Take a Stand: Be Opinionated!

I have a health and wellness blog. I am passionate about sharing fitness with other busy entrepreneurs. But after several months, I am becoming discouraged. I don't seem to be getting any traction or comments on my blog. I'm not earning much from this site and I didn’t know how to change that.

So, I asked my coach for some advice. She reviewed my website then told me that I'm not opinionated enough on my blog. She said my content was bland.  BLAND!!. She said that I should try creating content that’s opinionated, even if I ruffle a few feathers along the way!

Well we all know that I'm not afraid to stir things up a bit  But I have been playing safe with this blog. My posts have been pretty factual and not too controversial.  And I certainly haven't been sharing much of my personal journey.  Time to make a change!


If you’re like me and your blog is boring and bland, try using these tips to spice it up….

Choose a Touchy Subject

You can start by choosing a touchy subject, but stay focused here. You want a topic that’s related to your business and niche. If you run a pet blog, then sharing your thoughts on the death penalty won’t be helpful. Sure you may generate more clicks than usual but your opinions aren’t likely to resonate with your audience.

However, if you pick a topic related to your blog, your community will be more engaged with your content. For example, a dating and relationships blogger might publish a post on seven reasons women should always pay for the first date.

Promote Respect

As soon as you share a post that’s controversial, expect to see disagreements. Most people will disagree with you publicly in your comments section – although a few people may prefer to contact you through your social media platforms or email.

Not everyone has to agree with you or share your exact viewpoint. But make sure these discussions don’t become destructive. If commenters begin harassing or threatening you (or your community), delete their messages.

Be Prepared

When you’re playing big and posting on topics that are important to you, ones that fire you up, make sure you don’t focus on just your passion. You want to be prepared to back up all of your statements and views with supporting material.

This makes you look smart in the eyes of your community and it shows others that you aren’t going off on a tangent. You want to present your opinion calmly and briefly so you look (and sound) professional.

I'm going to follow my coach’s advice - on all of my blogs!  So stand by for a little stronger voice than you may be used to from me.  And perhaps an entirely new take on my health and wellness blog.

Don’t hold back on your blog or website. You can share an opinion—even one that others disagree with—and still build a thriving community.

The Fat Lady is Singing!

Did you like that title?  I hope so!  I used it to get you to read this blog post.  And if you are - it worked!  A perfect demonstration of how a good title or great headline can increase your open rate.

But that is not what I wanted to write about today.  Today I really wanted to talk about being fat.

Because I am fat!  In fact, that's how I got into the whole network marketing thing.  Looking for that perfect weight loss product that was going to make me skinny again, but still let me eat whatever I wanted and not work out.  By the way, I'm still looking for that one.  And I'm still fat.  But hopefully not for long.


If you follow me on Facebook, then you recently saw my video and Facebook Live where I publicly announced my goals - yes, including my weight loss goal - for the coming months.  Why would I put myself out there like that?  Won't I be embarrassed if I fail?  Well - yeah.  Probably.  And that's why I did it.  Extra accountability.  Now everyone on Facebook knows my goals.  And if I don't reach them, I'd better have some solid reasons why.  It sure is an extra incentive whenever I want to watch TV instead of write or eat that Brownie. 


It has been scientifically documented that publicly announcing your goals means you are much more likely to achieve them.  And I think this is partly why!


Now of course I can't just embark on a weight loss program.  You know I have to try to help others along the way.  And so I have decided to document my journey.  You can read all about my story here if you like.  I just started that blog.  Two posts so far.  But it's going to be a juicy site!


I'm tired of watching all the hype about products that don't work and diets that fail and meanwhile, we just get fatter and sicker. 


And that's the purpose of my blog post here.  To introduce you to my new weight loss blog.  To encourage you to join me if you have the need.  To watch as I use the blog to promote my weight loss products (you didn't think I was going to skip the business part of that did you?)


I am hell bent on changing some lives this year!  Are you one of them?  Let me know!  Share your goals in the comments.  Remember, publicly sharing means your much more likely to achieve them!

Design Is Important, But Content is Still King

While you’re making changes to the design of your blog, take a few extra hours to go through your content and make sure that it’s…

·         Still relevant – you’d be surprised how your focus and voice can change over the years. If you’ve been blogging for a while, it’s worth looking at those older posts just to make sure they still resonate with you and your readers.

·         Well laid out – over the course of a few redesigns, you’ll find that older posts and pages no longer fit with the current theme. You may find some images are too wide to fit on the page, or that your choice of image borders no longer work. These things can be a real turn off to new visitors, so it pays to double-check.

