A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about what I’ve been up to and I asked your opinions on a few things. I was curious what you guys thought about me posting about health and fitness and I also asked how often you would be interested in hearing from me on this blog. Since then, I’ve had quite a bit of time to think and spent quite a while looking at other people’s blogs. I’ve studied many blogs from many marketers that I really respect.
After a lot of thinking and a lot of research, I decided that I was basically going to reinvent my blog. I basically decided I’m going to start over and take a completely different approach altogether.
The beginning of this is the complete redesign that you are currently looking at. I think it’s neat and clean and not too cluttered. I’d love to hear your opinions on it but I really like it.
I’m taking a brand new approach to how I market my blog as well. I’m going to put much more time and emphasis in to social marketing and making sure my blog is present everywhere. I’ve also brought a social element in to my blog with the Flickr photos in the sidebar as well as the new social media buttons across the top. On top of that, I started using a cool new tool that ensures my blog posts are syndicated across all of the popular social networks automatically. (I’ll talk about this tool in one of my next blog posts)
In regards to the questions that I asked a few weeks ago… I’ve made a few decisions on those. Some people didn’t like the idea of me discussing non-blogging / non-marketing topics, however, the overwhelming majority wanted to hear it all. Most people also believed that anywhere between three posts per week to one post per day was acceptable. However, anything beyond one post per day was too much and anything less than one post per week was too little.
To be pretty blunt… my decision is that I’m pretty much going to post what I want, when I want. If I’m in the mood to talk about health and fitness on my blog, I’m going to do it. The people who aren’t interested in hearing about it can simply skip that post and decide not to read it and jump back over when a post is more relevant to them. As far as frequency, I will probably rarely exceed one per day but I’m going to make an effort to do somewhere around five per week.
I’m going to worry less about the length of posts and more about just delivering cool content, ideas, stories, tools, videos, and more. I used to e-mail everyone whenever I did a new blog post. However, since I’m going to up the frequency of my posting, I’m probably not going to e-mail about every single blog post. I want to put more focus on getting people to subscribe to this blog through their favorite RSS readers. This will ensure that you’re always up to date with my latest posts every day. See the yellow button at the top of the page that says “Subscribe RSS”? If you click on that, you can subscribe to my blog with a favorite RSS reader or even have my latest blog posts sent to you via e-mail. It will be a great way to make sure your always up to date with what I have to say. (Trust me. I have a lot to say.)
Some upcoming blog post ideas:
- What blog readers really want to read (It’s not “how-to” articles).
- The fastest way to encourage loads of interaction on your blog.
- Christmas gift ideas for the bloggers and marketers in your life.
- Instant credibility and visibility by using this one idea.
- My productivity secrets. (This will probably be a long one)
- My favorite tools to integrate social marketing with my blog.
My list is several pages long… These are just a few ideas to expect over the next week and a half or so…
I always love hearing your thoughts and feedback. Please a comment below because I absolutely love reading what you have to say. Also… Please sign up as an RSS subscriber to ensure that you get all of my upcoming posts delivered to you. I promise that I will make it worth your while!
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Hey Matt!
I think I need an update
I like it. Its clean and neat and well organized
Hi Matt, I like the way the blog is organized, but I miss your picture in the header! You have such sincerity in really wanting to help folks, and that came through in your picture. -Norene
Thanks Norene. I’ll have to figure out a nice way to implement it. You’re not the only person to say that so I’ll have to figure something out.
Matt
Matt, How about replying to your service tickets regarding promised bonuses that have never been delivered?
ie. Viral Elite for Hyper FB Traffic – promised for late October, but never delivered and no response at all from your support desk! I have proof of email delivery.
Hi Kerry,
Viral Elite has hit some bumps during bug testing. We wanted to make sure that everything was just right before we started putting it in to people’s hands. It looks like we should only be a few days off now.
Not sure why you haven’t received a response from support. I’ll shoot them a message and see what’s up.
