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October 14, 2006

Cool Blog Ideas (Part 2)

1.      Promote your virtual book tour on your blog. Are you an author with a new book? Instead of traveling thousands of miles by car (gas!) or plane (hassles!), plan and promote a virtual book tour. Guest author on blogs related to your book’s topic; take part in online chats; guest on internet radio shows (or call in with comments); create teleseminars, podcasts and more. Get more information about virtual book tours in Patricia-Anne Rutledge’s new book The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High-Tech Twist.

2.      Make a name for yourself as a reviewer. What interests you so much that you’ll buy or watch just about everything related to the subject? Movies? Romance novels? The music of Johnny Cash? Reality TV shows? Why not be a blogosphere judge for “American Idol” or “Dancing with the Stars” – or you name it. If your reviews are interesting, fun and fair, you could claim an audience for yourself.

3.      Are you an accountant? You could blog about IRS updates or offer explanations of IRS regulations for business owners.

4.      If you enjoy following a particular celebrity – or if a celebrity irks you no end – write about it. Lately there’s plenty of news about Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Rosie O’Donnell, Oprah, Sean “Diddy” Combs and many more. Attract your audience, and then monetize your blog with Google AdSense and affiliate programs.

5.      Or maybe your thing is politics. Lots of fuel for many bloggers to light a bonfire of illuminating words.

September 25, 2006

6 - Cool Blog Ideas (Part 1)

The information you post on your blog will depend on your area of interest or passion, your business niche, your teaching expertise – what you feel compelled or drawn to talk about. (One of my women friends wants to teach manners to teenagers ;-)

If you’re new to blogging, then you may not be aware of the multitude of business, political, entertainment, news, hobby and personal commentary blogs that currently exist (to merely scratch the surface).

But (1) if you have something of value to contribute to others and (2) if you know enough about your subject that you can write about it (at least) weekly and (3) if you can write in a “voice” that your readers can relate to and (4) if they agree that there is value for them in reading your words – then you really should consider starting your own blog.

You just need to decide what your blog will be about (its focus) and who it is likely to appeal to (its audience).

When I think about the types of sites “bloggers with a message” could have fun with, get known for and create income around, these are some of the ideas that come to mind.

1.      Teachers can write free mini-lessons on their blog to attract students to their paid teleclasses.

2.      Channelers can post their channeled information and sell their compiled works as e-books.

3.      If you’re in the “blessing” business, you could post a blessing every week on different topics and offer your book of blessings for sale.

4.      Healers can post healing tips and sign folks up for distance healing sessions.

5.      Authors can gain a following for their new books by creating a “blook” – i.e.) posting chapters of their book on a blog. In essence, they are writing their book in public to obtain feedback and book reviews as they’re writing. Seth Godin works this way. He already has his audience of buyers lined up before the book is sent to the printer.

6.      Cooks and food lovers can give away recipes on their blog and sell their cookbooks or recipe files (a cook blook?).

7.      Natural living experts can educate many people through a blog… and sell organic products on the sidebar.

8.      Nutritionists can post information about specific products for various ailments and sell the same products on the blog.

9.      Astrologers can keep interested people up to date on planetary happenings for free and offer their services for personal astrology readings for a fee.

10.   Ministers can blog their weekly lessons and sermons, for parishioners who missed church. They could actually create a blog ministry or “blog church” this way (a blurch??). With audio capabilities, they could even include the hymns. Or why not create a podcast RSS feed each week of the entire service? Most churches have some type of recording capability.

11.   Blogs are terrific tools to send uplifting messages out into the world, whether you choose to earn income from them or not. On the other hand, take a look at Steve Pavlina’s blog to see how he makes thousands a month on a personal development blog.

12.   You can deliver prayers, meditations, class lessons, predictions, speeches and more using podcast RSS feeds via your blog.

13.   You can highlight customer success stories – giving your clients extra internet attention and yourself a pat on the back at the same time.


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