Why You Should Add Images To Your Blog Posts

Posted by Denise Griffitts on Mar 22, 2011 in Internet Mastery | 2 comments

It seems that just about everybody blogs about something these days. Blogs run the gamut from quiting smoking  to dog grooming to seriously helpful online business building blogs like Marketing Profs, Rosalind Gardner’s Net Profits Today, and of course, Michael Stelzner’s Social Media Examiner. There are many, many more but these are my top picks. When you visit these blogs you will notice right away that not only are they giving you some terrific, free, actionable tips and advice, but that each blog post is also image rich in that there are pictures and videos that help tell the story and draw your eye to the important part of the blog post.

If you are simply posting a lot of text in your blogs but are not concerned with adding images let’s try this quick exercise. Are you one of the increasingly rare people who still cling to the good old fashioned telephone book? If so, grab a copy of the White Pages off your shelf  and flip open to any page and then answer these questions:

• Where does your eye go first?
• Are you pulled into the content?
• Do you want to read more, or are you tempted to simply slam the book shut and stick it back on the bookshelf?

When visitors come to your website, you have a choice. You can make it inviting and pleasant, or you can make it just about as appealing as the innards of the phone book. The only difference? Images. Color. Action.

Images – photos, illustrations, or other graphics — are often the first thing visitors look at. If the image is compelling, visitors stay to check out the text. If the image is poor quality or unappealing – or non-existent! – visitors leave. It’s really that simple.

Here are some compelling reasons to incorporate images into your blog:

1. They break up text. Facing a page of black-and-white text is daunting. Images can give the eye a place to rest, breaking up the flow of an otherwise monotonous page.
2. They lead into the text. Since people look at them first, the images provide a starting point for the rest of the blog post. Good images are like flashing arrows that say, “START HERE.”
3. They introduce the topic. Picking an appropriate, related image gives the reader an idea of what to expect from the post. For instance, a photo of a street sign that says “Bumpy Road Ahead” lets the reader know that the post is about challenges or change.
4. They support the post content. A diagram, graphic, or other image can further illustrate the post’s content. A flow chart of a sales funnel, for instance, gives you another way to explain the concepts you’re presenting.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s true, you can’t afford NOT to use images in your blog posts. They may be the most powerful tool you have.

So the choice is clear. You can either make your blog posts interesting and vibrant with the use of images and video, or you can make them about as bland and boring as watching somebody point at a flow chart.

By the way, one of my favorite places to find great graphics is Presenter Media.  A one year subscription is $59.95 and you have access to royalty-free clipart, presentation animations and PowerPoint templates and animations. There are no additional fees, charges or royalties to pay to download and use their images in your projects.

Your Partner In Success Welcomes Jack Humphrey

Posted by Denise Griffitts on Sep 1, 2010 in Internet Mastery | 0 comments

Your Partner In Success Radio Show

I am delighted to welcome back to the show Jack Humphrey who is a blog marketing expert and author of one of my favorite blogs — Friday Traffic Report.

Jack is the author of a staple in my entrepreneurial library called The Authority Black Book which is 67 pages of resources for social marketing domination, buzz generation, higher rankings and endless traffic. It is also a FREE download.

You  can find some of Jack’s products here:

Blog Success

Blog Talk Monitor Free Download

Twitter Method

Utility Poster

We will be talking about:

• Authority is everything: rankings in the engines, successful product sales, high traffic site, online and offline success, and every successful site and individual shares it without exception.
• Go for authority and rankings, traffic, sales, gigs, fame will follow.
• Go for anything else first, failure will follow.
• A new look at what really matters most in Internet marketing above all else and how to do it.
• Blog promotion, social marketing, and link building tips.

Please join us in the chat room or on the phone during the interview if you would like to ask questions of Jack.

Your Partner In Success Radio Show

When: Friday, September 3, 2010

Time: 9 am PST, 10 am MST, 11 am CST, 12 pm EST

Where: Your home office telephone or computer.

Website: Your Partner In Success Radio Show

Call-in Number: 347-843-4988

We look forward to “seeing” you!