Matt
Hi Matt,
Love your new blog style. Maybe I’m just a bit slow with social marketing. I read with interest your upcoming posts and would love to see your take on how best to incorporate a social marketing strategy.
I like the new look. Can’t wait to hear what’s on your mind. I am a pro user in the WordPress Classroom and have learned a lot from you.
Hey Matt,
Nice clean look. I’m ready to read and learn.
Mark
Hi Matt,
I think its wonderful that you have other things on your blog! I love reading Joel Comm’s blog and he talks about whatever is on his mind.
I liked your old theme, but this theme is very professional, too. Is there any way you can put your picture on it so folks know who you are?
Thanks for stepping out of the zone!
Lisa~
Thanks Lisa. I’m a fan of Joel’s blog as well. When I saw him start posting about health stuff, I decided that it shouldn’t be a problem on my blog either.
I’m also a fan of Jason Moffatt’s and he literally posts about whatever he wants…
Thanks so much for commenting!
Matt
Hi Matt,
I love the blog but with my color blind deficiency I am having trouble reading it. If you could choose a text color with better contrast it would help.
Hey Matt,
Nice update. You and I are definitely on the same page here. My recent blog redesign was the first step in what will be far more frequent blogging throughout 2011. My own posting frequency is going to increase and I am also going to do more guest posting. Good stuff mate, looking forward to seeing what you have lined up.
David
Hi David
I noticed that you said you were going to do more guest posting.
I have a section on my blog for guest posting and I’m always on the lookout for contributors.
It would be a privilage for me to have you as a contributor on my blog.
And of course I will always reciprocate.
Best Regards.
Malcolm#
Hey Matt,
Good job on the redesign! Much easier to read. I’ll look forward to receiving your blog posts. Thanks.
Hey Matt,
Nice work. Modern, clear and helpful.
Regards
Craig
I’m looking forward to seeing what you have coming up on your new blog design. I want to make some improvements to my own blog. One suggestion for you – change your font color from gray to black. It’ll be much easier to read.
Thanks Angela! I’ll play around with the colors and see if I can get it easier to read.
Matt
Hi Matt
The blog is looking great, I really like the theme, very clean and easy to navigate.
Paul.
Hey Matt,
I like the clean and brightness of your blog. The only thing in my opinion is to darken the text a little. I am older and need to read with glasses.
Writing about what you want to write is a great thing, it’s your blog.
I am actually combining my blog with internet marketing and alternative health(just starting). Like you said if people don’t want to read your health stuff they will just skip it.
Fran
Hey Matt
There’s lots I like about the redesign…sliders and so forth…but I have to agree with some of the commenters in regards to the contrast of the text…
Now you should know what us oldies are like ,,,lol
Best Regards.
Malcolm #
Hi Matt,
Coming finto the Baby Boomer age of 65, a greater contrast with the text and the background would definitely improve the readablility of your blog.
Wishing you contined success!
Cheryl Coccaro
Hi Matt
Like the new design but like some other not too keen on the colour of the text. IMO it needs to be darker – I too am a Baby Boomer and need all the help I can get even with glasses!!
Hi Matt,
I found posting every 3 days is working well for me though I am not sure how often I want to add Adsense or other affiliate links. For now I am going with every fifth post. It seems to me that not appearing to constantly pitching products add creditability to my blog.
I do have another comment based on a webinar you recently gave about the top 5 wordpress plug-ins.
Specifically it would be helpful if you show exactly which plug-in you use as typing in WordPress Database Backup showed numerous plug-ins and I had to review twice the webinar to figure out which one you were using. In most of your example you did demonstrate which plug-in however that specific one you didn’t.
Hey Dan,
Thanks for that. I’ll put together a free PDF report to compliment the webinar and mail it out.
Good idea!
Matt
Hi Matt,
I’m new to looking at your stuff, but very impressed and I an learning a lot! How you have redesigned your blog is much food for thought! One of the many things I need to get around to doing! Thanks!
