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Getting blog comments on your site is always a good indication that the blog reader is involved in what it is you are posting about. Good bad or indifferent this is a good barometer that your blog posting is not a wasted effort. The interactivity of your readers is even more important if you are running a home business blog.

Through their comments you can get valuable feedback to help you become one of the most popular blogs in your selected niche.

Now that we have established the importance of the participation of any site visitors to your blog just how do we go about increasing this needed and wanted interactivity?

Here are 7 suggestions to keep in mind to help increase the number of comments you get on your blog.

Spice Up Your Blog Entries

Don’t be afraid to stir up your readers with a controversial blog entry. Postings like this stimulate both the intellect and the emotions so you should expect plenty of reactions.

You Don’t Ask You Don’t Get

Always remember to ask for feedback or suggestions from your readers. Actively invite or encourage them to participate. In this way you are simply reminding them to leave comments and that it is OK. Try to make this a habit.

Acknowledge Comments

If the comment warrants a response always reply and don’t take criticism personally since it is only going to help you improve upon your blogging.

At the least be sure to thank people for their comments.

Personalize Your Responses

When replying to comments remember to use the commentators name to create more of a sense on familiarity with them. You now seem more like you are speaking directly to them, which by the way you are.

Post Consistently

It stands to reason that the more you post on your site the more reactions you are going to initiate from your blog readers.

Monitor and Respond Regularly

Do your best at monitoring and responding to comments in a timely fashion whenever possible.

A Simple Thank You

As we mentioned above if nothing more thank your readers for their comments and let them know you appreciate each and every one. This type of positive reinforcement will encourage them to leave more.

Receiving blog comments not only indicate how well you have stimulated your blog reader but also give you the opportunity to receive valuable feedback. Any comments responding to your blog posting by site visitors will usually indicate their satisfaction or lack thereof. Their reactions or preferences are especially critical if you operate a home business blog since it is now tied to your income. By incorporating the 7 suggestions we discussed above on a consistent basis your site should eventually become one of the more popular blogs in your niche

TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
Learn how to boost the Blog Comments at your site and get a free guide that teaches valuable niche research techniques by visiting:http://blogbrawn.com/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/7-steps-to-increasing-your-blog-comments-1324363.html

The blogging community was shocked this week when the Federal Trade Commission announced on Tuesday an update of its guidelines for advertisers, which now extends into the realm of social media. In an effort to maintain full disclosure, honesty and transparency among brands and consumers, bloggers and other social network users must disclose their affiliation with a company for any product review, advertisement, or endorsement, whether it be a paid review or compensation in the form of a product. Failure to do so will result in an up to $11,000 fine for each instance.

While the FTC looks down on pay-per-posts and sees it as “payola blogging,” the majority of the Internet community sees it as social influencer marketing, or the use of bloggers to promote products and brands. Many companies develop relationships with popular figures in the blogging community, and offer products or compensation in return for a review — positive or not. However, many bloggers already disclose their relationships with companies, whether it’s by running an ad in their sidebar, or stating it directly within the post.

The Internet and blogging communities already run a “checks and balances” system, regulating themselves by holding influencers to high standards, especially if their popularity is notable. If a popular blogger failed to disclose something, and it was later found out, they would most likely face criticism by their peers, hurt their credibility and reputation, and see a significant drop in readership. Knowing the consequences beforehand is what keeps them from holding anything back. Bloggers thrive on honesty – it’s why they blog in the first place. Sharing and open communication is often what compels users to the medium in the first place.

A notable example of this comes from Chris Brogan, a well-known social media guru who, last December, faced criticism from his readers following a sponsored post he had done for Kmart. His readers and followers felt a sense of betrayal, and questioned whether he could be trusted in the future. Brogan maintained that he had fully disclosed the relationship, and that it in no way should it affect any of his past or future work. Though he most likely still lost readers, he also gained…

To read more about the FTC and blogging, go to Sparxoo, a digital marketing, branding and business development.

Sparxoo is a business blog that inspires breakthrough by tomorrow’s leaders. We are a strategy consulting firm with a pulse on marketing, branding, and development.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/ftc-cracks-down-on-blogging-endorsements-1320048.html

Many people who have blog sites often run out of fresh blog ideas. There are many people to whom web page design is very important and critical. Some people also like to change the blog or web page interface and they want to have constant change in terms of redesigning their blog sites.

