Transcript Blogging for Beginners

Blogging for Beginners
Nick Ohrn
Topics
Blogging basics
Getting started
Blogging tools
Tips for great blogging
Making money with your blog
Recommended 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.
2.
3.
4.
Personal – Online diary for record of
personal events
Profile – Build a reputation as the
leading expert in a field.
Product – Sell a product or service
through your blog
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 unnecessary
Usually free, easy to use
No installation, uploading of files
Negatives:
Customization is limited
Less support
Files not under your control
Developer Hosted Platforms
WordPress.com
Blogger.com
BlogSpot.com
TypePad
LiveJournal
…and many, many more
User Hosted Solutions
Positives:
Great customizability
Complete control over all blog data
Ability to use own domain
Negatives:
Have to install files on server
Use FTP to upload customized themes
Able to mess things up more easily
User Hosted Platforms
WordPress Software (wordpress.org)
Expression Engine
Movable Type
Drupal
Textpattern
… and many more
Your First Post
1.
2.
3.
Write title
Fill in content
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 throughs
Hook the reader’s attention
Draw your reader into your post
Write consistently
Set a schedule
Post-date your entries
Stock up on drafts
Content is key
Write meaningful and timeless content
Think of your reader’s needs and fulfill
them
Cite your sources and link to them
Some general tips
Build relationships with other bloggers
Comment on blogs concerning your
subject
Never plagiarize your writings
Always give credit where credit is due
Keep 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.com
Problogger.net
CopyBlogger.com
AbandonNest.com
Books
The Weblog Handbook – Rachel Blood
Blogging for Dummies – Brad Hill
Blog Marketing – Jeremy Wright
Blogging for Beginners
Nick Ohrn