This is a review of the Yahoo Search Blog.

Yahoo! is a major website providing search services. One would think that the Yahoo! search blog would be full of jargon and technical terms that only a select few would have been able to understand. Surprisingly, the blog was full of easy to read updates that describe to users how their experience is changing. The instructions provided were easy to follow and the blog features plenty of visuals and posts that cover events, updates and other information. The blog is over all a good site that can use a little polish here and there.

Availability, 8 out of 10 –

The blog is easy to find. A search for Yahoo Blog or other similar terms will turn up the blog in the first page of hits. A little bit of SEO will definitely put the blog to the top of the list.

Posting Frequency, 5 out of 10 – The posts may be consistent on a every other day sort of pace, but they have been know to have posts spaced out by a month at least. Consistency of posting leaves a bit to be desired, but there is plenty for the reader to read. Yahoo would do well to add posts on their history or other Yahoo! topics to help with the larger gaps in posting.

Relevance, 9 out of 10 –

This is an easy set of points, because all of the posts are relevant to the users of Yahoo. Writing style is very easy to read and is conversational. Graphics and writing organization are well done. Overall the blog is very well done technically and is an ease for people to use. A little polish is all that is needed.

Accuracy, 9 out of 10 –

The posts are about the Yahoo! site and services that are provided. There’s not much for the technical person, but the blog does seem honest and not a propaganda or sales blog. A few posts geared towards the reader who is technically geared will help get that last point.

User Interaction, 7 out of 10 –

There is plenty to enable the user to contact blog writers and Yahoo! individuals. There are links where users can promote the blog to digg and del.icio.us directories. That said, they do not seem to reply to comments, hence the point deduction. All it would take is someone who watches the posted comments to give meaningful replies. The blog does frequently provide information on Yahoo! meetings, where users can go and provide input up close, so all is not that bad.

Over all, the Yahoo! Search Blog earned itself a 76%.

That is a pretty good score all things considering. The blog is quite easy to read and provides a good deal of information about Yahoo!, its search engine and its services. There are points in which the blog can be improved. It wouldn’t be much work to hire one or two people to keep track of the blog and reply to users. Even if there is nothing new added to Yahoo!, they can still provide posts talking about the company.

Originally posted 2009-02-03 05:35:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Why do some blog instantly become hits, while others languish without a reader to be found? Although the subject matter can play a big role in popularity, a lack of readership can be attributed to a lack of style in the blog. Since there is so much competition out there, you’ve got to work on creating a special hook that will keep your reader’s interested. This is the key to developing a corporate blog that will get noticed. Here are some tips on how to pick the right style hook for your blog.

1. The Funny Hook –

If you are a naturally humorous person, don’t be afraid to let your sense of humor shine through your posts. Granted, this is not the place to share off color jokes, but if you have a talent for wry, dry or witty writing, your blog can be a great outlet. If you can make people laugh while they are reading a corporate blog, that is a big accomplishment. Readers remember funny blogs right off the bat and they’ll want to return often to make sure they get their daily dose of funny. However, if you do not have a flare for comedy, this is not the best hook to use. The key is knowing whether or not you have the talent for being truly humorous. If not, there are plenty of other hooks that you can use.

2. The Newsy Hook –

This is the perfect hook for those that may have a drier writing style or for those that don’t feel comfortable cracking jokes all the time. If you have the time to spend monitoring news and breaking it on your corporate blog, you can develop a very devoted readership. It’s best to stick with news that is related to your corporate sector, but there may be times when you can push the envelope a little bit. Many blogs have taken off after they covered one item that was very popular. The readers will stick around if they like your style and the information you cover.

3. The Controversial Hook –

This hook should be used with care and only by those that are masters of PR and capable of handling controversy. The blogs that use this hook are probably the most popular, but there is a fine line to walk here. If you are worried about your company getting dragged through the mud, or if you have a board that you have to please, it’s best not to use this hook.

