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15 Copywriting and Content Marketing Blogs that Will Make You More Money

by Sonia Simone on January 5, 2012

As you may have seen on Tuesday, we were disappointed to see that there were no copywriting blogs in last year’s Top 10 Blogs for Writers.

We think persuasive writers — content marketers and copywriters — are as worthy of cheers and accolades as our fiction-writing brothers and sisters.

So today I put together a list of 15 writing blogs I think you’ll get a lot out of.

I got lots of great suggestions for blogs to check out (thank you all), and it was tough to narrow them down to a manageable few.

When winnowing down the list, I had a few rough criteria.

First, writing advice had to be a key element of the blog.

There are hundreds of terrific social media and business blogs, and they’re wonderful resources, but we wanted to focus on sites that would make you a better writer.

I defined better writer in two ways — either as “a writer who ethically and effectively convinces customers to buy more stuff” or “a writer who’s landing more and better clients.”

We also didn’t include the big “name brand” sites — we wanted to focus on some smaller sites you might not have seen yet. Not surprisingly, we’ve got a good sample of Copyblogger guest writers here, but also plenty of folks you haven’t seen here. (Not yet, anyway).

By the way, when you click through, notice how most of these blogs make great use of their tag lines to tell you exactly how they can help solve a specific problem. Smart copywriters.

BenSettle.com
Ben Settle
If you’ve heard Ben speak on our radio show or you’ve read his Copyblogger posts, you know he isn’t wishy-washy. He likes to sell, and he likes to make money. He uses email marketing to do those things, and he has a lot of strong, sharp advice for email marketers. If you’re still nervous about selling, reading Ben Settle might freak you out. Which may be a good and useful thing for you.

Copylicious
Kelly Parkinson
A January post makes us optimistic that Kelly will start writing actively again for this smart, funny writing blog. From her bio: “ … this is not really about copy. This is about improving your whole business.” We couldn’t agree more.

Direct Creative
Dean Rieck
Dean has been one of our most popular guest writers here on Copyblogger, because he knows his stuff. His blog delivers no-nonsense tips and advice on how to improve your direct response copy. If you want to improve your persuasive writing chops, Dean’s site is a must-read.

The Domino Project
Seth Godin
This is a small blog around Seth’s Domino Project, a digital publishing experiment. Seth’s published articles here about digital publishing, ebooks, and how they affect writers and publishing. If you’ve considered publishing a book in this century, you should probably take a look at this site.

Ghostwriter Dad
Sean Platt
Sean has gone from a sweet, enthusiastic fledgling ghostwriter to a sweet, enthusiastic, and really, really successful marketing writer (as well as launching a thriving fiction series. He’s a busy dude). He’s publishing lots of great advice about how he made that journey, and how you can, too.

Good Copy, Bad Copy
Clare Lynch and David Pollack
A charming blog about “good business writing and bad. Especially the bad. Because there’s so much more of the bad.” If you ever help corporate clients communicate with their customers, you need this blog.

Harrison Amy Copywriting
Amy Harrison
Amy doles out copywriting advice for professional writers and businesspeople alike. She has some nice resources on the site, including a good guide on getting your sales page done if you aren’t a professional writer. (Or maybe even if you are.)

Jeff Sexton Writes
Jeff Sexton
If you want to get really good as a copywriter, you have to read Jeff Sexton. He’s not afraid to dive into the thorny, complicated tangle of what makes for truly effective copywriting. Jeff’s a pro, and he writes for pros. This is a great site.

Make a Living Writing
Carole Tice
The name of Carole’s blog says it all — she keeps a tight focus on professional writers and how they can make a better living. Her blog’s got writing tips, business, and marketing advice.

Men with Pens
James Chartrand
The times certainly have changed. For example, now there are actual men writing for Men with Pens. What hasn’t changed is a site that mixes business and writing advice for content marketers, pulled together by James Chartrand’s no-nonsense approach to online marketing.

