How To Turn Readers Into Subscribers

As a blog owner, it is likely that one of your biggest goals is to increase the number of visitors who read your blog. However, what is more important is that you convert those readers into subscribers. When a reader subscribes to your blog, that person is essentially saying they are interested in reading your blog on a regular basis. Here is how you do it:

1. Provide Quality Content

Quality content is probably the most important factor to not only getting regular readers, but subscribers as well. Posts that are heavily laded with keywords may attract search engines, but not regular readers. If your content provides value, helpful advice, or pure entertainment, your readers will come back for more. If you are consistently writing these type of posts, eventually your reader will subscribe to your blog.

2. Post Regularly

Not only should you create quality content, but you should post on a regular basis. This shows the readers you are actively involved in your blog. If the last post is 6 months old, it will be difficult to convince someone to subscribe.

3. Give Away a Freebie

Everyone loves free stuff, so place an opt-in form on your site with a free report. While they will still have to enter their email address, if they like your site, a free report is just a bonus for subscribing. Also, consider having contests and giveaways for those who comment or subscribe.

4. Make it Easy to Subscribe

Encourage your blog readers to subscribe by making it easy for them. Allow them to subscribe either with a RSS feed or by email. People prefer different ways to follow your blog posts. While most people probably know what the little orange “subscribe” symbol means, consider actually typing the word “subscribe to my blog” in front of the symbol.

5. Engage with your Readers

When readers stop by and leave comments, get involved in the conversation. Try to respond to each comment that has substance. If a reader sees that you are a real person and are interested in what they have to say, you have a better chance at getting that person to subscribe.

Once you establish a decent size subscriber list, it is easier to reach out to them with exclusive sales or deals, a new product you want to promote, or subscriber-only special offers. Remember, they subscribed to be updated on your posts and not get tons of spam email. Treat your subscribers with respect and you will continue to maintain a positive relationship and image.

 

Social Media Competition

Have you ever been to your child’s ball game or been part of an event where you compete to win? If so, that’s what you are suppose to do.

With that said, I want to focus on a new competition I have noticed in the past couple months. Its Social Media competition. In Social Media, we don’t compete, we unite. We are all in first place. We make this happen by supporting each other whether it be re-tweeting your friends tweets on Twitter, promoting and commenting on each other blogs, or showing support on Facebook and all social media platforms. I like to think of my Social Media audience as my family. The family that supports together stays together.

We shouldn’t be trying to see who can make the best friend, the most friends, or bring someone down. This means we shouldn’t be talking behind each others back. Instead, if you see someone struggling help pick them up, dust them off and lead them down the right path. We are all in this together as one. This is the only way Social Media can win and put us all in first place.

I am not saying to be friends with everyone in Social Media. It’s virtually impossible but make friends with the ones you connect and have something in common with and see value in. That’s why it’s very important to engage and interact with one another.

If we all take what I have talked about and put it into action, we will all be on top and you will see no need for competition. By uniting as one, we create our image, online presence and personal brand. So stop competing and start connecting.

What are you doing to ensure you are not encompassing Social Media competition?

BlogWorld & #NMX Conference 2013 Attendees

For the past 2 years, I have started an attendee list of those attending BlogWorld & New Media Expo to help each individual connect months before the conference. I am back again this year to do the same since it resulted in great success. The purpose of the attendee list is to give you the opportunity to connect with other fellow attendees on Twitter and learn a little about what they do and where they are from.

In compiling the list, it will entail who the attendee is, where they are located and their blog or website link. As a result of the attendee list, I hope to make connecting with attendees, before the NMX conference in January, a success by saving you time, giving you reason to connect with someone and building a relationship.

If attending, send me a message on Twitter @JasonPromotesU so I can add you. Lets start networking and connecting. See you in Vegas in January.

