I’ve been blogging for years.

I know how important it is to blog in order to build community, provide great content and share my point of view.

Over the last decade I’ve studied some of the top blogging experts from around the globe. Each expert’s information contributed to my knowledge-base. Because of what I learned I became a better blogger.

Recently I invested in yet another information product on blogging. Truth be told, the cost was so low I figured even if the information was minimal it wouldn’t be much of a loss.

I was pleasantly surprised at how content rich Blogging with John Chow is.

There is a lot in John Chow’s program I already know, but lots of the information is presented in a way that it is fresh and worth studying even for someone like me who has been blogging for years.

For someone new to blogging this program is a must have.

John shares great insights into how you can quickly and easily get your blog up and running, create great content, build a solid subscriber list, and position your expertise in front of YOUR market.

Blogging with John Chow is a step-by-step blueprint on how to become a really good blogger in record time.

He even gives you a 30 day action plan including how to outline your content, brand yourself, create a list, select a theme, write content that readers comment on and connect with other bloggers.

This is just a glimpse of what you will learn from John Chow.

The greatest downside to John’s program is that it comes to an end. But because it is filled with so many gems you can go through it more than once and each time you will gain even more great insights. Kind of like a great movie.

For only $37 you can’t go wrong.

Click here to learn more and get your own copy

Knowing how to use social media is a challenge for many people. With the Ultimate Social Media Giveaway you can access hundreds of FREE gifts from experts around the globe.

Check it out. You can download as many free bonuses as you want. All designed to help with your social media marketing.

Click here to join in. Ends soon.

There’s nothing better than a 3rd party endorsement. Most people think of a 3rd party endorsement as someone telling someone else how good you are at what you do.

A very underutilized 3rd party endorsement strategy is when you guest blogger. In essence, this is where the blog owner is telling their readers, “This person is someone I believe has something valuable to say.”
The fact is, if the blog owner doesn’t think you’re someone they want to introduce to their market you likely won’t get opportunities to be their guest blogger.

There are ample opportunities available. You can blog for one blog owner once. You can blog more than once for the same blog owner or you can go all out and do a blog tour.

Here’s a recent post of mine that appeared on the Women Speaker Association blog in which I was the featured blogger. Click here to read full post.

Yet another one is at Internet Home Business Blog.  Click here to read full post. Several experts were invited to contribute to the topic of How To Create Awesome Blog Content – Writing Tips From The Pros.

Each has a different focus based on the blog and topic.

As you begin pursuing guest blogging opportunities you may have to be the one to approach blog owners. When you build visibility online blog owners will approach you. The more content you have published online the more opportunities seem to magically appear.

What is a blog tour?
Blog tours became popular by authors who were seeking a more cost-effective way to get the word out about a book. In days past, a book tour for an author consisted of going from location to location to do readings, signings and hopefully sell a few books.

This has always been a very expensive way to promote books. For many authors, it has also been extremely ineffective.

Enter blogs. Somewhere along the lines someone got the idea that rather than simply writing for his or her own blog, why not do guest appearances?

What was a very mysterious activity as recently as only a few short years ago is now a very common practice. And rather than simply promoting books, a tour is now used for promoting a number of different things, such as live events, teleseminars, membership programs, information products and services.

A simple definition of a blog tour is a virtual tour where you stop at a number of blogs and post relevant information.

Participating in a blog tour has replaced the need to make “personal” appearances for many experts.

In the purest sense a blog tour is done over a specific period of time where the expert “visits” several blogs.

A blog owner hosts one stop of the tour unless, of course, the owner had several blogs on which you are posting. The best part of all is you can do a tour from literally anywhere in the world, as long as you have Internet access.

Some people prefer to do sporadic guest blogging rather than a structured blog tour. In essence, guest blogging is exactly as it sounds. You post on a blog as a guest. But, you must get the blog owner’s permission to do this type of posting.

Being a guest blogger is different from simply posting comments about other people’s posts. In essence you are the “star” blogger.

Benefits to blog tours and guest blogging
There are a number of fabulous benefits to either. You definitely increase your visibility and credibility. Both allow you to create a buzz about a book, event, or telseminar, to name just a few things.

Without a doubt, your writings will be viewed by new eyeballs. This is exactly what you want.

When done right, you are able to reach more of your target market. The reason you want to be clear on who your market is and who is reading the blog you are going to post on is for increased reach with the best market.

There’s no point in writing for blogs that are not viewed by those who are interested in what you have to say and offer.

Guest blogging opens up opportunities for potential joint venture relationships with the blog owner. What better way to get your foot in the door than to do a stellar job with your guest blog appearance?