·         Calls to action – While you’re reading through your old posts, take a look at your calls to action to be sure they’re still applicable.  

In addition, now is a good time to go through your posts to make sure they are:

Visually appealing - use an image in every post. Not only does an image spice up plain text, but it also gives readers the opportunity (as long as you have this option available - and you should!) to share your content via Pinterest, one of the hottest social media platforms out there.  

Skimmable - Most people are skimmers so it's important to make sure that your content is broken up in bite sized chunks through the use of headings and images. This also goes along with being visually appealing.

Compelling and interesting - even if you do everything mentioned to make your content skimmable and easy on the eyes, if it's boring people aren't going to read it. Light a 'fire' and write about something controversial. Or share something that touched you. For example, maybe you volunteer at a homeless shelter and something someone said or did touched you. There are a lot of different ways to provide your readers with compelling and interesting content. It's a matter of finding what works for you and fits with your audience.

Appealing to the search engines - don't write for SEO purposes or your post will end up sounding robotic or like you did exactly what you're not supposed to do - keyword stuffing. You want to use SEO but it has to be done in a natural way so it fits with the content and isn't overkill.

Focused - many people ask 'how long should a blog post be?' But the truth is it needs to be as long as it needs to be. There is no magic number. However, it should be focused on one specific idea or topic. Blog posts that ramble will lose readers. Blog posts that dig deep into a topic and cover it in depth will bring traffic in, even if they’re 2,000 words long.

Of course, you don’t have to go back and read and revise every single blog post you’ve ever written. Try to do that, and you’ll never get your redesign launched. But do take a look at your analytics and touch up those that get the greatest number of visitors.

Are you ready to give yourself a blog makeover? Remember, you’ll need:

• A new theme – both free and paid work, just be sure to choose one based primarily on layout rather than color.
• A new header – outsource this if you’re not comfortable creating your own. It’s the first thing visitors will see, so don’t be afraid to spend a little money on it.
• A plan for your site navigation and sidebars – be careful to keep it simple for your readers.
• A way to prevent others from peeking at your site before you’re ready – you can go techy or super simple, the choice is yours.

Most of all, remember to have fun with it! Like redecorating your home, giving your blog a makeover is your chance to let your personality shine through.

Technicalities, Technicalities – Or, 3 Ways to Redesign Your Blog Without Making a Mess

When you’re building a brand new website, it doesn’t matter if things look a little wonky for a while, or there’s a big error message at the top of every page, or your navigation bar is broken. When you’re making over a live site, though, you’ve got to be careful. You don’t want visitors to arrive only to find broken links, images out of alignment, and clashing colors. Yuck!

So what can you do when you want to make over a live site? There are three methods that work, depending on how confident you are with the technical side of things.

MAMP/WAMP

This handy little open source project lets you install a web server on your computer, so you can create and run a WordPress website (complete with its own database) right on your home PC. MAMP runs on Apple computers, and WAMP runs on Windows machines, so there’s a flavor for everyone, and they’re both available as a free download.
They are a little on the techy side, though. So if you’re not comfortable with port numbers and databases, they might not be for you. The advantage of this method, though, is that your site will be completely unavailable to the general public, so no one will see it but you.

Development Server

If you’re familiar with how subdomain works, then creating a development server will be a piece of cake. All you have to do is create a subdomain, such as test.yourdomain.com, and build your new site there. Once you’ve completed it, simply move the theme to the live domain and you’re ready to go.

WordPress Theme Test Drive

This handy little plugin lets you, as an administrator, see one theme, while your visitors see another. That means you can be working behind the scenes developing a new theme without anyone knowing the difference. You can download this plugin here:

One thing to note about Theme Test Drive, though: It’s not perfect. Your sidebar layout won’t work properly, for example, because the sidebars in your new theme won’t be named the same as the sidebars in your old theme. In addition, any relative links (those that don’t contain the full path to your site) that point to your theme files won’t work. So if your new theme calls it’s header with a link that looks like this /images/header.png you won’t be able to see the header in your test drive. That’s because WordPress will be looking in the wrong folder. Don’t worry, though, when you make your new theme live, everything will work as expected.

The final way to develop a new blog theme is to simply put your site in maintenance mode. There are a lot of plugins that do a very nice job of that, and if you plan to complete your makeover in a day or so – perhaps over a weekend – that might be a good way to go. Again, when you’re logged in, you’ll be able to see your new theme, but everyone else will just see a “Down for maintenance” message.

