Blogging for Beginners
Nick Ohrn
Topics
Blogging basicsGetting startedBlogging toolsTips for great bloggingMaking money with your blogRecommended reading
Blogging Basics
What is a blog?
According to Rachel Blood’s The Weblog Handbook:
“A blog is a website with dated entries arranged in reverse chronological order.”
However, different opinions abound.
History of Blogging
In the beginning – Blogs evolve from online diaries
Recently – Blogging explodes as the masses use free software to produce them quickly and easily
In the future – Blogging involving multimedia (like video, pictures, and sound) increases exponentially
Types of blogs
1. Personal – Online diary for record of personal events
2. Profile – Build a reputation as the leading expert in a field.
3. Product – Sell a product or service through your blog
4. Business – Market your business with your blog. Tell stories and introduce new products.
Getting Started
Blog Software
Two different types:- Developer hosted solution- User hosted solution
Developer Hosted Solutions
Positives:Web hosting unnecessaryUsually free, easy to useNo installation, uploading of filesNegatives:Customization is limitedLess supportFiles not under your control
Developer Hosted Platforms
WordPress.comBlogger.comBlogSpot.comTypePadLiveJournal…and many, many more
User Hosted Solutions
Positives:Great customizabilityComplete control over all blog dataAbility to use own domainNegatives:Have to install files on serverUse FTP to upload customized themesAble to mess things up more easily
User Hosted Platforms
WordPress Software (wordpress.org)Expression EngineMovable TypeDrupalTextpattern… and many more
Your First Post
1. Write title2. Fill in content3. Hit publish
It’s that easy!
Blogging Tools
Free web based tools facilitate blogging
Feedburner- Publish your RSS feed through a common interface
Flickr- Host your photos online for everyone to see
Technorati- Claim your blogs and see who’s linking to you
Desktop editors make things even easier!
Desktop editors let you write without being online.
Some examples: - ecto - w.Bloggar - Blogdesk - Qumana
Tips for Great Blogging
Write compelling headlines
Encourages click throughsHook the reader’s attentionDraw your reader into your post
Write consistently
Set a schedulePost-date your entriesStock up on drafts
Content is key
Write meaningful and timeless contentThink of your reader’s needs and fulfill
themCite your sources and link to them
Some general tips
Build relationships with other bloggersComment on blogs concerning your
subjectNever plagiarize your writingsAlways give credit where credit is dueKeep on truckin’
Making Money With Your Blog
Paths to prosperous blogging
Direct Income- Advertising- Text Link Sales- Product Sales
Indirect Income- Land speaking gigs- Become a consultant in your field- Write a book
Advertising Programs
Google Adsense- Contextually targets ads for your blog- Easy to apply and join- CPC Ads: You get paid if someone clicks
Chitika eMiniMalls- Product advertising on your blog- Interactive and interesting to your readers
Advertising Programs (cont)
Yahoo Publisher Network- Higher payout/click than Adsense- Poor targeting on most blogs- Still in beta testing, hard to join
Independent Ad Sales- Sell banner, sidebar, or footer space to individuals or companies- Cut out the middleman
Selling Products
Sell your own products:- eBooks- Software- Consulting services- Web design or programming- Crafts/Art items- Comic books- Anything that you can produce
Selling Products
Sell other’s products:- Affiliate programs- Joint ventures- Sponsored posts
Recommended Reading
Blogs to Visit
BlogLouisville.comProblogger.netCopyBlogger.comAbandonNest.com
Books
The Weblog Handbook – Rachel BloodBlogging for Dummies – Brad HillBlog Marketing – Jeremy Wright
Blogging for Beginners
Nick Ohrn