Spam Rants - How to Blog - and how NOT to Blog

[Paul Short]

Hi all,

This post is more of a rant than anything else, but there's a lot to be learned by reading it as well, so read on...

I've been getting a TON of bogus blog submissions lately - and internet marketers are the culprits. Wait! before you flog me, stone me and rake me over the coals, at least try and look at this from my point of view.

You see, I know what a blog is. It's actually hard to explain, but I'll try anyway.

Blog is short for "Weblog". It's a frequently updated site, a "Log" of sorts where people use a personal publishing platform (blog software) to record their thoughts, views, opinions, photo's, links to interesting stuff, news about their company or products and services, announcements, rants, helpful advice, etc.

They're interactive with their comments sections and self promotional if you have trackback enabled.

Content, communication and interaction is king - moreso than ever where blogs are concerned.

Just because you use a blogging platform like Blogger.com, Movable Type, Expression Engine, WordPress, etc as a Content Management system for articles, salesletters, affiliate links, or SEO junk pages does not mean you're blogging. Sorry.

You're really missing out on the power of blogging if you don't get what I wrote above.

You see, I've been online for years, many of those years I was one of the top SEO specialists around. I've published SEO articles that have been read by millions, I know just about every trick in the book, and now I own a search engine/human edited directory.

My directory has a submissions guidelines page that clearly states what's acceptable and what's not. Just like any other search engine on the web, Mine relies on the quality and relevance of the listings in it's database to get and keep visitors to the site. Filling up the database with spam pages is a no-no.

Important advice for people submitting blogs to blog directories, or sites to any search site for that matter: Read the submission guidelines, but more importantly - follow them!

Oh, and cursing at me, calling me names, threatening my life, etc. when I reject your submission is just plain stupid and childish and could get you in a load of trouble. I recently had the cops show up at a guys house in Portland for threatening to "cave in my skull" if he ever met me in person.
Plus, I've had people's affiliate accounts cancelled, web hosting suspended, etc... and it all could have been avoided if they hadn't threatened me.

Here are a few marketers/real bloggers who got their stuff together, and know how to communicate with their readers:

John Reese is a marketer and he knows how to use a blog -> http://www.marketingsecrets.com/blog

Jason Cain is a marketer who knows how to blog -> http://www.goldblogger.com

Alice Seba is a marketer who knows how to blog -> http://www.trafficsecretssuccessstory.com

Lynn Terry is a marketer who knows how to blog -> http://www.clicknewz.blogspot.com

Michel Fortin is a marketer who knows how to blog -> http://www.michelfortin.com

Seth Godin is a marketer who knows how to blog -> http://sethgodin.typepad.com

Etc.

Any of the blogs I listed above would be welcome submissions to GetBlogs.com because they would add a great deal of value to the site.

Read those blogs and learn from them. The content is awesome and you'll also learn how to blog for your online business.

Ok (deep breath)

To some, the web may seem like an anonymous faceless medium where you are king or queen of the kingdom. You're sadly mistaken.

The web is the most powerful communications device on the planet. Nearly a billion people are now connected or exposed to it in their daily lives - but behind every one of those computer monitors and keyboards is a real flesh and blood person. Web sites are run by people. Email is read by people.

Keep that in mind in whatever you do online and you'll prosper. Taking advantage of people, manipulation, greed, etc. will have consequences, just as they do in the "Real World".

Sincerely,

Paul Short
_________________
Meatball Marketing

[Brent]

Hahaha... good post.

People are quick to jump on the bandwagon. See the January 02, 2005 entry on Seth Godin's blog on spam.

zeldman.com is a great blog. It's got nothing to do with Internet Marketing, but it's a classic example of how someone first built an audience, then leveraged that audience into mega moola.

Internet Marketers who want to use blogging technology should try to model him and the others mentioned in your post.

Cheers.

[Alice Seba]

You know...as soon as you have anything slightly interactive on your site -- whether it be a forum, a chat room or a directory -- people start thinking your own business is public domain and they can tell you how to run it. I have experienced this as well. But don't let a few bad seeds spoil it...as I'm sure you won't.

Thank for the compliment. Much appreciated.

Alice

[Paul Short]

Hi Brent,

Excellent example of a biz blog. People need to get back to basics and dust off the old dictionary. Looking up the words Journal, journalist, and log (not the wooden kind) would help tremendously.