Success Works
Heather Lloyd-Martin
Heather’s bio describes her as “split between watching the search engines dance and pinpointing the exact direct response copywriting strategies that make people buy.” That dual focus shows up consistently in sharp, well-written articles and videos by her and her team about the art and science of SEO copywriting.

The Rant
John Carlton
The name of the blog gives you fair warning — John Carlton does enjoy the sight of his own voice. But he’s also an excellent copywriter and a terrific copywriting teacher. Look to the “Must Read” and “Popular Posts” sidebars for some classic writing advice, given with a healthy dose of … well, ranting.

RicardoBueno.com
Ricardo Bueno
Ricardo specializes in content marketing for real estate professionals, and he’s got lots of resources for using blogs, social media, and content to create effective marketing for that market. I love this example of a content marketer working within a well-defined niche. (If you’re a writer struggling to stand out, think about the niche you could be serving.)

The Well-Fed Writer Blog
Peter Bowerman
Peter’s written some great books on going from being a starving writer to a well-fed one, and his blog continues that tradition with savvy business advice for professional copywriters. No writing advice here — it’s all about how to build your copywriting business, not your writing chops.

Words That Begin With You
Justin Lambert
Justin combines copywriting insights with content marketing advice, wrapped up in a strong writing voice. We like that! Lots of good articles here on becoming a better content marketer.

And one bonus

This isn’t an active blog, but it’s a wonderful resource that no content marketer or copywriter should overlook … Gary Bencivenga’s wonderful Marketing Bullets.

Gary’s one of the most successful copywriters in the history of the business, and he has a lot of simple (but not always easy) advice about mastering the craft of persuasive writing. We’re big Bencivenga fans and we think you will be, too. I have all of these printed out in a binder, and I refer back to them often.

No, this isn’t a complete list!

This is obviously a very partial list of the best copywriting and content marketing blogs out there — what are your must-reads?

We collected some from you in our post on Tuesday, but if we missed your favorite today, let us know in the comments.

About the Author: Sonia Simone is co-founder and CMO of Copyblogger Media. Share your favorite writing resources with her on twitter.

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Zen and the Art of Good Web Design

by Pamela Wilson on December 20, 2011

There are a lot of minimalist blogs cropping up these days.

They’re bare, spare, and airy.

I’m all for zen. I love clean web design with plenty of white space.

But one no-color, minimalist design can start to look pretty much like another.

And I wonder … are all those zen-inspired blogs really built by budding Buddhists? Or could it be that some of them — not all, but some — look plain and uninspired simply because their owners are struggling to figure out how to inject a little personality?

“Clean” design doesn’t have to be boring. And one of the fastest ways to distinguish your blog — minimalist or otherwise — is to inject your personality with a few strategic design decisions.

What’s that you say? You’re not “artistic”? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be. Just follow these basic guidelines …

1. Give your site an edge

That minimalist site of yours will look more cozy and inviting if you add a little color to the background on either side of the content area.

I know, I know: you like white space. I hear you.

Unfortunately, your reader probably doesn’t like it as much as you do.

When they get to the end of each line of text, your reader’s eyes have to make the trip back to the beginning of the next line.

With no background color to give them a signal that the end of the line has been reached, they just continue on, sort of floating into your white background.

You see, we’re used to reading on paper, or on devices. Both of these have edges. When you remove the “edge” from your content area, you’re setting your reader adrift.

So, add a little color.

It can be very, very subtle, and just one shade away from white. If you prefer, a thin outline around your content area will work, too. (Notice the way both of those are used here on Copyblogger.)

Anything that creates an edge and shows your reader where the content area ends will improve their reading experience.

2. Add color to your subheads

Adding subheads to your posts help your reader process your information. They’re like signposts that point the way through your text.

To make them stand out, consider making them bolder and adding some color. If you’re afraid of too much color, this is a great way to dip your toe in and try it out without it becoming overwhelming.

Colored subheads stand out from your body text and immediately add personality to your page.

3. Use compelling images

Yes, adding images to your posts is an extra step.

If you wait to do it when you’re done with your post and ready to hit Publish, it can be hard to find the motivation to do an image search.