Arizona

Speaker Jessica Northey – @JessicaNorthey Host and creator of Country Music Chat on Twitter, Blogs at True Northey, Finger Candy Media

Australia

Denyse Whelan @Denwise1 Writes About Education, Families and Life DenyseWhelan.com.au

California

William Blumberg @WilliamBlumberg Blogger at A Pagan Humanist

Wayne Henderson @TIWWH Voice Acting Podcaster, Voice-Overs at Media Voice Overs

Panel Moderator John Corcoran @JohnCorcoran - Smart Business Revolution, Attorney, Small Biz Advisor, Blogger, Co-creator at Biz Profit Academy

Michael Phillips @mjpDASP Communications Guy for DiscountASP.net

Megan Enloe @MeganEnloe @NMXpodcast Community Builder, Snarkier side found @podcastjunky, MeganEnloe.com

Debbie Miller @TheBigDebowski Founder of Social Hospitality

Marla Schulman @DvinMsM Branding, Marketing, Advertising, PR and Social Media Dvinideas.com

Patt Flynn – @PatFlynn The Smart Passive Income Blog 

Speaker Bennett Kelley @InternetLawCent Founder of Internet Law Center, Publisher of Cyber Report

Speaker Gordon Firemark – @GFiremark Theatre, film and TV lawyer and podcaster - Firemark.com

Peter Pollock – @PeterPollock Author, Speaker, Web host at New Blog Hosting – Web Designer, WordPress nut – Blogs at Peter Pollack

Speaker Britt Michaelian – @MamaBritt Social Media Producer, Entrepreneur Author and Mom, Blogs at Work Smart Mompreneur

Canada

Speaker Amanda Blain @AmandaBlain - AmandaBlain.com – CEO of Girlfriend Social – Social Network for Women to Talk, Share and Bond

Speaker Jenn Swanson @JennSwanson2 Podcaster, Healthcare Educator, Youth Minister – The Art of Communication, Simplified at Communication Diva

Tawnya Sutherland @VAnetworking Outsourcing Expert, Social Network for Virtual Assistants & Their Clients at Virtual Assistants Network

Albert Hathazi  @AlbertHathazi @TheLocalMethod - Podcaster, Becoming A Market Leader In Your Community at The Local Method Podcast

Cesar Abeid – @CesarAbeid Project Manager, Entrepreneur and Construction Industry Podcast Host, Remontech – Construction Camera Specialists

Colorado

Greg Hickman – @GJHickman Creator/Host of @mobilemixed Mobile Mixed

Florida

Valerie Almaguer – @ValerieAlmaguer The Potentialists Reality Show -

Syed Balkhi – @SyedBalkhi Designer for UZZZ.net, Founder of WPBeginner, Life and ideas at Balkhis – Vision for Success

Cynthia Seymour – @CynthiaKSeymour Florida’s delicious word of mouth at Flamingo Lips, Growing your business with social media at Seymour Results

Georgia

Speaker Craig Jarrow @TMNinja Blogging for 3 years, Creator & Author of Time Management Ninja

France

Julien Romanetto – @JRomanettoOverblog COO and Founder, Group Ebuzzing

Frederick Montagnon – @Fred_Montagnon – Director of Strategy & Founding team Ebuzzing@OverBlog and Nomao Co-founder – Fred.Overblog.com

London

Liva Judic – @merrybubbles Mentor, Advisor – Contributor to Wired IT and @sewatch

Louisiana

Shannon Hurst Lane @CajunMama Loves life, Creator of @TravelingMamas, Adventures In Social Media at Shannon Lane

Maine

John @JohnLeeDumas Podcaster, Daily Interviews With Today’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur On Fire

Massachusetts

Speaker Phil Hollows @PHollows Founder of Feed Biltz - Email & Social Media Marketing Automation Solution

Speaker C.C. Chapman @CC_Chapman Best selling Author, Speaker and Photographer – Founder of Digital Dads - Blogs at CC-Chapman

Minnesota

Steve Kloyda @SteveKloyda Sales and Prospecting Strategies at The Prospecting Expert

Missouri

Robyn Wright – @RobynsWorld Professional blogger, Social Media Consultant, Mom, Geek, Foodie Robyns Online World

New Jersey

Speaker Dino Dogan @DinoDogan Founder @Triberr, Blogger at DIY Blogger NET - Technology, Creativity and Marketing for the Business Brain

Pam Aungst @PamAnnMarketing Web traffic controller, Owner and Head Consultant at Pam Ann Marketing, Pam Ann Marketing Facebook

Speaker Amy Vernon – @AmyVernon – Social Media Marketing at Internet Media Labs, Blogs at Amy Vernon

New York

Steve Hall @SteveHall Publishes @adrants, Founder of AdGabberAdrants.com/stevehall/

