Your First Few Blog Posts

Your First Few Blog Posts

by Caroline Middlebrook

This article primarily applies if you are starting a new blog from scratch but you can also use it to prepare for a period of absence from your blog such as when you might go on holiday for example.

The golden rule is not to launch an empty blog! If you have done some planning before launching you will have an idea of what your blog is about, the major topics you will be covering and so on but your brand new readers don't know any of this. If all they see is a single introductory post then you have not given them any reason to come back to your blog again or to subscribe.

As the blog matures over time it builds a collection of posts and there are many ways in which you can use these to encourage new visitors to subscribe but you don't have this advantage when you first start a new blog.

Write 6 Posts (roughly) in Advance

The trick is to compromise - I recommend writing about half a dozen posts in advance. In this way when you launch your readers have a nice selection of posts to read and hopefully you will have given them enough reason to remember you and to subscribe to your feed.

Later in the article I'll show you how to manage the timing of these intial posts but for now just get them written. Now let's talk about what you should write about in those early posts.

Write An Introduction To Yourself

A good start for the first post or two is to write some kind of introduction to yourself. You can discuss who you are and how you came to be writing this blog. Some blog styles are more receptive to this kind of personal information than others but all blogs can benefit from a human touch as it reminds readers that there is a real human being behind the writing.

Don't Make it ALL About You!

Unless your blog happens to be all about you and your life, you want to be careful not to go overboard here - don't make those first few posts all about you! Only those with a particular interest in you will find it interesting and you come back to the problem of not demonstrating what your blog is about.

By all means take a couple of posts to give a bit of personal background but then use your remaining ones to create some good quality content that centers on some of the major topics that your blog will cover. Ask yourself if what you are writing is likely to encourage people to come back for more.

Using the WordPress Timestamp Feature

If you are using WordPress to write your blog, when you publish a blog post it will immediately appear live on your blog. However there is an option to allow you to edit the timestamp of the post.

You can use this timestamp feature in one of two ways. Firstly when you are writing your initial posts as I have described in this article, you may well write them all at the same time but you want to make it look as though you have written over perhaps a week or two. You can set the timestamps in the past to backdate them so it looks like your blog has been active for a while.

You can also set the dates in the future and what this does it schedules your post for future publication. This is especially useful if you know you are going to be away for a while and wont be able to publish posts live. - 20490

Caroline Middlebrook has been writing a popular blog since August 2007 which earns a 4-figure monthly income. She teaches how to (http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/make-money-blogging-bloggers-bible-fast-track/) earn money blogging and offers free downloads of her (http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/books-guides/) free guides & courses.

Tips for getting your blog listed above your competition

Tips for getting your blog listed above your competition

by Brenden Arnicke

Blogging is a ton of fun, but it can get boring fast if no one comes to your site! Getting your blog ranked high in search results for your main key words must be your objective to get traffic. Remember that this will take a while, but totally do-able.

For you to be successful in this endeavor, you'll need to know about SEO or Search Optimization. You'll want to start out by understanding which key words you're going to focus in on. Those are what searchers are looking for with Google and Yahoo! and how your blog will come up. Often, those words will get higher rankings than others, so it's better to use ones that people also use. Don't forget that if other people are competing for the same words, it's going to be harder for you get your blog listed well. However, you might find some less competitive words that do well for you.

For the time being - just concentrate on your main keywords. Find a large one that will take more time to rank for, and a few others that you want to be known for. All of these words should somewhat the same! When you're writing a blog post, you want to make sure they are used a few times throughout your piece. Be sure to use your main term, and then make use of the others, if it sounds natural. As you use those related terms, the search engines with put your page and blog higher in the results because your content is closely aligned with what you're trying to rank for.

Pulling this of can be a little tough, though. Often the choice to rank depends on how many links go to your site. It should be a priority to get links pointing to your site. Getting links from all kinds of sites is a good idea. For example other blogs, Squidoo pages and maybe even paying for links -however this is something which you should research further because it can be penalized.

One of the best ways to get your blog to the top of the search engines is to show consistent, relevant postings over time. Google seems to favor domains that have had some time to age and that are going to be a good bet for their visitors. Remember --- Google's (and other engine's) goal is to provide the best experience possible for the people who search with them. If your blog is going to be a good match for your search terms it will be easier for you to rank and stay there.

