It’s only been a few weeks but I’m loving every minute of it. On my old commenting system (through WordPress), I couldn’t post a reply to a comment directly below a person’s comment. You’d have to scroll down and try to figure out who I was referencing. This is nesty and cozy, we don’t have to shout over 16 other comments to get to each other.

To get the most out of this, simply set up a free account on Disqus. You’ll start noticing more and more blogs are using this as a system for comments. What’s cool is that you can log into your Disqus account and see ALL the comments you’ve left around the blogosphere, get known by bloggers as a top notch reader/commenter, and drive a little visibility your way by creating a profile. (Be sure to upload your photo and put a link to your blog in your profile)

It integrates beautifully with social media platforms which means, in my lingo, you’ll go farther , faster and easier. You don’t need to understand all the bells and whistles (I don’t but I’m learning!), you can pick those up in time or by visiting the Disqus site.

By the way, I pronounce it “discuss” which makes sense, but I also hear people saying it like “discus” as in the field event. Whateva, all that matters here is that it makes comments get some extra juice and creates a win-win for all.

Go ahead and try it out by leaving a comment here. Enjoy!

In a recent post 3 Tips to Leverage Your Blog,I shared how inviting guest bloggers is a great way to keep your blog content consistently publishing without you having to come up with all the content.

I pay close attention to the voices around me and who I resonate with. So a few months ago, I started contacting some friends who are great writers and tops in their fields and asked them to start contributing to the Viva Visibility Blog.

In no particular order, the regulars will be:

Michele PW is a web copy and sales conversion expert. She’s also funny as all get out and weaves in topics you’ll never hear from me, namely football and border collies. Michele’s nickname is the “Kaching!” marketing strategist because at the end of the day, she wants to make sure your efforts are paying off. You’ll learn from her how a simple word tweak here and there can dramatically change your results. So you’ll get sales writing tips and a little armchair quarterbacking… what a combo!

Shannon Cherry will be writing about publicity in an ever changing publicity landscape. Shannon is the writer of The Power Publicist blog and she’s one I always read and pay close attention to. She’s infinitely creative and someone I’m always excited to learn from. Plus, Shannon is the mother of the two most adorable twin girls so from time to time you’ll get some pretty cool analogies thrown into the mix.

Maria Reyes McDavis is the wildly wonderful diva behind my blog. I love her because she’s smart, knows the latest greatest ways to drive traffic, AND she isn’t afraid to raise eyebrows.  She’s on the frontlines of social media marketing and has a penchant for ranting over fads and supposed marketing panaceas. She has no fear of controversy and calling things as they are. She’s our resident tough girl, always a nice way to balance things out.

Sandra Martini, whom I lovingly call “The Sass from Mass” regularly kicks my butt when it comes to being as effective, efficient, and profitable as possible. I’m now turning her loose on you… get ready for a big reality check for your business! She’s the person you bring your Vision Board to and say, “OK, now what do I do?”. Sandy will be sharing her expertise on getting things done right the first time and how to save time while making more money. I like that formula!

Lou Bortone, the creator of LouTube, will be sharing his funny and informative tips for video marketing and branding. He’s been there done that with video, having a past life as a TV executive and video producer. He’s also a fantastic writer and has ghost written some big name books. Lou also has a fascination with wise guys and goodfellas… so if you don’t like his blog posts, be careful you don’t end up sleeping with the fishies.

and a number of guest bloggers at large including:

Dr. Fern Kazlow is the person I go to when I’m ready to play a bigger game and step into the me I truly know I’m supposed to be.  Her insights into the human spirit AND business make her the ultimate success coach for entrepreneurs. Dr. K will be writing specifically about how to handle the inner side of success. She’s the safety net everyone with a high visibility level needs on their side.

Leesa Barnes is the Grande Dame of virtual events, having organized telesummits and podcasts when most folks were still sending messages via carrier pigeon. She will be sharing how to make the most of your online visibility via virtual events so you can reach more people without having to physically travel the globe.

MaryPat Kavanagh is the expert I turn to for information on Joint Ventures.  When you start getting popular and the world wants to partner with you, you must follow her tips to be sure it’s a win for all.  A master of systems, she shows you how to make joint ventures resounding successes… instead of draining disappointments.

plus members of my Women Making an Impact Mastermind Program! I’ve invited my clients to share how their businesses are making an impact and you’ll see a special spotlight shined on them.

And of course, you still have me blogging about social media lead generation, positioning yourself as an expert, attraction marketing, creative musings, and much more.

Unlike social media sites, a blog is your piece of cyber real estate, and no one can deactivate your account or suddenly change the terms of service on you. You own it and with that power comes the opportunity to direct how to leverage your blog for maximum results.
When used in conjunction with a strong social media presence, your blog can serve as a powerful tool to drive traffic, establish you as an authority, and bring new opportunities your way.

Here are 3 quick and easy tips you can start using today to get more traffic and visibility for your blog:

1. Import your blog to your Social Media Sites

Most social media sites like Facebook and Linked In allow you an option to import your blog so it automatically updates on multiple sites with no additional effort on your part. In Facebook, you simply go to “Notes” and import your blog from there. (You will need to know your blog’s RSS feed to do that). On other sites, you’ll look for an icon of your blog’s platform, such as WordPress, TypePad, or Blogger. Click that, enter your user information, and the rest is done for you.

2. Tweet your Posts

Links to blog posts (especially when they have great titles!) are an excellent way to bring traffic and provide great content for your followers. Next time you post on your blog, be sure to let your Tweeps know and provide an easy link to click on. You can automate this action also with a number of services. My favorites are HootSuite , Twitterfeed,  and SocialOomph (formerly TweetLater)

3. Invite guest writers

This tip merits an entire post (if not an intensive class) because it holds so much potential. The more your blog publishes, the more traffic you’ll get, especially when the content is rich with great keywords and consistent topics. Consider opening up your blog to include posts by other writers. They can fill in on the days you need a break. When you add the efforts of others, it leverages your time, visibility AND keeps the traffic flowing 7 days a week!

Your blog holds great potential, especially with the easy ways to leverage it with social media. There are many more things I can add to this list, but I wanted to give you a couple of easy to quick start action steps so you can begin enjoying increased visibility with less effort.

If you’d like to add more leverage tips or chime in on how any of these 3 strategies are working for you, please drop a comment!