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. 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 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 Software (wordpress.org) Expression Engine Movable Type Drupal Textpattern … and many more

Your First Post 1. Write title 2. Fill in content 3. 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: - ectoecto - w.Bloggarw.Bloggar - BlogdeskBlogdesk - QumanaQumana

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