Despite a recent headline grabbing controversy involving his current employer Serius One XM, Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed “King of All Media” has consistently built irresistible content over a career spanning more than three decades.

The video below shows Stern’s skill at grabbing attention and creating interest even beyond the platform of his own show and gives hints about how remarkable content, regardless of the form, is created.

Top 5 Ways Stern Creates Great Content

Kick some ass. Stern approaches content creation fill-throttle by defining a niche and then spinning an endless amount of interesting content around that niche. He knows instinctively the interests of his audience and continues to tireless create content aimed at that audience seldom if ever leaving the topics or style for which he has become known and which his audience craves.

Be surprising.Though disparaged by some critics as a mere “shock jock” implying his content was merely based on one outrageous comment or bit after another (and presumably that he would eventually burn himself out when he could no longer shock his audience, Stern has continued to systematically grow his audience through stints at numerous radio stations. His battles with the FCC and eventual move to satellite radio continued to push the envelope raising questions of free speech and censorship in a nation that supposedly favored the first and rejected the second.

Create a following.Stern’s true talent has been the growing of a powerful following which followed him through several station changes and eventually became a prime force behind the eventual triumph of satellite radio. He did this by maintaining a consistent brand through changing times and tastes that he could return to again and again, one his audience could easily relate to.

Build a team.While Stern has always clearly occupied the helm of his show no matter what station he might be working for, he has also built a solid team of cohorts, gag writers and others who work with him to build the interest in his daily broadcasts and create part of the dynamic for his studio hy jinx. Without them, despite his huge audience, he would be a man by himself in a room with a microphone and probably in the long run less interesting to listen to.

Make a network.Though not necessarily known as a huge socializer, Stern has none-the-less championed and gathered to him a regular circle of show biz personalities, musicians and others who are regularly guests on his program either in the studio or by phone. This allows Stern to reach out into the show business community and return gives him for his own show.

What does this mean for your blog?

*Create killer content on topics specifically tailored to your audience no matter what the subject and stay the course.

*Don’t forget to innovate and don’t make the mistake of believing that staying within your niche means creating the same kind of post every day or every week.

*Create a following of readers who value your content AND will share it with others.

*Recruit others whether guest bloggers to post occasionally or a community of bloggers who regularly comment on your blog as you comment on theirs.

*Build a network by connecting to social sites like Facebook and Twitter, share your content and spend some time getting to know your network. They’ll come in handy down the road.

Happy blogging!

The post Blogging: Howard Stern And Great Content appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Stoney deGyter wrote a great post recently on the importance of "Website credibility" and in turn pointed back to Stanford's 10 guidelines for Web credibility published in 2002. So, what does all this have to do with Search Engine Optimization? Well, ultimately the overall ranking of your site will depend on whether others see it as valuable enough to make them visit regularly and refer others through links or social sharing.

I've condensed the highlights of Stoney's and Standford's arguments into four basic points that every blogger and Web developer should keep in mind when creating content or a Website which can be defined as "credible." They are:

• Quality. This refers both to the content itself (well-written articles containing valuable information) and to the overall professionalism or care with which the content and Website are presented. (no rampant spelling errors and misprints, broken links, duplicate content, you name it.)
• Authority. Are sources of information cited with links to the source material? Is the information valuable and useful to visitors creating the kind of content they will routinely link to, share and refer to friends and colleagues?
• Transparency. What do we know about the creators of the content? Do we know who they are, what they stand for and how to contact them for further information or with questions?
• Trustworthiness. Is the person creating the content credible with knowledge and authority to speak in his/her area of expertise or to research information with journalistic or academic integrity?

So how about it? Does your Website fit the basic criteria above and if not why not and what can you do to make improvements? Before embarking on an SEO campaign, be sure the Website and content you are promoting are worth the reader's time.

The post Blogger: Great Content Is the Best SEO appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Social Media & Small Business
Originally uploaded by deanmeyersnet

Here are what I believe to be the four big takeaways from that discussion and something any small business owner thinking about how to use social media in their business MUST consider.

