You will agree with me when I say it’s not possible to be at our blog all the time. However, you will find it little difficult to concur when I declare that not being at our blog doesn’t mean we can’t improve the blog. We definitely can, that is, if we want to.

And you probably wouldn’t believe if I say that being away from your blog is actually the best you could do to improve it.

If you are among those who are always thinking about their blog, its performance, its traffic, etc. then probably these tips a re tailor-made to suit your needs. Sometimes, I just sit against my computer and stare at the blank word document because I don’t know what to write. My mind is as blank as the word document. Perhaps, it might have happened to you as well.

That’s the time you need to be away from your blog. Here is how it helps:

1. Coming up with Fresh Ideas
   This is something that even the best blogger of the world might not be consistent in. It requires a calm and clear mind to generate new ideas. And do you really think sitting in front of your computer for hours would help? It wouldn’t.One possible option is to get away from your PC and relax for a while. Then, take a pen and paper and start jotting down all the topics that you have written about. Select any topic among them and try to look at it from a very different perspective, from all the possible angles.

   Ask yourself: have you covered all the sub-topics that could possibly be created from this topic? What else people would need to know about this topic? For instance, ‘Blogging Content’ is a topic or an idea. However, there can be numerous sub-topics or sub-ideas created from this topic like ‘How to write good content?’, ‘What is bad content?’, and so on.

   This is a very good exercise that promises consistent flow of ideas. You would never have to stare at the blank screen and keep thinking for hours.

2. Relate with the real world
   The real, refreshing outside world probably has much to offer. It can help you to come up with something that the internet wouldn’t. How do you think a new idea is generated? It is generated when we look at various things and think about it differently. Look at everything around you, everything in the outside world, each or any of them could be your next topic, or a new blog.Let’s look at something concrete for now. Pick up any magazine and you will find hundreds of article, which is no different from a blog. Magazine itself is a big blog.

   Next, a business. Any business. My father owns a departmental store. His business, in many ways, can help me to improve my blog. No, I cannot start writing about shopping habits or prices of groceries, if my blog is about improving the way your blog. But I definitely can learn  lot from the smart business models, new ideas applied in the store, how advertising affects the business, or just the way people act, and apply it in my blog someway or the other.

   If I can’t apply it, at least I would know how to operate a business. However, that’s not what we are focusing on right now. According to me, you will get something out of it. Remember, it all depends on how we look at something.

3. Use the technology
   If it’s really urgent to update something on your blog, or replying a comment, and your are traveling, or just far from accessing a computer, don’t fret. Just relax and enjoy the benefits of the improvement in technology. You can access your blog or edit it through your mobile, iPod, blackberry, PSP, or many other devices.An application called WordPress for iPhones can allow you to type and post your article on your blog. You can also edit blog pages, upload images, or reply to a comment. So, you aren’t actually away from your blog, are you?
4. Offline Advertising
   It is the most effective way to utilize your time improving your blog while you are away from it. Unfortunately, very less percentage of the bloggers today use offline advertising as a source of promotion. This can be very effective if your blog discusses something about the real outside world. Offline blogging can be done by distributing t-shirts, car stickers, posters etc. I will be soon writing about the various ways to advertise offline because I rally think it’s quite effective and least used.
5. Just Relax
   Here is another point on which you won’t agree with me, but relaxing does help to improve your blog.
   I have seen many bloggers face something known as ‘Blogger’s Block’ i.e. a time when they are not able to write, not even a word. Relaxing, then, is the best solution. Even if you are a bit overworked, relaxing will help you to soothe you mind and body, which is quite important to come up with new ideas regularly.Being relaxed is a way to calm your mind.
   Being relaxed is a way to be creative.
   Being relaxed is a way to be in a proper state of mind.
   Being relaxed is a way to improve your blog.

Okay. These were my suggestions on how can you make optimum utilization of the time you are away from your blog. Some people have the habit of carrying a pen and paper along with them, wherever they go. I do believe it’s a great idea because it helps you to jot down every idea you come up with.

I would really appreciate if you can discuss how you can utilize you “non-blogging” time. Would love to read your inputs.

Suggestions Please!

It’s a known fact that catchy titles or headlines grab readers’ attention and increase the traffic flow. However, this is the most neglected part and least focused one. Many articles have amazing content but the titles are so boring and dull that readers just don’t feel like wasting time following it. Also, the websites helping others to build a better blog doesn’t contain many articles about headlines. They will post 20 articles on content, whereas a single one on headline.

I always want to have a headline that smacks directly on the faces of my readers and induce them to read the article. I always want to generate headlines that force the casual web surfers to dig more and reach my blog to know what I have got to say. And I am always successful in doing so.

