Halloween Costumes, Blogs, and Authenticity

Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, and my kids are planning their Halloween costumes, which has me thinking about blogs and authenticity.

To be effective, you need to blog as your real self, transparently and authentically. If you try to "change" yourself for your blog, well, it just doesn't work long term. Writing in a conversational manner on a regular basis, as bloggers do, make it difficult to disguise your real self.

For example, I doubt I could pull off the "I'm a 100% serious business type with no sense of humor who confirms to established lines of thought" for very long -- it's just not me.

But can bloggers disguise their real selves for the occasional post, just like wearing a costume for Halloween or perhaps a costume party?

For example:

• Could I do a fake guest post as a female, just as I once wore a dress on Halloween(and I make an ugly woman!)?
• How about a satirical post about a topic you normally blog on?
• Maybe a mock post as Fred Flintstone? (famous cartoon character)

Well, I say why not? If it's fun and not harmful, who cares?

Just as on Halloween I might disguise myself for the fun of it, there is nothing wrong with an occasional non-authentic blog post. Even if it might be technically dishonest, as long as you are just "lying recreationally," as in a practical joke, I say it's OK.

Stand by for a string of posts by Hannah Montana next :)

Oh, and Halloween? My kids will be dressed as Jesters, and I'll either be a ghost (sheet over my head) or perhaps buy a great commercial Halloween costume.

Hmmm, maybe an un-authentic yet appropriate post on Halloween :)

A sample blog workflow

Chris Brogan has written an interesting sample blog workflow.

Lots of things I do (that I have rarely if ever thought about!).

Notice that purpose and goals come FIRST, before any tasks. Your blog needs a primary goal, and each post may have a specific goal as well.

Also notice the number 1 task is READING -- seeing what others are saying. This includes in blogs, other online media, as well as in dead tree media, for example headlines in the newspapers at the local store.

5 quick tips for improving your writing from Bob Bly

Here are a few quick writing tips that can make your copy leaner, less stuffy, and more concise:

1) Get rid of "that."

Nine times out of ten, the word "that" can be profitably eliminated from your sentence.

Original: "Here are the key metrics that web analysts measure."

Better: "Here are the key metrics web analysts measure."

2) Do not invoke the future tense unless it is needed.

Original: "Optimizing your web site will increase traffic."

Better: "Optimizing your web site increases traffic."

3) Do not capitalize words to emphasize their importance.

Original: "It is the policy of the Company to provide up to 10 paid Sick Days."

Better: "It is the policy of the company to provide up to 10 paid sick days."

4) Say what you have to say in the fewest words possible.

Original: "He was driving at an excessive rate of speed."

Better: "He was driving too fast."

5) Avoid dangling modifiers.

Wrong: "As a policyholder, I want you to know that you can reduce your premiums by 50% this year."

Correct: "As a policyholder, you can reduce your premiums by 50% this year."

These tips are courtesy of Bob Bly.
I'm a regular reader of Bob's blog and he has more at www.writebetterandfaster.com.

Who's Bob a very few of you might ask? Well, he's written more books than I will in several lifetimes, I learn a lot from his Direct Response Letter, and he's a legendary copywriter.

Thanks for letting me reprint Bob!

Can We Ignore Grammar??

The purpose of grammar is to help ensure clarity of communication. If grammar gets in the way of getting your point across, toss the rulebook out the window.

And don't let anyone make you feel bad about it.

Sure, whenever it gets in the way. However I'd suggest that grammar is something that should usually be followed, unless there is a reason not to.

-Quote taken from Paul Myers' newsletter. I don't know Paul, but I like what and how he writes.

How to Get More Bookmarks and Better Links

Chris Garrett has a great post on "How to Get More Bookmarks and Better Links."

As Chris says,

A bookmark is the standard compliment for online writers. We applaud singers, we laugh at comedians jokes, and we bookmark articles we find on the web. Bookmarks and links fuel your blogs success.

This is the definitive guide to writing content that gets bookmarked!

Chris covers everything from why you want bookmarks, what goes through reader's minds when they bookmark, to what to do and not do.

So what are the properties of bookmarkable content?

• It’s got to have obvious value
• It’s got to be remarkable
• It’s got to be worth a second look
• It’s got to need a second look
• It’s got to be timeless or constantly updated
• It’s got to be comprehensive
• It’s got to be specific

I highly recommend you go read the entire post: How to Get More Bookmarks and Better Links

32 Ways To Keep Your Blog From Sucking

No one wants their blog to suck, and Scott Hanselman has a great list to help you avoid 'Sucky Blog Syndrome.'

You may not know Scott, but he's a super popular tech programming blogger.

I even agree with most of what Scott says, although a few things don't apply to most of us, for example "Have a Code Garage Sale" makes no sense if you don't write code (i.e. program).

