It’s been two months since I wrote what’s been lovingly nicknamed “Virgin’s guide to SEO”. It’s probably been the most popular post that I’ve done with more than 250 likes. It’s a really hard act to follow, and I hope that I will be able to do it justice. If you haven’t already then I’d suggest reading it – Virgin’s guide to SEO
I intend to do a series, but I like to have tested out things that I’m talking about first. With anything Google/SEO this takes time, a lot of it, it’s a waiting game as much as anything. The Google cogs turn slowly and quite rightly they have probably trillions of pages to index and serve you up every-time you request your daily Google menu. Props on them, they do (and have) deliver(ed) the best results of any search engine for years now.
This (Part 2) is about the overall Ethos that goes into what you’re doing. It’s not spoon-feed step by step, often not my style, as I prefer teach a man to fish, rather than give him the fish, that way he or she learns to fend for him or herself. I can do Spoon feed on request, if there’s particular things people want clarification on.
Ethos is far more important than anything else. Far more important than the individual guides or concepts, simply with the right “attitude” you can achieve anything you want to – In this case getting visitors, pageviews, comments, followers and for some, spending customers.
Without promoting your website in the competitive online arena, I’m sorry but nothing is likely to happen for you. And it’s incredibly disheartening to expend all that effort only to have no one visit, I know this from my own experience. That’s why promoting has become so important to me.
Ethos of promoting a Blog or Website on Google – A.B.P.
In sales they have ABC – Always Be Closing. For promoting I have ABP – Always Be Promoting.
If there’s one thing you were allowed to take away from this post and had learn’t FULLY – it’s “A B P” ALWAYS BE PROMOTING. What does that mean? Well it means what it says, every-time you write an email, post a comment, design a logo, write a post, upload an image, eat your lunch, take a shower, your OVERARCHING thought is – BE PROMOTING.
How can I promote myself, my blog, my website? You live it, eat it, drink it, shower it, walk it and even poop it. Every conversation you have online or offline, how can I promote what I’m doing?
Of course make this natural, no one likes the pushy salesman or saleswoman, who is craving over dipping his or her needy little hand into your pocket, that’s just creepy isn’t it? What I mean is do it slowly, patiently, persistently, put passion and enthusiasm into it. People will start asking you about what you’re doing naturally. Take a look at this tweet that TravellingMacs sent me :
I like her attitude, she wasn’t afraid to ask for my help and advice. Since then we’ve had several conversations, and I’ve given her a ton of advice. She’s a lovely lady and great blog, I hope she’ll be as successful as she wants to be – definitely worth a visit – http://travellingmacs.wordpress.com/
Recently I went on a road-trip, 12 hours there and back, with a bunch of strangers (me and 6 others). Personally I like to listen to my music, relax, meditate a bit, not actively seeking to be sociable. The journey was enjoyable enough great scenery, I got the front seat in the mini-bus. On the way back we get a flat tyre, the driver stops to get it repaired at a garage. Of course we all get out of the mini-bus and stretch a bit. People start taking pictures, it’s an event, an ice-breaker. An American-Chinese guy and I start chatting. I tell him I’m doing a blog and doing promoting and SEO. BANG a switch goes off in his head and he’s like question after question about doing blogs, promoting and SEO. My point is that I’d actually gone out of my way not to be promoting myself, relax a bit, but the opportunity TO PROMOTE MYSELF arrived serendipitously. There’s always opportunities, all of the time and it pays to be a bit prepared for them.
Personally I’m a free-will-ist, so not luck, just happened to be what I was thinking about at the time. Enjoying thinking about what I’m doing with my blog and promoting it. And bang a potential customer or friend or whatever.
#1 THE NUMBER ONE RULE – ABP – ALWAYS BE PROMOTING
#2 Always be Proactive
Try and think of your own ideas and inspiration. If you’re struggling, take the first bit of inspiration that comes from outside. Do a post on cooking Pasta when someone talks about tomatoes, like the one I did here –https://doncharisma.org/2013/10/23/tomato-pasta-the-right-way/ which was promted by a friend’s ketchup recipe. Do a post on designing a logo when you’ve just done one. Do a post on how you’ve dealt with a debt collector recently. Go first, be a leader, take the initiative or take the first idea that inspires you and realise it now. Always keep trying new ideas, doesn’t matter where they came from or if they are original or not.
#3 Always be Positive
Positivity will push you forward, negativity will drain your energy. Same for others in your social circles and networks online and offline, gradually “loose touch” with the negative people and actively engage with and reward the positive influences. Try and retrain your own thoughts to be more positive or at least find the positives in any negative situations. By all means help and support friends, family and others who are a bit negative, but retain the positive energy you need to be doing what you want to do.