1. Choose what's right for you. Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon YouTube (and, of course, our favorite, BizSugar): you must choose the channel or channels that work best for your business. Figure out how your business can communicate best instead of worrying about what other people are doing.

2. Be consistent. As with many things, it's important to commit time and resources to social media. It can't be an after thought or something you do only sporadically or it will not be effective.

3. It's about relationships. Like a lot of business, you need to open doors BEFORE you can lock in that client or generate that sale. More than anything else, that is how social media can be most effective. By creating a brand people can identify with and then making connection you open that door to a further business relationship.

4. Follow through is critical. It makes sense that, if social media is the first step in building new relationships those relationships must be built upon. Jason argues that follow through can occur offline with a face to face meeting to talk about business, but, of course, depending on where your connections are, it can certain take place via e-mail or Skype.

So why do you think? How do you use social media for your own small business and do you have anything to add. We'd love to hear from you.

The post Social Media: How It Helps Your Business appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Facebook in Rural Minnesota
Originally uploaded by VividImageInc

The key to a successful Facebook fan page, like the key to a successful blog, is content. Creating content (the right kind of content) is the key to building and keeping community on your Facebook fan page and making it a place to engage visitors who will either hopefully visit your main site, become a customer or client or generate a referral from others in their network.

The key is to make your Facebook page a destination for members of your community with relevant information, news and resources related to their interests and needs. Here are ten suggestions that will transform your Facebook or other social media site into a full-function source for news and information in your niche.

1. News from your industry.Share news from your niche, whatever the topic, that will be important or interesting to others who share your area of expertise or related areas. Put emphasis on breaking important news that others in your industry will want to share with their network . Your Facebook fan page should include content that is valuable for your community and this should definitely include the news you share.

2. News for your community.This may be subtly different than the news mentioned above. Though you should have a clear idea of the interests held by those who frequent your community, you should also focus on creating a diverse network including potential customers, clients, suppliers, partners or colleagues in your niche. So while your community may be about blogging, for example, you may want to include posts about online marketing or branding since these are topics that may appeal to your customers and clients as well.

3. Video from YouTube.Including links to video from YouTube or other video sharing sites can be another way of adding variety to the content you share via your Facebook fan page or other social media site. The video can either be from your own YouTube channel and is a great way of promoting your content there or can be another link to content related to your topic, like this video from social media consultant Karriann Graf:

4. Future ideas for blog topics.Maybe this isn’t an idea that would immediately occur, but I confess I often use my Facebook news feed to post topics I intend to flesh out later in a longer more detailed blog post. A good example would be the video above which started the juices flowing for a post about what belongs on a Facebook fan page. (Thanks, Karriann!) The use of your Facebook news feed as a place for future blog topics not only creates a handy blog idea planner but creates a nice preview for your community of what topics are on your mind and what you may want to share next.

5. Resources and tips.Depending upon your niche, this is an important one. When searching for timely topics via Google or a social media tool like Topsy, don’t make the mistake of sharing news items only. Your fan page should also show your in depth knowledge of your subject and establish you as an important resource for information, how-tos, tools and other helpful links your community can use. Make your fan page an indispensable source of this information and fans will keep returning for more.

6. Reviews and opinion.Got an opinion? Don’t be afraid to share it. Facebook and other social media sites often give you the opportunity to post your thoughts about the link you’re sharing, so step up to the plate. Be sure the comments you leave fit your brand and the image you are trying to convey. Be professional and thoughtful, though showing a sense of humor is OK as well. Also share links to opinions and reviews by other experts in your niche, either those you agree with or those you don’t and let your audience know how you feel.

7. Comments and conversations. One great way to generate engagement with your audience is through discussion. Comment sections allow your visitors to tell you how they feel about the content you have shared. You can enhance this experience by actively asking you community what they think, posing questions and, of course, responding to their comments.

