Blog for Business

Engage your readers

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Michael Burton

We probably all remember that teacher (or teachers) we had growing up who taught classes that seemed to drag on forever. They stood in front of the class, talking in a monotone voice, and they never engaged the class during the hour-long lecture. What was it about those teachers that turned us off so much?

A lot of it probably has to do with the fact we prefer to take part in teaching. The audience likes getting information in a give and take format. It's not just a one-sided thing.

Enter the world of PowerPoint, Youtube clips and other forms of multimedia! Today, many students claim that they focus on a presentation much better if there is multimedia involved.

This same philosophy can carry over to blog posts. It is great if you have a ton of things you want to say in your blog, but it is important to make it easy on readers. Including things like pictures, videos, and links can make blogging for search more fun on the writers and more engaging on readers.

Compendium's business blogging philosophy makes blogging easy and effective for any kind of writer. The important thing to keep in mind for any blogger is to have a way to keep your reader reading. A 500 word paragraph can come across as intimidating and time consuming and cause readers to leave your page.

Uses of Genetic Algorithm

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by james litton

Here at Compendium in the product group we take the opportunity on a weekly basis to improve the base level of knowledge of our employees by getting together and discussing the world of computer software. We alternate weeks between code reviews of internally produced work and a reading group.

Last week we ran a reading group. This quarter our reading groups are structured such that we select a topic and everyone in the group presents some relevant information on a sub-topic. This give everyone the chance to delve a little deeper into something that are interested in while improving the knowledge for everyone.

Although the information we discuss doesn't always immediately apply to the task at hand with respect to blogging software, we do sometimes learn something that comes in handy later.

In a past reading group about algorithms, I found this post: http://brainz.org/15-real-world-applications-genetic-algorithms; and although blogging software isn't on the list of applications for genetic algorithms, marketing techniques are. Marketing techniques are at the core of what business blogging is all about. This demonstrates effectively the breadth of reach a seemingly irrelevant topic might have and why it's important to continue to think about ideas that might not necessarily seem relevant at first glance.

Local Search... on the backburner no longer.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Megan Glover

Local Search. Heard of it? If not, it's time to educate yourself.

Here's a simple example of local search. I wrote a blog post a while back about why my gym in Indianapolis should be blogging and how they need to be targeting keyword search terms like: Indianapolis gyms, gyms in Indianapolis, etc. These are all examples of local search phrases because they are contained within a specific region or area.

Not only are local terms easier to win in search but who really uses the print yellow pages anymore. Let's be honest. Is there anyone reading this blog right now who uses the yellow pages exclusively to find local businesses and organizations?

It's no surpise then that demand for local search results on the web are increasing and it's up to local businesses and organizations to add this to their top priority list of new marketing tactics for 2010.

For more information about Local Search take a look at these great resources:

1. eMarketer, November 3, 2009: Local to Take Lead on Online Ad Spend.

2. Whitepaper: Business Blogging, The Key to Local Search

Compendium Makes Top Indiana Blogs List

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Jess Wehner

A few of our clients, coworkers, and friends were ranked last week as having some of Indianas top blogs! These blogs were voted in the top 50 based on content, comments, and visibility in Indiana and Indianapolis:

Compendium Business Blogs:

MediaTile: Digital Signage Solutions Blog
Fuseworks Studios

Compendium Employees:

Mikey Mioduski: Our Indiana Wedding
Megan Glover: Blog Content, Marketing And SEO

Friends of Compendium

Doug Karr: Marketing Technology Blog
Craig Lile: My Old Kentucky Blog

Checkout these blogs and more to see what's blogs are hot right now!

highlights from the future [of web design]

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by mikey mioduski

Just got back from an awesome conference called The Future of Web Design 2009. So I guess you could say I've seen what the future has to offer. I gotta say, it looks promising.