#4 Always be Posting
Promoting is akin to advertising. You just keep on doing it. Try, refine, try, refine, try, refine. Keep on posting content, even if it’s not 100%, you can always learn something, often others will see the value where you sometimes struggle. Genuine readers who genuinely enjoy your website, will ignore the stuff they are not interested in, they scan stuff anyway. Just keep posting as often as you can, or if you’re lucky enough to have a surplus of content, schedule it, and schedule it for time of day you think your audience will be most receptive. I just did a post on what are good times of day to post here – https://doncharisma.org/2013/10/27/what-is-the-best-time-of-day-to-post-on-your-blog/
#5 Always be Polite
There’s very rarely a need for rudeness. All of the people that I admire and respect are polite. Yes they are firm, and perhaps a little rude if provoked. But polite people have respect for others. Treat other people how you’d like to be treated yourself.
And that doesn’t mean cleverly crafted passive-aggressive insults and innuendos, most people are intelligent enough to see what you’re actually saying, if you haven’t got anything positive or polite to say then shut-up, or keep it brief.
If you want to know more about my attitude to people behaving badly, then you might like to read my post on how I dealt with trolls here – https://doncharisma.org/2013/10/10/trollsrus-a-guide-to-blog-trolls-moose-mr-whisk-and-the-axe-murderer/
#6 Always be Patient
This shit takes time, a lot of it, and a lot of effort. The little Google elves that drive the Google machine have a massive workload. It takes time for Google to do anything on their search engine, it makes sense they have trillions of pages to deal with. Also your blog or website will take time to get momentum going. Be patient and realise that the job at hand isn’t seconds or minutes, it’s measured in weeks, months and years. Don’t lose heart, just keep at it, the rewards will come, patience is important !
#7 Always be P…Happy (are you still awake ?)
Isn’t really a ‘P’ – I get things done better, quicker, more innovatively when I’m relaxed and happy. I also enjoy what I’m doing, and people looking at my cartoon or my logo or my content will get that. It shines through in what I do and who I am. Try and be happy as you can in doing all of the mundane and fiddly and time-consuming bits, there are lots of them. And especially be happy when you’re making your content, happy content is gonna get you friends, links, reblogs, reviews, mentions. All this drives traffic into you blog or website, and all help you promote yourself.
#8 Always be Personable
People that visit your blog or website and make comments are generally decent normal people same as you. Being friendly and helpful, pegs you as an ally, a friend, someone the other person could give a damn about. Further, it pegs you as someone who is worthy of their time and support, they might end up a customer, they might reblog one of your posts to there 25000 readers – A fellow blogger actually did this for me recently, and that was even after I didn’t help him previously when he’d asked me. Main thing is I’m friendly, positive and generally enjoyable to be around.
Treat others how you’ve like to be treated yourself, and others will help you.
#9 Always be (a) Professional
It’s often tempting to do stuff which isn’t very nice to other people, especially when they are being stupid. Professional means having ethics, morals and integrity. Which means you do your best to be a good person, and act like any sensible normal well adjusted person would in all situations. Ethics, morals and integrity inspire trust in others. Others that trust you will help you promote what you’re doing, they will visit your site, participate in what your doing and might end up being friends or customers.
#10 Always be Presentable
I have to put myself in the shoes of LedaMonsterBunny (not literally of course), before she’s making a YouTube video that gets a million hits. For those that don’t know her she’s a “scene girl” and a very popular one at that. I was a little hard on her in my last post, but didn’t mean any harm, I’ve researched her a bit now and she’s alright. Anyway, she has all that makeup to put on, get it just right, the hair died or she’s had to go shopping for a wig. The clothes and the accessories. My point is that there’s a hell of a lot of planning, and preparation. She’s had to think about what she’s going to say, and about how she’s going to do the video before switching the camera. She works incredibly hard to make the PRESENTABLE image that she wants to present. If you don’t like Leda bunny, maybe look at Brad Pitt or Robert Downey Jr or even Richard Branson. They are ALWAYS presentable, ALWAYS. If you’re gonna be successful, being presentable is so crucial.
And look please stop deluding yourselves, it’s got FUNK all to do with vanity, forget that shit. It’s got to do with being a charismatic leader, and charismatic leaders are PRESENTABLE, they do it for you mostly, not for them.
#11 Always be Pondering
Think about (and if you’re capable feel into) how to, how to, how to. How can I promote what I’m doing ? What can I do to promote what I’m doing ? Dream about it when you’re on a bus or out walking your dog, or watching TV. Invent new stuff in your imagination. Imagine what if, cultivate little ideas that pop up, expand and develop them in the best testing space there is, in your imagination. It’s such a powerful tool, shame to let it go to waste.
And it’s also really, really fun. My daily walk along the beach of around maybe 5 miles, I love to listen to music that I’ve selected that makes me happy and gets my creative flow going. Use that free time to dream your way to where you want to be. Many of my best posts and ideas are created this way.
#12 Always be Photoshop’ing
I really really FUNKing enjoy the design aspects of doing blogs and websites. I LOVE creating visual effects and doing the stuff that I could only dream about in the past, with text, graphics, cartoon, colors etc. It’s so rewarding to me, step back and look at it and say WOW I DID THAT MYSELF and I have proof that I can show to everyone else. Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator etc are powerful tools for creating awesome stunning graphics. They also say a picture says a thousand words, entirely correct. Use those tools to make a wall of text into a fun little journey for you and your readers. Break it up with some humour, and get their emotional brain going, along with the intellectual.
