Navigation

Articles
Ebooks
Report Your Scams
Dictionary

My Affiliate Place Blog

Sitemap
Contact
Privacy Policy

 Subscribe in a reader

Blogging Basics



A blog has many purposes, today. Yes, you can use a blog for business, and/or an extension of your website. If you choose a blog for the purpose of a business, you must realize that just like a website-it requires the same amount of hard work, with a greater emphasis on content. And with it, the same opportunities for success or failure.


Blog Defined

A simple definition of a blog is "a sequential journal of personal thoughts over time".

You can blog about almost anything. It can be a personal diary that goes out to millions, a soapbox (such as political, news, etc.), and it can be informational, or it can be an avenue to promoting your website or your products and services.

You can even control who can read your blog, making it a great communications tool for families or groups of people within a club or organization. So what is the first step of starting a blog?

Your first step, is finding the blogging platform that is right for you, based first on your technical ability, and second, upon your blogging purpose.



Different Blogging Platforms

Before you can begin blogging, you need to choose a blogging platform you want to use to house your content. Some blogging platforms are free, while some are commercially licensed (which means you need to pay for the service). 

In addition, each blogging platform comes with different degrees of difficulty to setup. Some you just simply register for an account and you're walked through the whole process of writing your first blog entry. While other blogging platforms requires you to have varying degrees of programming knowledge and/or database knowledge.

So, let's start with the simplest and then move to the more complex.

Blogger

Blogger is the simplest to set up. With Blogger, you register for an account, pick a blog name, create the template you like, and you are up and running in no time. It's 100% free and 100% hosted by their system. Which means, there is no need for hosting space of your own, or the need for any technical expertise on your part.

Because Blogger does not offer much functionality, most eventually move away from Blogger as their readership increases.


Wordpress

Wordpress comes in two varieties Wordpress.org and Wordpress.com, but both are free.

However, their system is more complicated than Blogger. They have two versions-1) the hosted version, which is like Blogger, and like Blogger, has some limitations; and 2) the Standalone system, which allows some customization, and let's you have your own domain name.

Since there are quite a few people utilizing Wordpress, you'll be able to find plug-in that you can either buy or get for free.


Typepad

The Typepad system comes with a price-depending upon the option you choose (range from $49.50-$149.50).

Typepad does outshine Blogger with a host of tools, however, it's comparable to that of Wordpress. If you are not sure you want to blog on a long-term basis you may want to set this Blogging Platform to the side.


Moveable Type

Moveable Type is another blogging platform that is offered through the same company as Typepad. It allows for greater flexibility. With Moveable Type you are required to have more technical expertise to install and configure your blog correctly. And the price, for the average blogger, it may be on the expensive side.



Advantages of a Blog

There are advantages to having a blog over a website. First, you can get up and running rather quickly, and; 2) a blog is usually the first to be updated by Google, Yahoo, or MSN.

 Why? It's content. If you write often enough, and the content is of quality, the search engines will quickly find you. And if the search engines find you, so will traffic-your main objective.


Drawbacks of a Blog

Are there any drawbacks to a blog? A blog is like a website, but with the added component of comments and automatic spam software--you can have a downside, with possible solutions.  I'll explain below.

1. Marketer gives a product to a blogger in hopes of a good review. Companies that give free products to bloggers and other commentators for a favorable review must be disclosed by the blogger or commentators. If not, the blogger or commentator can see a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation.

2. Word-of-Mouth campaign where the individual who is participating in the word-of-mouth campaign will receive something of value in return for this service. Example: an advertiser requests that an individual send out emails to their friends. The individual will in turn receive something of value for this service.

Rule: Any testimonial that describes results that a typical consumer does not generally achieve must be disclosed. 

3. Expert Endorsement- the expert should have special knowledge that qualifies him or her to make the expert endorsement. 

The FTC states that it is the advertiser that they are addressing these rules too, and not bloggers. However, be aware, if the blogger violates these rules he/she can:

1) receive a warning; 
2) If warning is ignored, a fine of $11,000 can be levied against the advertiser and blogger.