But if you’re not taking time to add a compelling image, you’re leaving readers on the table. Our brains process images first, and then text. We react to images with emotion, and on instinct. It’s an opportunity to engage your reader before they begin to read your words.

And there’s no excuse for not having great images. You don’t even have to spend money on them!

If you’re watching expenses, use the resources available to you in the vast collection of Flickr images available under a Creative Commons license.

Be sure to read the terms for each photo carefully. As long as you’re permitted to use it, credit the photographer and add a link back to the original photo.

To easily find Creative Commons Flickr images, try compfight.com which is a search engine designed expressly to uncover Creative Commons-tagged treasures in the Flickr archives.

4. Create a custom header

The English language is read from left to right, and top to bottom.

That means your visitor’s eyes hit the top left corner of a web page, and work their way across to the right side.

The first thing they see is your site header. It’s like the cover of a book, or the opening credits of a movie. It’s your chance to make a great first impression.

But if the top of your site has a plain text header, and the next site does, too, and the site after that … don’t you think they’ll all blend together in reader’s memories after a while?

To make a stronger first impression, create a custom site header. This doesn’t have to be an earth-shattering design masterpiece. At its simplest, it can be a matter of finding a good-looking font and applying it to a colored or patterned background.

This is a good place, though, to invest a few bucks and hire someone. Negotiate with your designer for the right to re-use the image as an email header, email signature image, and more.

One tweak away from a memorable website?

Your site can still have that open, airy feel without settling for boring, forgettable design.

If your current site design is a little too zen for your tastes, choose one of the tweaks from this post and apply it today. It’s a sure path to enlightened visual branding.

How about you? Is your blog a little on the bland side? What area will you tackle first?

Let’s talk about it in the comments …

About the Author: Pamela Wilson helps small businesses build enlightened brands at Big Brand System. Get her free Marketing Toolkit for more great tips on marketing your business with a memorable visual brand.

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8 More Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers

by Annabel Candy on October 25, 2011

Do you ever feel as if your blog has plateaued?

Like you’ve hit some kind of blogging hump you just can’t get over?

About a year ago I wrote the 8 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers here on Copyblogger.

I practice those habits and continue to see huge improvements in my writing — but some habits come more naturally than others.

Through this continued struggle, I’ve identified 8 more habits to help stay on top of the ceaseless blogging and writing game, to get over those humps and get back to work that matters.

I think these 8 habits will help you reach your blogging and content marketing goals:

1. Effective bloggers take risks

Most successful bloggers have one thing in common: they’ve started blogs that failed.

They don’t stop trying new things at the first sniff of success either, their blogs keep evolving and changing to move with the times and with their readers.

You have to be brave when you start blogging, then keep taking those risks and keep innovating.

Not every idea will work.

Many will fail, but if you don’t keep taking risks and trying new things your blog will get stale and your readers will get bored.

2. Effective bloggers are creative

If you’re ready to take risks you need to come up with creative ideas to run with.

As time goes on it can feel harder to come up with and act on new ideas that keep adding value to your blog.

It’s critical to keep acting creatively, and then fine tune those ideas that have legs.

If you want to be truly creative you’ll need to keep taking action and develop a thick skin.

3. Effective bloggers are really passionate

You’re passionate about what you do, aren’t you?

But the whole idea of being passionate about your niche is such a cliché, I can see you’re just about to skip this bit.

Yes, you might know you’re passionate about your topic — but you need to make sure your readers know it too.

You need to make sure your passion jumps off the screen from your blog, your Facebook page and your Twitter account so that your readers love hanging out with you and don’t take their attention or business elsewhere.

4. Effective bloggers are visible and engaging

I’m always astonished by how many new bloggers see comments as being a pain in the neck.

It seems they look at comments as something that only eats up their time.

Effective bloggers see their blog readers as interesting people who they naturally want to interact with them. They reply to comments on their blog posts and talk to their readers on other social media because they value them.

