An Intern Invades Corporate Blogging

The SWest Side Story of Blogging for Business...

Hi there! My name is Stephanie West... I am a senior at Butler University, as well as the current Client Success Intern at Compendium Blogware.

I will be taking you through my internship experience here at Compendium - a fast-paced, young and growing company. I can honestly say that I did not fully understand the impact that blogging has on a company until I began working at Compendium. Anyone can be found through corporate blogging - no matter how big or small. After all, you found my blog!

So take a few minutes and check out my blog - I'm going to dive right in and invade the world of corporate blogging... "SWest Side Story" style!

Choose the Powerful Blogging Software

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Stephanie West

In your search for your morning cup of coffee, I pose you with a choice: purchase an inexpensive cup of coffee vs. a pricier cup of coffee. Which did I choose?

The pricier cup of coffee.

I'd like to explain how I arrived at my decision - and my choice of coffee this morning is the same choice you should make about your corporate blogging software.

My first option for coffee was to stop at McDonald's and get a large coffee for only $1.00. Sounds like a great deal, right? The problem is that the $1.00 cup of coffee comes with a lot of "baggage." It involves waiting in line (either in the store or the drive-through) for an extended period of time. Certainly not a desirable situation. In addition, the coffee is not the highest quality.

The second option is a pricier, more powerful cup of coffee from Starbucks. This cup of coffee is generally three, maybe four, times as much money as the McDonald's coffee. The major advantage is that convenience factor. Starbucks in conveniently located on the first floor of our building.

The major difference between these two options is the powerfulness of Starbucks' coffee vs. McDonald's. The second difference between these two options is convenience.

These two factors, powerfulness and convenience, are some of the major benefits of using Compendium Blogware. Not only will Compendium's blog platform leverage your search engine optimization results, but it is also a convenient way to optimize your search engine optimization results.

For more information on this powerful blog software and how it is the best option for your business, click here to schedule a demo with a blogging expert.

When it comes to search marketing, "volume matters"

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by Stephanie West

Compendium's CEO/CoFounder, Chris Baggott coined this phrase in a recent company meeting. Honestly, it's one of the strongest points that I took away from the meeting.

Generating enough blog content is such an important aspect of maximizing your search engine optimization results. Your company could be utilizing Compendium's easy to use blog software, but your search engine optimization strategy is not very effective if you are not generating enough blog content to sustain your blog.

Companies that are looking for a corporate blogging software platform to maximize their search engine optimization results should consider Compendium's powerful blogging software.

Compendium's simple blogging software is an asset to any company's inbound marketing strategy. The blog content is automatically structured for search engine optimization. This feature makes Compendium unique from other blogging software. Although the content is automatically structured, that doesn't mean that it is automatically generated. Clients still need to generate an adequate amount of blog content. Once the content is generated, it will be automatically structured for maximum search engine optimization results.

So, ultimately, "volume matters"... You must generate blog content in order to reach maximum search engine optimization results.

Click here for more information on why content matters.

Blog and be found

Friday, December 18, 2009 by Stephanie West

When my dad was in elementary school, he was given a dictionary. A big, red dictionary. Everyone in his class received one, and surprisingly, my dad used his.

http://www.governmentauctions.org/2008_05_18_blogarchive.asp

The dictionary looked exactly like the one to the right... And twenty-something odd years later, I used that same dictionary. I used it all through elementary school (honestly!), middle school, and high school.

Then, I went to college. In college, I didn't use that hard-bound dictionary. The only books I now use are textbooks. No more dictionary, no thesaurus... Nothing!

I converted to the internet - to search, in particular.

Search is my answer to everything. I can (almost) always find an answer just by searching. But, I restrict myself to the first page of search results in Google.

So if you were a marketer, where would you want to position yourself? In those reference books? In hardbound books? Or, on the internet?

I would pick the internet. And I'd say the first page of search results, in particular.

So how do you get there?

For a good inbound marketing strategy, consider a blogging platform. Compendium's blogging platform will position your blog for search engine optimization. When your blog is optimized in search, your ranking in Google will be higher. If your ranking in Google is within the top 10 (or the first page), then internet searchers will find you (and hopefully click on your search result).