Give Your Readers What They Want

People are creatures of habit, meaning that change isn't always welcomed. In fact, most people resist change and want nothing to do with it. Don’t believe it? Consider the complaints every time Facebook revamps something. Your blog makeover is no different, so it pays to prepare your fans before the big reveal.

You could simply let them know you're going through a blog makeover and the new design will be up and ready to go shortly. But why not take this a step further and make things fun by involving your readers? Get them engaged in what is going on. You could do this by asking their input about a header or other design element. For this to work best, you will need to create a few different ones and then have them vote on which one they like best. This is a good way for you to get a feel for what your readers like and what seems to evoke more excitement out of them.

You might even host a contest, asking your readers and fans to submit new designs. Choose your top 3 or 5 favorites, then put them up for a vote, with the designer of the most popular header winning a prize.

If you're changing or adding a tagline, ask your readers to vote on some different ones you came up with to see what resonates with them. Or ask them to make their suggestions of what a good tagline would be. A simple survey is a good way to collect a lot of responses fast.

Here’s another way to know exactly what readers need/want from your site: your analytics. What search terms bring in the most readers? What pages get the most traffic? Those are the elements you need to make more prominent. For others, split testing will tell you exactly what readers want. You can set up a split test of your opt-in form, home page layout, even your entire site design by using the tools in your Google Webmaster account or email management system.

Remember, your readers are important to your blogging success so you should value them enough to make sure your changes are what they want and need from your site. This will be especially important if your blog is going to look completely different than what it used to.

Just because people are creatures of habit and tend to not like change, don't let it deter you from doing a blog makeover, though. This can be a positive and experience for you and your readers, and can help bring in more traffic – especially if your current design is outdated.

Whatever you're doing - a makeover on a personal blog or professional - just have the courtesy to give your readers some warning about what's going on. They’ll be thrilled to be included, and you’ll end up with a design that’s much more engaging and attractive to them.

More Than Just an Afterthought: The Power of Your Blog’s Footer

If you think the footer is obsolete and unimportant, you haven’t been paying attention to the trend towards larger footers. In fact, many blog owners and developers are looking at the footer as another place to further engage readers with additional navigation, video content, social media feeds, and more.  

Besides being a new location for housing valuable resources, the footer also contains some of the more boring information on your site. Some of the more standard footer expectations include:

• Affiliate and earnings disclaimers. This legal stuff is a must have if you promote products for commission, or if you advise people about how to earn/save/spend money.
• Terms of service. If you have a membership site or sell things on your blog, a TOS page is important. It contains information about refunds, guarantees, and your cookie and privacy policies. Put a link to it in your footer.
• Sitemap. While not as important as it once was, your sitemap can help readers (and the search engines) find pages that aren’t readily available via your primary navigation.
• Login information. If your readers need to sign in for any reason, the footer is a good place to put a link or the form itself.
• Copyright notices. While not strictly necessary (you own the copyright for your work whether you declare it or not) some people like to put copyright information in the footer.

In addition, you can use your footer to get other important information out to your visitors, such as:

• Social media updates – real-time Twitter and Facebook feeds can let readers know where you’re most active and how to find out more about you.
• RSS feeds from other sites you own – Help drive traffic to your other web properties by linking to the articles you post there. An RSS feed automatically updates itself, so this is an easy way to create dynamic content.
• Awards and recognition – Were you interviewed on NBC or featured in the Huffington Post? Add the logos (make sure you have permission first) to your footer for powerful social proof of your expertise.
• Top comments – Let readers know about active discussions going on with a top comments list in the footer.

Most themes have “widgetized” footers, meaning whatever you end up putting in this section can always be changed later, so maybe a blog makeover is the perfect time to try something different.

As with anything else that has to do with the design of your blog - just because something works for one person doesn't mean it will work for someone else. You have to always be testing and tracking what you're doing, including the footer section of your blog.

Getting in Front of Your Target Market: How to Integrate Social Media in Your Blog Redesign

Social media is hot, hot, hot right now! It pretty much doesn't matter who you are or what business you’re in, you can't get away from the different social sites out there. That means you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to integrate it into your blog. And more than likely, you probably already have accounts set up and are active on them so it only makes sense you would 'advertise' it to your blog visitors by adding the different icons to your blog.

Your blog will very likely have two types of social media buttons: Those that drive traffic to your various accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, and those that enable readers to share the content they find on your site.

