I’m excited!  There’s so much on a roll that I can hardly keep up.  For that reason it seems I start a conversation ‘thread’ here and then veer off on another path and rarely complete a whole thought.  That’s not good for you and causes me ‘heartburn’ realizing what I’ve not done.

While in Florida, I wrote some of the salient points on blogging, covering 4 of the 10 blogging commandments from Dan Zak, Washington Post.  Today, actually right now, I’m going to quickly cover the remaining 6 and encourage you to add blogging to your online resume and presence.

One of the reasons I think I digressed from the subject is that most of the rest of the ‘commandments’ are technical in nature.  I’m not technical by nature, although learning more about the webworld is awesome.

So here goes:  (1) embedding “widgets” or 3rd party items on your blog via HTML code helps drive traffic to your blog.  Learn enough about how to use RSS feeds & Google Reader.  Sign up for Technorati (www.technorati.com) or BlogRush (www.blogrush.com) - you’ll see “BlogRush” here very soon.  These tools come with widget codes that “spread links to your posts far and wide”.

(2) Rule of thumb - give 2 times more attention to posting on other blogs as you do writing on your own, says Janet Daly, of Washington who has blogged since August, 05 and turned five daily readers into 500.  Imagine increasing that much traffic to your business site!  Have something significant to say on a regular (daily is best) basis and once folks are ‘hooked’ on what you say, you’ve earned trust and they’ll keep coming back and become a customer and “customer evangelist”.

(3) It’s great when one of the “big boys” says something nice about your blog and provides a link to it.  By big boys, I mean the really popular online blogs, such as Wonkette.  When they do, your numbers could go sky high and sales might increase as well.

(4) Toot your own horn!  Nominate yourself for an award. There are a slew of big and small-time awards from national to niche contests.  National contests are voted on by the general public while “niche” events are smaller and usually voted on by other bloggers.  No matter - it’s the recognition you’re looking for and once you win an award; POST IT on your home page!

(5) Be Passionate about what you write!  And do it every day or folks will lose interest and you’ll lose a potential new market.  Be vivacious in your consistency which means - “post with verve”.  Find the arena in which you are the most comfortable and show yourself to be an or the  expert in that arena.  Be humorous, include links (as we sometimes do here) and recommend other blogs you like that fit the same ‘niche’ you do.

Finally, (6) Join blogging community sites, i.e., Indie Bloggers (www.indiebloggers.org).  In many locales now, there are informal blogger get-togethers.  There are online webinars that teach techniques that help bloggers be more successful.

Whee!  Got through them.  Seriously, if you haven’t taken to blogging  you must!  It doesn’t have to be a chore as some folks think (of course I love to write, so it’s a little different for me).  I admit that some days I don’t have a clue what to say.  But once here with my mind somewhat ‘blank’, the thoughts begin to roll and before long I’m on a roll.

If you don’t have a website for your business or professional life; consider launching a blog that points folks in your direction.  Most of the weblog platforms are free (WordPress is the one we use).  You can use one of their templates or do some creative work and make it your own.  One of our team members doesn’t have a website for her business - but she does have a blog site.

Well I think that’s enough for this moment.  Hopefully you find some “wisdom” in my words and give serious consideration to making a blog and blogging a part of your ‘08 life plan.

Tomorrow we’ll move onto a different topic for Thursday Thoughts.  If you have some “thoughts” for any blogging day, simply send them to me at linda@awomensplace.org. 

And consider joining the Blogging Team (small though it be) here at AWP.  You can arrange that as well by emailing me at linda@awomensplace.org and type “blog team” in the subject line.

Wherever you are - stay tuned and stay connected.  Have an awesome day with much love and such rich blessings you can hardly contain!

Linda