The best bloggers focus on creating strong content that resonates with their readers. They’re not afraid to be provocative or share personal stories. They have that unique voice and point of view which creates reader loyalty.

Effective bloggers really talk to people. They show they care, and engage their readers rather than just going through the motions of networking because it has to be done.

5. Effective bloggers are disciplined and organized

If you’ve got one of these traits, you’re onto a good thing.

If you have both, you’ll go far.

The top bloggers are able to focus on the big picture and have the discipline to stick with it.

They have organized systems with editorial calendars planned months in advance, lists of RSS feeds for blog reading, and deadlines for new products they’re developing.

Like many good traits, you’re not going to nail discipline and organization overnight, but if you keep working on them, and keep improving your productivity, your blogging will improve.

6. Effective bloggers are self-aware

They know what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how to work to them (or through them) to achieve their goals.

You need to know your limitations and learn how to delegate the tasks you can’t do well, or don’t enjoy, to people who can take care of them more effectively than you.

Things like blog design, technical issues, or editing can be handed over to other people or organizations.

If you’re not a natural born writer you can even pay someone to ghost write your blog posts for you.

7. Effective bloggers use a variety of media

In 1995 I signed up for an Master of Arts program in Design for Interactive Multimedia.

We spent a lot of time working out which media would best communicate our desired outcomes.

We spent spent days debating if a particular point would be best taught through video, with images, or in text.

But out in the real world, it doesn’t work like that. Bloggers are governed by budget and time constraints.

It’s easy to stick to text and hope for the best, but more and more bloggers are turning to video, audio, and more.

Video doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking, and it needn’t cost an arm and a leg. And it’s a powerful way to get your point across or to make your point more accessible to your readers.

Nothing will personalize you and your blog better than video, even if it’s just a two-minute production filmed on your iPhone.

8. Effective bloggers diversify their income

Having multiple income streams is a good idea in any business.

It’s key if you want to make money blogging. It protects you if one income stream fails, and allows you to safely test new ways of earning money.

There are many ways to build a business around a good blog. You may use your blog to build your profile, sell your services, open up new career opportunities, or partner with the right people to develop software or instructional courses.

If you’ve grown your readership and built trust and authority with them, you can make money directly through your blog by selling advertising, offering sponsored blog posts, or becoming an affiliate. (These aren’t Copyblogger’s preferred models, but they work well for many bloggers.)

A combination of some or all of the above will increase the income that your blog generates, whether directly or indirectly.

It’s not what happens, but how you act on it

Whatever habits you do or don’t currently possess, one thing is inevitable when it comes to effective blogging: The bumps and turns will pop up regularly. You will reach plateaus that you feel you won’t be able to break.

The only way to get over those humps and through those plateaus is to keep blogging, to slowly adjust your habits, and keep learning and applying new techniques that work for you.

The problem is not that these challenges come along, it’s that we don’t face them correctly.

Can you add any wisdom to these 8 habits of highly effective bloggers? Let us know about your own effective habits in the comments …

About the Author: Copywriter Annabel Candy started blogging in 2006 to overcome her fear of being read publicly. She didn’t write another blog post for three years. Finally she set up a popular travel blog and become a confident writer. Last year Annabel wrote the ebook Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps to help other writers tap into the power of blogging. Check it out here and use discount code “35off” to get (you guessed it) 35% off.

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7 Tips for Falling in Love with Your Blog All Over Again

by Sonia Simone on May 25, 2011

image of a couple holding hands

You’re trying hard not to show it,
But baby, baby I know it …
You’ve lost that loving feeling …
~The Righteous Brothers

Ever get to a point with your blog and your content marketing strategy where you’re just … worn out?

The writing that used to thrill you now feels like a chore. Your readers are getting on your nerves. The tedious little tasks are getting to you.

You don’t want to quit … but you do want to get some of that old magic back, the way it was in the early days.

Blogs and businesses in general are a lot like marriages. Sometimes you’ve got to put in a little extra work to keep that spark alive.

