Blogging Basics

Blogging is done by millions of people, many with no technical abilities, other with a strong tech background. Each has a different purpose, some blog solely for personal reasons, others write about their passion, while others create a blog with one single purpose in mind, making money (Hm-m maybe that's your passion.) So, let's get down to basics.

What is A Blog?

A simple definition of a blog is "a sequential journal of personal thoughts over time". That was the simple definition. But as time has past, the blog has evolved.

Today, a blog is still a collection of posts that range in length from 250 to 500 words usually. However, the blog's content can be informal, formal, informational or controversial. And, it can be used for business or personal use.

As to how often a person should post to their blog, it is truly dependent upon what the reader can bear, be it every day, several times a day, once a week, or once a month.

Typical Components of a Blog

No matter what platform you choose, a blog usually consist of these standard components:

Title: This is the Name of the blog.
Date - The most recent post will be at the top. While each previous post will be pushed down the page, and usually separated by month. You can also choose how many posts you want visible at one time.
Post Title - The title of the post.
Text - Is the actual content within each individual post.
Comments - This is where readers are able to add their comments. Some bloggers use comments, while others do not.
Archives - These are past posts which are broken down by months, then past years.

Pros and Cons of a Blog

The blog is the most versatile, most used, and in many cases easier to create. Which means you can be up and running with no prior webmaster experience. However, there are some pros and cons to a blog that you should be aware of before you decide to put your toe in the blogging waters.

Pros

Information driven
If your content is interesting, people will follow
If you are using Wordpress, a lot of customization plug-ins available to you for free, and that which you will have to pay for to use.

Cons

Again, Content driven. And you are responsible for supplying the content
Medium Spam protection. Usually, Askimet and WPSpam help is available.

The bottom line with any blog is that you need quality content, not only does it bring readers but it also helps to maximize your returns if you choose to monetize your site.

Different Blogging Platforms

Before you can begin blogging, you need to choose a 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 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 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, pick 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.

Blogger has been slowly offering more functionality. Which includes new templates that have some expansion capabilities.

With Blogger, Google allows you to monetize with Adsense and Amazon. Both are built in. Other nice feature, Google doesn't take a cut of your profit when you make money from Adsense or Amazon.

A new feature that Blogger has added a nice tool that allows you to create custom domain for your blog. Here, in the simplest terms possible is what you can do to create a custom domain.

If you have a Go Daddy account and would like to connect your Blogger blog to your domain, you only need to go into your account enter your domain, or subdomain (example: blog.yourdomainname.com)

Purchase your domain from another provider and follow the step-by-step guide that Blogger supplies

Or, you can purchase one from the Blogger dashboard in the Publishing section of the Settings page.

Typepad

The Typepad system comes with a price-depending upon the option you choose. Typepad does outshine Blogger with a host of tools, and Wordpress, it's comparable. 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, it's rather pricey.

Moveable Type

Moveable Type is another blogging platform that is offered through the same company as Typepad. It allows for greater flexibility, but with Moveable Type you are required to have more technical expertise to install and configure your blog correctly.

Wordpress

Wordpress is web software where you can create either a website or blog. That is one reason why many go with the Wordpress software.

Wordpress.org blogs/website do give you a little more flexibility to be creative, and it can be free, it all depends upon what you want. Since so many people utilize this platform, you will have no trouble finding help and plug-ins (free and have to pay) for your blog that can accomplish many tasks in your webmaster duties.

You can get a free account at Wordpress.com or you can choose to go through WordPress.org which requires you to have a web hosting service. If you are wanting to have a blog through Wordpress let me suggest you going through a web hosting service that offers to maintain the updates of Wordpress. This eliminates a lot of hassle, and if you don't have the experience, a lot of headaches.

Promoting Your Blog

Since your blog is usually content based, you will have to find a different method of promoting your blogs besides hitting the article directories. Yes, by all means use article directories it will get you the backlinks to get your blog noticed. However, if you are planning on using one of your blog entries, be sure to re-write it, so that you will not be caught with any duplicate content problems.

So what are the other avenues that available to you?

SEO

Before you send your post out to the masses, do not ignore search engine optimization. SEO should always be a part of your marketing strategy, if you want traffic. You can have great content, but if have not optimized for specific keywords-you're not going to get the traffic you want.

Social Media Marketing

Once you have your blog up and running, you can look at Social Media Marketing. Examples of Social Networks are:

Examples of Social Networks are:

Metafilter
Digg
Shoutwire
Newsvine
Sphinn
Tweako
Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook

The above is just a sampling of the social networks that you can join. But be aware that some social networks are "subject specific". So, you will have to do some Googling to find your niche.

Advantages and Drawbacks of a Blog

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.

Negative comments. A negative comment can make for a good conversation. Or, if you have a ecommerce site, you may be able to turn a negative into a positive. For example, let's say you find an individual who have purchased your product and they were dissatisfied. You can leave a connect email or number in which you or one of your associates can follow up. Who benefits? You, and the consumer. Thus, a negative comment can be constructive. If the comment is not constructive but a rant, then it is your option to delete the comment.
People use your blog just as a vehicle to advertise. In most cases, it's an automated program that sifts through the pages, looking for matched criteria to place their ad. That's easy to take care. You can set your blog dashboard to "review comments" before allowing it on your blog. Don't feel bad about eliminating the advertising comment, you're helping to eliminate spammers.
With new FTC rules, comments will need to be monitored closely for comments crossing the line on advertising.

Make Money With Your Blog

If you are interested in making money with your blog, here are some methods in which you can explore:

Affiliate Programs- The main prerequisite for affiliate programs whether it is a blog or website is to make sure the program fits well with your blog.

Sell Banner Space-This only happens when you are well established and have a large readership

Google Adsense - Google is a great way to make some side money on a blog.

Third Party Advertising - Incorporate third party advertising like Kontera. Chitika, etc.
Donations Page - Don't expect a huge return from a donations page
Product Promotion - Some people have promoted their own product or service through their blog. First they built their readership before producing a product. Makes sense, your readers trust you at this point and may partake in your ebook because they like your writing and information
Reviewing Products - This is a little bit more difficult since you also have to abide by the new FTC rules. However, some bloggers have been upfront with their readers. For example: when a reader comes onto the site, a pop-up indicates that they have been supplied the product to review, or that they were compensated in another manner.

FTC Rules For Bloggers-Important

Since I have mentioned the FTC rules several times, I thought it would be wise to give you a little information to keep you out of trouble.

The FTC Rules that were instituted for bloggers, should also be looked at closely by affiliate marketers as well. Here is a summary of the rules. To get a full sampling of the ruling you can go to the FTC site to be further enlightened.

FTC Rules

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 for each infraction.

Note: Affiliate Marketers should also keep these rules in mind, when promoting their products or services as well.

One final thought, remember not all topics are suited to making money. So, if making money with a blog is your intent, choose your niche carefully.

Other Methods Of Marketing Discussed

Podcasting Basics -- Learn about podcasting, what you need to get started podcasting, and where you can place your podcasts for listening.

Video and Webcast Marketing -Video or Webcasts both can get your product or service or website noticed. Learn what you need to get started, as well as, the benefits

Email Marketing-Learn the basics of email marketing. How to construct an email and set up your email program for success.

Article Marketing -Learn how to write an article that will reach your targeted market. And most importantly ways to promote your article.