Remember, don’t create a headline before finishing the article.

Here are 10 tips that can help you to produce mind-blowing headlines:

1. Be Blunt:
   Be as blunt s you can. After all, it’s your blog that you are writing for. Moreover, readers are attracted by bold sentences rather than the simple old ones. You can use something like “You cannot be rich”. Now, after reading the headline, the reader is curious to know why he cannot be rich. The article describes the habits of normal people which don’t help them to be rich.
2. Make use of Powerful and Dynamic Words:
   English language offers various words that describes similar meaning but some more powerful than the other. Those are your words. Use them. Instead of ‘Important’, use ‘Crucial’. Instead of ‘Very Good’, use ‘Excellent’. There are many other words that quickly grab readers’ attention like AMAZING, MIND-BLOWING, SURE-FIRE, etc. Make use of them immeasurably.
3. Be Personal:
   A simple, descriptive content is quite boring. It becomes interesting when a personal touch is added. Similarly, a headlines becomes captivating if you add personal experience. For instance, “Why I Hate Bloggers” or “This is how I made 1 Million Dollars in a Month”. However, don’t make every article a personal one.
4. Be Concise:
   Having a headline with 57 words doesn’t mean it’s catchy. Make sure that that it never extends the limit of one line in your word file or WordPress preview. Why do you need long headlines? Keep it short. Let your reader differentiate between the headline and the content of your post.
5. Be Straight Forward and direct:
   You headline should be a diminutive representation of your content. Be straight and create a headline that describes about the post. A reader wouldn’t waste time in reading your post if he finds out that the content is completely irrelevant. They will feel cheated or duped and it’s most likely that they wouldn’t revisit your blog.
6. Asking a question:
   

   This always works. Ask a provocative question or a simple How To question, the reader, in most cases, reads your blog to find the answer, especially if it’s quite an inquisitive question. “Would you like to earn $10,000 every day?” The reader knows that he wouldn’t really unveil the secret, it’s just a trap. However, he/she reads the content due to curiosity.

7. Be Authoritative:
   This is a headline with command. Here, you order your reader to do something, without asking. Generally, readers aren’t interested if you are pleading them. Be authoritative and they will definitely be fascinated. You use something like: “Make yourself a better blogger today”, “Write awesome post and attract traffic”, or “Be Happy, Be A Blogger.’
8. Be Innovative:
   This is the most important point among all. The one which I have mentioned above are just of few of the methods to create headlines. However, you can generate far better headlines using your imagination. You can add humor, quotes, or anything. There is no limitation. Think beyond normal.
9. Lists:
   When it comes to attracting people, mentioning lists is the most effective method. Examples of lists is “47 tips to promote your blog”, or “12 awesome themes”. These 47 or 12 things would each be further linked to some other blog posts that can be internal or external.
10. Use common Keywords:
    I have listed this at the bottom because this is the least effective method to grab attention. Although using common keywords in your title would help you to appear first on the search engines, it wont stand out.

Are you aware of any other methods to generate stunning headlines?

Ever tried Affiliate Marketing? People say, it’s an amazing shortcut to get rich. Bull shit! You would get nothing wasting time in such useless things. Ask yourself a question. When was the time you bought something clicking on the link found on someone else’s blog? I am sure the answer would be never. Then, why do expect to people to do so?

Okay. Now affiliate marketing is out of question. My next question is when was the last time you bought a product or service after reading a review online. Maybe a couple of times, maybe more.

So, the number of people purchasing products online after reading review is higher than that in affiliate marketing. Now the choice is simple. Go for writing a review instead of affiliate marketing.

But how do you write an effective review. Don’t fret, here are some ways.

Buy the product and use it

Those who write reviews about any product without owning it are fake. One can never write a review without know what it actually is.

People write reviews based on sales copies or by rephrasing reviews written be other people. If you are one of them, you wouldn’t be trusted because if the product sucks, none of the readers will trust you. In fact, they will post bad, negative, or sometimes, insulting comments about you.

So, it is highly recommended to review the product or service after using it. And using doesn’t mean watching a demo or using a trial version. This wouldn’t help you to know the real drawbacks. Hence, write a review after using it for at least some months.

What should be included in your review?

Reviews aren’t interesting if you just mention about the features. Features can be availed from the product website or sales copy. People want to know whether it worth buying or not.

These are the common things that, I think, should not be neglected. Of course you can customize the structure of the review. This is just the basic one.