If you could use a few ideas to re-romance your business blogging, you’re in the right spot. And if you’re still passionately in love, don’t worry … the same techniques that rekindle the spark can be used to keep that flame as bright as it is today.

#1: Learn something new

The human brain was not meant to absorb all the information it needed at age 24.6 and then stop learning.

As soon as you quit learning and growing, you start to die. That was what made your business so much fun in the first place — that crazy learning curve. It may have been overwhelming or intimidating at times, but it was also exhilarating.

It’s critical to your business (and your self-respect) that you keep learning. As soon as you start to rest on what you already know, you’ll start to get bored. And some clever, energetic competitor will show up to snap at your heels.

Add a new skill to your mix, or get even more amazing at some of the skills you already possess. Dive into a topic that scares you, like becoming a better salesperson or exploring the wild frontiers of your topic.

Remember Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s definition of optimal flow — you have to be at the point where it’s not too hard and it’s not too easy. Learning something new will give you a nice refreshing dip back in the deep end.

#2: Do a Q&A call

If your problem is self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or believing that you don’t truly deliver something of value, announce a free Q&A call for your audience.

Use one of the free teleconference services out there and put the word out: You want your readers’ questions, and you’ll be available live to answer them. Get all of your blogging and social media friends to help you spread the word.

You can also do this as a blog post or a competition for some free one-on-one consultations — it’s a great way to rack up lots of traffic and attention in a hurry.

You’ll find that you know a lot more than you think you do. You might not be able to answer every single question, but that’s ok — just let your questioner know you’ll look into it. (More learning, yay!)

But you’ll be amazed at how many questions you can answer. This is the fastest confidence-builder I know. It’s also amazingly energizing to see firsthand how much you can help the people who are reading you. And that’s the kind of happiness-booster that lasts longer than a cute new pair of shoes or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

#3: Connect

Quick, name your 10 favorite blogs.

Today, visit each one of them, read their most recent posts, and drop some comment love. Remember how they used to inspire you to create better content yourself? Let them inspire you all over again.

Start making plans now to go to the next live event in your topic. If it’s in two weeks and you’re broke, plan for the one that’s three months out.

Go make some connections — and not just with your heroes. (Heroes are great, but sometimes they’re hard to get to at a busy conference.) Connect with that wonderful reader who always leaves awesome comments. Connect with the blogger who’s got about as many readers as you do. Connect with the person on twitter who always makes you laugh.

If you’re an introvert (like I am), remember to schedule some solitude to refill the well. Get a coffee on the other side of town, skip a conference session to take a nap, or go to the public library if you have to, but get some alone time to balance the socializing.

#4: Write your manifesto

One of the things that makes Zappo’s such a cool company is that early on, Tony Hsieh and his team sat down and figured out what they stood for: their core values.

They grabbed a piece of paper and figured out who they wanted to be — and who they didn’t want to be.

Come up with 10 core, essential values your business stands for. If they don’t make you tingle, you’re not being honest. Don’t put boring platitudes like “excellent service.” Find the values that put a lump in your throat.

Now, think about how you’re going to live that statement of values this week. What are you doing to show the world what you stand for?

#5: Deploy your signature strengths

The research on happiness is pretty clear. There’s only so much pleasure you’re ever going to get out of instant gratification. (Bad news for the cute shoes and the Ben & Jerry’s.)

Happiness researchers like Martin Seligman are all for you enjoying life’s pleasures — but you’ve probably already noticed those pleasures tend to lose their savor disappointingly quickly.

Seligman argues that you’ll get a much more lasting hit from focusing on what he calls gratifications, which boil down to the exercise of your signature strengths.

Are you particularly kind? Do you have the courage of your convictions? Can you find the humor in virtually any situation?

To discover your most important strengths, take the VIA Survey of Character Strengths (you’ll find it on the University of Pennsylvania’s Authentic Happiness site). The test will point to the character attributes that you’ve been particularly blessed with.

This week, decide how you’re going to use one of your strengths in your business. Maybe you’ll use Social Intelligence to strengthen your landing pages. Or Persistence to take those last few steps to make your launch great.