The first type – those that link directly to your social media pages – typically appear in the header, the footer, or somewhere in the sidebar. I need to add these to my blog! The second type generally appear at the top or bottom (or both) of each individual page or post. You can easily tell the difference because the fist type will be just a button, while the second may have a counting feature that lets readers know how many times an article has been shared.  

This part of the blog makeover is a win/win situation. Not only are you giving your readers the opportunity to connect with you on a more personal level through your social media channels. But, this is also a way for you to show those around you that you're an expert at what you do.  

Adding social media buttons in your header or sidebar is as simple as making a clickable image out of a button. You can find hundreds of free buttons available on the web, and some themes come with matching buttons for you to use. You could even hire a designer to create custom buttons for you.

Sharing buttons are added via a plugin or a widget, and again, there are many to choose from. Some offer dozens of social icons to choose from, while some specialize in only Twitter or only Facebook. A search through the WordPress or Blogger plugin/gadget directory will help you find the right one to meet your needs.

There are a few things that are worth noting when it comes to social media engagement. First, make sure that you're actually interacting with people who take the time to connect with you on these different channels. Second, don't always be pushing promotional things down their throats - make sure you're sharing more of other content than promo type things. And lastly, don't make the mistake of being active, then inactive for a while and then active again. Stay consistent!

The Simple Sidebar Offers More Options to Keep Readers Engaged

While sidebars aren't as important as navigation, they still take careful consideration and need to be set up in a way that will be easy for your readers to use. Done right, your sidebar can draw your reader deeper into your website. Done wrong, and it could be a big turn off.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your sidebar as simple as possible and clear of clutter. It should not be a virtual junk drawer! Don't add anything and everything to it just because there's space to do so. Just like mentioned above, if your sidebar is busy and confuses the reader, they'll more than likely end up leaving your site. A confused mind can't take action. And once you have someone on your site, you want them to take action!

Not sure what to put in your sidebar? Here are some of the most common items:

• Mailing list opt-in box - collecting names and email addresses of people that visit your site can be one of the most important things you do. Utilizing the space on your sidebar, above the fold, for an opt-in box is one of the first things you should set up on a sidebar.
• Category navigation - be sure to let your readers know what they'll find on your blog. You can do this by including your blog categories (or even tags) in the sidebar.
• Recent posts - when people come to your blog, they want to see recent content you've published. Use the sidebar to display recent posts. This will allow your reader to quickly and easily see what they may not have read yet.
• Ads - be careful if you're going to include advertisements. Make sure they are relevant to what your readers are interested in and don't get carried away. Keep it to 1-2 at a time.
• Archives - use a dropdown option to include your blog archives if you like, although in a typical WordPress blog, the date archives aren’t very reader friendly.
• Bio - you've probably seen the blogs where the sidebar has a little 'about the owner' box with an image. You can do this or you can reserve this information for the about page.
• Search bar – If readers can’t find what they want in your navigation, or your category or tag structure, a search box will do the trick.

You'll more than likely be making all these side bar changes by using widgets so you'll need to make sure that during your theme selection process, you choose one that is widget ready. Also note that when you change themes, you may lose some widgets you already had in place. If you find some of them missing, check the “Inactive Widgets” section on the widget dashboard.

Sidebars are an important part of your blog makeover and it's important that you take the time to make sure they are set up in a way that is appealing to your visitors. Make content stand out by using bold, italic, different colored font, etc. If done properly, your sidebar will encourage your readers/visitors to engage with you.

Getting Around: Creating an Intuitive, Meaningful Navigation Structure

Want to know how to make visitors crazy and drive them away from your blog? Make your navigation confusing! We’ve all landed on a website only to be greeted by some weird navigation structure that not only doesn’t tell us what is available, but doesn’t let us return to the page we were on easily. Want some advice? Don’t do this to your readers!!!

Your navigation sets the pace for how visitors move through your site. And this is another important piece of your blog makeover puzzle. In fact, this element may be even more important than your header design.

You want to keep it as simple as possible so that it's user friendly and easy to understand. The worst thing is a busy navigation bar that leaves readers feeling confused and unsure of where to go. A confused reader doesn't end up doing anything but clicking away from your site, never to return. With that in mind, here are some navigation tips you should know about:

• Make sure your header is linked to the homepage.
• Keep it consistent across every page of your website – don’t move your navigation to another location or change the tabs from page to page.
• Properly name each tab on the navigation bar so people know exactly where they’ll go if they click on it.
• Keep it simple - in the case of the navigation bar, less is more. You don't want to give your readers too many options.
• Easy to find - your site visitors should be able to find what they're looking for within a few seconds of being on your site.

