If you have a blog you have to take care of it in the same way you take care of your vehicle from the day you purchase it. You make it look good so that it is engaging to your readers. It carries your readers into your life or into your business if you use your blog as a marketing tool. It is an extension of who you are and as such it is a very big responsibility to maintain.

No matter what you use your blog for you have to consistently maintain it in order for it to be popular and successful. You have to make a commit to add to it two or three times a week and answering comments or questions your readers leave for you. With that in mind there are some things that you want to make sure you never do while blogging.

For personal blogs, you will need to avoid:

• Topics that will provoke your audience into leaving nasty comments and negative feedback. Your blog is open for the entire world to see and while you may have your own feelings about certain topics, that does not give you free rein to blurt them out. Freedom of speech is not an absolute, especially when it is looked upon as flaming on the internet.
• Filling your blog with useless content. If you want people to read what you have to say on a regular basis you need to form your posts carefully, provide people with information that is entertaining or useful and keep curse words out of your text.
• Not taking into consideration who your target audience is. The internet cannot filter actual users and readers so you need to make sure your content is appropriate for all ages. If it isn’t, don’t post it.

If you are going to be blogging for you business you need to remember:

• The above three no-nos. They apply doubly to you since you are trying to project a professional image and boost your company’s visibility.
• That your customer is main priority. You do not want to offend them in any way. Remember the above three pointers at all times and watch the way you word your blog posts.
• To use words in your posts that is easy to understand and make sense to your readers. If you have to look the word up in the dictionary it is not a good idea to use it on your blog post.
• That your customer does not know everything about your business or you. Always approach blog writing with this perspective and provide your readers with as much relevant information as needed.

Here are few more things you should keep in mind when it comes to you personal and business blogs.

• Keep your design simple and use a color that reflects your blog and your personality without blinding your readers. If you design your layout, give yourself credit for it.
• Use a font that is easy to read.
• Update your blog at least twice a week. A blog that is not updated on a regular basis is not going to be read.
• Feel free to change your blogs look every so often to keep it fresh.
• Let your readers leave feedback. They are going to be in a better position to let you know if they like your layout and the way your posts read.
• Finally, plan out your blog before you actually start blogging. This will give a good foundation to build on and will allow you to shape your blog in a way that everyone is going to enjoy.

There are no limitations in the way people communicate thanks to the internet. While instant messaging services are still a popular form of communications they are quickly becoming overshadowed by web blogs or ‘blogs’. Blogs are websites that have been solely set up for the purpose of journaling. They can be a single blog maintained by one person or a group of people and they tend to include links to web pages and other multimedia. Some blogs even focus on a single subject area such as pets or sports. Other blogs are used solely as a method of marketing a company’s products and services.

What makes blogs unique is the fact that they are different from the traditional forums, newsgroups, and websites that started out on the internet. They are easy to add to and bloggers – the blog’s author – can post an entry to their blog with a simple click of a button. They can make their blog reflect their personality with templates and the blogging software that is available helps them add their article to a specified category and archive. Blogs can be filtered for different content and the blogger can even leave it open to comments from readers and other bloggers.

Blogging software is usually hosted by a dedicated blogging service. There is a large variety of blogging software to choose from with Word Press, Drupal, Antville, Nucleus CMS, Blogsome, iBlog and Serendipity being some of the most popular packages out there. As long as the package combines an interface that is user friendly and flexibility in formatting, it is considered a good blogging software.

Because bloggers do not have to manage the blogging software they can update their blog’s content from any computer that is hooked up to the internet. All of the management of the software is done by the server administrator the software is housed on. This convenience also provides bloggers with a way to join others who are blogging about similar topics. Known as blogrolls, these groups help one another increase their blogs visibility.

Some blogging packages allow the user to download their software so they can update their blog even when they are not online. Many packages also offer the user the ability to manage multiple blogs at one type including a way to be notified when a blog is updated.

