more professional colour such as blue, it can be used to represent a fun and professional business.

Yellow

Image by epSos.de

Yellow is the colour of happiness and optimism and is common in brands that want to be seen as fun and friendly. McDonald's and IKEA are standout examples of this, both of which are known for having a playful side.

Green

Green is a peaceful, earthy colour and is ideal for companies that focus on health or want to portray themselves as ethical and environmentally-friendly, such as Starbucks. Organic food companies and holistic health practices are ideal candidates for green branding.

Blue

Blue is the professional colour of the branding world. If you want to be seen as trustworthy, reliable and experienced, blue is the way to go. Not surprisingly, banks use blue liberally in their colour schemes.

Purple

Remember these 1980's cigarette ads? Purple is the colour of sophistication and decadence, perfect for representing companies that sell indulgent items such as chocolate and beauty products. Can you say Cadbury's?

Pink

Pink is widely known as the “girly” colour and so is often used for women-specific brands. Think Victoria's Secret, Race for Life, and anything related to breast cancer.

Black

Black represents power, and is common in sports and fast cars – both of which are things designed to make you feel powerful. Nike is a prime example as is, er, pretty much any sports car brand. Vroom!

White

White is associated with cleanliness and purity, so is ideal for use in the health and childcare industries. Logos aside, white is the best colour to base your website on. In web design, using a lot of white space will make your site easier to navigate and read.

Choose Your Colour

You should think carefully about what you want your website to represent and what you want to make your customers feel before deciding on your colour scheme. You should also steer away from using too many colours – no more than three, ideally. And, when in doubt, use the colour wheel to pick complimentary colours (the ones opposite each other are complimentary).

How to combat “Pigeon” – the latest Google algorithm update

image: freedigitalphotos.net

The bird is back. However, this time it’s not the Penguin or Hummingbird algorithms of last year. Instead it’s “Pigeon” as so named by SEO blog Search Engine Land for want of an official name by Google.  The search industry is currently trying to understand the full impact of Pigeon, which largely affects local businesses, so stay tuned for further updates.

In the meantime however, there are a few things that both local businesses and local-based SEO firms representing businesses can do to make sure they adapt to this new algorithm. While many of these strategies have been around for a period of time, now it’s crunch time.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Google Local Listing: It’s important to make sure your local listing is claimed and that the data is accurate and the map pin is correct as to your businesses’ actual location. It can also be worth getting on Google+ Local too in order to help ensure that your business will come up in a local 7-Pack, (the results that show your business’ name, address, phone number and map).
Website: One thing that’s key is that your business has a website optimised with local search phrases. As well as this, having authentic, original content as well as a Responsively Designed website for mobile is a good idea.

Relevant Backlinks and quotes: If you come across opportunities to build your website’s authority using guest posting and building links with websites that have good Page Rank statuses then go for it! Make sure you actively seek out all opportunities to boost your business via websites that are relevant.

Local Business Directories: Seek out any and all major local directories that your business will fit into and make sure you optimise this listing. Claiming directories powered by Google Maps is always a good move. If a directory ranks for a relevant term, make sure you’re on that page.

Consistent Data: Across the board it’s vital that your name address and phone number are all the same. 
Initially local businesses should brace themselves to experience some kind of reduction in search visibility when Pigeon is rolled out. However, if you take advantage of these points, you can help to make sure your business is well-placed to take advantage of this new local search algorithm. This update is only the beginning and of course there will be more which will reshape the landscape of local search. There will also be updates of updates (if you get me) so be prepared! Ultimately, the only way to truly combat this is to ensure that your business has a head start – through a well-rounded and developed approach to digital marketing. 

How To Grow Your Twitter Follower Numbers

Twitter and its micro-blogging format have not only changed the social networking landscape, it has also made a huge impact on the way in which we can interact with customers and attract new customers to our businesses.

You should view your Twitter followers as a marketing database of very high value; each of your followers have 'opted in' to this database because they are interested in what you have to offer. By growing the number of people that are following your tweets, you are expanding the reach of your business.

Letting your Twitter followers grow organically can work depending on the other marketing strategies you are implementing, but it will be slow. There are a few simple techniques that you can use in order to give your follower numbers a boost.

1. Make Use Of All Of Your Networks

Each of your networks should be linking to one another. The way you interact on Facebook is different to the way in which you will utilise Twitter. You don't want your Facebook contacts to miss out on the marketing strategies that you will be implementing within the Twitter space. It is important that you talk about your Twitter feed on all of your social networking profiles, blogs and web-sites. Post links and get people interested in what you have to say.

2. Follow Others

Many Twitter users automatically follow their followers, so get to following people within similar fields. You'll find that this will gain you a few followers fairly instantly, but more importantly it will allow you to view their content within your feed. This gives you something to talk about. Get involved and interact with the people you are following - creating relationships in the online space within a market that interests you is what Twitter is all about.

3. Tweet Often

People tend to 'unfollow' people for two reasons; they aren't interested in what you have to say, or you're not saying anything. If you lose a follower because they are uninspired by your tweets, that's okay. It allows you to maintain the quality of your database - remember you are targeting those that are interested in your market.

However, if you lose followers because you are not tweeting at all, then you are missing out on opportunities to interact with you current and potential customers.

It is important to note the peak times within your own feed. If your market is active at 7.00 a.m., then that is when you should also be tweeting. Think of it as prime time TV and post your most engaging content during these periods.

4. Monitor Your Links

When posting a link on Twitter you should use bit.ly to shorten your link; not only does it cut down the number of characters you use, it also allows you free access to the traffic data you receive. By monitoring how many clicks that each of your links receive you can build a picture of what drives your followers. This allows you to provide more of the same in the future and get an insight into your consumers behaviour.

5. Target Tweet At Key Figures Within Your Field - RT is key

Key figures within any field tend to have large numbers of followers. By talking about (and '@ing' that person in) you are increasing your chances of exposing your brand to their followers. If they like/dislike what you are saying, they may well RT (re-tweet) your comment. This tweet will then be directly sent to all of their followers and you will reach a whole new database.

+art division 

Whilst RT's are important, you won't achieve it every time you '@' someone. However, you will reach that specific individual and make them aware of you and your business.

Most influential tweeters are often searching to see what is being said about them so even if you don't '@' them they may well come across your tweet in the process so be aware of everything you tweet.

6. Utilise The Search Box

Do the same thing that we have just discussed the key figures doing. Search for yourself and your company on Twitter (without the '@' as these are fed to you) and get involved in the conversation. One of the best things about Twitter is that it allows for great CRM, indulge in it and monitor your online reputation.

Also search for keywords related to your market and engage in conversation with people around areas of mutual interest. This will raise brand awareness as well as gaining you followers.
So if you're looking for online marketing services for your business, be sure to get in touch with Art Division!

What your Instagram filter says about you

Are you one of the 100 million active users generating 40 million photos a day on Instagram? Instagram is well known for its various filters that transform the look and feel of your photos. The truth is, the filter you choose says more about you than the picture you take. We have found this infographic below which explains the psychology behind the top 10 Instagram filters, and profiles the personalities of the photographers who use them. So, what filter best describes you?