Another thing to consider is whether you'll use a single layer navigation bar or a drop down one. The drop down option may seem like a good idea because you can combine things into one tab and have them show up when someone hovers. For example: your main navigation tab 'about' can drop down and give a visitor the option to 'contact' you. However, if you can avoid a drop down navigation bar, then don't use it. It’s far better to have all the important pages visible than to hide them below something else. Remember, simple is almost always better.

One last thing to keep in mind when setting up the navigation of your site: make sure that your readers always know where they are on your blog. Do this by making a ‘Home’ link in your navigation, or by using ‘breadcrumbs’ to give the reader a way to backtrack.  

Once you have the navigation menu set up, ask someone to test it for you. Have them spend a few minutes on your blog to see if it's easy to navigate. You built it, so you may find that you simply don’t notice things that are out of place or not clear. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can see things you didn't.

Take it From the Top: Redesigning Your Blog Header

It’s the first thing people see when they land on any page of your website. Just as you make a first impression when people meet you in person, your header is also the first impression people have of your blog. Ideally, you want people to look at it and immediately know what your site is about. It should build a connection with your reader by ‘telling a story,’ and that story will depend on the type of blog you have.

If it's a business blog, your story will probably be more on the serious side so your header should reflect that. But if it's a personal blog and your personality is fun and creative, then let your header show that.

Regardless of the type of blog you have, there are several things to consider when redesigning your header:

Size - shoot for a header image that isn't more than 250 pixels high. The header is important but you don't want it so big that it's taking up valuable above-the-fold real estate. In fact, many modern blogs and websites are using smaller headers than that, some as small as 150 pixels or less. If a small header will work for your blog, then go for it, because a small header leaves more room for content.

Image - if you're going to use any sort of picture in your header, it's really important that the quality of the image is the best possible. One of the quickest ways to ruin a great looking header is by using poor quality images in it. 

Text - decide what text you're going to include in your header. Make sure your site name is in the header. If you have a tagline that goes with your site, then put that in the header too. Just don’t get carried away with fonts. You want them to be readable, and use no more than two to avoid confusion.

Visually appealing - we're all visual creatures so we're drawn to things that are attractive to us. Make sure your colors go together, that your fonts are clear, that the text is readable, and that the images convey the message you are trying to send. Remember, your header will set the tone for the rest of your site.

Keep in mind that you can always outsource this part of the process. If you don't have enough time or experience to mess around with creating a header, then it would make more sense to let someone who knows what they're doing handle it so you can focus on other aspects of the makeover. 

Time for a Makeover?

It's that time of year again.  Time to take a look at your business and prepare for the coming year.  Time to review the previous year's successes - and failures.  The start of a new year is a good time to make some changes!  Is it time for a makeover?


Lately I've been looking a my blog, for a couple of reasons.  I love writing it, but sometimes it doesn't seem to resonate the way I would like.  I get views, but not much interaction.  Plus I now have access to MLSP Sites, which is a great WordPress tool.  So is it time to move to another platform?  Lots to think about!


Since I am going to seriously look at my blog and consider what moves or changes I need to make, I thought perhaps you would like to join me.  And so I am going to be doing several posts on giving your blog a makeover. 

The first thing you should do before you begin your blog makeover is to sit down and plan things out. Take some time to think about the 'why' behind the makeover. Once you’re clear on why you want to make a change, it will be much easier to plan.

When you’re still in the planning stage, take time to consider:

SEO - you probably already had SEO in place on the old design of your site but now is the chance to reevaluate and step things up a notch. Or, if you hadn't done any - or very little - optimization with the 'old' blog, this is the perfect opportunity to start and do it right. You're going to have to spend some time researching keywords and phrases to find ones that will be a good fit for the audience you reach and the purpose of your blog.  I just attended a fabulous webinar on SEO so now's the time to put all that knowledge to work! 

Layout - think about how you want your site to look. Get a piece of paper and a pen and literally 'map' out how you want things to look. Draw (make note of) what you want to be above the fold and below the fold. How many sidebars do you want. Do you want them all on the same side or a sidebar on the left and then one on the right?