I couldn’t stress just how much fun and pleasure I’ve had creating visually appealing stuff, it just makes me happy every time. Obviously be patient with Photoshop, it’s got a massive array of features and needs time to take in. Best way I found to get started is hunt for videos on YouTube and then you can follow the other person step by step. Google it, “Grafitti text photoshop” find the guide you want, try it out, easy. Check out my friend Danny’s tutorial and video on creating a Graffiti logo – http://dannyboybroderick.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/how-to-create-a-graffiti-logo/
#13 Always be P…Lucky (13’s unlucky ?)
Personally I’m not a fate-ist, I’m a free-will-ist. I like the sentiment luck, but I believe we create a lot of out own luck. So find out a way to be lucky, find out how to win, it’s that simple. You can use your imagination to help you with this.
#14 Always be Progressing
Some people may be happy with 1000 impressions a day on Google and 20 pageviews. I am not, I want to reach a level, enjoy it a bit and then move towards the next level. There is always a next level. Aim to keep progressing, try and think ahead at the current level and incorporate what you’ll need later into what you’re doing now.
I’ve included here (above) a recent screen-print from my Google Webmaster tools. I’m making progress. No I’m not getting millions of hits on viral posts. But I am making progress, good progress, Google are showing my posts more and more often. I’m starting to gain some trust from Google and they are starting to give me more “authority”.
#15 Always be Pioneering
The arenas that you’ll be competing in are constantly evolving, changing. Look for niches and exploitable anomalies and try them out. Maybe it’ll be cooking recipes of the ancient island people of “Tou-man-fou” or secrets of growing authentic Japanese wasabe at $100 a root. Find those niches and anomalies that you think you can take advantage of and try it out. Marketers and promoters are constantly pioneering, and learning as they go along. Think of an idea, try it, look at feedback, do again adjusted for success. With a new idea incorporate what you learnt on your earlier attempts. Try, try, try, try, try, try, try, and keep on trying until something works, and then keep on trying.
Never stop trying new things, be a leader, go first, be a pioneer.
#16 Always be Passionate
Somebody that’s doing a blog or website just for the money or because he or she feels she ought to, or they are bored and haven’t got anything else to do, is likely to produce BORING and UNINTERESTING content. This means they don’t get any followers, don’t get any pageviews, don’t get any customers and they really don’t get any success. Somebody who LOVES the hell out of what they are doing, can’t hardly sleep because they are so excited about it, will produce awesome, first class, innovative content that others can’t wait to see.
Simple really ?
#17 Always be Persistent
Never ever give up. Take a break, rest, have a sleep, have a holiday. But NEVER EVER GIVE UP on what your dreaming to do. Just keep at it, do the best you can, try, try, try. Persistence does pay off with Google and the success of your website or blog. I’ve been doing this now 5 months, added over 5000 followers and my daily impressions on Google are close to 2000. It wasn’t always like that as you can see from the graph I’ve included here (a few pictures above). It doesn’t even include the impressions and hits from before I bought my own domain DonCharisma.org, when it was still DonCharisma.wordpress.com
Just have to keep on pushing at it, slowly and surely you’ll get there, the rewards will come to those who persist.
#18 Always be Paraphrasing
Google and any search engine relies on words and the magic SNIPPETS. Learn to paraphrase, that is say it in your own words. More than that in fact, play around saying your message in 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 words, different size Snippets for Twitter and for Google. Look at what others write and what appeals to you. SNIPPETS are really really important, I want to do a whole post on that later.
#19 Always be Pliable
Adapting to changing circumstances, not being rigid, not sticking to rigid idea, be Pliable. The game your playing in will and does change often, you need to adapt to and exploit these changing circumstances. Be adaptable, pliable, flexible, this makes you much more able to succeed. Drop ideas that don’t work, try new ones. Also it’s a different ballgame having 500 followers than it is with 5000, and then again different ballgame at 50000. So you need to adapt and change to suit where you currently are.
A big for instance is that WordPress.com recently added Google+ in Publicize. For those of you who don’t know about Google+ authorship, well it’s possible to get your photo right there on the Google results. This is massive, huge, if you haven’t done it, create you Google+ account and set it up on your blog or website. I’d want to do a post on this later, as Google+ is really important.
#20 Always be Powerful
You may not always realise but your words and what you do on your blog or website have an impact on other people. You can literally change people’s lives with what you say and do. So word your content powerfully, make your graphics bold and say things clearly and forcefully. Obviously temper that with wisdom, overly arrogant isn’t necessarily very attractive or powerful, might be more the words of a tyrant, so don’t be afraid to soften where appropriate. As you become more and more successful, your words and deeds get amplified, more people read and more people are influenced. Be powerful in your words and deeds. Be firm and straightforward. But don’t be a tyrant.