If you're designing your business blog, or you're thinking about a blog redesign, I'd recommend checking out some of these names I'm about to drop. As we know, business blogging can really help you to communicate your message to potential leads / customers. Because blogs do very well in search, your blog could very well be the first impression you ever make on aforementioned lead / prospect. With new developments in web design, from things like HTML5 and CSS3 to new ideas in content strategy and creation, you can really make that first impression a big one by paying attention to your business blog's design.

So if you're just getting started, just thinking about it, or are just hungry for some inspiration and knowledge... here were some of the speakers that I found truly inspiring from the conference.

Mike Kus
Designer at Carsonified
personal site: http://thethingswemake.co.uk/

Mike Kus emphasized the importance of thinking "outside the web." As soon as we start thinking about a website design, we limit ourselves. We think of things we already know, things we've already seen, things that are trendy. But Kus approaches his designs as if they aren't web designs at all, but instead posters... tee shirts... or some entirely different medium altogether, autonomous of the web. He then brings his idea "back to the web" where his results are often head turning, bold and memorable.

Daniel Burka
Former Creative Director at Digg
now Director of Design at Tiny Speck.
personal site: http://www.deltatangobravo.com/

Daniel Burka's talk, "Listening, Really Listening, to your users," was stellar. I also had the opportunity to sit in on his 3.5 hour workshop the day before, which was even stellarer as he went into open honest detail about the endless lessons he learned over the many years working at Digg, one of the most popular news sharing sites online. Burka made great points on the importance of testing your site with real users, and really listening to what they're telling you-- not only with their words, but with their actions. He emphasized the importance of adapting to change, and being willing to do so. He quoted someone else, "If you look back and aren't embarrassed by your website's version 1.0, you spent way too much time on it."

That's the beauty of web design (as opposed to print), is that we can change things every single day, and if we try something, and it doesn't work, we can try something else. This mentality and willingness to adapt is what made Digg the site is today, and why it gets ridiculous traffic and interaction from its community. Burka also made a fantastic point about the politics involved when making changes to a website of such scale. Burka indicated that there were intense debates at Digg when facing design changes that would often delay change, or induce design by committee results. In his words, Apple is fortunate to have such a benevolent authoritarian dictator, because the result is an incredibly simple, streamlined, yet layered and powerful website.

Very cool, very humble guy.

Joshua Davis
NY Based Artist, Designer & Technologist http://www.joshuadavis.com/

Joshua Davis was the Keynote Speaker at FOWD. This guy charged the stage with bright red pants, a matching bright red jacket, and two Red Bull Energy Drinks. He then blew minds with his ideas and art in a presentation exploring the notion of "Space."

Davis started as a painter and fine artist, who fell in love with Flash back in the early nineties, and has since spent his time exploring and pushing digital art. His work and approach to art and design are extremely innovative, his process totally unique, his results powerful and unexpected.

If you can ever catch Joshua Davis at a comedy-- I mean speaking gig, or at one of his art exhibits, I highly recommend it.

Here's to the future.

-- MSM

The power of the post for a business

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Julie Murphy

The power of the donut in the American office is amazing. We were given an opportunity to earn a free breakfast by each of us posting on our blog. The benefit for Compendium is we leverage our blogging for business to win organic search, if full participation is accomplished...everyone fills their tummy's Friday morning.

Personally, the donut is not a motivator for me personally but blogging for search with easy to use blog software is. Being the team player, I have been shamed in to blogging so that my comrades can stuff themselves in the morning.

You are welcome Clayton Blogware!

Great Blog Template Re-Designs

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Kaila Woodside

Over the past few weeks I have been working with a few clients to re-design their blog. The re-designs are happening for a few different reasons - but the #1 reason is always to increase conversions. A blog for business that brings in 1500 visits a day - but doesn't convert a single

on to a lead is problematic. Check out a few great new blog re-designs:

blog.widen.com
survey.cvent.com
blog.hhgregg.com

Blogging Best Practices push for a stand out Call to Action on your blog that will easily allow visitors to take the next step with your business. Take a look at the widen blog (pictured right) the nice eye-catching image with an easy to locate call to action to "TAKE THE TOUR" immediately grab the attention of the searchers.