Peter Knox @PeterKnox Bookman for @WileyBiz, Learn more at Peter Knox

Ellen Gerstein @Elleinthecity, A place for all my passions at Confessions of an IT Girl

Speaker Linda Bernstein – @WordWhacker Writer, Editor, Blogger and Social Media Coach – What baby boomers need to know at GenerationBSquared

North Carolina

Kelby Carr @TypeAMom Consultant, Speaker, Author of Pinterest For Dummies, CEO of #typeacon and @TypeAParentCon - TypeAConference.com

North America

@CoreCorina Social Media Strategist, Writer and Community Manager CoreCorina.com

Ohio

Speaker Debba Haupert @Girlfriendology Founder of Girlfriendology.com – Women supporting Women, in our Goals & Dreams

Oregon

Speaker Andy @AndrewGHayes Founder of @sharingtravel, Web Strategist, writer and entrepreneur AndyHayes.com

Pennsylvania

Speaker Rachael Gerson @RachaelGerson SEO and Analytics at SEER Interactive

Phillipines

Speaker – Chris C. Ducker @ChrisCDucker Entrepreneur, “New Business” Coach, CEO @live2sellgroup and @VStaffFinder, ChrisDucker.com

South Carolina

Barry Birkett @BarryBirkett Thinker, Strategist, Blogger – Co-founder of Senior Care Corner and Knowledge Connection

South Dakota

Peder Aadahl @Peder Aadahl Founder of 168 Opportunities – Encouragement To Make The Most Of Life

Tennessee

Speaker Mitch Canter @studionashvegas Youth Minister, WordPress Designer and Developer, StudioNashVegas.com 

Utah

Speaker Elyse Ellis @SixSistersStuff Blogger at Six Sisters Stuff

Virginia

Timberlake Cabinetry – @Timberlake Kitchen cabinet manufacturer & service provider in the US Timberlake.com

Washington

Speaker Rob Greenlee @RobGreenlee Podcasts Manager on Windows Phones at Microsoft, RobGreenlee.com

Speaker Bob Dunn @bobWP WordPress Trainer, Blogger, Speaker. Seattle WordPress Meetup Organizer, Vizify.com/bobwp

Speaker Aaron Hockley – @AHockley – Photographer at Hockley Photo, Author of Alcatraz ViewsAaronHockley.com

Enhancing a Brand’s Image and Presence on Social Media With Video

As a brand, it is important we encompass a positive image and unique presence on Social Media to grow and be of value to others. If your brand is new or having issues with doing so, I am here to share information on how your brand can make that happen.

When promoting a positive image and unique presence, a brand needs to keep in mind it’s about connecting with the audience and customers. By doing so, the brand creates a path for customers to build relationships, spread the word and keeps them coming back for more.  One way this is done is to put a face behind who your customers and audience speak and do service with on Social Media. As a consumer on Social Media , this is something I and many others look for to help get a better feel and understanding of who we are conversing with but what some look for doesn’t stop there.

The key to keeping the positive image and presence is to be authentic, original and unique in doing so. This is done by enhancing it through the use of video which takes it above and beyond the profile face pictures you find on other brands websites, blogs and Social Media platforms. By using video, a brand is giving their audience and consumers a look from the outside in and further deepening the connection. There are several ways to make this happen.

  • Create a short video with enthusiasm from each team member within the brand. No one likes, “Just another boring video” so it’s important to create it with zazz and make it interesting and fun. In this video, state your name, what your position is, and what makes your position fun and enjoyable.
  • Give your audience and consumers a look into the daily life by showing them around your companies work environment in a different video. Put them in your shoes. After all, they are your brand and fuel your success and growth.
  • Create an additional personal video of the person responsible for managing the Twitter account. Basically, the person tweeting and engaging. If more than one individual tweets from the account, make sure each one has a personal video. Tweet the video link at the start of each day or when the account is changing users. Include in the video the person’s name, a relevant greeting and the question, “Is there anything that I can help you with today?”
  • Thank your consumers and audience weekly in a video. Give a shout out to people on Twitter that follow you, people that have liked your brand page on Facebook. Make it personal, show gratitude and let them know they are never forgotten.
  • Post all videos on the brands YouTube account, landing page on Facebook  and Twitter as I discussed above. As far as the team video, post it on the brand’s website as a welcome.