Most people know the story of the Wizard of Oz. He didn’t think he was very powerful, but turned out he was a lot more powerful than he thought. Great movie, watch it.
#21 Always be Peaceful
Sounds like a contradiction to some of the other “Always Be…” rules. Sometime it is or can be.
What I mean is that rest, relaxation, time to just “be”, time for your friends, family and loved ones, is AS, if not more important than your promoting/working time. Use these times of PEACE to relax, meditate, ponder, strategise, build ideas and use your imagination to help you towards your goal of that internet success that you want. Also you will make mistakes, get tired, bored and have other commitments that will mean that you can’t “Always Be …”. Deal with these interruptions with the same passion and enthusiasm, you’ll find that they become less of a difficulty and just well, life that happens along the way.
If you can always try to get back to being peaceful inside, you will work better and more effectively, have more energy and enthusiasm.
#22 Always be Prepared
This is the Scouts motto I believe.
Plan, strategise, think what’s coming up next, prepare for it, get ready for what’s next. Read about it, talk to your friends that are doing similar things. So you’ve written a bunch of content, 30 articles, don’t dump them all out there in one go, schedule your posts so your readers have time to take them in, one per day, week or whatever schedule you think best. Get ahead with your content if you can, as this takes the pressure off. You’ll make better content when you’re not under pressure. Be ready for people to give critical advice, and be ready to either ignore it or factor it in or learn from it. Be ready, think about what might be ahead, prepare for contingencies, take backup of your blog.
People who prepare are ready when a challenge arises, people who don’t often just get knocked over or blown out. Succeeding at promoting your blog or website will take planning and preparation.
Conclusion
My ethos on promotion is simple, ALWAYS BE PROMOTING. The elements of this I’ve listed as the 22 “Always Be P…” ABP rules. Use these to guide you in all you do with your website or blog. They form my basic Ethos, mindset, paradigm or whatever you want to call it. They are a major part of (the secrets of) how I’m successful at what I’m doing.
OTHER PEOPLE CHARGE FOR THIS INFORMATION, so be grateful it’s here and I’m giving it for free, share my stuff, reblog it, tell your friends about my blog, tweet about me, facebook about me, help me promote myself. There’s more to come much much more, and all of those encouraging tweets, shares, reblogs really do drive me to do more for people reading my blogs.
Thankyou for reading:)
Future
This is part two, the next part of this series will likely be about brands and domain naming. After that I’d like to write about snippets and Goolge+. So please do keep reading my blog, tell your friends about it, share my stuff (sorry I promote hard, said this already before !). Obviously if you see things in your inbox that aren’t for you then ignore and wait until you see something you do like, it will come I promise.
Resources & Sources
Original images courtesy Google Images, from THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
I am relatively new in the blogging arena so I really appreciate the 2 part episode you provided on promoting. Very helpful information that has truly inspired me to do more each day. Thank you.
You’re very welcome 😀
Reblogged this on Just Plain Random and commented:
Another must read for any blogger who wants to last it this game.
Thanks for reblog 🙂
Happy to have you on my reader roll. i write for the joy of writing; Though i am a doctor by vocation, i aspire to be an author too.
In social media like fb, i have observed that though the membership in my 12 closed communities exceed 10000, only about 90-100 actively involve in the discussions. i believe that this is true in case of blogs too. So i do not worry much on the blog hits or stats, so long as i write something worth another person’s time.
What i find significant is that once a person starts reading what you write, if your words are powerful enough, the reader will be linked to you by an invisible cord. Attraction does not always result in bonding, and hence, for the right readership, the focus should ideally be on the content rather than statistics.
I loved all the 22 P and wish to add the number 23- Purpose.
Hoping to read and learn more from The Charisma, with regards Dr Swetha RM.
Very much agree with you on this 🙂 … I think there’s a lot of “silent” readers who read and enjoy but don’t participate … for me I’m fine with this 🙂
And yes content is very important, the most important thing really …
Speak soon
Don Charisma
Great post! Great advice! Thank You
Hey Peter you are very welcome 🙂
Hey there Don Charisma, I’ve been reading about you around the blogosphere so I decided to check you out. Found this page. Thanks for the great info. I’ll be returning to read more. Especially part 1.
Blessings =)
Staci
Glad you liked me 🙂 come back anytime … warm regards DC
Thanks for sharing and for the advice!! 😀 This is a great help.
Welcome 🙂 DC
Don, I’ve bookmarked this Page. It’s incredible advice, not just for blogging but for much of life.
You are welcome, I very much enjoyed writing and awesome when it inspires others too 🙂
It’s a nice post.
Thankyou, very kind of you 🙂
This has existed for 2 months prior to today’s discovery; it’s great! This is a large chunk of the roadmap to exceed our expectations in 2014. And, thanks for visiting my site today, 2013: Immediate Change. Have a Blessed Christmas & New Year.
You are welcome, merry Christmas, Don Charisma
That’s a nice post. Thank you for helping make a start with search engine optimization on Google. SEO magic in one read. zmbdta
You are welcome 🙂
I’m definitеly enjoying the information.