What Google Looks For On Your Website

Posted by Denise Griffitts on Aug 27, 2010 in Internet Mastery | 0 comments

We all know that Google rewards ‘relevance’, but did you know that RECENCY is becoming just as important too?

That means that the sites that are updated the most often (like news sites, blogs, and active forums) get the most attention and get preference in the rankings.

And that makes sense doesn’t it? I mean, think about it from a searcher’s perspective… you want the most recent, relevant information when YOU do a search, right?

So keep this in mind for your own website or blog …

The more often you publish new content, the more recent AND relevant you are… and the better your site ranks in Google.

Don’t have time to create new and relevant content?

Consider using these excellent and very affordable resources to ensure that your blog or website is updated with fresh, compelling content.

• Private Label Rights Articles (PLR) are a fantastic way to add new content to your website or blog and fill up your newsletter or autoresponder. With EasyPLR.com you choose only the content you need. No more getting locked into memberships that send you articles from a variety of topics each month. If you need PLR articles about Health and Wellness, you can choose from our Health PLR article packs. If you need Baby PLR, grab just the articles that you need. You are in complete control.
• Need An Article.com. Made to order content is precisely what your website needs to gain in popularity and in traffic. At Need an Article you can rapidly order just what you want, using the keywords that you specify. Your order is filled to the letter in a very short time. They are quick and VERY affordable.

Your Partner In Success Radio Show Welcomes Denise Wakeman

Posted by Denise Griffitts on Aug 20, 2009 in Your Partner In Success | 0 comments

Your Partner In Success Radio Show

This week I am excited to welcome to the show business blogging expert, online marketing advisor and founder of The Blog Squad, Denise Wakeman. With more than two decades of business and online marketing experience, she helps authors, speakers, service professionals, and small business owners optimize and leverage great blogs as well as strategically use social media tools to gain visibility, build credibility and manage their online reputation.

Denise has been using the Internet as a marketing tool since 1996; she writes regularly on 3 blogs and has co-authored many blogging programs including “Build a Better Blog,” “Better Business Blogging” and “The Blog to Book Project.” She frequently speaks at conferences and workshops about business blogging and how to create massive online visibility as well as gain expert status through social marketing.

You can learn more about Denise at DeniseWakeman.com.

We will be chatting about the following topics:

What are the differences between personal and business blogs and why should we blog for business?

The 5 tactics that Denise Wakeman recommends for business blogging.

How business owners can use a blog to attract more business.

Your Partner In Success Radio Show

When: Friday, August 21, 2009

Time: 9 am PST, 10 am MST, 11 am CST, 12 pm PST

Where:  Your home office telephone or computer.

Website: Your Partner In Success BlogTalkRadio

Call-in Number: 347-843-4988

Utility Poster – Quality Blog Posting Has Never Been Easier

Posted by Denise Griffitts on Jun 9, 2009 in Internet Mastery | 0 comments

Blogging is (or should be!) one of the “must do” items on your entrepreneurial “to-do” list, particularly if your business is largely internet-based. Regular blogging helps you build readership loyalty and a targeted audience. You need to keep your blog updated with fresh content even though it is not always easy to find the time to write or sometimes a subject to write about.  Blogging is a very effective way to dialogue with your clients, prospects and customers. It allows them to share their comments, feedback, ideas, and concerns with you. By blogging regularly you consistently add value to your readers and begin to develop a readership that returns regularly to find out what you have to say about your particular niche. Even though intellectually I know that I need to post to my blogs at least twice a week, I freely admit that I also have a hard time finding the time to write as much as is needed.

All that being said, I had to have a sit down discussion with myself about my blogging practices. It was ugly and I think a tear or two was shed. Then it was time to embark on a search for some assistance and advice. What I found was a program called Utility Poster. This is not meant to completely absolve you from writing quality and targeted content, rather it is meant to allow you to post fast relevant quality content on the fly when time is tight. Your readers will appreciate it!

If you decide to use this program I would love to hear your comments. I will be posting more reviews as I use the program more.

Stay tuned…