Here's a partial list, with details. See Scott' blog for the full list/story.
Thanks to Bob Porter for sending me the link.

•    1. Know your audience
•    2. Keep overtly personal information out of your tech blog
•    3. Don't apologize about not blogging enough
•    4. Steer clear of politics
•    5. Don't Blog Bile
•    6. Think before you blog      
•    7. Don't post throwaways
•    8. Avoid "excessive quoting
•    9. Use Spell Check

So you want to write a book?

An amazingly high percentage of people want to write a book -- probably more people than actually read books! The percentage among bloggers is even higher.

If you want to write a book someday, I suggest to listen to this episode of Blog Talk Radio with Nettie Hartsock, where Publicist & blogger Nettie Hartsock discusses how writing a book will boost your credibility & how blogs help your book sales skyrocket.

Her advice on actually writing your book is priceless.

I'll also be on Blog Talk Radio with Wayne Hurlbert on January 31st 8PM Eastern discussing how to have an Effective Internet Presence, which curiously is also the name of my new free ebook :)

Writing Advice from Rich Schrefren

Writing is pretty easy. Writing well is not!

It usually all boils down to editing, whether it's a quick pass over a blog post or a longer think-and-edit cycle over something longer.

Rich Schrefren appeared on the scene recently with his great Internet Business Manifesto and related writings and videos.

A recent post of his (yes, he's trying to sell you something) included some great tips on writing and editing, as shown below.

And yes, I (try to) do all of these, perhaps not for a quick blog post, but certainly for something more substantial like my latest ebook, Effective Internet Presence, Now required for success in business and life.

• Read the piece out loud to catch mistakes. You’ll also discover the choppy parts that need to be massaged.
• Sleep on it. Give yourself a break for a day or two and then come back with fresh eyes and a bright red pen.
• Keep trying to trim words. Try to be as economical with your word count.
• Use strong verbs.  Great writing is all about strong verbs.
• Avoid passive  sentences.  Whenever you come across  “to be”  and it’s conjugations (was, were, is, am) it’s a red flag.
• Trim the word  “That”.
• Strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Prune clutter ruthlessly.
• Very few sentences come out right the first time.
• Believe in your own identity and your own opinions. Don’t hedge. It just makes your writing weaker.
• Never write anything that you wouldn’t comfortably say in conversation. If you wouldn’t say it that way don’t write it that way.
• Consider the sound, rhythm and alliteration of every sentence. Great writing has rhythm.
• Prune qualifiers like “a bit,” “a little,” “kind of.” They lack authority.
• Often the easiest way to fix a bad sentence is to get rid of it and start over.

3 Taboo Topics for Biz Bloggers

Some topics are a no-win, and a possible big loss, as well as inappropriate and possible big losers for you. Here are the big three.

1) Politics

Politics have little to nothing to do with business! Avoid at all costs.

I don't care if you like Hillary Clinton, and you shouldn't care if I think Greece should revert to a Monarchy. However your or my opinions may offend or upset others unnecessarily, and are way off topic and inappropriate.

2) Religion

Religion is personal and not a business topic.

Your love for the Catholic Pope and his most festive hats, or my following the teachings of Zoroaster and praying in front of fire, or your sister sacrificing bananas to the only true god (in her opinion), a giant Troll who will descend from Fresno to free all true believers, is not our concern.

And if you can't speak without constantly mentioning  Zoroaster or Jesus or Ballingham (the Troll your sister worships), well keep in off your business blog.

Go start on another blog on religion if you'd like -- that's absolutely fine.

3) Sex

If you're gay, straight, promiscuous, or if squirrels get you off, that's your business. And if you believe that interspecies marriage, like your brother and that smoking hot squirrel Sandy in Sponge Bob, is evil, well keep your views off your business blog.

Politics, religion, and sex -- no win topics on your business blog.

Besides, you should be staying on topic, right?

Addendum: Obviously politics, religion, or sex may be your business, so feel free to blog away.
For example, Nia Dark and Lovely certainly can blog on sex, Hillary Whatshername could blog on politics, and the "Dude with the Cool Hat "could blog on religion (even in Latin) if he wishes!

Guest Posting Policy?

Guest Posts are great -- the guest poster gets visibility and a link back, and the host blog gets some hopefully great content.

My guest posting policy is simple -- send me your posts! If I like them and they're reasonably on topic, I'll strongly consider posting them. If I'm not sure I pass them by a friend or two for another input.

So send me your posts! I can't promise anything, not even that I can respond if I'm overloaded, but I'm ALWAYS looking for great content to post AND other points of views that readers may find valuable.

So do you have a guest posting policy? Some say just having the policy makes it more likely you'll have people submit possible posts. Interesting though.