Latest Google Update In Progress April 29, 2008
Looks like a Google page rank update is going on as I type.
List of page rank checkers for those who want to see what kind of flux their blogs are in.
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For The Logo and Graphics Challenged- Logo Series
I am good at a lot of things- i am even GREAT at a handful of stuff ( I kick ass in Rock Band!) and have several niche blogs where I have successfully branded myself as an expert in some obscure and not-so obscure fields. One thing I would never have the cajones to do it to pass myself off as any kind of expert in graphics or logo design.
I am for ANYTHING that will take mystery and pain out of designing a business logo or graphic. I just wrote a post about an image editor Picnik that really is designed for people like me.
I will often see post in blog about designing you own logo and been a bit hopeful.. only to read it and then feel a cloud enter my brain when they start to use terms like “layers” and “gradient tools”.. and I go back to my logo free life. So I was dubious when I stopped by and checked out Anita Campbell’s posts on Small Business Trends starting with Help, My Logo is So 1999!
The article series wasn’t what I thought- it is not another DIY logo tutorial . Anita describes the process she goes through in creating a new logo using the HP service Logoworks who claim to design a high quality design starting at 99.00. A great price and an option worth giving serious consideration. ( Note- yes I KNOW I am logo free- it has been in the works for months now and been a difficult process – read my brother-in-law the graphics designer is now doing it…..)
Anita takes some of the mystery out of creating a business logo and her logo series is a must read if you are considering getting a professionally designed logo for your site or blog. There article is well written and has unusualy good insight into the process. The post comments also contain good info so take a peek.
Win a FREE Logo Package
Anita also is having a random draw to win a Gold logo package worth $399 from HP, visit her site and comment on which of her logos you like best for a chance to win.
Tuesday’s Tool: Grab and Edit Images Online with Free Editor Picnik
I adore this tool! If I had to make a list of my top five cannot do without tools I might have to put this one in there . I discovered it about 3 months ago and use it daily. I don’t know how I went without out it.
Picnik is a flash based online image editor. It lets you grab a photo or image you like on a website (copyright withstanding!) or upload from your computer and in mere minutes you can add fancy borders, add text, capture a screenshot , resize and more. This is another example of how the idea of a “desktop” PC is disappearing and the shift is to a Web-based computer, where all our program and apps are online, but that’s a post for another day.
Importance of Images in A Blog Post
One factor that is often overlooked when writing blog is making it visually interesting. A blog with out images and pictures is blah and dry. An image can highlight an idea as well as explain an idea with a simple screenshot. Using clip art a photo or cartoon can drive home a point. Darren aka Problogger has written extensively on value of adding images to your blog.
Using a button in your sidebar will increase traffic to the linking page. I replaced the link text in my side bar “Add Your Site To DoFollow Directory” with a image that took me five minutes to create and the dofollow directory page hits went up by over 1000%.
One of the things that stops me from adding images is the HASSLE of it. I find the process of adding an image to a Wordpress post a lengthy nightmare, Find the image or clip art, save it , open it in an image editor like Photoshop or my 10 year old Micrografx.. remember how to round corners, add border and text, etc resize, save and then upload , etc. It ruins the flow of my ideas and I hate doing it so I resist and only do it under duress.
I have tried different Wordpress plugins available for Flickr and Picasa and still hate it. I am open to trying anything so if you have one you love- please suggest- would love to give it a whirl.
The feature I like best? It will let you round corners of an image with click of a button! I know longer have to go into Photoshop, select, modify fill, etc…. I just about leaped for joy when I discovered Picnik.
You can save or email you image in a variety of formats. You do not need to know ANYTHING about image editing. It is idiot proof. The interface is pretty intuitive and easy to pick up.
The utility is not perfect. It doesn’t do everything you want it to do. ( Like add a border and round corners without cutting off border)
If you are using Firefox you can install Picnik extension and right ciick an image and it will open up inti Piknik editor. This is very useful for taking a screen shot ( although you are limited to screen shots on a browser and not your desktop). For more extensive screeenshot capture and editing I use both Faststone Capture and Snag It.
Where to Find Free Images to Use in Blog Posts
http://www.masternewmedia.org/where_to_find_free_images_and_visuals/
Call to Action vs. Keywords in Anchor Text - Is Your Site Failing to Convert?
I just finished reading an excellent article on Copyblogger by Brian Clark , who’s writing style is breath of fresh air. He is straight to the point and an exceptional communicator.
In the article, Does Telling Someone to “Click Here” Actually Matter? Brian calls out the increasing trend to ignore the basic marketing tactic ” call to action” in favour of over used keywords in anchor text.
If your site is ranking well and visitors are not converting you have failed. If you have a blog set up to generate leads or get sale or to brand yourself and you are visitors leave your site with out buying something or signing up for anything or reading more of your posts than what’s the point?
The are many reason why a site doesn’t convert. It can be anything from poor site usability to bad copy writing. it may also be because you are not telling people what to do. sometimes you do have to tell them to “click here” !
” Sue’s Needlepoint newsletter” used as anchor text is different than ” Subscribe Up for Newsletter Now !” . Even CLICK HERE for my weekly newsletter might be better than both. I will often set up two ( or more) different pages and test the anchor text- which gets more clicks and what gets better conversion.
Examples of Call to Action Phrases to Use on Your Blog
– create a sense of urgency i.e email now! email today , subscribe now, click now, read now, register now, etc – offer incentive i.e. pay now and save, today’s coupon, subscribe and save, see this weeks specials, special offer here, “get free trial today” – create “exclusivity” i.e “become a member now and save” , “subscribe now and get…” ” subscribers receive free…” . ” free e-book when you register” and so on.Link your call to action with your conversion goal. I hate the phrase “contact for more info” If you have a real estate site, don’t ask them to contact you for more information use “list your home today” or “get your free hotsheet here”.
If your conversion is to sell affiliate products your call to action should not be the passive ” get more info here” or just the title of book or product, try “order XYZ now” or ” Read first chapter of….. now” , etc
Lest you think knowing about this kind of stuff is “too advanced” its isn’t. To make get your business or monetized blog reach to the next level you must Always Be Closing. Using basic marketing technique your blog will make more money with the same effort.
When writing your blog- don’t get caught up in SEO tangle and start writing exclusively for search engines instead of people. You need to balance your SEO with good copy that works.
Read More About Call To Action and Conversion
Call To Action Buttons – Does Size Matter?
Is It Time to Talk More About Conversion? by Problogger
99% of Advertising Doesn’t Sell a Thing at Duct Tape Marketing
Design call-to-action statements that get results by Jim Kukral
Conversion Rate: What’s Your Website Tracking As A Conversion?
