Getting the Word Out

"Is there a way to let people when I've posted something new on my blog?"

There are several methods available for you to inform your readers that you have added something new to your blog. The important underlying premise is - to repeat Seth Godin's mantra - permission. Adding someone's name to your 'I have a new blog post' mailing list is counter to the spirit of blogging and social media. Leave the decision to opt-in to your readers.

1. Subscribe via Email

Tell your readers about the Subscribe via Email mini-form in the left sidebar of the blog. All they need to do is to enter their email address and each time you publish a new article they will automatically receive it in their in-box within about 24 hours.

2. RSS

If your readers understand what RSS is, they can subscribe to the blog using one of the many RSS readers available. INternet Explorer 7 has a built-in RSS reader, and there are several free online readers to chose from.

3. Twitter

A lot of us are using Twitter these days. You and your readers can join Twitter for free. Once you join, you can send messages (called tweets) using SMS (text messaging) from your phone, from the Twitter web page, or one of several free Twitter client programs available. I use Twhirl. Your readers subscribe to your Twitter stream (in Twitter parlance, they follow you) can receive your tweets in real time.

4. Plaxo

Plaxoi is one of many social networks that provide a notification facility to its members. You can hook your blog up to Plaxo and then each time you update it, Plaxo will include it in the Plaxo Pulse email.

Other social networking tools like LinkedIn and Facebook offer similar capabilities.

5. FriendFeed

One of the most popularand fastest-growing social media tools is FriendFeed. Friend feed is not so much a social network as it is a tool for aggregating all your friends' blogs, twitter streams etc in one place. I use it to keep up with many of my friends.

You forgot to mention...

Yes, I know. I've not mentioned several dozen other alternatives. I've only scratched the surface. New social media tools are appearing on the scene every day. It's easy to get distracted by every bright shiny new object that comes over the event horizon. On the other hand, we all need to keep up with the availability of great tools to help us grow our businesses.

Comments

[Lisa Koss]

A great description once again, Dave. I can see myself coming back to this post for reminders for best hearing from IMC members and with my blog. Very helpful. Thanks!

[Lisa Koss]

One confusing thing...when I post a comment, I don't get a message that says it was "received" and when it will post. I know that there is a moderator that approves these messages for the IMC site within a certain time frame, but others may not know that.

[Lisa Koss]

How do we get members in our chapter or others to come to this blog in the first place to talk about consulting topics?

[Lisa Koss]

To follow on to my last question, is there a way -- for example -- to get Doug to put up a blurb about the upcoming program on this? We could ask questions and help him populate the questions we will use for the Fri discussions? That would be great.