Finally, you need to make sure that you're always posting amazing content. The better your content and the more interesting your blog, the more people will link to it. There is nothing better than getting free links just because people liked what you have to say! Keep your mind on the SEO side of things, but also remember that you are ultimately catering to the needs of the people in your niche. If they like you, the search engines will like you. - 20490

Brenden Arnicke, who has earned a full time income by blogging for the last two years, knows (http://www.earnmoneybloggingreviews.info) how to blog for money. Brandon has written a very useful 7 day mini-course on blogging to make money. For a limitedperiod you can get free access to this course by visiting his (http://www.earnmoneybloggingreviews.info) blogging to make money review site.

Blogging 101

John DeLellis

 

If writing is an art, then, blogging is one way of using words to come up with an art. This is because people who are into blogging are the ones who are artistic on their own sense, carefully choosing words that would best describe their feelings, sentiments, wishes, desires, and everything.

 

Basically, blogs were first introduced as weblogs that refer to a "server's log file." It was created when web logging hit the virtual market. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, web logging gradually saturated the virtual community making the Internet a viable source of greater information.

 

However, with web logging, you still need a web site and domain names, but with blogging, you do not need anything just an account with blog providers. In most cases, these kinds of blogs are free of charge.

 

With the onset of blogging in the industry, personal journaling had been a common ground for people who wish to be known all over the world. However, not literally famous as this is not a case on being popular or well-known personality.

 

Generally, blogs are created for personal use. Like a journal, people can write their daily adventures, sentiments, and whatever ideas they want to express online.

 

Nevertheless, with the advent of the online businesses, blogs had gradually taken the limelight in providing businesses a chance to boost their productivity online. This is where the business blogs have taken the limelight.

 

Business blogs are, basically, created to advertise the services or products of a certain web site or online business in order to increase online sales.

 

Moreover, business blogs are also one way of promoting the company so that the other readers will know that a certain company exists online. With blogs, entrepreneurs are able to establish a name in the virtual market through articles that can be very useful in the reader's life.

 

From there, you can make money out of blogs by simply syndicating it to your business' web site. This can be done through the RSS technology.

 

So, if you are thinking to create a blog, whether for business or for pleasure, you need to know some tips that could help you get through and make your blog one of the interesting blogs online.

 

Here's how:

 

1. Consider your audience

 

Even if your blog is generally personal, still, it would be better to consider the minds of your readers. You have to think of something that would interest them.

 

After all, most of the reasons of people who write blogs are not at all confined to their own personal motives. Most of them would love to be "heard" (or read) and would love to be known, in some way or another, even for just a minute. Hence, it is very important to come with a write up that everybody can understand, not necessarily that these people can relate to it but they can understand it.

 

2. Pictures speaks a thousand words

 

To make your blogging worth the browsing effort of your readers, it would be extremely nice if you will put some pictures in it. It does not necessarily mean you have to place a picture of yourself. Any photographs will do as long as it does not pose danger or insult to anyone who will be reading your blog.

 

3. Make constructive and beneficial blogs

 

Even if you are free to write anything you wan to say to the world, still, it would be better to create some write-ups that would be beneficial to your readers.

 

After all, its information technology that you have there so better be inclined to provide information rather than sheer quirky entertainment.

 

4. Avoid making multifaceted and complicated blogs

 

In order to have an interesting blogs, try not to use some highly technical and highfalutin words. After all, it is not a science discourse or a debate that you are making, so better stick to simple facts and short blogs.

 

Bear in mind that most people who use the Internet usually do more scanning than scrutinizing each site word for word. Therefore, it would be better to come with blogs that will not bore your readers just because you have these lengthy articles.

 

5. Make it interactive

 

As much as possible and if your capacity will allow it, make your blog interactive. Yu can do this by placing some video or audio clips in your blog.

 

You can even place an area for comments or for some feedbacks. In this way, you can get some impressions or reactions of other people. Who knows, you might even gain some friends just by making them feel at home in your blog site.

