There is a movement to “Blog with Integrity” which establishes a basic standard all bloggers should follow. You can learn more at blogwithintegrity.com where most of this list was found. You can even grab a badge for your own blog after signing the pledge. Here is some advice for those who determine to blog with integrity. Be Honest If you aren’t earning a million dollars yet, don’t tell people that you are. It’s okay to admit that you’re learning to and struggling. If you have a food blog and didn’t actually try a particular recipe, don’t say you did. The best way to ensure that your audience trusts you is…

Video has become a driving force in content marketing. One only has to look as far as YouTube’s success to see that video content is a thriving entity all on its own. In fact, you can create a thriving business using mostly video as your main type of content. But, if you normally just use textual content, the thought of using video can be daunting. Get the Tools You really don’t have to spend tons of money on the right tools for creating entertaining and engaging videos for your content marketing needs. However, at least spending enough to be able to provide adequate lighting and sound is important. You can…

Content marketing is an inexpensive form of marketing that really works. The great thing is that it’s a true investment in your business that pays off over and over again, year after year. When you create content today, it will be working for you a year from now. Creating content isn’t only about marketing; it’s about educating and engaging your audience, too. Content marketing is also a simple concept to understand and implement for marketing success. Follow these four steps to content marketing success. Create a Website for Your Content It’s important that your content has a home. You want to drive all traffic to that home. The home is…

Today, search engines are more powerful and intuitive than ever. While the changes in search engine technology have been generally good for the user, it can be more difficult for a content marketer to get to their audience. Today, a content marketer has to think outside the box in order to conquer the fact of personal search. What personal search technology does is create different search results for each individual who is conducting a search for any keyword or keyword phrase. The technology bases the results on pages you’ve found useful in the past, your profile if you have one, and other factors such as your location and even your…

Many entrepreneurs start out in business kind of wet behind the ears. They are full of expectations, excitement, and dreams but little else. They don’t take the time to look at the data surrounding their niche so that they can understand what is truly possible if they work toward it. Some will ignore all the facts that present themselves and walk right into failure. Others succeed seemingly against all odds. Common money management mistakes for entrepreneurs Not Having Enough Start-Up Capital Many business owners fail to realize how much it will take them to get their business started. They don’t raise enough starting cash and hit roadblocks before they even…

Sometimes email feels like more burden than it’s worth. But the truth is, email is a valuable tool that has revolutionized the way that we work. When used correctly, email is a terrific time saver and productivity tool. For many of us, without access to the type of email we’re used to using today we would not have the careers that we have. But, for it to remain a tool of productivity and not a drag, it’s important to learn how to manage it better. Here’s how: 1) Use Labels and Folders Every email software comes with the ability to automatically put emails in to particular folders or add labels…

Small businesses need to be focused on marketing at all times. Even if you have a full client roster or you think you have enough customers, you must keep marketing. But marketing doesn’t just consist of banner ads and selling. It consists of so much more. If you are stuck with the same old marketing ideas, take a look at how you can make your marketing better with these strategies. 1) Develop Your Elevator Pitch When people ask you what you do – whether you’re in an elevator, in line at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office with the kids or at a business event – it’s important for…