8. Stuff to be shared.Sharing links posted by others or tagging other community members in your Facebook community is another great way to create engagement and keep people coming back and visiting your fan page home. If you share a particularly interesting post by another member of your community, be sure to tag them in the comment section and let them know. Your link will appear in their news feed letting them and their community know about the information you’ve shared.

9. Special features.These are not simply links to other content (blogs/video/Websites) located elsewhere on the Internet but content special to your Facebook or other social media site. Whether they be videos you recorded or uploaded directly onto your Facebook site that exist nowhere else or regular notes, posts or questions for the reader created in the “status” or similar sections, this is content that is special to your fan page and will be another reasons for readers to visit and engage regularly. Don’t do too much of this, of course, since Facebook is certainly not your own Website and you may want to avoid expending energy on content that can’t be easily multi-purposed.

10. Your content.As in your own blog posts, guest posts, Website pages etc. You may be asking yourself why I didn’t mention this one first, but you see, that’s what many Facebook fan pages look like. One post after another and all about ME, ME, ME…You’ll definitely want to share your own content but do it sparingly. A rule of thumb sometimes bounced around in social media circles is 80/20, so this might mean that for every 10 posts to your Facebook site, two are yours. remember, if you’ve done a good job there should be a link from your fan page to your blog already and simply posting all your blog entries with no other content on your Facebook page gives people no real reason to follow it.

With a little care and planning, your Facebook fan page can be a really integral part of your social media strategy. Do it right and you’ll have folks clamoring to “like” your page, building your brand and online community in the process.

The post Social Media: 10 Ideas For Your Facebook Fan Page appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Star Trek the original series via Wikipedia
Fair Use for identification and commentary

I guess the recent launch of the Star Trek beta Website inspired this post to some degree. I've always been a huge fan of the show and one alien race I was always able to connect with was the Klingons.

Though always depicted as "the bad guys", the antithesis of the good and noble Federation, already by the end of the first series, fans were seeing the Klingons were not the ogres they appeared to be.

Far from simply an evil empire bent on subjugating the galaxy, the Klingons were later portrayed as a proud, hunter and warrior people attempting to survive in a competitive and sometimes hostile universe.

Though I certainly hope this isn't how you see your market today, I think the Klingons still present a great example of the kind of tenacity and adaptability every online marketer needs in this rapidly evolving field. Here are just a few of the ways online marketers can learn from the Klingon work ethic:

Always project the right image

The Klingons are feared and hated by their enemies. OK, obviously this isn't the kind of image you want to project to potential customers or clients, but you get the idea. The Klingons are taken seriously because of the image they project, and you must do the same. Later we find out that most of this image is just for show. The Klingons simply have a lot of poverty on the planets they control and have adopted the philosophy of taking what they need. But cruising around the galaxy complaining about their poverty wouldn't command much respect. In the same way, you'll find that customers and clients are far too busy to worry or care about your problems. Create a great product or service that people can't ignore or a brand that resonates and you'll have no shortage of attention and respect.

Be sure to leverage your efforts.

The Klingons' can-do attitude is well-known by fans. In the third season episode "Day of the Dove" from which the above screenshot was taken, they are outnumbered and outgunned but still unafraid to take on the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. In online marketing as never before, size has become largely irrelevant. It's learning to leverage your strengths and skills that matters. Social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and tools like e-mail and blogs allow you to market on the level of the largest firms by carefully planning your campaign to reach your desired market.

Patience, vigilance

d7f2
Originally uploaded by quantumdtell

A favorite phrase of Klingon commanders and a great strategy for every online marketer. Make no mistake, your brand cannot be built overnight and takes careful monitoring over time to respond to a changing online community. Blogs, social media, viral video marketing and the rest have made it possible for online marketers to gain an incredible advantage creating the kind of impact that once required a much larger marketing staff and allows online businesses to operate at a much lower overhead, but there is no shortcut to sustained success and your campaigns will be in need of constant attention.

Understand the rules.