 

Indeed, blogs are not created just for the mere fun of it. It also has its own purpose in the world of the Internet.

Therefore, for people who wish to harness their craft, as far as writing is concerned, blogs are the best way to do it.

 

As they say, blogging is the contemporary term of creative and commercial writing.

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Blogger Help A Great Place to Advertise Your Blog

John DeLellis

 

No matter what type of blog that you have, one of the

best places that you can advertise your blog is to

join a blogger forum. After all, everyone who posts

there has a blog and that's the main subject.

 

It's a great place to meet other bloggers and to

advertise your blog.

 

There are quite a few blogger forums that you can sign

up for on the Internet. One is known as Bloggeries,

where you can show off your blog, get your blog

reviewed or review other blogs, and find lots of tools

that you can use for your own blog.

 

Another good place to go is to Blog Forum.

 

Blog Forum, like Bloggeries, has spots for you to

market and show off your blog,

 

Blogger forums are a great place to advertise because

everyone in them are of the same mind and want to make

certain that their blogs get noticed and read.

 

If you use your blog to advertise something that you

are selling, or you want to get a lot of traffic to

your blog in order to make money, you want to go

someplace where it can get exposure.

 

When you advertise on a blog forum, you know that you

are placing your advertisement in a place where

blogging is something that people enjoy.

 

Just remember when you are posting to a forum to read

the rules and abide by them. That way you'll get your

blog noticed and you will know that you are doing the

right thing.

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Blog Software For All Your Blogging Needs

Blog Software For All Your Blogging Needs

 

John DeLellis

 

Today anyone who has writing ability or is dreaming to be a writer has written a blog in the net. There are blog soft wares that are simple and easy to use and a technically inclined and challenged individuals can easily acquire a blog online.

 

For some individuals, blogs are their projects of every day living, as they talk about their daily episodes as well as make tribute to friends and family. Furthermore, blogs assume a profound meaning written to compose and assemble political statements, endorse a product, supply information on research, and even offer tutorials. Any subject that are of your interests, you can be sure that someone has written a blog about it.

 

Blogs are now being written by musicians, politicians, sports figures, novelists, newscasters as well as other known figures. It is this blog fever that has raised controversy. The fact that anyone can compose and regarding any subject matter under the sun, complaints about certain write-ups are an issue. In a lot of blogs, names are being mentioned; do bear in mind that although you are entitled to write anything that interests you in a blog, you have to be very careful and take in a lot of responsibility. Do not make any statements which can become controversial; or else, be very prepared.

 

Why a Blog?

 

1.         For personal acquaintances, relationships and hobby. A person can write a blog about his daily activities, what's going on with his life as his way of telling his family and friends the things that goes on in his life. Likewise, one may also write a blog just so he can express what he feels about himself, or about a certain subject matter that is of interest to him.

 

2.         Topical. Some blogs are committed to a precise topic, like computer hardware or politics. These are frequently read like magazines.

 

3.         For marketing.  Corporations are too, into blogging; when well written and implemented, this kind of blog can be a powerful instrument for business communications, forming eagerness and anticipation regarding their products and services offered, or used as tool within the company, keeping employees well informed about company issues and news.

 

Why someone else's software?

 

A lot of Web designer and creators will laugh at the belief and idea of utilizing the software of someone else. This is can be correct especially when each software greatly differs from the particular requirements that a client may have. Yet on the other hand, when it refers to a Weblog software, there is no reason for apprehension in the use of a package that is pre-written, as most packages were developed through years of study; not just knocked together over a couple of days.

 

In addition, one may study its feature set. For a developer, it would take a lot of time and effort to write and compose from "nothing at all" every single feature in the Weblog software packages of today. For most people, a blog is there for the main reason that chooses to publish or make known your literature and texts on the Web, so you want to spend your time more on writing than coding.

 

Hosted Services

 

If one wishes to start broadcasting on the Web, yet does not have web hosting, one can consider looking into a hosted service, which includes Blogger, TypePad, Live Journal, and more.

 

These services are operated or handled for an individual, so there is no need to concern one about technical upkeep of one's Weblog; instead, one can concentrate on his blog's appearance and content. In just minutes, after signing for an account, one can readily start his own blog.  Many such services are offered free, such as blogger.  TypePad charges a minimal amount for monthly service fee.

