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Archives for Blogging & Getting Traffic
Dec
30
Top 6 Traffic Sources
December 30, 2011 | 5 Comments
I killed my Twitter and Facebook profiles this year. All these so-called “gurus” are telling you that you must have these social media tools in place to be successful.
I disagree.
The main reason I disagree is because most of the traffic to this blog comes from organic search results. This blog is my best marketing tool by far.
Here were my top 6 traffic sources for 2011…
- Stumble Upon
- Yahoo
- Youtube
- Bing
Jun
20
5 Step Client Getting System
June 20, 2011 | 2 Comments
Published from BloggingforCoaches
The 5 Step Client Getting System is a system I’ve been using to get clients – but not the way you might think. I don’t go to network meetings or training events to meet my clients. To be completely honest, I don’t even leave my house!
The method I’ve been using to get coaching clients is by blogging. And if you look at the way people search for solutions to their problems nowadays, this makes complete sense.
It’s not like it used to be 20 years ago. When someone has a problem and they are looking for solutions, where do they go? Where do they look for solutions to their problems?
They go to Google!
They type keywords into the search engines and that’s EXACTLY what your clients are doing too!
Step 1: Blogging System
So step 1 of the client getting system is to actually setup a blog and get your solution “out there.”
Now some coaches would argue that Facebook or Linkedin are better ways to market their coaching and build their business online. I would also suggest that if those coaches were ever banned from either of these two sites, they would be out of business.
But with a blog that you personally OWN, you minimize the risk to all of your business ASSets – if you get what I mean.
So blogging is an easy way to get started with your coaching business so that you actually own and control your business. I recommend you get started with WordPress: http://wordpress.org
Step 2: Content System
Once you have your blog up and running, you want to add content to your blog. And not just any type of content, but content that is helpful for the type of clients you want to work with.
Giving away helpful content should be at the heart of every successful blog and coaching business. This is the second part of my Client Getting System.
Why is the content so important?
Because a blog with helpful content becomes a TRAFFIC MAGNET. Search engines love blogs and Google loves blogs with great content.
The content on your blog could be in the form of training videos, a free PDF report, a blog post or even an MP3 that you give away. It doesn’t matter what form of medium you use – what really matters is that your content is helpful.
By creating helpful content you build confidence in your readers; not only will they start referring you to their friends, but you’ll also become a trusted source of information for them. And if they trust you and your free information, they are more likely to buy you and your paid-stuff.
Once you have a good content system, you’re in the perfect position to move to step 3.
Step 3: Traffic System
This is the third step, the traffic system. A well designed content system is also your traffic system. Click here to read more…
Apr
2
Blogging for Coaches
April 2, 2010 | 1 Comment
If you’re a coach or you would like to be a coach, you’re in the right place. My partner (Hani Mourra) and I have setup a new blog that is specifically designed to help coaches build their businesses online using a blog. It’s called Blogging for Coaches.
This blog is for coaches. It’s for life coaches, health coaches, wellness coaches, business coaches, marketing coaches and sales coaches.
The purpose of this blog is to share strategies, techniques and information that will help coaches market their business online using blogs and blogging. By blogging you can help your business generate more leads and get new coaching clients.
I’ve been wanting to get this project off the ground for quite a while now. I originally came up with the idea more than a year ago. As I shared the idea with Hani we started to get really excited about the possibilities of this project. This helped us crystallize our vision and sculpt the foundation for Blogging for Coaches.
As you’ll remember from when I wrote on the Law of Gender, every seed planted has an incubation period. Blogging for Coaches is one of those seeds and it’s finally come into physical form.
What You Will Learn at Blogging for Coaches
I’m happy to share it openly with coaches who want to build their coaching business online using blogs and blogging. At our new blog, you’ll learn: Click here to read more…
Feb
18
Connect with Me on Linked-In
February 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Hey guys (and gals). As some of you know, I’ve setup a profile on Linked-In. It’s an entrepreneurial social site and I’m starting to get addicted to it. I hope the effects aren’t long term ;)
If you’re an entrepreneur and you’re not a member, you’re missing out. Besides all of the great people you’ll meet and network with, it’s also a great tool to help you get traffic to your blog.
You can connect with me on Linked-In here: Linked-In
Make sure to register an account and get your profile setup. If you’re new to Linked-In and need some help to setup a profile, make sure to check out this video: Linked-In Tips for Internet Marketers by Lewis Howes.
See you soon,
Steve Click here to read more…
Feb
7
Coaches: 3 Easy Steps to Online Lead Generation
February 7, 2010 | 3 Comments
I’ve been blogging since 2007. In my first year of blogging I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I spent the first 12 months writing content about once a week. The writing was very fulfilling and I enjoyed it, but I still didn’t have a clue as to how to generate online leads for my coaching business.