After you're found, your blog just needs good, relevant content so that the reader is encouraged to take further action.

Essentially, Compendium's blogging platform is search marketing at its finest - to blog and be found!

How effective is your marketing strategy?

Thursday, December 17, 2009 by Stephanie West

What are you doing to improve your company?

How effective is your marketing strategy?

Do you know the answer to these questions? Have you thought about these things lately?

If not, now is your chance!

Here at Compendium, we're always looking for ways to improve. Everything from our marketing strategy to our client support system - we're always open to suggestions!

Currently, we're conducting a study. The survey can be taken by anyone who blogs, blogging administrators, and blogging program managers.

Not only would we appreciate the feedback, but you will benefit as well! While answering the questions, you'll be examining your own blogging strategy. Do you know the traffic that your blog receives?? If so, great! If not, you may want to examine this further.

So don't wait - start examining your marketing strategy now! If is never too late to ask yourself these questions, and there's always room for improvement. And, of course, we would really appreciate your feedback!

Have you submitted your vote yet?

Friday, December 11, 2009 by Stephanie West

...for the Top 100 Marketer 2009.

Compendium's CoFounder/CEO, Chris Baggott, has again been nominated in this year's list of the Top 100 Most Influential Internet Marketers.

Being nominated is such an honor, but here at Compendium, we always strive for more. We'd love to see him make it to #1.

And that's where YOU come in!

You have until 12/13/09 at midnight to vote.

Here's the link: http://www.invesp.com/2009/top-100-marketers-of-2009.html.

Then, click on 'Chris Baggott.'

It will take you about a minute to do... and your vote is great appreciated!!

Blogging in under 10 minutes...

Friday, December 11, 2009 by Stephanie West

I'm going to prove a point in this post.

YOU CAN WRITE A BLOG POST IN UNDER 10 MINUTES.

I have 8 more minutes to prove that.

I am often asked this question: "Why exactly is Compendium?"

And here is my 7 minute explanation of what Compendium is...

Compendium Blogware is a corporate blogging software company. It is a platform that is designed to restructure the content that you (and your fellow employees) generate in order to be maximized in search engine optimization.

In search, there are the top 2 (or 3) results at the top of the page. Those results are supported by paid search. But the lower results are organic. And statistically speaking, those results are "clicked-on" more often than others.

When you blog with Compendium, your blogs will be structured in organic search - which is where most people click.

So WHY NOT give it a try? For more information on this corporate blogging software, click here to schedule a demo with a blog expert! They'd love to explain more!

Third generation blogging and your future

Friday, December 11, 2009 by Stephanie West

If you didn't get a chance to hear Compendium's CoFounder/CEO, Chris Baggott, and his webinar on third generation blogging - don't worry! We have provided a Whitepaper version of the webinar!

The concept of third generation blogging is catching wind. The more people that blog for business, the more others want to know about it. Corporate blogging isn't something that you do for a short period of time, then stop. It's more than that.

Blogging for business is third generation blogging that is here to stay.

The Whitepaper: What Third Generation Blogging Means to You will help you understand:

The true values of a corporate blogging strategy.
The key factors that influence why blogs do well in search engines.
What separates corporate blogging from citizen journalism.
The core differences between blogs and websites.
How blogging helps people connect at a highly personal level.

http://www.enoughroomforspace.org/app/webroot/uploads/superhighway_square_browse%282%29.jpg

Sound interesting? It is! You will be more informed about this innovative and substantial form of search marketing. Corporate blogging is an ample inbound marketing strategy that will certainly fit your marketing needs.

Check out this Whitepaper for more information on third generation blogging and how it will impact YOUR future.

Compending: what does it mean?

Thursday, December 10, 2009 by Stephanie West

Compendium understands the importance of compending your blog content.

You may be thinking: "That's great, but what exactly does that mean?"

Compending means automatically structuring your blog content for maximum search engine optimization. This feature is what makes Compendium's corporate blogging software both unique and valuable.