I’m bookmarking anԁ will bbe tweeting thiѕ to mmy followers!
Exceptional blog and wonderful design.
It’s a good post.
Very helpful post thank you!
You are most welcome and lovely to hear from you, keep in touch, Don Charisma
Reblogged this on Capt Jills Journeys and commented:
helpful hints on promoting a blog from Don Charisma
🙂
Hey Jill, thanks for the reblog, much appreciated:)
great post, especially for us newbies, reblogging 😉
Hey Jill, thanks:)
Hello,
This is a great post, thanks for sharing! It’s great advice for a successful blog but also a successful life! Thanks for following the Global Art Experiment today I hope you found something interesting!
You are welcome and it’s great to hear from you … post as much for my benefit as for others .. keep in touch, warm regards DC
Great article, really glad I’m following you and I’m learning every day – reblogged to share the love 🙂
Happy to hear that 🙂 thanks very much for sharing … warm regards DC
Thanks for the reblog:)
Amazing and thank you friend, there are many inspirational articles
You are most welcome, thankyou:)
Took me a while to read all of your post but, boy, I’m glad I did 😄 really excellent. Thanks for following me am very happy to follow you .
Cheers, Lesley
You are very welcome Lesley, lovely to hear from you and do keep in touch … DC
Thanks for the follow, and I really found this to be inspiring. You can bet I’ll be referring to it often! 😀
You are most welcome and thankyou for visiting my blog … sometimes I write these things as much to remind myself, so it’s a bonus when others find them useful … keep in touch, warm regards DC
Thanks for following my blog, Don. I should be heading off on our road trip right now but couldn’t help but have a squiz at your blog. I’ll be back for a good read later. Cheers.
You are welcome … have a safe road trip and do keep in touch … warm regards DC
What a great post! Awesome advice and loved your use of “P” in giving your readers to learn more about SEO! Again, great job!
Hey Jack, thanks for your kind words … keep in touch … DC
Don Charisma, You have some excellent advice here, and you’re right it’s free. I like that, but more importantly I like not to waste my time so thank you for that as well. I shall return.
I have a lot to learn, and spending some time here will help.
Always a pleasure and glad you found the information useful. Please do keep in touch. Warm regards DC
This was really informative and well written. Thanks for the free advice and thank you so much for stopping by my blog
My pleasure, nice to hear from you … warm regards DC
Reblogged this on SHERRI OF PALM SPRINGS and commented:
this is fantastic!!! By Don Charisma!!!
Thanks Sherri, much appreciated 🙂
Wow!! Don this wonderful, and I love to promote me and others I have a blog that I feature artsit designers etc and sure would love for you to take a look and
if you would like …would love to promote this writing of your..I shared it to google and would love to share it on/ http://www.artimpressionsbysherri.com
see you soon, sorry I haven’t been here in so long..many things have had to keep my attention on the homefront more and other things..
sherri and I re-bloged it to my wp
Sherri
Hey Sherri, thanks 🙂 I’m happy for you to share, it help me to promote, so always happy for reblogs, retweets etc
Thanks once again, keep in touch when you can.
Warm regards
Don charisma
I was thrilled to share it..great reading and you are incredble the way you write things.
I will follow you for sure..I have things going on in the homefront but will still try to be here to check up ..
sherri
awesome and thanks for your kind words … do keep in touch when you have time 🙂 warm regards DC
sure will
have a happy thanksgiving if I don’t get back to right away!!
Sherri
🙂 I’m not American, but happy thankgiving to you also. warm regards DC
Hi Don, how sweet of you. I always have the family dinners on the holidays and it was so nice..
you are very kind Don, you do have the Charisma..
Sherri
have a great weekend
Thanks Sherri, kind words always welcomed here. I hope you enjoyed thanksgiving and are well fed now until Christmas !
I may quote you on the Charisma bit next time I get a critic in LOL
Warm regards
DC
Great post Don and thanks for following me
You are most welcome and thanks for following me
Reblogged this on Computer Users Forum.
Thanks for reblog:)
I had to laugh at the “be patient” tip…that one is definitely the most difficult for me in everything I do 🙂 Hey, at least I’ve got the “be positive” covered (I prefer to avoid rants, although I’ve read some humorous rants before.)
P.S. Thanks for following my blog!
Patience struggle for most people, just need to keep at it … you are welcome, thanks for following me too at Don Charisma dot org … warm regards DC
Your comments and opinions on my blog are always appreciated. Thank You.
Thanks dude, lovely to hear from you … warm regards DC
Gee whiz!, I thought you were already following! 😎 thanks
LOL, don’t know what happened Annet 😎
But a suggestion, please update your gravatar so that your blog is linked on it … reason I say this is that when you follow me (or any other blog) and they look in their followers list, if the gravatar is up-to-date they can follow you straight back … otherwise they might not 🙂
Cheers
DC
Oh dear…more technology. Will try!