Famous for their warlike ways, the Klingons understand the fortunes of war as well, good and bad. Because of this, they will not negotiate with an enemy for the release of prisoners and will meet defeat with the same sense of pride and honor they do victory. In the same way, online marketers must understand the rules of the new interactive environment on the Web, from the give and take of social media to the comment and thread etiquette of blogs and forums to the feedback on user review sites like Yelp. While these tools make it much easier to get your company's message out, they also make it easier for criticism and complaints to get out there too. The name of the game is engagement. Never miss the opportunity to respond to comments good or bad and always make an effort to make things right.

(Shawn Hessinger is a professional blogger at PostRanger.com providing blogging and social media for a variety of businesses and organizations worldwide. Shawn is committed to creating blogs and social media services that are beyond the ordinary and works with a variety of clients to this end including helping businesses and organizations get their blogs and social media presence off the ground.)

The post The Klingon Guide to Online Marketing appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Guy Kawasaki SXSWi 2008
Originally uploaded by deneyterrio

But few people have probably served as a better example of how to use social media as a networking tool in practical terms than former Apple Computer chief evangelist Guy Kawasaki, now Entrepreneur in Residence at Garage Technology Ventures.

While many marketers may use social media tools around the Net as a way of simply amplifying a single stream of content (say from their blog for example) and others, like Seth Godin, have resisted jumping into using too many tools, Guy has been very active through a number of channels, especially Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and his blog "How to Change the World", and often creates unique content for each.

This on top of a highly visible career as an author, public speaker and entrepreneur.

So, how can you learn from Guy's unique approach and use social media as the ultimate networking tool to manage career and other connections and drive your brand and vision while locating others who share your passions and interests? 

Be yourself.

Too many approach social media, from blogging to Facebook to Twitter and all points in between, by worrying about the kind of image they hope to convey. Guy uses his blog, Twitter, Facebook and other means to share his own vision and some insight into his thoughts and ideas. From promoting his latest investments, like AllTop, to commenting on everything from legalization of Marijuana to the effect of home computers on students' grades, Guy's social media efforts are simply a reflection of who he is and what he's about rather than a well-planned online marketing campaign.

Focus on brand.

While Guy's approach to social media is certainly not as a marketing-only channel, he is able to focus much of his content around a simple but powerful brand created out of his mantra to "empower entrepreneurs" and all of the things he shares through his various social media hubs focus on information that enhances the self-development, lifestyle and ideas of entrepreneurs like himself.

Guy Kawasaki at front of USS Nimitz
Originally uploaded by Robert Scoble

Make meaning.

Taken from his book The Art of the Start and repeated in many of his public appearances, this two word phrase explains an important component not only of what makes a great startup but also of what makes great social media. More than simple content shared with no cohesive structure, and with the high signal-to-noise ratio inherent in sites like Twitter and Facebook, Guy's content is focused on sharing value with his followers. Think of a conversation you might have at a chamber mixer or other get together with fellow business leaders. Consider the meaningless small talk about weather and traffic you might experience on one end of the spectrum versus the endless pitching and hard sell at the other. Now compare this with a conversation in which great information and insight is exchanged. Which of these participants would you most want to network with and possibly do business with in the future?

Seek participation.

Using social media for networking involves more than just one person and is not one-way communication, any more than a conversation is. When networking with social media, don't simply talk at your audience. Ask for participation…and don't be afraid of what you receive. For example, Guy's last few posts are part of an "examples needed" series in which he is trying to gain input on a variety of issues like how companies celebrate success.

Keep it real.

While blogging and social media experts insist on a regular editorial schedule and a consistent online marketing strategy, including analysis of keywords and other SEO, Guy brings a really simple approach to his social media networking, talking when he's actually got something to say and on topics that interest him. Never a disciplined blogger, as the term is usually applied today, Guy once took a nearly month and a half vacation, from April 17 to March 27 of this year, between posts. It has never mattered to his fans because, with Guy's network, it's all about keeping it real. Make no mistake! Regular editorial schedules and attention to online marketing considerations can be critical to a blogging or social media marketing campaign. However, when using social media for networking, remember to use it like you would any social interaction in the face to face world.

