Most bloggers love when their traffic is high and they have a great deal of fans. Getting to that popular point can be a little difficult however. If you want to have a successful blog, you will need to make sure all of the components are there. One of the most important components to have within your blog is scan-ability. This really means that your blog is scannable, or easy to go through quickly while still capturing the main points of your posts. Use these seven tips to make sure your blog is scannable and you will see an increase in traffic to your site.

Keep It Short

The number one mistake bloggers make when posting is creating extremely long posts. You should always be honest about your views and post accurate information. However, you should also be concise with your posts. Web surfers don’t have the time or the desire to sit around for hours reading your blog. They are looking for a quick satisfying post to quickly fill them up. They want something that is full on content, but not lengthy. If you tend to be wordy with your posts, try cutting them down a bit to see if your traffic increases.

Create Interesting Headlines

The way you set up your posts has a lot to do with them being scannable. Your posts should always have an interesting headline. It should be catchy and attention grabbing with its wording. It should also be done using different style elements such as bold print, colored print, and italics. The more attention you can get to the headline, the easier it will be for a reader to go through your posts and read the ones that interest them most. When you make it easy for the readers, they will read more.

Break Up Your Posts

Breaking up your posts is not only about headlines, it is also about endings. Create a signature way of signing off on a post. You can “sign” your name or your can always end with an interesting quote. You can also choose to end with a question to try to get readers involved. No matter what your signature ending is, it will be easier for people to shift their focus from one post to the next when they see it. It will become familiar to regular readers and will be a comforting sign that you have nothing else to say on that topic at that time.

Cut Out the Big Words

You should never feel the need to use enormous words that very few people understand or can even pronounce. The best thing you can do is keep the grammar very simple on your blog. By doing so, you are making your blog easier to scan and to read. Most people will only look through the blog for phrases and headings, so these big words can really be distracting. With less than 20% of blog readers going over word for word, you should not waste your time trying to impress. Instead, write in the manner that you would talk to a friend. Making it casual is a great way to gain a lot of interest.

Don’t Use It as Story Site

When someone uses their blog as a place to post lengthy stories about life, they are making a mistake. Blogs are indeed personal journals and if you want to do that, you are entitled. However, if you want your blog to be popular, you should not post stories. Instead, to make your blog more scannable, you should post lists. Lists are very effective ways to make your blog scannable and readers will love you for it.

Graphics Work

Graphics were once things that bloggers thought got in the way of their content. Today however the opposite is true. When done appropriately, graphics can really add to your content and make your readers more interested. You can make your site scannable by adding a few graphics to your blog. Try adding graphics that go along with your posts for an efficient approach.

Be Clear

When you have something to say on your blog, just go ahead and say it. Some bloggers tend to let their opinions or main points drift in and out of their posts subtly. The most effective way to get your point across in a blog is to come out with blazing guns. You should keep your main point close to the beginning. This is a great way to know readers understand what you want to say.

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 Thousands of people joined “online world” everyday with the expectation and hopes that they can make money online, but many of them failed miserably because they believe either one or all the internet marketing myths below. I used to believe several of this myths and I hope you not do the same mistake as I made.

Myth #1: Internet Marketing is EASY

This is probably the biggest myth of all, and let me tell you Internet marketing is hard, takes time, effort not mention money and anyone who suggests otherwise is trying to sell you a bunch of horse hockey. Granted that it’s comparatively easier to brick and mortar in that there’s no inventory to carry, no shipping of goods no sales staff and virtually no overhead, but a lot of work is still involved.

Myth #2: ANYONE Can Make Money Online

Friends, this is simply not true. Unless someone gets off their lazy boy recliner and download/read everything they can about internet marketing, and put an action plan in motion, they will never make a dime on the internet. DO NOTHING, MAKE NOTHING.

Myth #3: You Can “GET RICH QUICK” On the Net!

This is the trap that a lot of newbie internet marketers fall into including myself when I first started. Why? because scammers make it sounds so easy and let me tell you, chasing “get rich quick scheme” is a WASTE OF TIME!, money and energy. It just won’t happen overnight, instead do some research and find out what people really want and need then give it to them especially a sense of reality.

Myth #4: It’s FREE to Do Business Online

This is one of my favorite myths because I believed it during my first time I know internet marketing and it just wasn’t true then, it isn’t true today. Compared to opening your first coffee shop or gift shop in downtown Los Angeles, internet business start-up cost and maintenance cost is pretty low. Once you have your domain set up, you only pay for internet connection, advertising and ongoing educations, that’s it. You can’t expect to make money selling free stuff and ask others to do the same.