Matt, blog looks good and I like the comment boxes — cool. The only thing I’m not keen on is the text: it’s a little light. A tad blacker would suit me.
Thx.
Hi Matt,
I like your new blog design, it’s very clean looking and well structured. However, the colors and contrast could use some tweaking as it’s not easy on the eyes. Other than that, it looks great!
Love your new look. Actually I love all of it. What theme is this. I also love your comment section. And I look forward to reading your blog no matter what you are going to be talking about.
Hey Matt,
It’s good to change every now and again. But I agree with Sara Dillinger and the others above. Get the contrast right, also in this comment box for example. Or you will loose readers to whom this lack of contrast is simply too tiring for the poor old eyes.
For the rest nice and calm design. Maybe it would even be calmer if you left out the numbers of the people who follow you etc. Is it important? The less clutter, the better.
Well… I am looking forward to the coming posts!
Cheers,
JP
Hey Matt!
That is the most beautiful theme for your new blog.
I really like love it. I create blogs and that it one of the best I have seen lately.
Turquoise is my favorite color and I am envious. Wonder where you happened to get this beautiful theme?
Hi Kathryn,
Check out ThemeForest.net. They have a ton of amazing looking WordPress themes.
Matt
Thanks so much to everyone who has commented. I really do appreciate your feedback. Hopefully by the end of the day today, I’ll have the colors fixed so that it’s easier on the eyes.
Thanks again!
Matt
Hey Matt,
I’m a big fan of yours, but I must say I’m not a big fan of your new blog design. Let me explain why.
First off I do think the design is far too cluttered, and one doesn’t know where to look when first getting to the site.
But here’s my main argument. I think the one area Internet marketers have been dead wrong for many years is in the area of branding.
The advice people have given for years now is that it’s not about “you” it’s about the customer. I couldn’t disagree more. If you look at the heavy hitters in the IM industry guys like Frank Kern, John Reese, and Ryan Deiss come to mind.
In my view the reason these guys are so successful is because they have built a personal relationship with their audience.
In fact just the other day my girlfriend made fun of me because I told her about this new plugin Matt told me about, and she said, “who’s Matt” and I had to explain that it was actually some random stranger who’s email list I was on.
So, my advice. Go back to the big header with your pic on it….just a thought
Victor
Hi Matt, Joel Comm is another big hitter who blogs about personal issues as well as internet business.
But tell me, now that you’ve completely rethought your approach to blogging, does that mean that everthing on your membership site (which I subsribe to) is now out of date and I should ignore it?
Peter
Hey Peter,
Nothing that is taught in the WordPress Classroom is outdated. I’ve changed my philosophy on what I’m personally going to blog about and how often I’m going to blog. The WordPress Classroom teaches how to get everything set up. Everyone should make up their own minds on how often they blog and what they want to blog about… That’s an issue that’s not discussed inside any videos in the WordPress Classroom. That’s a personal opinion / taste issue.
Matt
Gotta agree with the last couple who wrote….what happened to your font size??
Otherwise I look forward to reading more.
Hi Matt, I have say I agree. My blog at davidacobb.com is primarily about my journey with adsense but it is also about me and what is important to me. I don’t have a lot of followers yet, but that’s OK because it is about me not them
I love the new layout, and I think your advice is gold. If you include stuff that isn’t blogging, that’s OK by me:-)
Hi Matt,
Did you use Artisteer to make this blog? I am asking I was wondering how you got the comment box the way it looks here as well as the rotating blog posts at the top. Thanks! -Norene
Hi Norene,
This is actually a custom theme that I purchased and then modified to my liking. You can find many like it over at http://ThemeForest.net
Hope that helps,
Matt
Hey Matt,
Just a reminder that it is time to blog again. Stop working on the new site long enough to update this one…….I’m waiting.
Hi Matthew,
I just read your Rapid List Building ebook. Congratulations! It is a very well written program which can have anyone building a list of subscribers in no time.
Your techniques work, I know they do since they are the same ones I use to build my list.
Great job and I look forward to your future work.
John