These are just a few examples of hooks that you can use to start creating that relationship with your readers. If none of them fit, then just let your personality shine through your posts. Being friendly and open can be a hook on its own and may actually create better results than all three of the above hooks combined. The secret is finding what works for you and your readers. Once you’ve got that down, the sky is the limit.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-03 05:20:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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You want your blog to be engaging, but that may not always be easy. Here are some great tips on how to keep your corporate blog reader friendly.

1. Pick your design well.

One of the biggest problems for corporate blogs is design. You can need to make sure that your blog is easy to read. This means sticking with simple backgrounds, regular text and a dark font. While black backgrounds may look nice for a blog, they are hard to read off of and your customers won’t appreciate having to strain their eyes. Shoot for a very neutral palette that is very easy to read on.

2. Don’t bore them to tears.

Sometimes, corporate news can be a bit boring to the average consumer. Try to change up your posts so that they are not continuous dronings that would put even the most die hard fan to sleep. Add fun elements such as polls to keep your readers engaged and willing to come back each day for more.

3. Talk to your readers, not at them.

One of the worst mistakes you can make is sounding like you are pontificating. Try to develop a writing style that is engaging so that you are talking to your readers not at them. This may take a little practice but in time you’ll be able to develop the right kind of writing style for your audience.

4. Always publish regularly.

Once you have a posting schedule stick to it as closely as possible. This may not always happen, but really make an effort to be a dependable blogger. You won’t have to worry about your readers losing interest and failing to come back since they never see anything new.

5. Try to run a few fun contests.

One of the best ways to make sure that your readers are engaged is to run a contest. Offer a free giveaway or something similar to all of your readers. You can have them place their entries in the comments section of your blog.

6. Allow comments.

Today’s blog readers want to be able to interact with you and this means allowing comments. If you are worried that things may get out of hand, use a moderation feature which will allow you to preview all the comments before they go live on your site. This gives you the best of both worlds and will make your blog much more fun to read.

7. Have a little fun.

While it is important to be professional, you don’t need to be dreary. Don’t be afraid to change things up every now and again to keep your readers guessing. This will help increase your daily visits and your readers will want to check back more often.

These are just a few tips that can help you create a very reader friendly blog. You may also need to work with a blog management company to increase your readers and to stay on target with your goals.

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Originally posted 2008-07-02 05:41:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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This book claims to be the definitive guide to corporate blogging, so we were pretty interested to see what it had to offer. Right off the bat, the forward, which was written by Bob Lutz of GM (a corporate blogger) got our attention. It’s always nice to see books written by and for the intended audience, since this tends to produce a book that gets right to the point and manages to hit all the right notes.

Weil’s writing style is very conversational, which is very well suited for smaller companies that may not be all that up to date on the technical jargon or for those that are simply looking for a quick explanation that cuts through the hype. Readers expecting a highly technical tome would probably be disappointed, since the intended audience is really those who are not already into blogging, but looking for ways to help their company.

The author has been quite a celebrity in the corporate blogging world and has been credited with really explaining to the masses what this is all about. Her numerous television appearances and her own site have served as great education and the book really takes it to that next step. Inside, she answers all of the questions that a beginning corporate blogger may have, making it seem quite easy to get started.

By breaking down the entry barriers, Weil is making it much easier for anyone to start their own corporate blog. We appreciated the up-beat tone of the book and the way that she really presented her information without talking down to the reader. As the experts that got advance copies of the book stated, this can easily save you five to six months of heartache and get you started off on the right foot.

That is what really matters in the world of corporate blogging and for that, we give Weil high praise. She could have gone a little more in depth on a few topics, but overall, we found that the book was an easy read that got the job done. It isn’t probably a good book for those that already have a pretty good grasp of the technicalities of running their own blog, but it is very useful for those just starting out.

By getting through all of the stuff that can doom a corporate blog to failure and showing small and big companies how to go about corporate blogging the right way, Weil has performed a very important service. We highly recommend this book to anyone that is just starting out, especially if they are completely new to corporate blogging as a concept and as a means of reaching out to your customers. It was a quick read, and did exactly what it said it would. Anymore, that is a rare combination, especially when it comes to business advice books. It is well worth the time and is certainly a good reference book that you can go back to time and time again.

Originally posted 2008-08-15 05:47:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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