Promoting Your Blog By Link Exchange

In my Advice on Guest Posting post I promised you to talk about another and easier way to promote your blog via other blogs, which is link exchange! So here I’m keeping my word 🙂

What is link exchange?

It is a very simple process to increase traffic on your website: a blogger contacts another one and asks for a link exchange, which means that he/she will give away his website’s link and details for the other blogger to advertise it on its site, like for example in a sidebar, and vice versa.

Uh?

5 Tips to Make Your Website Appear Professional

Another blogging tip for you today! Especially for those who intend to blog or create a website dedicated for real business you know… like ProBlogger.com, About.com…

So you’ve decided to make your living out of a website? These are 5 main things I noticed with professional blogs, company blogs… and you should abide by them to be successful:

1. Keep It Simple

The design should not be extravagant. Professional can mean simple too. Don’t you notice how most of the well-known website have a white background? Your blog should not be too colourful. I’d advise you to choose a neutral colour ranging from white to black. I won’t really recommend black though… I prefer to read black on white than white on black. (Why do you think they changed blackboards to whiteboards?) If you insist on the black you can add some colour but not too much, not too complex. An example of black background but still professional: www.makeupgeek.com.

The font should be simple too. Use Verdana or other similar to that font. It is much easier to read. After all when readers get their first impression of your website (which is always visual) they should be attracted to what is being written and not be distracted by your funky designs… What you communicate through your blog is the most important! About.com is a very good example of all I’ve said so far.

2. Original Banner

Your design might be simple… but it must also be unique. It must be made by you – or your partner or any friend… Your banner, your badge should not be a picture from google. This can follow your imagination. The banner is different from your blog design. A banner can be exaggerated but depending on the subject you’re specialising into, it must perfectly fit in!

3. Advertising but not too much

When I enter a website I don’t like to see lots of advertising popping out of nowhere or preventing me from reading your stuff. I then have to search where the article begins and this is annoying. I feel lost. Therefore most of the time I just go back to google to search for another  “clean” and informative blog.

Of course, you can advertise YOUR blog on search engines, etc as much as you want. Just don’t put in lots of other advertisings in your website itself.

4. The Contact Info Tab

The reader should find it easy to contact you. A tab or notice at the end of each post or page is recommended. Be easily accessible especially if your website involves a company, jobs, services…

5. About YOU

The reader would like to know more about you before contacting you. He wants opinions, an overview on your potential. An About me/us page is crucial! And also: the article should be written IN THE 3rd PERSON! What I mean is instead of writing: “Hi my name is Daphnee (SURNAME), a professional makeup artist. I mainly work in bridal looks…” you should write: “Daphnee (SURNAME) is a professional makeup artist. Her career has mainly been devoted to bridal looks…”

Got it right? You are now ready to start your business! Good luck! 🙂

PS: Don’t mistake my blog for an example because this is NOT a professional blog! 😉

Blogging Yours,

An Evil Nymph.