After you write a blog post, it has to have somewhere to go. The compending feature automatically structures your blog post so that there is direction to where it goes. Your blog post is part a compilation of blog posts that all make up a blog. Not just one blog, your blog post is (usually) part of multiple blogs - when the content is relevant to those blogs. And all of this is done automatically.

This automated feature is what makes Compendium unique. The software automatically reads your content and structures it so that it is optimized in search.

Your blog for business will leverage your search marketing strategy. It will help you get found in search and acquire new business from the leads you generate.

Sound interesting? Want more information? Download this Whitepaper: Considering Blogging? for more information. Or schedule a demo to learn how this compending feature will help YOU!

Myth: make money fast by blogging

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 by Stephanie West

Recently, I have heard a lot of talk about making money fast by blogging.

I'll be honest; I don't know how this logistically works. I understand that you post blogs under various blogs - and this is your source of income and probably entails more work than necessary.

Here's why...

Compendium offers corporate blogging software. The software is equipped with an automated feature that optimizes your blog, organically, organic search engines. This is done for you - automatically. Which means you'll save a lot of time in your corporate blogging efforts and maximize your search marketing strategy.

http://www.e-clipsblog.co.uk/tag/return-on-investment/

This is all great, but you're probably wondering how you make money, right?!

When you blog for business, you aren't generating content to "make fast money" - you're blogging because your return on investment would be much higher when everyone in your organization generates content.

Therefore, you are not necessarily forcing unsubstantial blog posts in order to "make fast money." When you set up your organization to blog, you and your employees are setting up a continuous stream of content on material that everyone is familiar with. Everyone is able to contribute and maximize your search engine optimization, which will help increase your ROI.

Want additional information on how this corporate blogging strategy will increase your return on investment? Schedule a demo to see if this corporate blogging strategy fits your search marketing needs!

Everyone is fighting for space on the internet

Monday, December 7, 2009 by Stephanie West

Everyone is fighting for space on the internet. Obviously, there's plenty of "space" for everyone, but there is only a limited amount of recognizable space that internet searchers are exposed to. Most searchers only scroll through the first page of results in Google.

With that said, if you are trying to get found in search - you need to maximize your search engine results.

http://www.dancingmood.net/musicaloccupation/tag/westbound-train/

If you are trying to win that "space" on the internet - that space on the first page of results in Google - then you need to use solid SEO tools to reach that goal.

When you blog for search engine optimization, you are acquiring new customers then converting those customers. Using Compendium's corporate blogging software will help you maximize your search engine optimization opportunities. Those SEO opportunities will then lead to customer conversion opportunities.

Corporate blogging helps your organization connect with new customers on a personal level. It humanizes your marketing strategy and helps you win that space on the internet by maximizing your search engine optimization results.

For more information on how to maximize your search engine optimization results with this marketing strategy, click here to schedule a demo with a blogging expert at Compendium.

Would you like a sample?

Monday, December 7, 2009 by Stephanie West

Think about that question: "Would you like a sample?"

How often do you respond "no"?

Most people don't decline samples because they are free. Samples are a great way to introduce a new, unfamiliar product to potential buyers.

Another way to present a "sample" of your product is through a demo.

At Compendium, we like to go through a demo of our product with you.

http://www.joomclan.com/index.php/JoomListings/

If you think you're interested in our corporate blogging software platform and want more information, a blog expert can walk you through a demo and demonstrate the benefits of using Compendium to set up a blog for your organization.

Before agreeing to set up a blog for your business, you should know exactly why you are blogging and what this corporate blog platform entails. Corporate blogging is a good fit for your organization if you are trying to maximize your search engine optimization results.

If you'd like to "sample" the product that Compendium offers and get a better understanding, click here to schedule a demo today!

Is Compendium the right fit for you?

Friday, December 4, 2009 by Stephanie West

Picking the right marketing strategy is like picking a pair of shoes.

Why you buy a new pair of shoes, they have to fit. They can't be too big; they can't be too small. They have to be just right.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-coli/2883705050/

Your marketing strategy is very similar. When adding to your marketing strategy, you can't take on something that is too big, or too small. It has to be just the right fit for your company.