However, blogs, like just about everything else in the world, come with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Blogs are a great way for customers of a business to be kept informed of product changes, recalls and other developments. It provides a form of knowledge that can affect the world on an international level.

Blogs are great way of getting constructive criticism and feedback. It allows the common person to express their views on topics, products and services in a safe manner. Businesses are able to develop a stronger report with current and potential customers and it helps them build credibility and reliability. It provides them with a very human face for their organization.

Blogs have their disadvantages as well with the biggest one being the medium in which people are required to use them. That medium is through writing. Some people are very good at expressing their viewpoints through the written word. Some are not. It is time consuming and can be very frustrating if you have to desire to blog but the inability to put your thoughts into words in a lucid manner. When this happens, blogs tend to be left unattended and if it is a business blog, it can cause the business to lose credibility.

Additionally, business blogs that allow numerous bloggers to post to it can be made to look disorganized because of the many different writing styles and tones that are littered throughout the blog. The most successful business blogs are the ones that are well thought out and posted to by only one or two people.

Blogging as a communication tool cannot be ignored. If blogs are used to benefit mankind then it is one of the best technological innovations to come our way.

Before blogging became a popular way of internet marketing, companies were limited to placing their banners and associated website links on other websites.  Information and news sites were the most popular places for these banners to appear.  Additionally, companies added their links to newsletters and other marketing materials that were sent out to their customers.  Now, blogs have become one of the preferred methods of getting the word out.

There are as many people reading blogs as there are bloggers.  From personal blogs to author blogs, you can find a wide range of topics to read about.  Some people rely on the many blogs on the internet to stay abreast of current events, which is not always reliable.  However, blogs are a great place to get information on products.  You can find some honest reviews about products on a personal blog as well as more biased reviews on professional blogs.

Since blogging has become such a popular communication method it is important that you use the many different facets of blogging to promote your website.  This includes joining affiliate programs that will register your blog in their lists under a specific category.  This makes it easy to find your blog among the thousands on the internet.  You can also link your blog to popular websites or have it advertised.  There is a wide range of ways that you can use your business blog to your advantage to increase your sales.

You want to increase your blog traffic so that your informative content reaches the maximum amount of people.  You want your readers to come back time and time again.  You want them to recommend your blog to their friends and associates.  In order to accomplish this, your blog has to be designed in such a way that it is interesting and engaging.

Before you just start writing your blog take some time to think about how you want your blog to look.  If you are using a blog development software, look through their templates to see if there is anything there that would work for your business.  Consider also looking for blog software that will allow you to customize certain aspects of your blog.  After all, you want your blog to look as professional as possible.

Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can make your blog different from all of the rest of the blogs found on the internet.

Customize your blog’s banner.

The banners found on blogging software are pretty generic and most of these programs allow you to customize the banner to reflect your personal tastes.  This is a good place to put your company logo or other company related graphics and text.  Make sure you put your blog title here as well.

Personalize your photos.

You can find user-friendly graphic programs that are free on the internet that you can use to personalize your photos before you post them on your blog.  Add borders to your photos so that they pop out at the reader and do not get lost amidst the text and background.  Add a border to your blog the same way by customizing your own background that can be uploaded to your blog.

Put up a favicon.

Take a look at some of your favorite website URLs.  Do you see a little icon in the address bar?  That is a favicon.  These little icons add a professional touch to your URL and they are actually kind of fun.  You can make a favicon with the same graphic tool you used to enhance your pictures.

Look at other blog templates, backgrounds, and elements for yours.

There are websites all over the internet that offer you free templates for your blog that include alternate layouts, textures, skins and backgrounds.  You do not have to limit yourself to what the blogging software offers.  Expand your horizon and find something that will make your blog really unique.

Add a RSS feed to your blog.

An RSS feed will inform those readers who subscribe to your blog about new content.  Your blogging software should have a tutorial on how to add this feature.

