This presentation answers both the why and how of small business blogging If you have been thinking about starting a blog for your business these simple and helpful tips will get you started.

2. 2
At its core, marketing is
about getting results.

3. 3
Clicks / downloads
Visits to the
store / office
Reservations /
appointments
Calls
What kind of results?
Revenue / donations

4. Content is currency.
Be the source your readers know, like and trust.
Answer your customers’ questions.
•Why is your content so important?
4

5. © Constant Contact 2015
WhyContent? –SEARCH!
Content Helps People FindYou

6. When I am Looking forYour
Product or Service
• Will I FindYou?

7. Will I FindYou?

8. © Constant Contact 2015
Three “R’s”
Recency, Relevancy, Related Links

9. Recency
1.When was your site updated last?
2.How often to you update your site?
3.Why does it matter?

10. Relevancy

11. Relevancy
• Does content match search strings exactly?
• How much content does your site contain
with a particular search string?
• Do page titles, tags and keywords contain
relevant strings?

12. Blogging
Fuels
Recency &
Relevancy
• Easy to update
• Vary content by page
• Search engines typically count each post as
a page
• Bonus you have content for social and email

13. Related
Links
• On the internet, you are judged by the
company you keep
• Good links are on pages which have:
• Influence,Trust, Relevance,
• Inbound, outbound and internal

14. Agenda
14
1.Create
2.Curate
3.Extend
4.Next steps
1. Create

15. OFFERINGS
Education
entertainment
15
1. Create
expertise
Products
LISTS
tips
industry news
sales
Reports
employees
RESOURCES
links
TESTIMONIALS
opinions
community news STUDIESDATA
research
holiday
seasonal
menus
Donations
Fundraisers
FAQs
Events
Surveys
coupons
deals
TUTORIALS
DISCOUNTS
RESULTS
Updates

16. Education
entertainment
16
1. Create
expertise
Products
LISTS
tips
industry news
sales
Reports
employees
RESOURCES
links
TESTIMONIALS
opinions
community news STUDIESDATA
research
holiday
seasonal
menus
Donations
Fundraisers
FAQs
Events
Surveys
coupons
deals
TUTORIALS
DISCOUNTS
RESULTS
Updates
OFFERINGS
Updates
Education
entertainment

17. Write for your audience, not for you.
17

18. Write for your audience, not for you.
18
38% Unsubscribe if it’s boring
Source: MarketingSherpa
32% Send it to spam if it’s irrelevant

19. How much
is enough?
• Blogs:
• 400 – 600 words
• One call to action
• Newsletters:
• 250 – 400 words
• 15 – 20 lines of text
• No more than 3 pictures
• No more than 3 calls to action

20. • Use outlines
• Keep a list of topics
• Show your expertise
• Make it look like you
Structure makes it easier
20
1. Create
ProTips
Visit: blogs.constantcontact.com
for more content ideas and great
design tips

21. Picture
Paragraph
Call to action
21

22. • Avoid Frozen Pipes thisWinter
• No,You can’t deduct that
• Red or White? Become a wine
expert in 3 easy steps
• 10Ways to Sell MoreTickets
• How do I ensure my pipes
won’t burst this winter?
• Do I get to deduct mileage I drive
from work to home each day?
• What’s a simple way to
pick the right wine?
• How do I get more people
to show up at my events?
22
…Into ContentTurn Questions…
2. Harnessing the power of the inbox: Creating great content

23. ExpertiseEnvironmentBusiness
23
Theme
1. Create
Focus on your….

24. 24
1. Create
Stock photo sitesWorking with photos
• Choose the right size
• Avoid copyright issues
• Use your own photos
or stock images
BigStock
http://www.bigstockphoto.com
StockVault.net
http://www.stockvault.net
FreeImages.com
http://www.freeimages.com

25. Source:Animoto, the 2015Video MarketingCheat Sheet
Source:The Power ofVisual Content, Market Domination Media
25
• Mention your video in the email
subject line
• Consumers 50% more likely to read
emails that include video
• Keep videos under 90 seconds
• Use video for product demos,
testimonials, promotions
• Create a transcript
• Post onYouTube
1. Create
Make it engaging with videos

26. Agenda
26
1.Create
2.Curate
3.Extend
4.Next steps
2. Curate

27. 27
2. Curate
Content curation is sharing content from other sources.

28. 2. Curate
Where do you find it?
• Check the news
• Read blogs
• Follow social media
• Google Alerts
• Subscribe to email lists
• Don’t forget to give credit
to the original author or
source!
28

29. 2. Curate
Share content
created by others...
• Employees
• Members/volunteers
• Partners/supporters
• Customer/clients
29

30. • The power of the Roundup
• Internal links
• External links

31. • The Group Post
• External links
• Compound social reach

32. 32
2. How to write good ones
It is All About the Headline
Short & Sweet Entertain Warn
Inform Hint of mystery Ask Questions:
Create urgency Make them think Literary techniques

33. 33
2. How to write good ones
Headless Body
Found inTopless Bar

34. 2. How to write good ones
34
Top 3 reasons 5 Investment Priorities Top 7 concerns
AvoidTop 10 Hiring
Mistakes
9 BestTips &Tricks
7 Need-to-know
strategies
Improve any subject line using “top appeal”

35. Adapt your subject line using “literary techniques”
2. How to write good ones
35
Basic Subject Line
Literary
Technique
Improved Subject Lines
June Promotion Onomatopoeia
Joe’s Pet Store Newsletter Allusions
Mother’s Day Specials
Alliteration
Sign up for Summer Camp Chunking
New EnglandConcert Update: Numbers
Splish! Splash ! Oh, the prices we’ve slashed!
Cha-Ching!
Who let the dogs out?! Pet ShotsThis Saturday
Fido’s Got 99 Problems… But Fleas Ain’t One
Make Mom’s Morning Miraculous!
Cards, Candy and one Cozy Couch
Archery, fencing & sailing. Summer Camp 2015
Kids love it. Parents dream about it. Registration is open.
3 Can’t Miss Summer Festivals
16 Bands but only 1 Miranda Lambert

36. 2. How to write good ones
What would you change?
Our monthly tax tips
Pay less income tax with 3 overlooked deductions
New product arrival
You asked for it. It’s here.
Get a FREEAppleWatch!!!
AppleWatch.Want one?
36

37. Agenda
37
1.Create
2.Curate
3.Extend
4.Next steps
3. Extend

38. Start with
your blog
38

39. 3. Extend
Share it.
Email Social Media Sharing tools
39

40. 40
3. Extend
Reach your customers where they are.

41. 41
3. Extend

42. 3. Extend
Expand your reach with the Social Share tool.
42

43. Agenda
43
1.Create
2.Curate
3.Extend
4.Next steps
4. Next steps

44. Remember... write for your audience, not for you.
44
4. Next steps
Use links and keep it relevant, short & focused.
Use analytics to measure what works best.
See which who opened your email, when and
what they clicked.
ProTips

45. Get started today…
60-day free trial
www.constantcontact.com
45
Resources
Learn more...
Local resources
www.roundpeg.biz/blog
Find help...
Constant Contact Marketing Resources
blogs.constantcontact.com/library
Check out blog posts, guides, videos, infographics,
recorded webinars and more!

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Questions?