If you take on more than your company can handle, then your marketing strategy will not be effective. At Compendium, we offer a platform for simple blogging software. After getting your employees on board, each of them will generate content to support your blogging strategy. Once people are dedicated to contributing content - the only thing left is to blog. Compendium's blog platform is designed to automatically structure the content you generate so that it can be optimized in search engines.

Sound like the right fit? Click here to schedule a demo and learn more about this marketing strategy.

Blogging on the back burner... no longer!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 by Stephanie West

It happened to me too...

I "got busy with other tasks" and didn't make time to blog. I realized, firsthand, how easy it is to get wrapped up in other tasks.

Blogging got put on the back burner for a while.

And I missed blogging.

I like "helping." Whether it be an individual person, an organization, an animal, etc. You name it - I'll help.

That is one of the main reasons why I enjoy corporate blogging. I know that my blog post has an impact on the overall success of Compendium. That one blog post is helping blog for search engine optimization. Even if it's helping just a little bit, I know that my blog post has an impact.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/IGS/IGS170/IS028-025.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/calendar.html&usg=__kfOOVPFBw3W5OAKtV99I6ZOSB70=&h=170&w=131&sz=6&hl=en&start=23&sig2=RcD3Gix-ZOQqM0Hw2yuCKQ&um=1&tbnid=djpiQ9NlQLeGqM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dflip%2Bcalendar%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D21%26um%3D1&ei=N8sWS8D7LJKSnAfW_vDwBA

So how did I make blogging a priority again - not the back burner?

I made an event on my calendar to blog.
I scheduled the time into my list of tasks.

It was that simple. When my calendar reminder popped up, I set aside my other task and wrote this blog post. You can do this, too - it's that easy to get back-on-track! Click here to schedule a demo with a blog expert on Compendium's blogging software and see how YOU can have an impact on your company's overall success!

Partnering with Roger West Creative

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 by Stephanie West

Compendium is always expanding and looking for great ways to share our corporate blogging software. Since we are always looking for new ways to improve our product and service, we have recently established a relationship with Roger West Creative & Code. We are excited about the variety of services that they will be able to offer our Compendium clients.

Roger West is a new type of marketing agency. They deliver "integrated marketing solutions through a unique balance of high-end creative and powerful custom technologies." Their goal is to help customers reach their business needs by bridging the gap between marketing and technology.

So what does that mean for Compendium clients?

As you may already know, Compendium is partnering with them for these services. Compendium offers a general blog design that fits most customers' needs. For those customers that want a more "cutting edge" blog design, however, Roger West is the solution.

Roger West is focused on meeting your design needs. They will make sure that your blog design is consistent with your corporate identity and optimized for conversion and lead generation.

Compendium is excited to work with Roger West. Together we will meet your needs through the combination of our powerful blogging technology and Roger West's custom web design!

Blogging vs. TV commercials

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Stephanie West

I read an interesting article titled, "Balloon Boot Camp," by Mina Kimes in the most recent issue of Fortune Magazine. The article wasn't really an article at all - it was more of a "by the numbers" approach to looking at the giant inflated balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/08/spider-man-returns-to-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/

Here are some of the numbers that I found to be interesting:

3+ million people will "cover Manhattan" to watch the parade.
43 million people are expected to tune into NBC to watch it.
$240,000 - the cost of a 30 second television commercial during last year's parade.

Just look at those numbers - 43,000,000 people are going to tune into NBC to watch the parade, and in turn, watch a 30 second commercial that costs $240,000 for the air time. Amazing!

Television commercials are one way to market your product or service.

Another method worth noting is corporate blogging. The viewers that are tuning into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are also tuning into the commercials - whether they realize it or not.

Here's the difference between a television commercial and corporate blogging: Blogging targets those viewers (or searchers) that are looking for YOU. Commercials are targeting a much wider audience, but that audience isn't as interested.

Internet searchers are looking for what YOU (as a blogger) have to say. The audience that you are targeting is one that is interested in your product. It is all part of an inbound marketing strategy. Doesn't this make the sale a little more simple?