Exercising your signature strengths gives a sense of satisfaction and well-being that will endure. And if you keep up the practice of looking for fresh ways to apply your strengths to your business, your love won’t ever grow stale.

(Your test results just might make that Zappo’s style statement of values more exciting, too.)

#6: Find a coach

People who start businesses are kind of nuts. We think we can do everything alone. We tend to be contrarians by nature, and we’re addicted to drawing our own map.

And all of that is awesome. You need to be self-reliant. But it’s not cheating for you to get some help, too.

When I was starting out on my own, my legs were wobbly. I had a lot of passion and a ton of drive, but there were definitely days I was going the complete wrong direction.

Working with a business coach gave me some perspective, and helped me to remember to do what I knew I needed to do. It also helped me enjoy the process a whole lot more.

Just like a personal trainer at the gym, a coach won’t do the work for you. But they can help you realize that you’re strong enough to do the work yourself.

I happen to think my coach is great, but the important thing is that you find someone who resonates with you, shares your values, and has a style that will challenge you to do more than you can do alone.

#7: Schedule time away from online marketing

Some days this is the hardest one to pull off.

I don’t care how much you love blogging or writing. I don’t care how much energy it gives you. If you want to give it all the juice and passion you have to offer, you’ve got to step away.

When you create a business and start to live your dream, it’s easy to think you should do that all day, every day. But that’s a quick path to burnout. You’ll be more creative, more energetic, and more excited about your business when you build in time away to do some the other stuff you love.

The first thing we all need is to get moving. You don’t have to run a marathon if that isn’t your thing, but get out for a walk or a bike ride every day. It improves your mental clarity, your mood, and cuts your risk of pretty much every kind of disease. You’ll be a lot more productive, too, which is a nice bonus.

But you don’t get to stop there. I also want you, at least once a week, to schedule some time to just play. I don’t care if you go to the art store and get finger paints, just do something you find fun. Don’t make it too practical. If it has redeeming social value, it doesn’t count. Give that inner five-year-old some play time, and watch what that does for the rest of your life.

How about you? What do you do when you need to rekindle that spark? Let us know about it in the comments.

About the Author: Sonia Simone is co-founder and CMO of Copyblogger Media. Share your story with Sonia on twitter.

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6 Common Slip-Ups that Make Your Blog Look Bad

by Martyn Chamberlin on April 28, 2011

image of washing machine

Your readers are starved for time, which unfortunately means there’s no time to give you lovingly detailed critiques about why they don’t like your blog.

People aren’t finding what they’re looking for on your website, and they’re leaving without a trace.

What’s going wrong? Why don’t they like what they see on your site?

You can’t know the definitive answer because nobody’s giving you feedback. You’re getting nowhere fast, and no one is offering you the slightest clue as to where you’ve gone astray.

Let’s right this ship by correcting a few common but profound content slip-ups, right now …

But I’m doing everything right!

Get over the idea that all you need is to be “discovered.” You’re not a neglected genius patiently awaiting your dutiful fame. Jon Morrow eloquently puts it this way:

… you’re not waiting on the world. The world is waiting on you.

The world is remarkably patient.

If you never get your act together, it will gladly wait on you until the end of time. Should your success never arrive, there are scores of other blogs that will serve its needs nicely.

To put it straight — the world is waiting on you, but it doesn’t need you.

I’m going to assume you read Copyblogger regularly.

You already know that headlines are tremendously important.
You’re carefully following The First Rule of Copyblogger — don’t publish content that sucks.
You understand the basic techniques behind getting more traffic and subscribers.

You’re not doing everything wrong. If anything, you’re doing nearly everything right.

I’ve found six slip-ups that are crushing any chances you ever had of readers taking your blog seriously. These six mistakes are actively keeping your blog from growing.

A single mistake from the list below won’t doom your blog, but when you combine all six, they can create a perfect storm of online failure.

1. Your headline size is too small

You’ve learned that your headlines’ substance is extremely important. But you still haven’t figured out that they need to stand out on your blog.