It’s worth the effort 🙂
Thanks for taking care of me…. Do you know Hillary Clinton’s book called IT TAKES A VILLAGE? Well that is what it takes to get me to do things!!! Now you are part of my village! 😎
Not read it … but I was thinking about that earlier today, I reckon men build stuff, but it’s the women that make it liveable, ie make it into a real community, that’s worth living in.
I’ve always been part of your village, it’s only that you’ve recognised it today:)
Warm regards
DC
Lovely way with words you have, my friend!
I do my best, all I can do:) DC
HOw do I get to it.. . . gravatar?
http://gravatar.com/annetbell
that easy !
cheers
DC
I tried to do it , can you check to see if I did add the blog?
It has a link to talesalongtheway.wordpress.com … and then a broken link next to it … think it should be a link to talesalongtheway.com ?
OK…will go back and try again!
I think it is ok, but why is the 404 between the website symbols?
It’s nigh on impossible for me to check the way wordpress have laid out the followers list, I have 290 pages of followers now … if you follow my friend Danny, I’ll check with him tomorrow (he has a lot less followers than me) … he’s http://dannyboybroderick.wordpress.com/
Warm regards
DC
I have checked follow for Danny. How do I find the word press list of my followers? I just check the Stats and add them up.
in dashboard, site stats the section for “totals, followers & shares” … underneath the number of followers theres a link that says “blog”, click on that, that shows you all your followers … is that what you mean ?
If you’ve followed Danny then I’ll check with him tomorrow if your gravatar is working properly …
Cheers
DC
Silly me, I knew how to do that already! Gosh you must have nearly as many as OM. I have only 40 pages but I am happy with that! It is late there. Won’t bother you anymore now!
No worries 😎 … It’s early here, 5.32 am, and I still have tomorrows work to make ready … so speak tomorrow 🙂 DC
Wow don, I never knew that about the graviter profile. Thanks for the tip!
You are welcome:)
Hello D on,
I am Severe Storm Steve, the blogger who owns/writes Steven D AKA Severe Storm Steve, the blog you just started following. I would like to thank you for doing that; you’re now one of the reasons I keep it up. Thankyou for following, and I hope you enjoy my blog!
Hey steve, really cool to hear from you, thanks for the personal message, do keep in touch … cheers DC
Hey I am a new blogger! This blog was absolutely perfect for me! Thanks so much! At the moment I am pretending like I know what I am doing, in hopes I’m making sense and producing interesting material!! Thanks again!
Hey, well we all started as new bloggers, and yes keep pretending you know what you’re doing and you’ll get the hang of it, just keep at it is the main thing … Warm regards DC
Hi Don.
Thank you for your ‘follow’ of http://www.inknpetals.wordpress.com. I appreciate it. As a newbe, I always wonder what in particular caught your eye.
Anyway, your follow led me to your blog – very helpful, great suggestions. I have been promoting on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Linkedin, and with a ‘signature’ following every email I send out.
I often feel self-conscious about the email signature in particular and wonder if friends aren’t bored to death with seeing it all the time.
I have been very happy with the number of followers in a short period of time (began in April). Twitter seems to draw the most followers.
I wonder, tho, why I am not receiving very many ‘comments’ and ‘likes’. I wonder if is because my writing is spread about different categories – poetry, memoir, creative non fiction. But I write what appeals to me on a given day.
By the way … I shared this post, ‘Virgin’s Guide …’ on my blog with lots of credit to you, the author. I hope you are OK with that. If not, let me know and I will delete it.
Thanks and any suggestions will be appreciated.
Linda Paupst
Hey Linda, thanks for your message:)
What catches my eye is good people doing good blogs. What I mean is those people who I could be friends with, that’s a good blog for me. I have a widget on the side of my blog “coolest bloggers”, I made this myself. Those people aren’t necessarily huge long running blogs, but they are people I know as friends.
Facebook and twitter are most important at the moment. Twitter I’ve found more open and “honest” and I prefer my presence there. Facebook not that big a fan, but can’t be ignored from a promoting point of view. Google+ you need to pay attention to and use publicize to get your posts into there, and wordpress.com now has built in G+ author integration, so use it.
If people are bored then they do have a habit of letting us know, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I think in promoting there is a lot of repetition, better get used to it. More to the point is when you find yourself bored, in which case time for a change or makeover. Then change the signature, see how you can improve, see other’s signatures that you like and borrow ideas.
Likes will come with an audience, so you have to be patient, the audience will take their own time to show up, and your promotional efforts will partly determine how long. For comments, be thankful for the peace and quiet, a fellow blogger showed me his stats and he’s dealing with a massive 4000+ comments a month. To deal with a high number of comments properly is very very time consuming. Comments will show up when people find something you write inspiring, controversial, enlightening etc, it will have evoked an emotional response. This is why newspapers use emotionally charged wording, to illicit interest and response. Use that tool wisely:)
I am always happy for shares and reblogs, this helps very much, so always happy for you to share:)
Please do keep in touch, very happy to engage with like minded people and helps me with my blogging.