Search engines love blogs, and, when you use the right keywords, you are creating incredible opportunities for better SEO.

In addition, you can increase your own opt-in subscribers, if you do have a link in your bio at the end of your post.

If you have not yet added guest blogging to your online marketing arsenal you need to ask yourself, “What’s it going to take for me to do so?”

I guarantee you, it’s by far one of the best marketing strategies around.

“I don’t have a list! What do I do?”

I have been asked this question countless times. My answer is always the same; start right where you are.

I’ve been making my living (and a great one at that) on the Internet for many years now. But it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when I made no money at all online.

The two primary reasons were no market reach and no subscribers. Today I have both. But each took time to build. I had to be willing to start where I was.

The challenge many people have is rather than putting consistent effort into both market reach and building a list they procrastinate.

Or they get sidetracked with activities that are not going to monetize their business. Building a successful business by way of the internet is a discipline. Don’t ever believe for a minute it is not. It takes work, commitment, dedication and focus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely not making money online. Simple as that.

One of the most important things you have to consistently do is build your list of people who are interested in you and your information. In the past we were somewhat limited in how we could do this. Today, there are countless ways to build a list.

1. A traditional opt in subscriber list through 1SC, aWeber, Infusionsoft, Constant Contact, GetResponse or any number of providers. Keep the long-term in mind as you begin to build your list. Some people look for all the free service providers. Free may not be in your best interest based on your growth projections.

2. Feedblitz or FeedBurner via your blog. Both allow you to build a list of readers who are requesting to receive you posts as you blog. Every time you post on your blog those who have subscribed by way of the RSS feed will get your post delivered into their email inbox.

3. Friends on Facebook. Building a friend’s list is a great idea but not if all you are going to do is market to them. For everyone to get the most value you need to be a “real” personality on Facebook. However, be aware that not everyone is who they say they are. Use discretion with how much information you share.

4. Followers on Twitter. Some people swear by Twitter while others think it is a complete waste of time. If you are only posting promotional information you are not creating value for others. Plan out your tweets to create the most value. You can use something like HootSuite to schedule out your tweets. This way you spend a few minutes posting tweets that will show up throughout the day rather than all at once.

5. Connections on LinkedIn. I really like LinkedIn due to the quality of professional relationships I can build. The key to success is to post high value information. There are some people who are doing no more than promoting their products and services. This is NOT the way to get the most out of LinkedIn. Contribute to conversations; post information you find from other experts that would be of interest to group members, post questions, and always think in terms of how to build relationships.

6. Subscribers on YouTube. The more quality videos you post the more subscribers you will get. Make sure to include keywords in the title of your video and throughout the description. This makes it easier for people who are interested in your content to find you.

7. Article marketing. This is one of the most effective ways to build your expert status as well as your opt in subscriber list. At the end of your article include a resource box that has some type of high value giveaway. When giving information away think in terms of going above and beyond expectations.

These are only a few of the many ways you can build a following of people who enjoy, and look forward to, your information.

When you’re viewed as a viable resource people will visit your blog and website. Make sure you have a way for them to subscribe to something when they do stop by your blog and website.

However, in order to build a strong following you have to go above and beyond the norm. In years past it was a lot easier to get people to subscribe to something than it is today.

Nowadays your information has to be stellar from the start.

The challenge many people have is they are so fearful of giving away content thinkng that if they give stuff away people won’t have a need to buy their information. The opposite is true. When you provide incredible free content people are more inclined to buy from you when you have offers.

But again, your information has to be stellar. Take my 3 part video series – How to Make Money with Teleseminars. This is something I could easily charge for, but I prefer to give it away. Regardless of whether someone invests in my other information or not they have received incredible value from the complimentary information.

Want to see what I mean? Why not subscribe  to the FREE Video Series? Not only will you receive incredible information you can also see what I mean by stellar information. Click here to subscribe.

Not sure what to give away? Here are a few recommendations.

• Video series
• MP3 files
• eReports
• eBooks
• Teleseminars
• Webinars

It’s amazing how stingy people are with their free information. They seem to think somehow people will magically find them, join their list and suddenly sales appear. It doesn’t happen this way at all.

The fact is, those who are doing great online are those who are constantly providing great information. Free information.

What is your standard practice? Do you constantly offer great information to your market or are you still thinking about that first freebie you will offer?

If you’re still thinking about what to give away isn’t it time to get off the dime and put something to market? I daresay it is.

What do you do to build your list? What is the most effective method you have used?

Why not share this with others by retweeting and forwarding it to your FB friends, LinkedIn connections and others who would benefit?