Nowadays it’s much easier. I easily get between 1-5 new leads each day, which is mainly from a steady flow of organic and RSS traffic to my blog. If you don’t understand those terms, then not to worry – you’re not alone. I didn’t know what the heck those terms meant when I first started out either :)
Now it’s taken me almost 3 years to perfect my lead generation process, but it’s been worth the effort. Now I don’t have to do very much to keep it going; just write a couple of articles each week – and the best part is that the leads keep pouring in because I’m using a proven process. That’s one of the beauties of blogging.
Over the years I’ve met quite a few coaches who like the idea of generating leads online, but they’re unsure about how to go about doing it. Here are a few of the obstacles that seem to surface:
- they don’t understand what a blog is or how to operate one.
- they don’t know what they should write about once they setup their blog.
- they don’t know how to upload content in alternative formats (audio, video, etc).
- they have a blog but they don’t have the skills to drive traffic to it.
- they have a blog but they don’t know how to convert traffic into new coaching leads.
So in reply to these concerns I created this article for Coaches: 3 Easy Steps for Online Lead Generation.
Step #1: Setup a Blog
I can’t believe how many people spend $10,000 to $15,000 to setup a website. If you ask me, it’s a waste of money because having a website is only the first step. It just annoys me when people pay $10,000 to setup a blog and it doesn’t even bring them any traffic. If nobody knows your site exists then what are you really paying for?
If you’re a coach and you don’t have a blog, then go set one up. To setup your first basic blog you don’t have to be technical or web savvy. If you can type with a keyboard then you can setup a blog.
It literally takes you less than 5 minutes to setup your first blog. It won’t have any pretty designs or an opt-in box, but at least you can get started and figure it out as you go. All you have to do is go to WordPress.com/Signup and follow the steps on that page.
Step #2. Drive Traffic to Your Blog
This takes a bit more patience and skill, but anyone can learn how to do it. Instead of rehashing a bunch of techniques, I strongly suggest you read my earlier post: Blog Mastermind: How to Earn $5,000 per Month From Your Blog. In this article I reveal the #1 traffic technique I recommend for anyone who wants to send more people to their blog. Go read it. You’ll be glad you did.
Step #3. Convert Traffic into Leads
Feb
2
5 Tips to Quickly Build An Email List of 1,000+ Leads
February 2, 2010 | 6 Comments
Everyone knows it. The money is in the list. The problem is never knowing what to do – it’s knowing how to do it. Although building an email list is a huge area and covers a broad range of topics, there are a few things you can do today to start building your list.
Here are 5 Tips to Quickly Build An Email List of 1,000+ Leads:
#1. Give Something Away
You’ve probably heard the saying before that, “givers gain.” Well that saying is 100% true when it comes to building your list. The best thing you can do to generate leads is by giving something away. When I say give something away, I’m referring to a free electronic report, an ebook, a video series or whatever is easiest for you to create.
You see what you’re really doing here is an exchange. Your giving your ideal prospect valuable information in exchange for their email. Do this often and frequent enough and you’ll start to quickly build your first 1,000+ leads. This is the same formula I used to build an email database of 2,400 people over the course of a year.
#2. Don’t Be Everything to Everyone
You don’t want to be everything to everyone. When you’re creating your free offer focus on a niche. When you focus on a niche you become the expert in that area. Not only will this help you build a list of targeted leads, but it will also help you eliminate your competition.
You don’t want to offer an ebook called 7 Tips to be More Successful because it’s too vague. You’re trying to be everything to everyone. Focus your efforts into a niche. Maybe create an ebook called 7 Tips to be More Successful as a Blogger. That’s more specific.
Dec
7
6 Ways to Get More Traffic From the Google Gods
December 7, 2009 | 3 Comments
It’s funny, but if you’re patient, persistent and looking in the right places, you can pretty much find anything you want online for free. And today just happens to be no different. In this article I’ll show you 6 ways to increase your search engine rankings and get more traffic from Google.
Search engine traffic (also known as organic traffic) is good traffic. It’s good traffic because in most cases the people who came to your site typed in those specific keywords in the search engines. And if those keywords match what you have to sell, then you know your traffic is targeted – meaning you’re in a better position to sell more of what you have.
In the past 6 months my search engine traffic has been consistently increasing. Here’s a snapshot:
The other real benefit to organic traffic (regardless if it’s from AOL Search, Google, Netscape Search, Yahoo Search, etc) is what I call “residual traffic.” Once your blog starts to get ranked for those keywords, you can follow the same process over and over again to start more and more traffic.
That’s what I love about organic traffic. It’s sort of like doing the work once and getting paid over and over again. Who doesn’t want more of that?