Add audio clips and video to your blog.

A video demonstration of a product will be welcomed by your readers.  Give them an audio clip to listen to, such as an interview with an employee talking about your company’s new products.  Your customers will love these interactive touches.

Place your advertisements strategically.

If you have advertisements on your blog from places such as Google As-Sense, make sure they are placed on your blog so that they do not get in your readers way.

The only exception to this rule is business oriented blogs. These blogs tend to focus on the topics that pertain to their business and provide their customers with pertinent information on the products and services they offer. They are focused blogs that cover one topic and are often used as a method of marketing in today’s technology oriented world.

Blogs in general will cover a wide variety of subjects. It is an easy medium to use and bloggers are popping up on a daily basis expressing their feelings or advertising their online business in an informative way. Additionally blogs also offer bloggers a way to earn money while working at home. This is accomplished through pay per click advertisements on their blogs and affiliate marketing. But the main goal for most personal bloggers is the simple joy that sharing their thoughts and feelings bring.

Each of the main types of blogging – namely business and personal – has their own benefits. Here we will take a look at those benefits.

<h2>Business Blogging</h2>

Business blogs are cropping up all over the internet as more companies are adding them to their marketing plans. The blog, when professionally done, offers businesses a greater way of communicating with their current and potential customers. They also provide these businesses with a way to improve their search engine rankings through search engine optimization. This is biggest leverage a business blog provides.

When combined with a website where customers can explore the product line and purchase your company’s goods online, a business blog is a great tool. You can use any content on the blog that pertains to the business that is informative as well as promotional. Blogs are easy to use since they are primarily text based and an easy way of communicating organizational matters. When your business blog is search engine optimized it allows search engine spiders to easily access and process your information, improving your page rankings and making your site more visible.

Business blogs can also be updated on a regular basis. This gives you a vehicle to use for press releases, product recalls, new product promotion and more.

<h2>Personal Blogging</h2>

Personal blogs are more like a person’s diary, providing readers with exciting commentary on the blogger’s life and whatever else they want to discuss with their readers. These blogs can be used as a way to update friends and family on what is going with their lives. These blogs tend to also include photos, audio clips, and videos that you as the blogger feel comfortable sharing. Sometimes personal blogs will even include information about a service or product they feel strongly about. They are great communication tool and can work with your business blog to your advantage.

Blogs are not difficult to set up, especially with the different blogging software that has entered the market.  However a blog cannot be successful unless you put time into it.  Many blogs – both personal and professional – tend to be abandoned after a short period of time because the blogger simply did not have the time to keep it up.  If you are going to use a blog on your business site, get ready to commit to it.  It will be beneficial to your company.

In order to make your blog work for you, you need to learn a few ways of making it successful.  Once you have perfected the following methods of making a successful blog you will find that it only takes twenty minutes out of your day to write and post an entry.  Once your post is live you then need to take some additional time to review your blog, read any comments that you may have, follow some other blogs in your industry and answer any questions your customers may have presented you with.  All of this can be done in a single hour.

Let’s take a look at the ways of developing a successful, credible blog.

