7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

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{ 7 Free Blogging Tools to Attract New Readers Stephanie Vermillion | @SMVermillion www.stephanievermillion.com

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Page 1: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

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7 Free Blogging Tools to Attract New Readers

Stephanie Vermillion | @SMVermillion

www.stephanievermillion.com

Page 2: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

Keyword Planner helps you refine your blog topics based on search traffic.

You enter the key phrase you’d like to write about, and it shares traffic for that term, plus other variations that may be more popular.

Reminders: Don’t choose a keyword based solely on traffic.

Typically, those high-traffic keywords are tough to rank for, and your topic should matter to your audience first and foremost. Use Keyword Planner as a backstop, not your sole editorial planning tool.

The “competition” in Keyword Planner isn’t actually competition for how you’ll rank in search engines.

It’s competition for certain Google AdWords, which is entirely separate. To evaluate organic search engine competition, you need to evaluate domain authority, which is why you should start using …

1. Google AdWords Keyword Planner

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Page 3: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

MozBar is a Chrome extension that lets you analyze a certain site’s domain and page authorities, on-page SEO elements, social shares and more.

To analyze Google competition, use Google with your MozBar on and type in the keyword you’d like to rank for.

It will display domain authority for sites ranking for your chosen keyword. (You can find your domain authority for comparison’s sake by turning MozBar on while you’re on your site.)

Compare domain authorities of those ranking to your blog site.

If the competition is way ahead of you, think of long-tail variations of that keyword that have less traffic (but also less competition) so you have a good shot at a high rank.

2. MozBar

Results when searching “blogging tips” in Google

using MozBar

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Page 4: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

With Ubersuggest, enter a keyword, and the platform shares an A-Z list of all the words Google searchers have added onto the end of that phrase.

Example: If I type in “basketball,” Ubersuggest tells me that people

searched “basketball shoes,” “basketball positions,” “basketball rules,” etc., etc.

Take it further: If I click on the plus sign for a certain term (say “basketball

hoop”), Ubersuggest lists out additional long-tail keywords people are looking for. How’s that for efficient blog-topic generation?

3. Ubersuggest

Results after entering the term “basketball” in

Ubersuggest

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Page 5: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

I have a StumbleUpon extension on Chrome, and after I publish a blog post, I upload it to a “public relations” list on the platform.

I do this with the Pinterest Chrome extension, too.

4. StumbleUpon

My StumbleUpon public relations list (for posts)

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Page 6: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

For a final set of eyes before publishing, copy and paste your post into the Hemingway App. It analyzes your content to tell you:

Which sentences are hard to read, Which sentences are very hard to read, When you have too many adverbs, When words or phrases can be simpler, and When you’re using passive voice.

5. Hemingway App

From Hemingway App

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Page 7: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

Topsy compiles a list of everyone who shares your content – whether they tagged you or not.

It’s a true goldmine for building relationships with new readers.

I check whenever I can to see which tweeters I need to thank for sharing my posts.

6. Topsy

I found a lot of people sharing this post without

tagging me – so I used Topsy to interact with them, and now they’re new followers.

www.stephanievermillion.com

Page 8: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

Every so often, I turn one of my blog posts into a SlideShare presentation (usually the list posts work best).

Once uploaded, you can embed the SlideShare deck on LinkedIn, WordPress and other sites to further engage followers.

Also, SlideShare presentations appear in search results, so it’s yet another way to ensure your hard work is visible.

7. SlideShare

My blog post SlideShare presentation embedded on

my LinkedIn profile.

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Page 9: 7 free blogging tools to attract new readers

To read the full post, visit Stephanie Vermillion’s blog:

PR State of Mind

More Information

www.stephanievermillion.com