Are you interesting in harnessing the power of social media for your online networking needs? Learn more about how social media networking can help grow your business today!

(Shawn Hessinger is a professional blogger at PostRanger.com providing blogging and social media for a variety of businesses and organizations worldwide. Shawn is committed to creating blogs and social media services that are beyond the ordinary and works with a variety of clients to this end including helping businesses and organizations get their blogs and social media presence off the ground.)

The post How To Network Like Guy Kawasaki appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Well, one reason this has become such a controversial discussion is that blogs have their origins in personal online journaling and when it comes to business blogs are supposed to show your expertise, hence they ought to be written by you.

But looked at another way, blogs are simply a type of content management system which can be used for a wide variety of purposes including marketing and as such can be extremely valuable for SEO of your Website in terms of providing constantly fresh content for search engines and using keywords that your business would like to rank highly for on Google.

So, the question becomes whether you really could or should be spending the time creating a marketing blog for your product, service or business when a professional blogger can do so just as efficiently, including extra time it would take you to familiarize yourself with the strategy of keywords, linking and community building necessary to build that blog's search engine ranking and traffic.

This is time spent away from your core business, the one you are truly supposed to be an expert in, to create a blog and social media marketing campaign. If you make the best bagels in Brooklyn or the best software in Seattle, where is it written you've got to be an expert blogger and social media marketer too?

Outsourcing is easy. Simply hire someone to take over editorial management of your existing blog as you might a company newsletter or you can contract with a company that can create, host and maintain a new blog for your company. The blog can be linked to your main Website or can simply promote your brand online.

Discuss in detail the brand you are trying to promote, the keywords you hope to be ranked highly for and any other details you feel are important to include in the blog. Content can include anything from general news in your industry to interviews and testimonials with satisfied customers and perhaps occasionally news about your company, new products or services etc. 

If you're thinking about outsourcing an existing blog or about setting up a new one for your business or organization, we would love to be of help. Contact us at info@postranger.com and learn more about what blogging can do for you.

(Shawn Hessinger is a professional blogger at PostRanger.com providing blogging and social media for a variety of businesses and organizations worldwide. Shawn is committed to creating blogs and social media services that are beyond the ordinary and works with a variety of clients to this end including helping businesses and organizations get their blogs and social media presence off the ground.)

The post How To Outsource Your Blog appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Darth Vader
Originally uploaded by ewen
and donabel

Well, duh…

But as everyone who's watched even the first three Star Wars films knows, Darth Vader a.k.a. Anakin Skywalker has both a good and bad side.

It's kind of like that with PR, something we occasionally get into with our blogging and social media services here at PostRanger.com.

Of course, everybody knows that public relations has had a checkered history too.

And some folks don't hold with the idea that this particular form of marketing or communications is completely legitimate. In fact, some might even call it undemocratic.

No small part of this point of view is probably thanks to a gentleman named Edward Bernays. The nephew of the founder of modern psychology Dr. Sigmund Freud, Bernays is a person many credit, sometimes notoriously, as the inventor of PR.

See the video below for more on Bernay's shenanigans, including the starting of a war in Guatamala on behalf of United Fruit and the Eisenhower administration. (A big shout out to Aaron Wall at SEO Book for drawing our attention to this video.)

Now, watching this stuff might, of course, incline you to feel, as Aaron suggests, a bit cynical about marketing in general and PR in particular. But remember, people have been marketing really good products for a very long time without causing wars or engaging in what sure seems like propaganda and outright lying in a way that proved injurious to others in the process.

So how does a legitimate small business or organization get the word out about their products, services or cause through things like social media, blogging and all the rest without resorting to all this nasty manipulation and deceit?

Well, the answer, in our view, is pretty simple and once again we'll turn to our ventillator wearing, lightsaber swinging dark Jedi for the answers:

What are you doing?