1. Overview:
   Answer the basic questions like what is the name of the product or service? What is it used for? Which company it represents? What is the product’s website?
2. Cost Price:
   Some reviews don’t mention the price and the people writing them are fools. Many times the review is very good and it induces the reader to buy it. However, the reader later finds that the price is way out of his/her budget, which eventually is quite disappointing. Remember, you write to help them, not disappoint them.
3. What is included:
   Mention all the things that comes along with the product or service. This would also include any discount or offers available on the purchase.
4. Positive points:
   Mention everything that you liked about the service or the product. You have to be honest here.
5. Negative points:
   Each product has some negative points or drawbacks. So, don’t treat them as idiotic people and ignore this point. To know the genuine drawbacks, you have to use the product. Also, listing down disadvantages will make your review look genuine and useful.
6. Conclusion:
   This would be the bottom line of the review. You could either rate the product out of five or ten, or suggest your reader to buy it or not. This is a quick liner or a decisive one.

Tell them the fact

You cannot just post a fake review and ask readers to get out of their house and buy it. As I mentioned earlier, they aren’t idiotic people. You cannot just say ‘the product is outstanding.’ You need to explain why it is outstanding.

Okay. You might think that reviewing honestly and mentioning the drawbacks will force people not to buy them. No. If you are honest, more people will buy the product. They know nothing is perfect.

Personal comments

Do not worry to add personal comments in your review. Don’t forget that it’s your review. You can either inform about the product in a descriptive way or put it as a story of your experience.

Lastly, furnish them a proper reason why are you reviewing it. Inform them that it has changed your life or made your work easy or just did nothing.

Reviewers, any suggestions? Did I miss out something?

There are thousands of websites containing articles on how to become a better blogger or simply how to blog. Enter any of these websites and you will find numerous articles on interlinking, connecting with other bloggers, increasing page rank, getting traffic, exploiting social media, and blah, blah, blah. Where the heck is “CONTENT”? If content is king, as each bloggers say, why are these websites full of everything except content.

And frankly, people don’t visit your blog post because it is linked with other sites or because it has more keywords. They visit your blog just for two reasons. First, because they are your friends or you just know them. They come because you have maintained a personal relation with them in some or the other way.

And second, they visit your website to read your articles. They come because they think you know much about the topic and they want to learn from you. Or maybe your articles are simple entertaining and they like it.

You can definitely pull them a long way by involving personally in your blog. This can be done by replying to every comment or emailing them.

However, they are the ones who have already visited your blog and like you because of your personal touch. But what about the people who are directed to your website through search engines? They want information. They want quality content. They want something that hooks them, entertains them, and give them a reason to search for other articles on your blog.

The rule to get more visitors is simple. You have to write excellent articles. Period.

However, what is the difference between a simple article and an excellent one? How can an article be effective? Here are 10 Habits of Highly Effective People:

1. They Don’t Make Grammatical Mistakes:
   If you fail to use correct grammar in your article, it’s no more effective. People quickly understand you are an amateur or a novice. You lose the authority and significance. The readers no longer believe that you have more knowledge than them.
2. They Don’t Use Jargon:
   Everyone wants to astound their readers. I like doing it. But that doesn’t mean you do it by using words that few understand. They aren’t holding an Oxford dictionary while reading your article. Keep it simple, always.
3. They are personal:
   Personal doesn’t mean you ask your reader to post their girlfriend’s number in the comments. It means having a personal touch. Share your personal experience; show your self in the article.
4. They are humorous:
   The best way to attract, retain, and mesmerize your readers is to add humor to your posts. I am sure most of the people like to smile, so they will visit your posts regularly. Use sarcasm, irony, satire, jokes, or funny examples to create humor.
5. Use Stories and Examples:
   Theory is quite boring. Blogger who keep posting theories need to understand that their readers aren’t attending a high school. They need information with fun and clear understanding. Provide examples and stories, which will help them comprehend the message.
6. They are easily readable:
   Make sure the readers read your full article. Most of the readers don’t because you scare them away with the quantity of your post. They just skim through the post and try to grasp the message. I know they can understand much, but that’s what they do and you know it. However, you still keep writing 2000 words article. Keep it short.
7. They provoke action:
   Have you ever written an article which asks the reader to do something immediately after finishing the article? You didn’t? D o it. It’s very effective.
8. They initiate interaction:
   A good article attracts lots of comments. However, they are many blogs that doesn’t get a single comment. Here is a simple tip: Ask your readers something like feedback, suggestion, or a direct question.
9. They are full of information:
   Write informative articles. Let them clearly how something works. Provide tutorials about something in some easy steps. Define a very difficult process in simple terms. Give them precious information.
10. They are well designed and organized:
    As mentioned earlier, most of the readers just go through the main topics and sub topics. Great, now you know their secret. Provide them what they want. Write the article in pointer format with titles and sub-titles in large fonts.

No, I am not as perfect and effective as Stephen Covey. But I guess together we can be better. Let me know other elements of a good article.