Warm regards
DC
Thanks for reblog:)
Thanks for reblog:)
A great post! Generous and informative. I think I jumped into the middle by reading Part 2 first! I look forward to reading Part 1. Thank you for following my fledgling site. I’ll definitely be following yours 🙂
I think the order doesn’t matter too much, part 2 is about ethos and part 1 is more about practicalities of getting started with SEO … you are welcome and thanks for following back … warm regards DC
Fantastic post and blog! I think I’ve found my morning coffee reading materials for the foreseeable future 🙂 Well done. Thanks for the follow as well. 🙂
You are most welcome, very happy to make your acquaintance and great to be able to make your morning coffee more “enjoyable” … keep in touch, warm regards DC
Thank you for following my blog.
I’ve just read this post and found it very helpful in giving me a focus….I need to promote as I am finally writing the book about France and you give straightforward advice (not the usual teaser – look I tell you this and if you want more you have to pay me…)
I’ll be going back through your archives and will be following in future.
Hey Helen, you are more than welcome and thank you for following me back … In in the process of writing a series of articles about SEO and promoting so keep an eye out, I post them fairly irregularly, but tell it like it is … as for the people trying to make money, well that’s life really, everyone needs money !
Warm regards
Don Charisma
Yes, people need to make money…I prefer people who are upfront about it!
Yes, I’m very much of the same mind, manipulators very poorly behaved spectrum of people indeed 🙂
Did you just go through the P section of the dictionary? Haha jokes. Great post.
LOL, ok, funny !
No, I got the idea from a movie about sales – ABC, always be closing …
Cheers
DC
Wow! This is such a great pep talk. I love it all. I think I’ll go take a walk now and think about my next post. Thanks for the inspiration.
Always a pleasure, thanks Carol, you’ve brightened my day too:) DC
Hello Don,
A wonderfully written article, love the images. Thank you for the visit and for following my blog, I’m so happy that you did, now I get to follow you and learn lots of tips and tricks.
Thanks again
Tanya
Hey Tanya, thank you … lovely to make your acquaintance, and do keep in touch 🙂 Warm regards Don Charisma
Will do Don:)
I’m intending to do more in the same series, I have draft for part 3 done, just need to get the right mindset to to finish, it’s about branding and domain names … good to chat I need sleep now:)
I look forward to reading them, sweet dreams
You too:)
wow, you really know your stuff. so much powerful information. thanks!
Hey Mary, you are most welcome, warm regards DC
identified with your point about positivity and negativity – you have to disconnect with anything negative as it brings you down, concentrate on the positive to lift you up!
It’s an aim, sometimes I can’t meet it. If negativity is present then I normally work “through” it, sometimes able to alchemically transform negative into positve, but again not always possible. I believe we need both negative and positive, it’s a paradox like the many others in life … good to hear from you, hope you are well … warm regards DC
Ve
“Ve”, that’s a new one on me, I tried looking up on Google, but didn’t get a conclusive answer ! Cheers DC
Really informative has got me thinking and that is always a good thing 🙂 now I just need to act on my thoughts.
Yes it’s always good to think, I like to use my imagination creatively. Give yourself time, main thing is to get started and keep going, as and when you have time and inspiration:) warm regards DC
Thank you. I find that they way you have structured your advice in easy step form, makes it less daunting to make a start. It is very helpful. Many thanks.
They say that every journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step 🙂
Thanks for you comments, it’s useful for me to see what other people liked, so that I can do more of it LOL
Warm regards
DC
like this Don? Hey I can’t friend request you there on Fb because I have been banned for fourteen days. I am easy to find. 🙂
I’ll add you 🙂
Done, you’ve got a scuba picture ?
Loads of Them. 🙂
On you’re facebook page profile picture, there were a couple of people suggested with similar names … which one are you ?
I am always ready for more lessons 🙂
OK, so I’ve sent you my email address on FB and also emailed you via about.me, please email me:)
I have three times now 🙂
Hey Michelle, rec’d one email, have replied to it, please can you respond to it. Cheers DC
Done 🙂
Nicely done; it’s all too often that people don’t follow their own advice but your post also embeds your ideas. Question – so I started posting (fairly) consistently in April and have mostly done it as a way of organizing my own thoughts. Hence, I’ve focused on content, not community. So what’s the most straightforward way to thank folks for stopping by when they Like a post but don’t comment?
I’m the worst one for that serious, so know exactly what you mean, learn stuff then not apply it, blogging about it helps me remember. And yes a perfect idea to be posting what you’re doing right now. Matt’s blog is interesting to look at, and although he has massive following from who he is, he does just post about what he’s doing right now …
I’d say be careful about thanking people for liking, it’s possible to come across in some people’s eyes as “try-hard”. Personally I don’t (or try very hard not to) treat people like this, people do thank me for likes, and I always gracefully accept. It’s an olive branch, and olive branches usually should be accepted. Perhaps have a look at the persons blog, mention in passing that you were pleased that they liked something on you blog, and also make sure that there’s something you genuinely like on their blog. A two way connection – relationship.