If you're a fan of the two Star Wars trilogies, you'll no doubt recall Vader being involved in some pretty nasty stuff, from the slaughter of innocent young Jedi in Revenge of the Sith to the blowing up of an entire planet full of people in the original Star Wars movie. When marketing your product or service, resolve not to do anything you feel is questionable or even downright immoral (Like vaporizing an entire civilization or something perhaps just as reprehensible on a smaller scale like lying about a product or paying for bogus testimonials). Never do something or ask your social media company or PR firm to do something you know is wrong, no matter what the end result.

Why are you doing it?

In the Star Wars films, Anakin/Vader is more often motivated by negative emotions like anger, fear and pride and it's these emotions that lead to his downfall. In your efforts to market and promote your product or service, are you genuinely trying to share something positive with your customers or simply trying to manipulate them into purchasing a product or service you yourself don't believe in or into electing a candidate who supports values you think are in question simply for the lure of a big pay check?

Is it the truth?

In the last film of the most recent trilogy, an evil Sith lord lures Anakyn Skywalker to his dark destiny with the promise of learning the power to prevent the death of his young wife, a promise never varified as truthful even in the end of the movie. Are you telling the truth about your product or service? There was a time when falsehoods from little white lies to big whoppers (like forgetting to mention that the shampoo you're selling makes people's hair fall out or that the bookkeeping service you offer isn't provided by certified accountants) could be easily concealed. But today, in the age of the Internet, most such falsehoods are transparent to everyone via negative customer comments and other information available to consumers online.

(Shawn Hessinger is a professional blogger at PostRanger.com providing blogging and social media for a variety of businesses and organizations worldwide. Shawn is committed to creating blogs and social media services that are beyond the ordinary and works with a variety of clients to this end including helping businesses and organizations get their blogs and social media presence off the ground.)

The post What Darth Vader Can Teach Us About Social Media appeared first on PostRanger.com.

You've probably heard about them, read about them, maybe even looked over a couple of them online.

But what exactly is a blog and why does your business or organization need one?

Well simply, a blog is a regularly updated Website promoting increased interaction with readers and visitors via comment sections and archives, allowing easier organization and sharing of information with others on the Web.

Blogs help your business or organization because they:

1. Provide information

Regular informative posts about your industry or area of expertise keep visitors coming back for more and establish your site as a valuable resource, building your brand and generating referrals to prospective customers, clients, partners, supporters or donors.

2. Attract attention

Using keywords related to your business or industry or to the kinds of customers, clients, partners or supporters you are trying to reach, blogs position your Website on search engines like Google making it easier for the audience you are targeting to find you.

3. Build a community

By allowing comments and making it easy for visitors on the Web to link to and share your content, blogs create a community of followers and readers potentially including prospective clients, donors and business partners but also enthusiastic supporters who share information about your brand and business with others, thus creating even more referrals for the future. 

About Us

We are a small mom and pop company working with clients of all sizes to help them utilize the power of blogs to build brand and increase visibility online.

We can create a customized blog for your business or organization, manage the blog you already have, relieving you of time consuming chores while boosting effectiveness, or show you how to set up and maintain a blog of your own and provide regular consulting to help you grow your online presence through blogging.

Want to learn more about what hiring a professional blogger can do for you? Contact us at info@postranger.com and learn more about using the online marketing power of blogs to your advantage.

The post Blogs: What the heck are they?! appeared first on PostRanger.com.

Woman's Home Blog Book
Originally uploaded by
Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Whether it is part of your site or on a separate site with its own URL (or Web address), blogging is simply too powerful a promotional tool these days to ignore.

Blogs edge out more traditional static Websites with their regularly updated content attracting attention from search engines and readers.

Free options for blog hosting include:

• Blogger, a user friendly but somewhat clunky platform associated with Google
• WordPress, a more technically sophisticated platform that requires a bit more technical skill
• And other offerings ranging from SoulCast, LiveJournal, Vox and Tumblr to blog platforms on other social sites like MySpace

Or get your hosting, unique Web address for your blog and professional posting handled at a low, reasonable cost with a professional blogging service. More on why your business needs blogging below:

The post Add traffic to your Website with a blog appeared first on PostRanger.com.