These re-designs have been in place for only a short period of time and have already generated more leads and/or more qualified leads on average.

Know Your Audience - and the Difference Between an Oven and Range

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Tyler Bender

This morning, while I was editing some blog content, I ran across something I had never seen before.

(preface: before you make any judgments on me or my lack of knowledge, please understand that I am a 26 year-old guy who isn't that far removed from dormlife in college and has never done the following:

bought a house
bought an oven
shopped for either a house or an oven
used an oven for anything more than a place to see what time it is in the kitchen.
been so intrigued by the names of various components on an oven that I felt the urge to ask the nearest person in my vicinity. )

This blog was about outfitting a new home with new appliances. Particularly a new oven. Only they didn't call it an oven anywhere in their text. Ever. They called it a "range." But I saw the picture in the post! It looks like an oven to me!

When I think "range," my mind immediately goes to golf or guns. Not ovens. Actually, there's only one oven-looking device on the first two google image search pages when you type in "range." So it's not at the top of other peoples' minds either.

I thought to myself, "ok maybe this writer isn't writing to me. Maybe they're writing to a different demographic. Maybe since I've never seen the backend of a kitchen, I should ask someone else if "range" was appropriate and common appliance-speak among regulars."

I asked the people around me (all female coworkers). They told me that "range" is part of an oven, and commonly referred to as "oven range," but most people probably don't exclusively call it a "range" without the "oven" preceeding it - and they certainly don't go tell a salesman "I'm in the market to buy a new range...show me what you got!"

(note: And after doing a little research, I learned that a range is the combination of an oven and a stove-top. Who knew?)

So if I'm not their target audience, and these women aren't their target audience, who IS their target audience? Are they even writing to their target audience at all? If I'm confused by the content in question, who else will be?

Point is - we need to know who our audience is when we're trying to blog for business. Sometimes when we're blogging we're so focused on hitting target keywords, learning blogging best practices, repeatedly having something to write about each day, it can be easy to lose what might be most important - the connection with our audience.

When you're blogging for search, put yourself in your audience's shoes. Use the most common language ("oven" or "oven range" - not "range") that anyone can understand. Don't expect people to know everything you know.

The great thing about blogs is that people can find you even when they don't exactly know what they're searching for. So don't lose them because your content is unclear and not directed toward an audience.

The upside of this morning: at least now I know what a range is. Just wish I didn't have to spend this long learning it.

Click here to learn more about Compendium Blogware and how blogging can help your business.

Blogging and Business Sustainability

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Sarah Sedberry

This morning I was reading an interesting article on business sustainability and how it relates to blogging. It took a refreshing look at why a corporate blog is important to the sustainability of a company, as a communication tool.

A key paragraph stuck out to me, where the author describes how a blog ultimately holds a company and its employees responsible for the message they are delivering and the work they are producing. Which is something that happens internally in a company everyday, but with a blog - it holds you accountable to your customers as well.

"Simply having a company blog open to comments from readers gives a key message on the importance and acceptance of differing viewpoints to that company. When truly an expression of the views of an individual business executive, blogging provides a strong foundation for individual accountability. And through opening him or herself up to a more personal connection with readers I believe the executive blogger creates an environment in which the views of their external stakeholders [potential customers] are front of mind..."

A blog is a simple and effective way to engage with those outside of your company, and allows a business the ability to have a conversation with those interested in their products and services. It allows the company to share its knowledge and show why they are a reliable partner to their clients and customers, in a cost effective and environmentally friendly communication tool.

Full article: "Blogging Really Can Enhance Corporate Sustainability"

E-tailers Investment Plans in 2010

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by jennifer buscher

Just read an interesting article in EMarketer on how advanced e-commerce businesses plan to invest their dollars moving into 2010. The top three additions include:

1. Social Marketing
2. Video
3. Blogs

Nearly 40% of all respondents plan to include these applications. What does this mean? I think this means a number of things... First, social marketing and blogs are not a fade. Adoption is becoming mainstream. Customers want to human buying experience.