1. Make sure that you always put unique and relevant content in your blog.  Find an interesting story that you can share with your customers that is associated to your business and blog about it.  Tell your customers about your company’s policy on dealing with clients so that they know you are a credible firm that treats their customers well.  Always offer them a way to contact you.
2. Try to post on your blog at least once or twice a week.  Your posts do not have to be extensive as long as they offer your readers something of value that is informative.
3. Add links to your blog that are connected to useful internet resources.  This is a good way to help expand your target market and bring more traffic to your blog and website.  Look for links to topics that are related to what your company offers.  If the links are to someone’s blog, leave a comment there so they know you are reading what they are posting.
4. Submit your blog to special blog directories and search engines.  Make sure you use trackbacks as well.  You can find instructions on both in blog tutorials that are on the internet if you have never done this before.Add a counter to your blog so that you know how many visitors have been to your blog and are reading it.  This will help you visual how successful your blog is and you can use this number to determine how many people are reading your blog on a regular basis.
5. Create a landing page with a brief list of your services or products and link it to your blog.  Additionally, make sure that all of the links on your blog are valid links and are related in some way to your blog.
6. Make your blog a separate website from your actual business website and link the two together.  By keeping the two sites separate you are increasing your chance of getting a wide variety of visitors.  You are actually spreading out your marketing in this way and it has proven to be a successful tactic.
7. Do not fill your blog with sales content.  Give readers something informative, like the history of a product or how you came to start your business.  They are already on your blog because they have some interest in your company.  You do not need to give them your sales pitch as well.
8. One you have launched your blog have some patience.  While some blogs get inundated with hits right away, others take time to get noticed.  Always update your blog and keep it current but do not get discouraged and give it up.  Think of new techniques you can try to bring in more readers and put them to the test.  You may be surprised at the results.
]]> http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/want-to-be-a-successful-blogger/feed/ 0 http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-blogging-and-more/ http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-blogging-and-more/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:55:15 +0000 admin http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/?p=143 Do you know what blogging is? What it entails? You’ve probably heard the term blogging but have no idea what it’s all about. Read on and we’ll tell you everything you wanted to know about blogging and more.

What, exactly, is a blog?

A blog is a form of web log that is updated on a regular basis. Depending on the blogger, the blog could be updated on a daily basis. Blogs usually contain information on a particular topic and quite often they are used by the blogger as a personal journal. Blogs commonly contain posts that cover a wide range of topics, such as information on the blogger’s personal life, rants about things that bother them and even political philosophies. A blog can contain whatever the blogger wants them to.

Where did blogs and blogging come from?

Blogs appeared on the scene during the 1990s. No one seems to know who started the first blog, but they did not really take off until 1999. These first blogs were basically web tours and personal online journals. Today they are used for just about any type of web content including marketing for businesses.

Why are blogs important?

Blogs give people a way to communicate with the rest of the world. It is a fashionable thing to do and personal blogs are filled with interesting commentary on everyday life, cultural aspects, pictures, audio clips, links and pretty much anything the blogger wants to discuss.

Corporate blogs, on the other hand, are important marketing tools that help companies expand their online presence. They can be found by search engines and help businesses optimize their websites. They also provide businesses a valuable source of feedback from their customers.

What types of blogs are on the internet?

There are two main types of blogs that you can find on the internet: professional or corporate blogs, and personal blogs. Corporate blogs are used to inform potential and current customers of a business of the latest developments in their product lines, recalls, and other pertinent information. They are usually updated on a daily basis so that they can be found by search engines and they help increase a business’ search engine ranking.

Personal blogs are a blogger’s personal journal that can cover any topic the blogger wishes. Most personal blogs are simply put together for entertainment purposes.

Which type of blog is used the most?

Currently business blogs are the most widely seen blogs on the internet. More and more companies are finding out that blogging is a very good way to impart information to their customers and they are incorporating the use of blogs as an advertising and marketing tool into their business plans.

In order for any blog to be successful it is imperative that you know how the blog is going to benefit you or your business. You need to alert your readers what your blog is going to be about and when they can expect it to be updated. Corporate blogs can be used to pass along a wide range of information, including supplemental content that may be useful to the consumer.

What do you need to create a blog?

What you need to create a blog will depend on the type of blog you are creating and the software you are using. Business blogs typically use an HTML version in order to adhere to security issues within the company. Personal blogs commonly use online programs and blogging sites, such as Word Press.

If you have a program in place for creating your blog then all you need is relevant and informative content to put into it.

What advantages does blogging offer online businesses?

Blogging is great way to get word out to the international community about your company. Informative and well maintained blogs will bring in new customers and you can use feedback from comments on your blog to enhance your own products and services.

