1. Optimize Your Post

If you’ve been here before, you will already know the importance of using keywords in your blog posts. A recent study by blogger.com from August 2014, shows that although 60% of businesses have blogs, 65% of those spaces haven’t been updated in the past year. So whether you’re old or new to us, we suggest that there’s nothing wrong with giving all of your posts an SEO review.

It’s important to keep your content fresh and modestly packed with keywords that are relevant to what people are searching for today. Not to mention, adding SEO to your images which are just another opportunity to be found on the web.

2. Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

If you don’t have time for anything else, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are your main channels through which to send your posts out to the sphere. If you didn’t catch it, our latest piece taught you how you can create Social Media Posts on the Fly using our Professional Online Marketing Toolkit. Sending your post through these channels will be the first place to go and will continue to get you the same amount of attention—so far this is probably getting you likes, but we can do better.

3. StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon was founded in 2002 and is a discovery engine that finds and recommends web content to its users—being you. After you sign up for an account you are able to “stumble” and rate different blogs and webpages, and others will be doing the same for you. This means that you will be getting more views that can translate to more likes and shares of your content.

4. Google +

Many people have created an account, but aren’t really sure how to maximize its use. In their Complete Guide, Mashable asks users why someone should use Google+. They received over 500 positive responses advocating for the platform including: “a cleaner way to selectively share data with others,” “a lack of distracting elements,” the ability to “share based on mutual interests and get exposure to interesting people and ideas”. Google+, at the end of 2013, was receiving 1.2 million page views per month.

5. Delicious

Similar to StumbleUpon, Delicious is a social bookmarking web service for discovering new web pages according to interests. They make it very simple to add web pages.

6. Friends and Colleagues

Don’t be shy about asking friends and colleagues to share your content. As long as it’s quality (which we already know that it is), your associates won’t mind giving it a little push. The more people in your circles you get to pass it on means more exposure to their circles and so on.

 7. Link to Your Own Past Blog Posts

Wherever possible, link to your past blog posts. Just because it was written last month, doesn’t mean that it isn’t still relevant to your reader. Presenting them with a link lets them know that it’s there. By doing this, you’re still adding to the virality of your past posts while simultaneously enhancing the information on your most recent—creating more reason for people to share.

 8. Reference Other People’s Blog Posts

Referencing content from other people or businesses with the same interests helps you to get noticed. Directing people to other experts in your field shows that you are familiar with the leaders in your industry, the literature that they write and you aren’t afraid to share the wealth. These people will come to you for their next question.

9. Add it to Your Newsletter

If you are writing for a business blog, they may send out a monthly newsletter to keep your potential customers updated on the latest news in your company. You’ll want to secure a spot to include a summary of your posts for the month—these readers are actually interested in receiving your content.

10. Add it to Your Signature

Adding your URL to the bottom of your email signature is simple, but effective. Add the name of your blog plus a path to click and you’ve instantly increased the potential eyes on your space. You’ll be promoting your content without even thinking about it.

Optimizing your post, shameless social media posting, subscribing to social bookmarking sites, sharing within your own circles, back-linking, using your company newsletter and adding to your email signature are all ways to make your blog posts go viral. Add these steps to your marketing mix when promoting your blogs and watch your numbers immediately increase.

Let us know the results with any comments or questions on Facebook.

Creating a successful infographic requires just as much dedication as a written blog post though it is not difficult and it is not the exclusive domain of the tech savvy. Happily, drag and drop software has been developed that does much of the work for you. We’re partial to Pikto Chart and Infogr. They offer cool, free designs to start you off, complete with tutorials on how to use them. Both resources work on a premium model and upgrading is optional.

Although it’s easy to add the information, it’s important to note that a good infographic doesn’t create itself. Solid work is required in order for your creation to benefit your business and reach a broad audience. The following 5 tips are essential to crafting an infographic that goes viral.

Choose an Interesting Topic and Catchy Title

When picking a topic, avoid turning away readers with the same old facts and ideas. Aim to surprise them with new or unexpected facts and present your information from an angle that hasn’t been seen before. Don’t be afraid to add humour into the mix – it’s a great way to add personality and audiences typically enjoy it.

Diversify Your Sources and Statistics

Create a file or Pinterest account to save a variety of quotes and amazing facts from a range of sources. Jot down facts that stand out and attract your attention – be sure to add in some of your own ideas and mark them as original. Use a combination of verified statistics and unique ideas to create something that hasn’t yet been seen.

Promote, Promote, Promote!

If you want your infographic to go viral, you have to work for it. Maximize your social sharing by being strategic with Facebook posting – the more you post in a day, the more the algorithm filters you off the feed and no one will see what you have to say. Noon is the best time to post, expect most people to be on their lunch breaks at this time. In terms of twitter, try using Click to Tweet to make it easier for Web users to share your work in one click. Lastly, don’t forget to include a link back to your website, it’s all about connection.

Don’t Overload It

Resist the urge to include facts just because you have them. Choose only the most meaningful data that you feel will encourage your audience to take action. Ask yourself if you would be moved by what’s in front of you. If not, it’s likely that your readers will feel the same way and bypass you.

Notify Websites and Blogs

It’s a good idea to have an outreach plan. Keeping your target audience in mind, build relationships with like-minded bloggers and websites related to your chosen topic. Reach out to as many people as possible to spread the word about your fantastic new infographic – it may get you featured!

The successful infographic, a clever piece of combined art and data, is a concise and effective communication tool. If the content is meaningful and unique and it is a collation of data that has never before been seen together, if it is concise and convenient to read and you put the hard work in to push it out, it is far more likely to go viral than a straight copy presentation.

Sources: Kiss Metrics, Customer Magnetism &10 Online Communications and Fundraising Best Practices, webinar, Feb. 2014