Maybe – “Thanks for the like on my article on expansion of the universe. I dropped in to see what you’re doing on your blog and I really like your article on restoring old furniture, I have an old chair that I wanted to know how to bring it back to life and now I can.”
Obviously take the idea, and do it how’s authentic for you.
Warm regards
DC
Thanks, I agree but others suggest that since an effort was made to acknowledge it. Seems a bit artificial to me though. I prefer just responding in kind when it makes sense. Thanks again.
You know i’m a big fan bran? I read your sep and blog information religiously! Keep it coming!
Compliments are always appreciated, so thank you so much. Part 3 is already written, just mulling it over and will do the final edit soon. Part 4 someone just gave me an idea, so I think I’m ready to do that as well. Warm regards DC
As a new blogger, I find this post so incredibly helpful! I will certainly keep these P’s in the back of my head as I try to progress from level amateur to level beginner 🙂 Thanks for the post!
My pleasure, you are welcome. I’d aimed to help people get their mindset right for success, and also as always for these posts it helps me to “internalise” better, so win win … you have given me an idea for part 3 or 4, hint I’ve already done the P’s but I didn’t do the Q’s !
Warm regards
DC
Wow! I love this post ’cause it’s very inspiring and it has a lot of great ideas and remembered about me a few things I forget about sometimes. Thanks a lot for sharing Don and have a wonderful evening!
Thanks Nadyess … part 3 is in the pipeline … have a wonderful evening too:) cheers DC
I freaking love this…so inspirational and really got me thinking do I do all of these…..Thanks so much! AWESOME!
Hey my pleasure, I reckon one needs to get the mind right and then achieving what we want becomes easier … however I think people may have preferred part 1 which was a bit more about the actual doing with some humour added in … let’s see how I get on with part 3 which is about brands and domain names … cheers DC
I know Part 3 is going to be wonderful just like Part 1 & 2…Can’t wait to read it! Cheers right back!
Thanks Kimberly, i do my best:) cheers DC
You’re so welcome Mr. Charisma you do a fantastic job!
🙂
😉 back at ya! Have a good evening!
You too … have a good’un 🙂
Thanks! 😉
This is turning into one of those let’s see who can get the last word threads LOL certainly made me smile 😉
LMAO…Exactly and we both have mad things to do…ok I’m done! Bye 😉
PMSL…nice chatting to you, I will let you have the last word if you reply LOL 😉
OK…You better…It was pleasure chatting with you! And the whole time I was envisioning listening to you speak with your British Accent…Lol…I know a hot mess!
😉
Great post, inspiring, of quality and very very entertaining=engaging.
Hey Gordana, thank you for your kind words, and I am very happy that you liked it … warm regards Don Charisma
Another amazing post. Thanks for taking the time to share with us. I seriously appreciate it!
You are most welcome, warm regards Don Charisma
Looks like keeping up with these rules will make you Always-Be-Paid 🙂 Good job Don Charisma!
Thanks dude, I do my best, however no man is built invincible/perfect… but I guess everyone knows that!
Cheers
DC
Very informative!!
Some inspiring ideas here. Thanks for sharing your insight Don, I will come back and read this series again. x
Thanks Amanda, I do my best, hopefully will motivate some people into promoting their blogs and websites more effectively:)
Thank you for the follow, it’s very encouraging.
You obviously put an enormous amount of work into your posts. It is appreciated.
Terry
Hey Terry, thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated. I try my best, all I can do do, usually something legible comes out and people like it, so more’s the good:)
Keep in touch,
Warm regards
DC
I like your blog very much. Great pictures. Will be back for more. Thanks for sharing, Barbara
The kitty picture was adorable…loved some many photos can’t name them all.
I put the keywords in Google images and see what comes out, the kitty just said what I wanted to say so beautifully … also I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the “Be Polite” one, wasn’t sure whether to include it, but it is funny !
They all triggered positive, fuzzy feelings 🙂
Hopefully that’s a good thing 🙂
but of course 😉
You are an inspiration to others..this post certainly inspired me. Thank you for sharing 🙂
My pleasure and of course you are welcome. I think getting the mind right has a lot to do with success:)
And this is why I chose you as a mentor ( you might be thinking ughhhhhhh now that’s one reader I wish hadn’t found my blog ha ha ha ) life throws you some curved balls huh! Ha ha !! You share what others would hide , you are honest in your thoughts when I’ve asked for ideas and above all your blog is always entertaining – and that’s obvious I’m not the only one who thinks it judging from your stats. I’m definitely working on the ‘always be promoting” . I am working busily on finding my my way to be be Propitious ( #13) . Thank you Don Charisma 🙂
LOL, not at all, I find your attitude very refreshing, you’re open to learning new ideas:)
Propitious is a new word I didn’t know before, fits better with the P’s, but lucky I think more well known !
My pleasure, you are always welcome, Cheers DC
[ Smiles ] Apparently, you’ve got it all covered!
Fairly much ! Thanks for reading 🙂 Cheers DC