So it being close to Christmas, I thought I’d send you an early Christmas gift. Here are 6 ways to get more traffic from the Google:
Get More Traffic Technique #1: Focus on a Keyword Phrase (not a Single Keyword)
Focus on keyword phrases with multiple keywords instead of just one keyword. I learned this the hard way when I started out blogging. The reason it’s more helpful to use a keyword phrase instead of a single keyword is because there is less competition.
Here’s a straight forward example. If you search for the word “guitar” in Google and look at the search results, you’ll find 167,000,000 competing websites. Just do a quick search for the word “guitar” in Google and look for the Results tab near the right and you’ll see what I mean.
This time take the keyword phrase, “lead guitar lessons” and search for it using Google. When you look at the search results, you’ll find 14,000,000 competing websites. Still a lot of competition, but much lower than the previous single keyword search.
The lesson? Use keyword phrases (otherwise known as long tail keywords) to increase your chances of ranking well with Google. You’ll have fewer sites competing with you and a much better chance of increasing your search engine ranking.
Get More Traffic Technique #2: Use Relevant Keywords in the Right Places
Once you know what keywords you want to use, start putting them in the right places. Here are a few places to start using your keywords:
- Heading Tag – Also known as the title tag for your article or page. According to Google, your heading tag is one of the highest ranked positions for keywords. Make sure to use the right keywords in your heading or title.
- Sub-Heading Tag – Probably the second most important location to use your keywords. It’s also a nice way to break up the text in your article by using sub-headings with this tag. WordPress has a built in sub-heading tag that you can use, but not all blogging platforms are the same.
- Alt Tags – Also known as the alternative description. You can use the alt tag feature in images and insert your keywords there. This doesn’t show up in your blog post or page but it’s a really nice way to increase the relevancy of your article or web page.
- Body Text – This might be more obvious to some people. You want to use your keywords as often as possible in the body of the articles you write. This will help you increase your keyword density and rank better with Google. Keep in mind that you don’t want to repeat your keyword phrase too often and lower the quality of your readers experience. My rule of thumb when using keywords in the body text is to write for the reader first and the search engine second.
Get More Traffic Technique #3: Build Your Keywords into Single Pages Click here to read more…
Oct
14
3 Mind Power Techniques to Become A Better Blogger
October 14, 2009 | 2 Comments
It’s normal to have a bad day, right? Well sure. But what if you have a bad week or a bad month?
I’ve been blogging for just over a year. And if there is one thing that I’ve learned is that you’ve got to be consistent. You’ve got to be consistently putting in an effort to build your blog. It won’t build itself.
So what about those bad days?
I’ve had them and they’re no good. You want to bounce back quickly. Get out of that rut. The quicker the better. So you can get back to blogging, life and other things.
And it all begins with the proper mindset.
Here are 3 Mind Power Techniques to Become a Better Blogger:
Mind Power Technique #1: Overcome Writers Block With A Physical Change
When you’re writing and you get stuck, do this. Get up, walk around and sit in a different spot. See your screen from a different point of view. Sit in a different location and gain a new perspective.
Sound to hokey?
You see one thing that’s true for anyone is that a change in your mindset will change your physiology – your body posture, facial expressions, etc. When you think new thoughts, the chemicals in your brain change. But what many people don’t know is that the opposite is also true. A change in your physiology will also change the chemistry in your mind.
This the same reason why some writers will use exercise as a way to gain new insights and spark their creativity. A change in there physical state creates a change in their internal state. Body movement is an effective brain stimulator.
So get your body moving. Get up and go for a walk, get some exercise or just change locations to trigger that inner change – the place where you get all of those great ideas.
Mind Power Technique #2: Track Your Progress
I think over the past 3 months, 70% of the blog carnivals I submit to have either quit or stopped publishing. Which tells me one thing, that more than 7 out of 10 people will quit blogging within 3 months of starting. Don’t let that be you.
Keep your momentum going by using this mind power technique #2: track your progress.
Let me explain.
Recently, I spoke to a sales representative from iperceptions – a survey company that provides statistics and data for websites. What they do is survey people who navigate your website or blog. As part of their surveying process they tested different methods and found something really interesting.
What they did was add a status bar at the bottom of each survey page. That way users could see their progress as they went through the survey. When they did this, the survey completion rates increased by an astounding 67%!
Basically, this is what happened. When users new how well they were doing, they kept going. But if they didn’t have any signs of progress, they quit the survey altogether.
How can you use this technique with your blog?
Start tracking the traffic of your blog by creating a blog traffic diary. I learned this technique from Yaro Starak @ Entrepreneurs-Journey.com. He’s got some great content on his blog and I give his Blog Mastermind Training two thumbs up as well.
A blog diary is basically a way to track the unique visitors and pageviews for your blog. I thought it would be a good idea to track my Newsletter subscribers as well. Here’s a snap shot of my traffic and newsletter subscribers each month from November 08 to May 09.