Alice! I couldn't imagine anyone being mean to or threatening you! Next time it happens you let me know and I'll have a few words with them

The really sad thing about all this is, if people actually worked "with " the search engines in their effort to serve up relevant content to the masses they'd be much further ahead in the long run.

I mean, what's going to happen when Google, Yahoo and MSN start delisting or demoting sites that are running blog software? It's going to happen sooner or later when the spamming becomes too rampant. Internet marketers will be in an uproar and have an even worse reputation than they (we) have now with the masses. They'll be the first to cry wolf even though they've been the hunters all along.

Blogs are not Traffic Equalizer substitutes. But tremendous rewards can be gained by all who use them properly.

1. They're SE spider magnets.

2. They're about the simplest way to add relevant content to any site.

3. They're excellent communication and relationship building tools because of the interactivity, and any good marketer knows the importance and profitability of relationship building.

4. They automatically promote your site (pinging) to literally millions of potential prospects, site visitors, readers, etc that you may never have been exposed to otherwise.

5. Content development is super simple. You just need to "talk about" your industry or niche in a conversational manner. If you can think you can blog.

6. Linking and interlinking is a natural occurance in the blogosphere. Excellent from an SEO standpoint...

etc.

Ok, I just fell off my soapbox and skinned my knee. Ouch. Maybe I'll go blog about the excruciating pain

Paul Short
_________________
Meatball Marketing

[Mike Sigers]

Hey Paul and Alice,

I'm going to assume that you must be referring to a blog other than Alice's trafficsecrets blog.....

7 posts in over 90 days doth not a blogger make.

Mind you, when she does post, it is worthwhile, but the frequency is way below par.

Here's the better side, her posts on this forum are frequent, worthwhile and good for all.

So, Alice, what's it gonna be, blogger or hit-and-run in '05

Mike

[Paul Short]

Hi Mike,

Yeah Alice! What's up with that?

Hmm, she is in good company though, since John hasn't been blogging a lot lately either.

Maybe it's a marketing tactic. Maybe Alice and John just like to play with us lesser animals - making us wait. Anticipation. Longing to read another post. The salivating when they finally do bestow their god (and goddess) like words of wisdom upon us...

So when can we expect you tow to be hitting the "Publish" button? Anytine soon? Hm?

Paul
_________________
Meatball Marketing

[Mike Sigers]

OMG ! I just realized....I've never seen Alice and John at the same time !

I wonder.......NAHHHHH ! Couldn't be...or could it ?

Mike

[Scott Prock]

Hey guys I have a few questions regarding blogs,

Do you know of any blogging software that is javascript based? I ask because my website is ran with a CMS written in ColdFusion and hosted on a Windows server which leaves a lot of the traditional blogging software unavailable for onsite use.

I have tried to make it work with the CMS but I loose the interactive features inherent with blogging.

Oh, and I have a theory regarding the infrequent blog posting by Alice and John, as my blog entries are slow to come as well. For me, it's about time, I find that my writing is needed in other parts of my website and I have difficulties getting the blog entries down, or perhaps I'm just not used to the concept, and or seeing the benefits to use it more frequently.

Another question, would it be beneficial for me to take my blogging off my website, as in setting up a blog that is not tied in with my site

Thanks . . . Scott
_________________
The Powerseller Report
http://www.tprweb.com

[Scott Prock]

Oh, I wanted to add a blog to the list . . .

http://blogmaverick.com/

It's ran by Mark Cuban, I came across it when the Benefactor reality show was running, and I thought it was classic when Cuban and Trump were slinging mud, oh and the NBA fined Cuban for speaking out against the NBA on his blog.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting how a billionaire uses the net to voice his opinions, something you would never see Trump doing.

. . . Scott
_________________
The Powerseller Report
http://www.tprweb.com

[Paul Short]

Hi Scott,

If your hosting is not compatible with blogs (or vice versa) you may need to get yourself a *nix hosting account and blog from there. Try to get hosting that has Fantastico installed. It's a bunch of preinstalled scripts on the account and Wordpress is one of them. You could have a basic blog up and running in minutes.

Not only that, but your new blog/site is another group of pages and keyworded anchor text linking up with the main site.