Click here for more information on Compendium's inbound marketing strategy. And don't worry, it doesn't cost as much as a 30 second TV commercial during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

How are you integrating your blog?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Stephanie West

http://www.mobiletechnologyblog.com/mobile-marketing/mobile-marketing-integration

I have blogged about it before, but I think it's worth blogging about again - your blog and your website should work together. Having a blog to drive search traffic and generate leads is great! But your blog should also be a reference. It is a great marketing tool - but it's an even better marketing tool when it is used with your website.

Your website is the best source of information for prospects to reference. It should contain the most up-to-date information and be easy to navigate. So if your website is a source of information, where does your blog tie in?!

Your blog should be a humanized form of your website. It is your humanized marketing strategy. If it is integrated properly with your website, prospective customers can use it as another resource and a way to receive information from the employees that work for your company and support the product/service.

Integrating your blog is something that Compendium emphasizes. Building your blog for search is important, but in addition to that, you should connect your blog to your website to give prospective customers the most information about who you are and what you are selling.

Where's your call-to-action?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Stephanie West

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Picture this: You have written a great blog post. It is well-written and full of substantial content. You may even have included relevant pictures in order to capture your reader's eye.

But here is where the problem is: After the reader/viewer reads your post, there is nothing left to do. Maybe they are really interested in what you had to say, but if you need to have something for them to click on to get more information. That's where call-to-actions (CTAs) come into play.

Having a link within your blog post allows the reader to seek further information if they are interested. Having CTAs embedded in your blog is also a great way for readers to learn about your product or service.

CTAs on the top and side bars of your blog that contain links to additional resources are very beneficial to the reader, as well as the marketer. Marketers are able to track the effectiveness of blogs by these CTAs and the leads that are generated.

When you blog for search engine optimization - great! But you need a way to convert those leads into prospects - which is where your CTAs come into play. Incorporating these CTAs as a part of your blogging best practices will make your blog a better SEO tool. Compendium provides a great blogging platform, and the Client Success team at Compendium will help incorporate your CTAs so that they provide the most benefit.

Whose success are you measuring?

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Stephanie West

When it comes to stories of success, Compendium wants to make sure you know how its corporate blog software will fit into your daily routine.

There are numerous case studies available from various companies' success stories. They are all real stories from real companies that have seen success from Compendium's corporate blogging software.

For more of these success stories and more information on them, sign up for Compendium's free Webinar: Finding Business Blogging Success: Real-Life Stories. The Webinar will be hosted by marketer Chris Baggott, CEO and CoFounder of Compendium Blogware.

The Webinar will take place on November 18th, from 2-3pm EST and it will share the successes of several companies, including an eCommerce Gymnastics Apparel Company, SaaS Event Management and Web Survey Company, and Concrete and Services Company in Minneapolis.

In addition, the Webinar will cover:

Best Practices for ROI driven business blogging.
Real-life examples of successful blogging strategies.
How to set up a blogging strategy built for success.

Don't hesitate, sign up today!

What's your claim to fame?

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Stephanie West

Companies have found their claim to fame in various ways. Some companies are fortunate enough to have found a big break, but most companies aren't that fortunate.

http://thecowhideglobe.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

I'm not a company - I am just an intern, so I'm always looking for my big break. I think my big break came at the Indiana Pacers game tonight. For the first time ever, I was on the kiss cam. It was a scene straight out of the movie, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." It was classic. My claim to fame was in Conseco Fieldhouse on a jumbo screen in front of 10,000 people. I got lucky.

But not everyone gets a big break like I did.

Most companies need to work toward whatever their "claim to fame" may be. A company's "claim to fame" is generally its service or product.

So how do you get noticed?? One way is to BLOG!

Corporate blogging is a great way to share your success with internet searchers - or anyone that is looking for what you have to offer. By using Compendium's simple blogging software, you can have your fame just by blogging for your business.

I got lucky by getting on the kiss cam - it's not always that easy though! The best way to get found is sharing your service or product with others - so start by using Compendium's corporate blog software!

Disclaimer: I really was on the kiss cam last night but it's not my claim to fame. It was used as an example for this blog post...