Opt-in - don't forget to think about your opt-in box and where you're going to put this. Are you going to create a landing page for it, put it on the sidebar of every page, or both? A good rule of thumb for an opt-in box on the main page of your blog is to have it above the fold on the right hand sidebar.  I have never had one on my blog so perhaps it is time. 

Research - take some time to look at several other blogs. Jot down notes of the things that you like, as well as the things you don't like. A little 'cheat' trick - if you notice something you like but aren't sure what it is or how they did it - is to view the page source and more than likely with a little sleuthing on your part, you will find the info you're looking for.  Once you have a list of things you like, try to incorporate them into your blog makeover.  I've been doing a lot of research and studying lately! 

Color - think about the color scheme you want to go with during your blog makeover. One thing to keep in mind is to stay away from dark backgrounds (like black) with light font colors (such as white). It's hard on the eyes, and won’t work for most audiences. The exception to this is if your market is young men in the music or gaming industries. Then a dark background is fine. For most other markets, your best bet is to go with white background and black or dark gray text. Then pull colors into your site in the header, sidebar, headings, and graphics.  All the research I have done lately says this is true.  So this is one thing I may change even if I don't switch platforms. 

If you take the time to plan things out first, your blog makeover with go more smoothly and it will be easier to stick to the goal(s) of the site and what you want the makeover to accomplish.

Video Blogging With the Quick and Simple Tools You Already Have

Congratulations on making the decision to start video blogging, also known as vlogging. It's an excellent way for you to share your expertise in your niche and to provide your audience with a new way to consume your information as well as a way for them to connect with you on a more personal level.

With the advance of technology and all the different geeky gadgets out there including webcams, vlogging is easier than ever. This article is going to give you some tips on how to use your webcam to create some video blog content.

If you're using a laptop, it probably already has a webcam built right into it. Be sure to check that out first before going out and purchasing one. If you do need to buy one, you don't have to spend a lot of money. You can pick up an inexpensive one for around $20.

The biggest challenge you're going to have to deal with using a webcam is finding a way to make yourself look good. If you don't have it angled properly, or it's too high/too low, you're not going to look your best. If you're using a laptop webcam, you may need to put a few books underneath it so that you can raise it up and be eye level with your camera. If it's too low and you have to look down, or it's too high and you have to look up, you’re not going to be happy with the quality.

Another tip for vlogging with your webcam is to use a headset if possible. This will help keep out any background noise that your computer’s built-in microphone will pick up.

You'll also want to take into consideration anything in the background that may show up when you start recording. If you have a busy background (such as your kitchen or living room) it's going to distract your viewers and they'll lose focus on what you're saying. Besides, do you really want people to see piles of laundry or kid’s toys in the background?

Try to find the 'perfect' spot in your home or office for creating videos. Set up a background (something as simple as hanging a sheet up will suffice) and add any additional lighting elements you'll need. Keep this space specifically for videos so that there isn't a lot of preparation you'll have to do the next time you want to create a one.

Once you have all the preparation done and you're ready to start recording, it's best to make a trial run. This will help you figure out if the lighting is right, the angle is right, etc. After your trial run, you can then record the real thing.

Remember to keep your video as short as possible so you don't lose the interest of your viewer. Don't get discouraged if you find yourself stumbling over your words - this is normal especially if you're a newbie. It takes time to get used to seeing yourself on camera. To help prevent stumbling over words or forgetting what you want to share, make a short outline that you can glance at during the recording process to help stay on track.

Remember, too, that all those glaring mistakes will likely not even be noticed by your viewers. We are, after all, our own worst critic!

Once you have your content all recorded it's just a matter of editing it and publishing. There are plenty of video editing options out there. It's just a matter of finding one that you can work with easily. Or, if you aren't comfortable with doing it, you can always outsource it. After it's edited and ready to go, you just have to upload the file to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
 
And there you go, the quick and easy way to use your webcam to
create video blogs. It doesn't have to be overly difficult and once
you get the hang of it, it'll get quicker and easier.

Hanging Out with Friends Makes for a Fantastic Video Blogging Experience

Not every video blog has to be polished and professional. In fact, some of the most engaging content is off-the-cuff, personality driven, and just plain fun. Google Hangouts makes it easy (and free) to create a vlog that showcases you and your unique personality. And all you need is a Google+ account to get started. (Hint: if you have a Gmail account you already have a G+ account as well!)

Here’s how Hangouts work. Simply log into your Google+ page and look to the right of the screen. Click “New Hangout” and choose the people you want to invite. You can have up to 10 on camera, and dozens more watching, but for a video blog, two to three speakers is more than enough. You could even do it by yourself, simply using Google’s technology to record the event.