So, what to do? It's really simple... start a business blog on an advanced business blogging platform. This should be your cornerstone for content creation. Use video in your content, and then push that content out to your social networks. You can kill three birds with one stone so to speak.

“The last time many retailers installed a new e-commerce platform was five years ago, and those systems aren’t robust enough to support all of the new technology that’s changing the very nature of how consumers are shopping online,” David Fry, founder of Fry Inc., told Internet Retailer. “Smart retailers know they need to implement better technology now or they’ll miss out on the recovery and a big opportunity.”

Moral of the story.... get onboard or you'll miss out!

Get Out of the Way

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Brian Graham

I was talking with a business owner on the phone yesterday and the conversation went south on both his account and mine. We were getting in our own way. He was not getting it and not listening to me and I was not getting it and not listening to him. Traditional marketing, "push marketing", is a lot like the described conversation. You are trying to push your product, service, or message until someone will get it instead of creating opportunities to listen and help.

Blogging best practices suggest telling stories of how you help people in your business. By creating an inbound marketing strategy through a blogging solution you are letting your potential customers and clients find you on their terms. You are getting out of your own way and letting the process happen. You are letting the relationship grow. This is the "social" aspect of blogging that lets your company be human.

Try listening and understanding and get out of your own way to let progress happen. Start a blog for business. It is a great place to begin.

Versatility in blogging

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Michael Burton

One of my favorite things about blogging is its versatility. Here at Compendium, we firmly believe that blogging for business fits directly into the marketing campaign of any organization. Blogs are such a powerful tool because they can be tailored to be about anything you feel like writing about.

Whether you have a huge company providing business world-wide or own a small Mom & Pop store in your small town, there is a place for blogging in your business. Blog posts can focus on anything from your products and services to special promotions and upcoming events.

Any of your employees can find a place in blogging as well. Hearing from a wide variety of employees, such as marketing, sales, support, etc. can give readers a look at different aspects of what your company does and how it operates.

If you would like more information on how Compendium might fit in best with your company, contact a Compendium blogging expert today!

Corporate blog security

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Brian Millis

Are you one of the thousands of businesses trying to force a freeware blog platform to operate as a marketing tool? Yes?

The most obvious question then is; How is that working out for the company? Is it driving lots of organic search traffic? Converting that traffic into qualified inbound leads? How much revenue have you generated directly from blog leads?

Well, those are all great business questions to consider. But what about an even more basic consideration than measurable results . . . what about:

Is your business blog more of corporate RISK rather than a useful marketing TOOL?

Just check out this recent post from Kyle Brady about a hack-in through a Wordpress blog. In case you don't want to read the entire article, here is what happened:

a list of hundreds of URLs to assorted pages, mostly porn, appeared after the </html> tag on all pages of the site
for content created after the attack, it somehow embedded itself inside the Wordpress content, and all links redirected to a malware site – in addition to breaking the entire page

Now thankfully, the post details out the lengths that were taken to discover the issue and how to fix it. I consider myself pretty technologically savvy, and even I thought it was confusing.

Doesn't that seem like a lot of work to fix a tool that most likely produces very few results? This is the second time just THIS WEEK that I've heard about similar security issues. I think that all businesses out there should be considering third generation corporate blogging. The differences are pretty simple:

Security
Automation
Measurable Results

Put Your Blog on Steroids...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Meghan Manning

That's right - you read my title correctly! If you aren't currently using business blogging as your search marketing startegy, now is the time to get started. If you are currently using blogs to help you get found in search, now is the time to step it up and put your blogs on steroids!

To learn how - attend the upcoming Webinar presented by Target Marketing featuring Chris Baggott CEO/CoFounder of Compendium Blogware.

During this informative Webinar, you'll learn:

Develop SEO-friendly content
Determine the optimal posting frequency
Measure the value of your investment
Engage customers and prospects

Be sure to register now to attend - the Webinar is getting close and you'll want to reserve your spot today!

