Step 1: Find a keyword phrase

Don’t just sit down and write about any subject that enters your head. If you really want to appeal to people, you need to write about things that they want answers to. Start by finding a good keyword phrase to use in your post. This means it should be a phrase that a decent number of people are searching for, but which has a relatively low number of competing websites. Keywords tools such as Market Samurai and Wordtracker will help you identify these phrases.

Step 2: Create your post outline

Once you know what you want to write about, you can start to outline your post. Make sure your title contains your keyword and that your post itself will deliver on the promise of that title. Some people like to also include their keyword in at least one of their header tags (H1,H2), but you need to make sure that you won’t have so many instances of your phrase that Google sees you as a spammer.

Step 3: Write high quality content

With a good outline in place, you should be able to sit down and write your post quickly. At this point, don’t even think about your keyword phrase, except to make sure that youíre sticking to your topic. You’re writing for people first and search engines second. Once you’re done writing, go back and make sure that you do have the keyword phrase 2 to 3 times in your post, depending on the post length. The last thing you want to do is “stuff” your article with a specific keyword. If you find you’ve done that by accident, just go back and vary the phrase a bit or use other words as a substitution.

Step 4: Add images

Always add at least one image to your blog post. It should be something relevant to the content, naturally, but it should also have your keyword in the alt image tag and image description. You’ll be able to see the places to input these when you click on the button to edit the image in WordPress. Another reason to add a description and tag is that Google can read text, but it cannot read images. By adding a description and alt image tag, you’ve give the search engine something to read.

Step 5: Add links

By creating links within your post to other posts in your site, you create a natural structure that the search engines love. At the same time you add value for you readers by pointing them to other information that they’ll benefit from. However, you shouldn’t limit your links to internal ones. That looks suspicious to Google and could even get you pushed down in search results. Link to one or two other sites that add value for your reader and they may even link back to you, bringing in even more traffic.

If you really want people to read your blog content, you should always try to start with a keyword phrase that your target readers are looking for. Longtail keywords are the best and they will help you be more specific about what you write. In addition, by using a keyword in the title of the post and strategically throughout it, you’ll be far more likely to rank highly in the search engine results.

Promote Your Blog

If you have an image on your blog, it’s pinnable. For that reason alone, you should always add an image on each of your blog posts along with a “Pin it” button under each. Aside from that, readers are drawn to images and an interesting one encourages them to go on and read your article.

When you or a reader pins your image to Pinterest, it creates a direct link back to your blog. This not only adds to your link-building efforts, it can bring a whole new type of traffic to your site. Create themed boards on Pinterest that are based on the categories on your website, and make sure that you always pin your own blog post images to those boards.

Involve Your Customers

Having Pinterest boards is a new way to engage your customers online. Not only can they pin their favorite images to your boards, but they can comment on them and share them with their friends and followers. When people enjoy interacting with your website, theyíll come back more often. This not only builds your relationship with website visitors, but it gives you far greater opportunities to showcase your products and services.

Inspire Your Customers

Often people only see your products in one way and for one purpose. Pinterest boards give you the chance to inspire different ways to use your products through visuals. For example, if you sell wedding favors, you can show pictures of them at the table settings of customers’ weddings. That’s far more inspiring than a simple product image in your store.

Show That You’re a Real Person

It’s always difficult to make a personal connection with people online vs. face-to-face. By including both business boards and personal boards in your Pinterest account, prospects and customers get to see some of your own interests. They start to see the real person behind the business persona. Even if you are representing a large company, remember that customers are eager to know the real people behind the corporate face. If you’re a small business or entrepreneur, this is even more critical.

Add Affiliate Links

You may not realize it, but you can also insert your own affiliate links on your pins. It’s a whole new way of doing affiliate marketing. You can create boards that are just product oriented and earn cash when people click those links and buy something. Just go into the “edit” button for a specific pin and replace the direct link to the product with your affiliate link.

Pinterest isn’t going anywhere any time soon and it is incredibly active. Make the most of it as a place to engage your customers and prospects. At the same time, it presents a new opportunity to earn income online from a completely different source.

Did you know that 70% of US households now use the Internet as an information source when shopping locally for products and services?  Or that 31% of all business buyers turn to a Search Engine first when looking for a locally based product or service?

In a nutshell Social Media is relationship building and word-of-mouth advertising; and when small businesses use social media and participate on the social web in a meaningful way, it helps create a personal connection between customers and the brand.  Keep in mind that Social Media is a two-way conversation; you must listen and respond to your customers.  This two-way conversation will give you a better idea of your customer concerns and help you resolve any issues.

Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or Foursquare, it’s more important than ever to be part of the conversation because Social Media communities are breeding grounds for interaction.

Will you make the choice to join the conversation?

Email Marketing is a great way for any local business to enter the Internet Marketing arena and not break the bank.  In fact, any profession or industry should be building an email list; this includes attorneys, doctors, accountants, boutiques, florists, plumbers, and salons to name a few.  All can benefit from gathering email addresses from existing and potential customers.

Email Marketing keeps you in contact with your customers and allows you to build a longer lasting relationship than one that ends with a single visit and no return.  Websites can’t push content to people at a later point, but with Email Marketing you can let customers know about your store sales, new products, and promotions.

Even a small amount of customer communication can be very profitable, and an Email Marketing program has the potential to generate considerable revenue.  If you are not already collecting your customer contact details, today is a great day to start!  Simply ask your customers whether they would like to be notified of store sales and promotions, get their contact details and your off to a great start.

Have questions about Email Marketing?  Leave a comment below.