Make them bigger.

Here at Copyblogger the headlines are at 30 pixels. You could even jump off the deep end and make them really big.

You almost can’t go too big when it comes to headlines.

2. Your photos look like they were taken with a broken iPod

You’re better off using no photos than using bad ones. Strong imagery takes your great content and makes it even stronger.

Unless you’re fiendishly handy at finding the 1% worth using (hint, it takes a lot of time and a very good eye), Flickr isn’t good enough. Try iStockPhoto or DreamsTime.

If you don’t feel like shucking out the bucks for premium pics, try the free gallery at DreamsTime.

Graphics play an incredibly important role — because they create an instant emotional impression, they can make or break an article.

Use something absolutely astounding, or use nothing at all.

3. Your email opt-in form is award-winningly ugly

In my opinion, the default Feedburner signup form doesn’t work. It doesn’t match the rest of your site and very few use it.

You shouldn’t be using Feedburner for your email list anyway (Feedburner is great for RSS, but not email.) If you’re doing this for more than a bobby, you should invest in a professional email service such as Aweber or MailChimp.

But don’t stop there.

You’ve got to customize your opt-in form. See how pretty the form on this site looks? People adore it and they sign up all the time.

It’s hard to overestimate the conversion gap between an ugly opt-in form and a beautiful one. It may seem like a small issue to you, but you’re losing readers — and customers — if you ignore this tip.

4. You’re invisibly whimpering for a subscription instead of confidently insisting on it

Place your signup form at the very top of your site.

Read the comments on this article. I persuaded a “mommy blogger” to move her subscription form to the top of her sidebar — and she’s getting many more subscribers now.

This works. Do it.

5. Your About page is lame

Log into your Google Analytics (or Woopra, if you’re into real time analytics) and look at your top pages.

I guarantee your About page gets a lot of traffic — right behind your home page, perhaps.

Why do you suppose everybody’s going there? Because they want to know what the blog is about, and they want to get to know you.

They want to see the face behind the blog. People use your About page to decide if they’ll subscribe or not. Ideally, you’ll want to let them know that you know what you’re talking about. Readers also like to be assured you’re human.

Assure them.

6. You’re unnecessarily reminding everyone how stale your articles are

How are you making everything look really old on your site?

You’ve got the publish date in your URL, and right under the headline.

Early on, I decided to remove every single date on my blog, including the comments.

As a result, when folks read something I wrote months ago, they feel it’s absolutely relevant to them. Since it doesn’t look like they’re joining the conversation late, they feel okay leaving a comment too.

I’m constantly getting comments on months-old articles because I don’t have the date showing how “stale” the page is.

If a post looks like you wrote it this morning, for all practical purposes you did, and people will treat it as such.

Perception is reality.

Come on Martyn, you know I can’t do that

Some of these will be simple to put into place for virtually anyone with a blog.

But if you’re not too web-savvy, some might be a little trickier to figure out.

Well as it happens, Joseph Wesley and I will be helping folks with that at a brand new site called Blog Tweaks. In fact, we’re dedicated to improving your blog from the ground up.

If you’re hoping to take your digital real estate to the next level, you need to make at least a modest investment in quality solutions. Don’t forget — Brian Clark spend $1,000 on design when he started Copyblogger — before the site was making any money.

Take a writing challenge for a shot at a free blog tweak

To prove we’re not a couple of greedy nickel-squeezers, I’m going to fix a blog for free.

Well, not completely free. You’re going to have to participate in a writing challenge. Nothing serious, just a little exercise proving you’re worth your salt. (As a Copyblogger reader, let’s face it, you have an unfair advantage, right?)

Click here for the details. The best writer wins and gets some free blog tweaks. The rest get their article in an eBook that’ll go viral, so in a sense they win too. Heh.

What are you waiting for? Let’s get started.

About the Author: Martyn Chamberlin is an entrepreneur who blogs about copywriting and digital marketing at Two Hour Blogger. You should follow him on Twitter here.

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