The problem is that although there are millions of blogs out there, you cannot really be satisfied by copying other people’s ideas. They want to generate their own because they want to keep their own personality and originality.

There is a secret to having unlimited blog ideas: keep it simple. A lot of people tend to make their blog pages too complicated and crowded that anybody who drops by seems to get confused and just gets tired of navigating the page.

Some blog sites are very colorful that it shoos away the visitor because it is too painful on the eye. Others do not know how to mix and match colors and dynamic HTML and as a result, the blog looks very immature and not so user friendly. The interface looks so overwhelming and confusing that visitors would rather not read the entries.

Well, there is actually another secret in generating blog ideas: keep the real you or get personal. Many bloggers who are in need of a blog page change are overwhelmed by the many designs possible.

The problem is that after changing the templates or designs of their current blog sites, they do not feel satisfied because the design they chose does not really represent their personality.

Before changing your blog site design, try to sit down for a few minutes and find out who you really are or what image you really want to project. Try to see if the blog page you are creating matches the words you say on your entries.

If you are not writing entries but instead publishing photos, you need to make sure that the theme of your blog pages match the theme of your photos. If you take dark photos about life, you may want to choose dark blog themes, too.

It is very unbecoming that your blog sites are too light or perky and yet the photos you publish in your photo blog are dark and sinister. This will create confusion on your visitors and they might even tag you as someone who is unsure of what he is doing.

If you want to discover the BEST Way to find Blog Ideas and Make Money By Blogging =>

Use the step by step instructions from someone who already earns over $5000 a month Blogging.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/blog-ideas-the-secret-of-coming-up-with-great-blog-ideas-1317323.html

Whether you’re an amateur blogger or a hardened and experienced professional, you’ve surely heard the stories about million dollar bloggers, massive media exposure, and the huge marketing opportunities associated with online blogging. With many bloggers earning lucrative five, six, or even seven-figure incomes, blogging has changed from a publishing form once thought of as an online journal, to a serious force in the online entrepreneurship world. Regardless of what topic your blog deals with and who your readers are, it’s easily possible to monetise your blog and create an online income for yourself. While these methods may take up some time to pick up steam, they’ll invariably spawn a manageable online income for you once they gain enough traction and influence.

#1 – Use Google AdSense to build PPC blog earnings.
Google AdSense was once the knight in shining armour of blog advertising, and though it’s glory days are feared to be over, it’s still one of the most simple and lucrative online advertising networks around. Requiring minimal maintenance, Google AdSense is the perfect pick for any blogger that wants the minimum possible maintenance for their online income.

#2 – Ember Amazon affiliate links in your blog copy.
Regardless of what you’re blogging about, Amazon will sell something that’s related to it. As the world’s biggest online store, it’s impossible to have trouble locating something that your readers will be interested in using Amazon’s highly specific search tool and massive online inventory. Although commission rates aren’t fantastic and tracking cookies only last for a short period of time, Amazon sales can still provide a reasonable income for any blogger.

#3 – Offer your services through an additional page on your blog.
You’ve been blogging for a few months and have amassed a decent audience? What to do now? Simply offer your services through an extra page on your blog homepage. Your readers are already interested in what you have to say, so attracting customers and clients should be a piece of cake. Everyone’s an expert at something, and using your skills to work online is a great way to earn an online income.

#4 – Use your blog to advertise and promote local or genre-specific products and services.
This one is a great strategy for anyone looking to work alongside businesses that interest them. When you’ve got a sizable audience, you can offer businesses the services to advertise in your posts and sidebar to attract customers. This strategy can be risky, as too many promotional posts will dilute the effect of your other content and make your blog less popular.

#5 – Accept donations.
This one might come off as a little desperate, but it’s always an option for bloggers that desperately need money to keep their blog going. If you’re going down this route, be sure to effectively market the proposal, and avoid coming off as desperate and needy. There’s nothing readers like less than a desperate author, so present yourself effectively and this strategy can be highly worthwhile.

To learn more about blogging, check out the free How To Install Wordpress Plugins & Themes report. Feel free to distribute this article in any form as long as you include this resource box. You can also include your affiliate link if you sign up at Clickbank Pirate.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/5-ways-to-monetise-your-blog-1313762.html