One tip: be sure to enable the “Hangouts on air” option. As soon as you do this, your Hangout will go public and a recording of your Hangout is actually going to automatically go your YouTube account!  Once your hangout has been sent to your corresponding YouTube account, you can then embed that video into a blog post on your site and voila... a new vlog for your audience. Talk about a quick and easy way to produce some fresh new content!

One thing to keep in mind is that you Google Hangouts are all about engagement. People like to feel like they are a part of something. Giving them the opportunity to ask questions and have you answer them is a great way to bring your audience into what you're doing.

There’s more to Hangouts than just face time, though. You can also record your screen using screen capture software, so it’s a good way to demonstrate software. You can share PowerPoint presentations for a more formal look. There are also several different apps that incorporate with Google Plus to enhance your hangouts. 

While this is all done in real time and things can be unpredictable - especially if you're going to have other people on with you - don't fret if you want to share the content later on. Yes, it is live but that doesn’t mean you have to publish it as is. You will have the option to edit the content after the hangout is over. You can edit the video by going to your video manager in your YouTube account and doing it from there.

Some ideas for Google Hangout video blogging include:

• Interviews with a guest – think of it as a podcast, but with video.
• Q & A with your market – this is a great way to interact with your audience live, then repurpose the content later in the form of a blog post.
• Demonstrations – whether software, cooking, or crafting, Google Hangouts are a good choice for live video demonstration. As long as you can use your webcam to film, it’s a good candidate for a Hangout.

One drawback to Google Hangouts is the quality of the video. If a crisp, clear picture is important to your event, it might be better to choose a different solution, such as GoToWebinar or Camtasia (depending on your needs). But when you’re just starting out, or you’re looking for a fun, interactive choice for video blogging, Hangouts are definitely worth a look.

Super Easy Video Blogging with Screen Sharing

A great way to make a video without putting your face on camera is to use a screen-sharing program. This type of video blog is ideal for how-to content such as showing the ins and outs of a new software, or, coupled with a PowerPoint presentation, digging into higher-level learning on a variety of topics.

There are several different screen recording software programs you can use:

Ezvid Screen Recording Tool -- This is software that you can download to start recording your screen if you use Windows. You can create wonderful how-to tutorials and more with Ezvid Screen sharing tool. You can also add narration by recording your voice while the video is playing.

Camtasia -- This is a bit more expensive, but it's a full-featured video-editing software program with really awesome tutorials. You can record your screen with a voice over, edit it later to cut out mistakes, and more. It's really intuitive and simple to use.

Jing – This free tool is perfect for creating very short screen-share videos. It’s from the makers of Camtasia, so it’s easy to use and well supported. Even better, it’s free, so it’s the perfect introduction to screen sharing. The only limitation is that you cannot easily edit your videos, and you’re limited to 5 minutes of recording time.

Using Screen Sharing Videos on Your Blog

Videos that are made by sharing your screen are useful in a variety of ways in just about any niche. They’re a natural fit for coaches and trainers of course, who can use screen sharing to easily demonstrate new software or techniques. But even if your market is new moms or crafters or dog owners, you can still use this technology to reach your audience by coupling it with a clever PowerPoint presentation.

Not sure what content is a good fit for video? Look back at your most popular blog posts and think about how they can be expanded to include video. For example, if you've written a how-to blog post of any kind consider using that post as a script to record your screen actions doing the same thing. Your audience will appreciate the different types of content, as will the search engines.

Beyond the Boundaries of Your Blog

Of course, you’re not limited to just posting your videos on your blog. You can (and should) also post them YouTube.com, embed them into social media (Facebook, in particular, is a great option for posting short videos), and even in paid membership areas.

Want to get started with video but not quite ready to put your face on camera? Screen sharing is the perfect choice. Not only is it super easy to get started, it also helps engage your audience by providing a valuable resource in a format that’s easy to use and consume. Give it a try! You might just be surprised at the response from your audience.

Camtasia: The Screen-Capturing Powerhouse That Makes Video Blogging Easy

Do you use video on your blog yet? With the Internet continuing to lower our attention spans and the fact that everyone has their own learning preferences, adding a bit of variety to your blogging routine will not only spice up your blog, but may just help attract new fans and followers as well.

Of course, you already know that. But you’re likely held back by one of the biggest drawbacks to video blogging: fear of the camera. Here’s the good news – with Camtasia, you can create and edit engaging, informative, and entertaining videos for your blog without ever getting in front of the camera.