What I found from following this process is that I instinctively became more proactive. I started to think ahead about how I could improve my traffic. If I saw that my unique visitors were down one month, then I would brainstorm ways to improve my performance: either by creating better content or putting more effort into my marketing.
I’ve been pretty active with my blog diary. I still keep it up to date because it’s such a great tool. I’ve pretty much shared what has worked for me and what has not worked over the past year. You can see my blog traffic diary here: Freedom Education Blog Diary.
Mind Power Technique #3: Use Comparison To Give Yourself A Boost Click here to read more…
Jun
9
This a review of Yaro Starak’s course Blog Mastermind. Blog Mastermind is a program that teaches people how to make money with their blogs. I joined Blog Mastermind on November 1, 2008 and in only 7 short months I earned my first $1,000 in a single month. Not too shabby, me thinks.
Yaro Starak’s Blog Mastermind
Name: Blog Mastermind
Creator: Yaro Starak
URL: www.blogmastermind.com
Purpose: How to Earn Money from Your BlogPrice: $97
How to Not Make Money Blogging
I started my blog in May 2007 and blogged for just over a year. At the end of that year I was earning $30 per month; all of it from Google Adsense which wasn’t worth calling home about. I was stuck with a tiny trickle every month because I was faced with two challenges:
- I didn’t know how to drive traffic to my blog
- I didn’t know how to monetize and make money from my blog
You see, you can make money blogging. Some people don’t seem to think so, but you can if you have the right strategy and model. I’m living proof of it and there are dozens of others who make money from their blogs. But before you even start thinking about making money, you’ve got to understand how to drive traffic and how to monetize that traffic.
Enter Yaro Starak.
Yaro is an Australian expert blogger. I met Yaro for the very first time in Toronto in August 2008. At that point I had been following his Newsletter, Blog Traffic Tips for about 8 months. After meeting him in person and receiving massive value from his Newsletter I signed up for his program, Blog Mastermind.
What is Blog Mastermind?
Basically, it’s a program that helps you make money from your blog. But it’s more than just about making money. Yaro teaches you a step by step process to help you build a sustainable online business using your blog so that you can earn multiple sources of income 24 hours a day x 7 days a week x 365 days a year.
Does that sound like something you would be interested in?
If so, then you’ll want to keep reading. There are two important challenges to overcome when earning money from your blog: how to drive traffic and how to monetize that traffic.
How to Drive Traffic to Your Blog
You can’t earn money from your blog unless you have traffic and like I said earlier it took me over a year of struggling on my own to figure that one out. I had great content, but I just didn’t have a big enough audience reading my blog.
In Blog Mastermind, Yaro covers six strategies of driving traffic to your blog:
- Lesson 11: Marketing Through Conversations
- Lesson 12: Leveraging Content For Traffic Part 1 – Forums
- Lesson 13: Leveraging Content For Traffic Part 2 – Article Marketing & Blog Carnivals
- Lesson 14: Leveraging Content For Traffic Part 3 – Guest Writing
- Lesson 15: Search Engine Optimization For Blogs
I’ve used all of these strategies to varying degrees, but if I had to pick my favorite – it would be guest writing (Lesson 14).
Guest writing is when you create content for other prominent blogs or Newsletters in your niche. The owner of the blog or Newsletter publishes your content while you receive traffic and the audience (or readers) receive valuable content. It’s a win-win-win strategy and one of the reasons it’s my favorite.
But that’s not the only reason. Guest articles are a powerful way to drive huge streams of traffic to your blog in a short period of time. I highly recommend this approach for anyone who wants to make money from their blog. In my opinion, guest writing is the 20% of action that creates 80% of your results. In other words it’s effective action. You can see an example guest article I wrote here: Would You Rather Be Right or Happy?
Writing guest articles can be time consuming, but when you get good at it, you can drive thousands of new readers to your blog and add hundreds of new subscribers to your email list in just over a few days. I’ve done this on a few different occasions.
Traffic Snapshot of FreedomEducation.ca Click here to read more…
Dec
29
Personal Growth Series: 5 of 5
December 29, 2008 | 2 Comments
This is the last article in my personal growth series. In this last article I’ll share about blogging, how I got started and why I started blogging. And if you have a blog I’ll share two actions you can take now to grow your blog.
2007, How I got Started Blogging
I got started blogging by accident.
In December 2006 I met Lori-Ann Jackel who at the time was the editor in chief of Confidence Bound Magazine. We had never met before. During this time I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. I was exploring coaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
During our meeting I shared a story with Lori-Ann. She loved my story so much that she asked me to write an article for her magazine.
Before this I hadn’t written much at all. Actually, I hated writing and was terrible at it. I studied and practiced as an engineer for years. I was a math and science guy for the most part. I couldn’t understand why she would want me to write for her magazine.
I wrote that article. My mom proof read the article. After reading it she said,
When did you learn how to write? You were never any good at writing before. ~ Mom