 

Self-Hosted

 

When one has Web hosting on hand, or is eager to buy hosting, in which one feesl that the advantage will prevail over the problems of keeping up your own blog connection and installation, then you may want to take into account a package that is self-hosted, which includes Movable Type, Textpattern and WordPress.

 

Other hosting companies did construct the process of installation easier, permitting installation with just a click from a control panel that is browser-based. It is important that you check with a hosting company so you can view if this function is offered. Similar to hosted services, some self hosted packages are made available either for free or for a certain fee which is dependent on the type of package that you choose as well as the basis why you are using it.

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Beginners Guide to Blogging

John DeLellis

 

A blog is basically an online journal wherein you can digitally pen down your thoughts, ideas, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read. Blogs come in different styles, formats, and settings, depending on the preference of the user. Many blogging sites, offer built in features such as hyperlink, straight texts, pictures etc. Some blogging sites, even allow you to put video and mp3's on your blogs.

 

Instead of writing texts, some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, by using spoken word entries. This is called audio blogging.

 

Basically a blog contains these features:

 

title- which allows you to label your post

body- this is the content of your post

trackback- other sites can be linked back to your blog

permanent link- every article that you write has a URL

comments- this allow readers to post comments on your blog.

 

One of the advantages of blogging, is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike, other websites that is made up of numerous individual pages. This make it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fix setting that include: slots for title, body of the post, category, etc.

 

This is especially useful for first time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can chose from a  number of templates that blogging websites provide.

 

Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice. Once they've become members, they automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. They can browse through other bloggers pages, and link them back to their own blogs. They can also make comments on other members' blogs.

 

Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs that follow a theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, etc. These blogs espouse on their specific themes. This way blogging becomes a medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.

 

Some bloggers even use their blogs as a means to advertise. Some authors advertise their books on their blogs. While other bloggers, use their blogs to shed light to currents issues, events, news and catastrophes.

 

Nowadays in education, blogs also play an important part. Professors use blogging to document the lessons that they have discussed and taught. This way, students who who have missed classes, can easily catch up with their assignments.

 

A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their businesses on their blogs, with millions and millions of people logging onto the net everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. While others profit through advertisement.

 

But by far, the most popular blog type is the one that takes the form of a personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, poems, rants, opinions, find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.

 

Bloggers usually communicate within themselves. This is one of the appeals of blogging. It creates a community of people sharing their ideas, thoughts, and comments with each other.

 

Blogs varying in topics, themes, and set-ups, can be found in blog directories. First time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these directories. This way they'd get an idea of what these blogging communities are like.

 

Blogging is popular all over the world. Blog is short for the term weblog. There are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves how ever way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.

 

There are numerous blogging websites to choose from in the net. This give first time users the option of joining a blogging community that appeals to their interests.

 

Just search any blogging directory and you'd get a listing of a lot of blogging sites that are available on the net. It's easy to search a blogging directory, because it is organized according to category. This way you would get exactly what you are after. Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy.

 

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Advertising Your Blog in Your Email Signature

John DeLellis

 

If you have a blog that you are particularly proud of,

And that you want to share with other people, there

are a lot of free ways that you can get your blog

noticed.

 

One of those ways is something that you do everyday,

and that you may not even consider as a way to share

your blog. Put the link to your blog in your email

signature.

 

Chances are that you send out emails more times that

you can count during the day, each time you send out

an email, you can advertise your blog by putting the

address of your blog in your email's signature.

 

It's always a good idea to write something catchy

like, See what I am up to now, or Read my latest

chapter of my blog here, depending on what type of

blog you have.

 

The thing to remember about putting an advertisement

in your signature for your blog is to make it short,

but eye-catching.

 

You want people to be interested enough to want to

click on it, but you also don't want to scare them

off.

 

Just like it is with any advertisement, you want to

give them just enough to be interested and take a

closer look at what it is that you are advertising.

 

Think about what it is that your blog is about. What

is really going to interest people about it and make people want

to visit. That is what you should include in your

signature, and that is what is going to get people to

go to your blog.

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