Myth #5: It’s TOO LATE to Start an Internet Business

Most internet marketers would love to hear people say “It’s too late now, too many competitions, I should just pack my bags and go home, the internet is too complicated, etc…”. You know why? The less people they have to compete with the better which in turn will make them more money. The fact is, it’s never ever too late to start anything and that includes internet business. I firmly believe that the internet is not going anywhere and you should too. Every year the stats will show you that the numbers of peoples shopping online are increasing, their spending dollars are growing and the number of people going online is increasing also.

You have heard other marketers’ story how they’re making a fortune on the internet and how easy it is but the reality is some stories are NOT out of this world or unrealistic but it just doesn’t happen overnight. You just have to apply a bit of common sense into it, find what you love to do, have a game plan, stay focus and you might find the right opportunity to make all your dreams come true.

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In the ever-changing world of marketing one thing remains constant, the high cost of traditional marketing. If you’re a small business, or even a medium to large size business with a small marketing budget, then you need to explore marketing tactics that cost little or no money but have the promise of generating large returns. It is possible to create effective marketing campaigns on a small budget. The most cost effective techniques can be found in print and online. In particular, affiliate programs, link building campaigns, and post card/landing page campaigns can generate significant returns at little or no cost. Depending on your list and offer, such campaigns can generate a better return than some traditional forms of media.

 1. Affiliate Programs

Established affiliate programs like Commission Junction (CJ) charge publishers hundreds, even thousands of dollars to join their publisher network. However, you don’t need to join an established affiliate program to begin affiliate marketing. Although sites like CJ provide many benefits such as a large pool of potential websites who can display your ads and manage commission payments, the expense may be too large for those on a tight budget. A simple alternative is to start your own affiliate program and market the program through your own website, business cards, and email. Beginning your own affiliate program is easier than you think. Although it does require some programming knowledge, there are many examples out there you can follow. Additionally, a quick Google search on affiliate programs can produce information on affiliate program software vendors that can help you get up and running in as little as 2 to 3 days for a few hundred dollars. Once your program is up and running, you can easily advertise it on your web site. Additionally, you should think about other touch points (email signatures, receipts, etc.) where you can communicate your affiliate program and the benefits to others willing to sell your products or services.

2. Link Building Campaigns

Increasing your natural search results is a surefire way to increase web traffic. The more targeted traffic you receive, the more transactions you can potentially create on your site. One of the most effective ways to improve search engine results for your website is to increase the number of in-bound links. To do so, begin a link building campaign. Simply start your link building campaign by visiting Google and typing in the keyword or keyword phrase that you have optimized your website for. Write down the top 10 URLs that appear in the results list. Now, visit a Google search box and type in the name of the first URL on the list preceded by “link:” For example, “link: www.marketingscoop.com”, this will show you how many sites link to that URL (your top competitor’s website) and who they are. Follow the same procedure for the remaining nine websites and enter the information into a spreadsheet. Once you’ve identified the top competitive sites, and the sites that link to them, you can take a variety of approaches to receive a link from those sites. The simplest way is to visit the sites and contact the site administrator requesting a link. Your message can simply state that you would like a link to your site, providing access to free content or information. You can also proactively place a link for the site you’re contacting on your website’s partner page (or a link page that you create) and note that you have already linked to them and say that you would appreciate a reciprocal link. The second way to receive a link is to actually call the website, if an 800 number is provided, or send a letter requesting a link. Although time consuming, this could generate some important links for your website.

3. Post Card/Jump Page

Direct marketing experts say that results are 40% dependant on your marketing list, 40% on the offer, and 20% on your creative. This is a good rule to follow when thinking about a direct mail campaign. Post cards provide a good way to reach a targeted audience at a low cost. Even if you are not a designer, it’s relatively simple to create a post card. Search the internet for a provider who can design a post card for you. Be sure to shop around though, pricing varies a great deal among online designers and printers. An effective way to leverage your post card campaign is to provide an online offer. If you target individuals appropriately and give them a compelling reason to visit your website, then you will generate traffic and transactions. Be sure to capture an individual’s name, address, and/or email once they hit your website and ask for permission to market to them on a going forward basis. Track your campaigns carefully and continue to experiment with new lists and offers. It’s best to develop your own marketing list with an opt-in on your registration pages or by offering free information – usually in the form of a newsletter. Many sites are now offering RSS feeds, a great way to get information to your registrants in real time. Making Your Marketing Work The key to making your marketing work on a shoestring budget is to begin with low cost, effective marketing tactics. Once you’ve begin your marketing campaigns, you can expand your success by trying different things with your audience. Don’t be afraid to experiment, try new tactics – new lists, new offers, new partnership opportunities. Track your results and continue to refine your approach. Follow the suggestions above and before you know it you’ll have more than a shoestring marketing budget to work with!

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