How to Start a Blog : By Ned Robinson
Ned.robinson@reikilotus.com
www.reikilotus.com How to Start a Blog
What is a Blog? : What is a Blog? A Web Log, or Personal Diary, where posts are listed chronologically, with the newest post at the top.
Frequently updated.
A requirement for high search engine rankings
A showcase for you to demonstrate your expertise.
A place for people to comment on your posts. This makes a blog the perfect homebase for your community.
Examples
ReikiLotus.com
http://blogs.yogajournal.com/
Why Blog? : Why Blog? Build your reputation as an expert by providing excellent content
Create and promote your brand
Influence people to trust your recommendations
Build a subscriber list
Make it the hub of your social networking
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Digg
StumbleUpon
The Contents of a Blog : The Contents of a Blog Text
300 to 750 words. You don’t have to say everything in a single post.
Short sentences
Include graphics
Dreamstime
PhotoBucket
Audio
Include your own audio
Video
Post on YouTube and link to it
Can You Make Money Blogging? : Can You Make Money Blogging? Yes, if you provide quality content
Yes, if your readers trust you
Yes, if you frequently update your blog with useful information
Yes, if you are honest with your readers
Yes, if you have patience and focus on quality content
How to Start Your Blog : How to Start Your Blog Blog on a Blog Site
Create blog on an established site
BlogTalkRadio - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/user/blog.aspx
Facebook
Look for other niche or community sites
Host your own blog
Requires the most time and expertise
Freedom to create whatever you want
What You Will Need : What You Will Need Blog Software
Blog Name
If hosting your own, you will need to get a domain name.
Name lookup on www.namecheap.com
If hosting on a blog site
Create an account. The domain name will be yourname.wordpress.com.
Blog Host
NameCheap
GoDaddy
Gator
Popular Blog Software : Popular Blog Software Blogger - http://www.blogger.com/home
Drupal - http://drupal.org
Joomla - http://www.joomla.org
Squarespace - http://www.squarespace.com
$8.00 – 50.00 a month
TypePad - http://www.typepad.com
$8.95 – 29.95 a month
WordPress - http://wordpress.com
How to Host Your Own Blog : How to Host Your Own Blog Install Wordpress 3.0
Choose a free theme or buy one
Create graphics
Create FeedBurner Account for RSS
Add essential plugins
Akismet – anti-spam
All in One SEO Pack
All in One Webmaster
Google XML Sitemaps
Select subscription manager
emailBuddy
PHPList
How to Pick Your Topic : How to Pick Your Topic Passion or Profit?
Remember, you will need to provide consistent output for at least 6 months
How are you going to provide quality content for 6 months?
The internet is littered with abandoned blogs
Fresh content
Focus Your Efforts : Focus Your Efforts Start blogging!
Submit content to 1 article site: http://ezinearticles.com/
Google will penalize you for multple submissions
Link your Blog to Facebook and Twitter for notifications
Find other blogs and post positive comments
Put your website in your signature only. Don’t promote!
Find forums and help other people solve their problems.
Put your website in your signature only. Don’t promote!
After a few months, add podcasts and videos
Take action every day. Create a repeatable schedule.
Sample Weekly Schedule : Sample Weekly Schedule Monday
New information post
Tuesday
Coment on 5 related forums
Wednesday
Write an article about a related product. Do Not Sell!
Thursday
Comment on 5 related blogs
Friday
New information post
Saturday
Revisit forums and blogs. Update and reply to ongoing threads
Sunday
Research new topics for blog