Paul
_________________
Meatball Marketing

[John Reese]

There's no "rule" that says a blog isn't a blog if it doesn't have a daily entry. If you want daily entries, go to CNN.com.

I post to my blog from time to time when I feel like it and when I have something to share. I think people get a lot more value out of what I post because I put some thought into it.

I'd much rather read a blog that was posted to every once and awhile with good content than a blog that's updated everyday with someone just posting crap to post.

Just my two cents.

-John

[Alice Seba]

Well, geez...what pressure. But I totally agree with myself --- err John --

[Earl Lear]

[Mike Sigers]

John,

No posts in October or November and a whole 2 in December....hmmmmm.

If you think we believe that's as often as you have something besides crap to post...well, err,...no. That's just as often as you "chose" to post. Your choice is just that, your choice. The definition from dictionary.com will back both of our beliefs.

See copy/paste from dictionary.com below:

Main Entry: blog
Function: noun
Definition: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log
Example: Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.
Etymology: shortened form of Weblog
Usage: blog, blogged, blogging v, blogger n

John, we know that you aren't going to post every day. We expect you to sell your thoughts, not give them away, geez.

Alice, I quote from your own blog: "I've Been AWOL...What a boring blog!"

And, as I said, I'm sure your other blogs ( well, not really sure, but going to take your word for it ) are done on a more regular basis, kinda like your posts here...69 posts in 60 days...kinda like a blog, isn't it...daily even, almost. I'm not trying to pick on you. I really appreciate your input here. It's from a perspective we don't always get and one we need.

Now, with that said, John old buddy, I will say this...you have been more than the leader in giving away helpful info, for this line of business. As internet marketers, and I hate that term as much as you, you have been the man, as far as sharing. I watched you give whole business models away at Willie Crawford's Seminar in May of '03. As an attendee, no less. Way before you had millions of bootlicker's at your beck and call, hanging on your every word. You baby-sat, you shared meals, you shared ideas. No one, I repeat, no one has captured their market like you have. Well, maybe one or two, but not for this sustained a period.

Oh, BTW, I do go to CNN.com, but not for marketing advice/tips, for news...and they update it a lot more often than some bloggers do.

I realize your post, John, was at 11pm, when those of us who still run businesses in the real world, are asleep. And maybe you sounded a bit more harsh than you meant to, but I for one am not afraid to voice my opinion. And that is what it is....only my opinion. Not right, not gospel and not anything you or anybody except my employees have to listen to.

Thanks for a forum where we, as adults, can disagree like adults do. Voicing our opinions, hearing opposing opinions, agreeing to disagree and then going out for some sweet tea and hot food.

I value both of you guys opinons and perspectives on this forum and the issues discussed here, but....and this is a big but ( not a pun ), you may not always be right and you need to consider that, as I did when I said what I said about my opinion. Given the chance, I would fight for your right to have an opinion and voice it. As a matter of fact, I did just that, for 6 years.

Just my less than .02,

Mike

[John Reese]

Mike,

First of all, NO WORRIES.

I certainly wasn't "aiming" that post at anyone in particular, especially not you. I just get a little bit irritated at the few people (in the past) that have made comments about me not posting everyday, or a lot to my blog.

My basic comment to those people, or anyone else that wants to 'complain' about it, is for them to NOT READ MY BLOG ... AT ALL. I never stated I was going to make a post everyday. I simply stated it was yet another outlet where I was going to share some of my thoughts from time to time.

If people don't like the frequency in which I post (no, I'm not aiming this at you) then TOUGH CRAP! It's *my* blog. I can post to it everyday or once a year. It's my choice.

Yes, I had a couple month span there when I didn't make any posts. Hey, I needed a break and took one. I think I deserved it.

And as far as the 11PM comment, Yes, I was still working. In fact, it's now 9AM EST and I'm *still* up. It happens.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words, Mike. I sincerely appreciate them. I also know *exactly* what you were trying to say and express and I am certainly not offended or whatever by you posting your opinion.

I think the one comment that someone made on their own blog (or maybe it was a discussion forum, I forget) that really *beep* me off, was that I had a blog but because I didn't update it regularly it was "worse than not having a blog at all." That statement is basically saying that the time I DID spend to share the things I did were WORTHLESS. And I don't appreciate the statement.

-John