By using video, the brand is raising their profile, promoting a positive image and enhancing brand value for others. This connects the brand with their customers and audience in a unique way and shows them the brand has took the time to create it for them. Basically saying, we care about and value our audience and consumers. I understand this might be time consuming but by investing in this time it is sure to create a remarkable ROI as many customers are looking for this type of aspect in a brand and sharing what the brand is doing.

So is your brand ready to enhance their image and presence by being unique, authentic and make a lasting impression through the use of video?

 

BlogWorld & New Media Expo in NYC 2012

It’s that time of year again to start gearing up for BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2012 in NYC. For the past 2 years, I have kept an ongoing list for attendees to network and learn more about each other before the biggest social media event of the year takes place. Below, you will find attendees by state, name and Twitter handle along with a brief description of their blog and link.

 

Thankful Thursday – Why Do You Like Infographics?

Welcome to a new weekly addition of Thankful Thursday here at Weigh Your Mind. This is a day I give thanks to my audience on Twitter by creating exposure of my friends by making you a part of my post. Each week, I create a question, share it on Twitter and use your responses in the post with a link back to your Twitter profile.

To kick things off, this week I decided to create the question, “Why Do You Like Infographics?” I was lead to ask the question because of the growing popularity of this type of content. Below, are the responses I received this week.

  1. @KNDino – Infographics just brings things to life.
  2. @Ava_Jae – Infographics are great because they help us visualize data that can be difficult to fully wrap our minds around otherwise. Plus, they tend to be very creative and fun to look at.
  3. @Efficient – They’re scannable. This is big in an age where content curators sift through hundreds of articles a day.
  4. @ScottTheWriter – Why? Because they’re a short cut form from information to you brain. Plus, why else would I ever look at USA Today?
  5. @SummitMtnMedia – We like pretty pictures.
  6. @CnZDigital – Infographics are fast facts presented in a creative manner. Reading them becomes FUN and engaging.
  7. @JosOrtega – Infographics can make boring/mundane data enjoyable to look at. They also aid in comprehension for us visual learners.

As you can see, individuals like Infographics for many different reasons. From being creative to making data more appealing to aiding visual learners, this defines why Infographics is growing in popularity.

I want to thank all of those that participated and as always I am very thankful for all of you. So, Why Do You Like Infographics?

Fun Fact Friday – 3/2/2012

Fun Fact Friday here at Weigh Your Mind is a way to end the week on a fun note and also educate those who are not aware about a fact. You will find facts encompassing a variety of topics including business, science, life, body, history and more. Are you ready to learn and have fun?

  1. Disney’s ‘Brave’ musical score was composed by Lanarkshire-born musician and composer Patrick Doyle!
  2. 6 people a year die from water fountains.
  3. Today in 1836 – Texas Revolution: Declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico.
  4. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
  5. One out of ten children in Europe are conceived on an IKEA bed.
  6. The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year.
  7. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was so convinced the White House was haunted that she kept a vial of holy water on her night stand.
  8. Ford’s 2011 Explorer launch on Facebook generated a 200% greater return than a Super Bowl ad.
  9. William Henry Harrison was only President for 31 days before dying of Pnuemonia.
  10. The human brain is 80% water.

Which was your favorite? Do you have a fact you would like to share? Happy Friday friends!

Social Media Promotion

Ever wondered what your audience, friends or followers are up to, do or the reason behind what they do in Social Media? I am doing this post to help you convey those answers and all you have to do is fill in the blank which in return promotes yourself. I will also be including a couple questions not related to Social Media. Have fun and enjoy.

  1. The reason I blog is _____.
  2. My top priority in Social Media is _____.
  3. The top trait I look for in my audience and followers is _____.
  4. I consider ______ to be my biggest fear.
  5. When I expand my network, I _____.
  6. If I had to brand myself using 3 words they would be _____.
  7. My job in Social Media is to _____.
  8. My personality is _____.
  9. My favorite social online game is _____ because _____.
  10. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is _____.
  11. When I think of value in Social Media, I think of ______.
  12. By using Social Media, my business has ________.

Hope you have enjoyed answering the questions by filling in the blank. The purpose is for me to get to know you better and others as well. At the same time, the purpose of the post is a great way to keep you engaged and connected. In a comment, pick at least 1 question and complete. Until next time, happy blogging.