FlashXML.net wrote an interesting (and useful) blog about the reasons employers look at your Facebook account.

The article lists 10 reasons that are unique in some ways, but all pretty much boil down to this: Are you an honest, upright person? To put it another way: Are you the kind of person that employers want working for them?

This article got me thinking, and not about my secret life as a lip-dub star and the voice behind the Bronx Zoo Cobra Twitter account. No, it got me thinking about how your business is no different than an employee in this article. And your employer is every person who has ever considered doing business with you.

Think about that… Every person… Ever.

Have a look at not just your Facebook Page, but at all of your social media (and your web presence as a whole). Are you putting off the vibe of a reputable and authentic business? Or are you putting off the vibe of the equivalent to an employee who calls in sick and then spends all day posting videos on his friend’s walls?

Keep in mind, that your web-presence should always be an accurate representation of your business. If your business really IS the equivalent to our bad-employee example, there are other issues to address first. But assuming your business is legit, you owe it to yourself to have a second look at your online reputation.

• blogging for money
• make money blogging
• make money by blogging

and so the list continues as expected, with obviously a large percentage of the volume dedicated to those of us looking to spike site traffic and hit the big win to blogging and marketing paradise.

But a second, more intriguing number of keywords indicates that knowledge seeking is giving the “make money blogging” crowd a run for its search engine glory:

• what is blogging
• explain blogging
• blogging preschool? (couldn’t have made that up if I tried)
• what is the meaning of blogging (very deep)

Now either we’re being overrun by Internet existentialists, or there’s something to be said about the demand for good, valuable content with insights into blogging. Which brings me to a larger point.

While blogging is certainly a valuable vehicle for gaining inbound links and subsequent traffic boosts, increased rankings and so on, it’s also a perfect platform for you and your brand to engage with your customers on a whole different level.

Think value before traffic. Think blogging tutorials for beginners. Think about how you can offer these blogging-intrigued enthusiasts a helping hand.

Do this, and watch both your traffic AND reputation in relevant communities spike.

The tips provided actually would work equally as well for blogging, or even website copy… So be sure to check it out!

Have a look for yourself at the link below:

Writing E-mail Marketing Copy That Sells

Here are 3 strategies you can start using today to get more listening to what you have to say.

1. Give away information – If there’s one thing everyone loves, it’s free stuff. While you can’t give your product or service away for free (or can you?), you can give some information away for free.

Dan Miller is a successful career coach and author. Having multiple nationally published books, Dan isn’t afraid to give information away on his blog, website, or podcast. In fact if you listen and read his content long enough, you can basically figure out the content of his books before ever turning a page.

He’s very open about this and routinely mentions it to his audience. But that hasn’t stopped his success. In fact, he’ll be the first to tell you it has actually fueled his success.

2. Be controversial – This may not be for everyone, but if your goal is to get people talking there’s no better way than to say something controversial.

John C. Dvorak is a tech-journalist who makes his career out of being controversial. Whether he’s raising doubts about the aptitude of the U.S. CIO, or claiming Apple should’ve pulled the plug on the iPhone before it was released, John will say anything to get people talking… And it works. Millions read his blog every month and he’s a highly sought-after author and news-correspondent.

If you’re brave, get out there and speak your mind. Whether good or bad, people will be talking about you.

3. Make Mistakes – There’s a widely-held misconception that you have to be perfect in the eyes of your audience. While true in some arenas,in the arena of digital marketing this simply isn’t the case. The goal is to create dialogue. If you’re providing all of the answers, what is left for your audience to say?

ProBlogger has a great take on this subject:

Play dumb or make mistakes. If you write a fabulous, seamless post, you will likely get comments like “great post.” If you demonstrate that your knowledge is slightly lacking or ask a question of your readers directly or fumble around a bit, you will have people (women especially) clambering to help a poor soul out. There’s a reason women talk a lot… we like to give advice. Open yourself up to be the receiver of some advice, and you’ll get more comments.

Your audience won’t view your humility as a sign of ineptitude or weakness, but rather will see it as a strength that you’re willing to listen to what your customers have to save.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll have more eyeballs viewing your marketing. Keep in mind, these strategies aren’t the end of your marketing, but only the beginning. Attracting an audience means nothing if you can’t turn them into happy customers. Stick with us and we’ll explore the rest of the marketing process in the coming months!