I admit I have not yet posted videos on my blog.  I've been learning the skills necessary to do this right along with you.  But I have been creating and posting them on my Facebook page.  And that's how I discovered this great tool!

Planning the Perfect Vlog

The first thing you should do before firing up Camtasia is to create an outline. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, but you do want enough info jotted down so that once you start recording, you’ll remember all the key points you want to cover.

Since Camtasia is primarily a screen-capturing tool, chances are you’ll be showing your audience several webpages or apps. Save some time and get this set up beforehand. Not only will it save time, but it was also prevent any mishaps such as typing a URL incorrectly during the recording process. Making that kind of mistake certainly won’t ruin your video, but it might fluster you enough that you feel self-conscious about it, so taking this extra step will help your vlogging confidence level.

Aaaand, ACTION!

Now that you know what you’re going to cover, it's time to start recording. Simply click on the record screen button to begin. Camtasia will offer a few presets, such as full screen, 640 x 360 pixels, and some other common sizes. You can choose a preset or drag the edges of the recording area to suit your own needs.

If you're going to be talking during the recording, make sure that you have audio enabled before you begin recording. Again, Camtasia offers several options here based on your computer’s sound card and microphone, so be sure to test out a few variations to find the audio setting that gives you the best quality sound. (Note: Camtasia does give you the option to add audio narration after your video has already been recorded. So, if something happens and you don't capture your voice, know that you can still do it at a later time.)

Now it's time for action. If your video is a 'how-to', start the process of what you're teaching your audience. For example, if you're teaching them how to create custom menus using a menu widget in WordPress, then go through the entire process of how to do it step-by-step. Teach them exactly how it's done.  These types of videos are an excellent source of content for your audience.

Post Production

Once you’ve finished recording your video, it’s time for a little post production. You can spend as much time here as you like, adding fancy transitions between scenes, cutting out all your “ums” and “ahs”, and zooming in to highlight important steps. Camtasia makes all this incredibly easy with a full-featured suite of editing tools.

But also keep in mind that your audience might not demand such polish. Sometimes the best vlogs are those that let your true personality shine – including your little speech idiosyncrasies. So don’t spend hours and hours in post production. That will only make you dread vlogging in the future. Instead, have a little fun with it, and send it out to the world.

Interviews Make Engaging and Informative Video Blogs

People buy from those they know, like and trust. And when it comes to working online, this is even more important. So, how do you get people to know, like and trust you? You do this by providing your target market with opportunities to get to know you better. One of the best ways to do that is through video blogging.

With as much as technology has changed and things have become simpler, there's no excuse for you to not be video blogging. Just sharing written content on your site or in other avenues (guest blogging, writing articles, etc) isn't enough. People want to see a face and hear a voice. People have begun to expect it.

If you don't want to put just your face in front of the camera for 3-4 minutes (remember, keep a video short and sweet - anything longer than 3 minutes and people generally begin to lose focus and get bored), doing a video interview is a great way to get around this. Having someone else on screen with you will help take the focus off of you.
Here are some easy tips for video blogging using interviews.

The first thing you need to decide is what software you're going to conduct the interview with. Skype is easy to use and a free option. Then there's always the newer option of doing a Google Hangout and recording the interview that way. These options are great if you're interviewing someone that isn't with you in person. If you're doing an in person interview, you can use your smartphone, a little handheld video recorder, an iPad, etc.
 
Once you know how you're going to conduct the interview, think about creating an outline or preparing some questions for your interviewee so they are prepared ahead of time. Keep it simple. Just jot down a few keywords or something that will help you stay on track and remind you of everything you wanted to cover.

That's all there is in terms of preparation. Then it's just a matter of finding a time that both you and the person doing the interview with you can meet to do it. It's always a good idea to do a quick test beforehand to make sure that audio and video on both ends is working and that recording is clear. There's nothing worse than having a great chat full of awesome information only to realize once it's over that there were technical issues and you didn't get the recording or the audio is messed up.
 
You can make a video interview even more interesting by conducting a roundtable where you bring several people together for a discussion. Again, Skype is an option or Google Hangouts. Of course, the more people you have you'll have to try as hard as possible to stay on track and keep time limited.

If you want your community to get to know, like and trust you more, it's time to start showing them who you are. Put yourself out there on video and let them see the real you. If you're just starting, interview video blogging can help you get more comfortable being in front of the camera because there will be somebody else with you.