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Okay, it’s been more than a decade.  But shhhh….!

As part of the 31 Days Blog Challenge, I spent time today reading what some very smart people have written about blogging and business online.

They’re brilliant so I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite gems.  I recommend not just these posts, but pretty much anything on their blogs (subscribe!).
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I meant to share this yesterday and forgot.  If the 31 day blog challenges just feel like more than you’re ready for, then the 10 day mini blog challenge is perfect for you!

Here’s the scoop from Michele:

The Mini 10 Blog Challenge begins on Sunday August 22nd.  We have had so many people express the desire to join our blog challenge, because they know how beneficial it can be, but felt like it was too late for them to get started so we decided to run a shorter mini challenge at the end of the month.  You register for free and commit to blog 10 times in the last 10 days of the month.  Be sure to join us on Twitter by using the hashtag #mini10 for the 10 day challenge and #blogboost for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  For best results you might want to use both hashtags!  Good Luck and Happy Blogging!

You can sign up here -> http://ultimateblogchallenge.com/wp-login.php?action=register

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If you write articles or blog, you’ve probably hit writer’s block once or twice (maybe more…). Here are some quick places you can jump-start your creativity and brainstorm ideas.

Check Out the News: What’s happening in the news? Is there an event, occasion, holiday, or something else you can write about? Don’t just look at national or world news, also look at what’s happening in your local area for ideas.

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If you’ve been putting a lot of time into creating unique and helpful content from your blog, don’t overlook the easy ways you can leverage that content and repurpose it to help you reach more people.  What can you do with it?

1.  Podcast It

Creating a podcast from your blog content is easy.  Just begin reading your posts into recordings.  You don’t even need to be high tech to do this.  With CinchCast it’s as easy as creating an account and then dialing into a phone number to create your audio file by phone.  AudioBoo is another free option that’s easy to setup and allows you to record from your computer or upload a pre-recorded file.

Once you’ve got your podcast setup you can syndicate it through iTunes and get your own fan club of subscribers.  You can also add an audio player to your website for those who prefer to listen instead of read.

2.  YouTube It
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Since we got several questions about how to use a Twitter #hashtag for the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I created a video to show you how it works.

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Got writer’s block trying to come up with your next blog post?  Break out of it with these alternative ideas for blog posts.

Do an Interview: You could interview a client, a reader, or an expert.  You could even build a series of posts around interviews or create a weekly interview feature on your blog.  Start by creating a list of who you’d like to interview, then create a list of questions.  Next send those questions to your interview subjects by email.  Be sure to let them know why you’d like to interview them and request their permission to publish their responses on your blog.  You could also conduct the interviews by phone or Skype and create an audio recording to share instead of written blog post.

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When you’ve got a goal of posting every day for a month, it can be a challenge!  Make it easier with these tips:

Plan Your Content In Advance

Get your content plan ready and it’ll be as easy as following a map.  Start with a calendar for the month.  Look at what else you’ve got happening during the month.  Are there any holidays?  Promotions or special offers you want to share?  Are you launching a new product or offering a teleclass?  Is there a product you want to promote as an affiliate?  Block out the dates that you want to be sure you’re sharing posts around a specific event or topic and then you can see what’s left to fill in with other topics.

Write Topical Series

If you’re launching a new program that teaches readers how to create and paint their own neon purple widgets, then plan for a week or so of posts with content cenetered on that topic.  For example:

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Do you need motivation to help you blog consistently?  If so, a blog challenge might be just the thing for you!

A Blog Challenge is when a group of bloggers get together and set a goal to post to their blogs daily for a set number of days (for example, one month).  During the challenge they support each other by visiting the blogs of the other participants and leaving comments, tweeting and sharing their posts, and interacting.

Participating in a blog challenge can help you stay motivated and connect with others who share your goal.  It can also help you make connections and get to know other bloggers.

One of the most obvious benefits of a blog challenge is the big boost in traffic that can happen when you have others visiting your blog who want to support you and help you promote your blog.

But there are many other benefits!

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