Be Valuable

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Lee Jorgenson

There's a lot of chatter out there these days. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, blogs, etc., they all fill the lines with tons of thoughts and opinions. It's suggested that in order to have people re-post your content, you should re-post theirs. It's a great "Do unto others as you would have done unto you" concept, but is it really as virtuitous as it sounds?

If a person doesn't provide value, then they are not worth repeating. Simply pushing someone's content just to get them to do the same in return lessens your value to your readers/followers. You're simply filling the air with noise and diluting your credibility, diong everyone a disservice.

This is especially true of business blogs. Businesses need to leverage corporate blogging as a way to establish credibility in the minds of their markets, and pushing worthless content will only frustrate their readers.

The solution is simple. Be valuable to your readers and provide valuable content. Valuable content is just that, valuable. It should and will be re-posted and promoted because it provides value to the ones who read it AND to the ones who re-post it.

Ready for what?

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Brian Millis

I sent an email to a prospect that showed a compendium client who increased online revenue by 40% in less than 6 months and has tracked over 100k in online sales back to blog traffic. This was the response that I got back(kept anonymous, of course):

. . . She was interested in the software and we would love to take on blogging in the future, but we are not quite ready at this time. Thank you for the information on Compendium- I will keep your emails and discuss again with my manager when our time comes to enter the blogosphere.

Ready for what? What business is not ready to increase revenue by better search marketing? I feel that it should be every businesses' time to enter the world of corporate blogging. Why? Because it is an easy and efficient way to communicate with target markets online and convert online traffic to paying customers.

Our platform takes most of the fear out of getting started with blogging for business. I think tha

t these responses come from companies that see this strategy as a HUGE time commitment. That really is not the case. You can log into Compendium, get prompted with your most valuable key phrases, have endless content ideas delivered right to you, and get real-time feedback on how you're doing as you write your post.

So what is keeping you from being ready?

You tell me: Is this good business blog content?

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Chris Baggott

You Tell Me...is this really a blog post?

I saw this post on an ecommerce blog the other day and had to give pause. The powerful blogging software we offer has a complete API, so it's easy to integrate into other content sources, but I had not seen anyone use it to feed in relevant live chat transcripts.

At first I had to ask the question that I'm sure you are asking: is this legitimate content in a blog for business?

I really quickly came to the conclusion that yes, this is not only a really clever way to leverage existing content, it's actually quite valuable for the audience.

Here's the thing: Lot's of people have the same problem.   As a result, lots of blog traffic comes from organic search.   Those people ask questions...they want to find answers.    These live chat transcripts are direct answers to direct questions.   What's great is the simplicity.

You are already having these conversations. Doug Karr once suggested looking at all the emails you send out each day as a source for blog content.   I thought that was brilliant and I think this is too.

Every day people in your company have interactions with customers and prospects.   They help people, provide information and solve problems. This content is nothing more than a reflection of that value...you have already invested in it, so why not share it with others who can benefit?

Finding New Ways to Market Your Business

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Chandra Chaves

Each week I am overwhelmed by the amount of mail that I continue to receive from various company who want my business. Coupons, sales ads, etc. I am always throwing them away and thinking how much money do these companies spend on these thick paper advertisements and coupons? Then I think, if they are spending the money to send these advertisements and coupons to consumers, then they are spending way to much money on marketing their business.

In today's world most of us use the computer to find what we need. Why should companies spend money on such marketing ads, when we can find that information ourselves with a few clicks?

Companies should invest their money into new strategies for the ever changing market. Compendium has that solution. Compendium sells affordable blogging software that will save consumers money as well as put money into their pockets. The easy to use blog software enables the client to put the power into their hands by blogging about the company and its experiences and customer experiences. It adds that human element to marketing that gets lost in the shuffle. Why not blog for business? Blogging about your business allows consumers to find your business just by providing certain keywords that pertain to your business. So when searchers are looking for a certain brand or a specific type of product, you want to be blogging! Save consumers time and money by getting rid of the needless paper advertisements and go green. Let people search for you on the net, but of course, you need to always blog about your business!!!