Additionally, blogs can be submitted to search engines that simply search this type of website page. When you submit your blog to one of these specialty search engines, you are boosting your online presence in addition to your page rankings.

]]> http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-blogging-and-more/feed/ 1 http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/even-bloggers-get-writes-block/ http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/even-bloggers-get-writes-block/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:57:18 +0000 admin http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/?p=145 The bane of every writer’s existence is a little thing called writer’s block. It’s when you have the desire to write but simply cannot get anything down on paper – or on the computer screen. Your mind is either entirely blank or so full of thoughts that you have no idea how to sort them out to write anything. Even bloggers get writer’s block.

You could be the best blogger on the face of the earth or the best novelist. You are still going to run into a case of writer’s block every now and then. How do you deal with writer’s block? Here are a few suggestions that might help you break lose the words in your head.

1. Surf the internet for a while reading other blogs.
   Sometimes it helps to go see what other people are writing about. Read some of your favorite blogs. You will be amazed at what people are writing about and you will probably get some ideas on what you could be writing. Hopefully something in these blogs will help break down the floodgates that are stifling your creativity and let the words come flowing out.
2. Open up your blogging inbox and see what topics you may have there.
   If you have not checked your blog inbox for a while you may discover some topics that you planned on writing about but never got to. You could also have reader comments or questions there that you can take the time to answer. Once you start answering questions the blogging ideas may appear. Also take a look at links that are in other posts. They may lead you to other blogs for more writing ideas.
3. Comment on other people’s blogs.
   Feel free to leave a comment on someone’s blog. You may discover an idea there that will allow you to expand on the original blog on your own. If the other blog allows it, use a trackback in your comment that leads to your own blog on the same topic.
4. Watch the news.
   What is going on in the world today can make a great blogging topic. Even though the news may not relate to what you normally blog about it is one way of trying to spark ideas. For example, if there is a news story about the upcoming Olympics that sparks a memory of past Olympics, write about that. This is a human interest topic and people will enjoy reading it.
5. Go random.
   The beauty of blogging – especially personal blogging – is that you do not have to stick to a specific topic. You can write about anything. Find a word or picture and simply write about. Include the word of picture in your blog so that your readers can have a frame of reference. If you cannot find a word or picture that breaks the block, check out some of the creative writing prompts or software on the internet. They usually have some great suggestions of topics you can write on and they are designed to help stimulate your mind when you are faced with writer’s block.
6. Look for the extraordinary.
   Do you find space exploration fascinating? What about an unusual recipe or animal story? Go ahead and blog about it. You will find information on extraordinary topics in encyclopedias, the Farmer’s Almanac, even your local newspaper. Many people enjoy unusual topics and will like the change of pace in your blog.
7. Add something to your blog that you have never added before.
   Maybe there is a video on YouTube you really like and think your readers may enjoy. Go ahead and blog about it and leave your readers a link so they can enjoy the video as well. Don’t be afraid to do something different.
8. If all else fails, take a break from blogging.
   Your mind may simply need to take a break. Go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Do a craft. Go on a shopping trip. Do something that gives your mind a rest. You may find that when you finally sit back down at the computer you are ready to write once again.
]]> http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/even-bloggers-get-writes-block/feed/ 0 http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/dont-fall-into-a-blogging-trap/ http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/index.php/dont-fall-into-a-blogging-trap/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:46:38 +0000 admin http://www.makemoneybloggingschool.com/?p=137 Blogging has become a very popular way for the business community to communicate with their target audience. If you have not added a blog to your business website you may want to seriously consider doing so. Many businesses have already found out just how versatile this tool can be and they have been able to reach out to potential customers that traditional marketing methods have not touched.

If you take a look at online businesses you will see how successful they have become by adding such a simple tool. Their profits have increased because of the additional consumers they have reached. It has also opened up a means for these businesses to get some useful feedback from their customers on their products and services. For these two reasons alone you should be considering adding a blog to your repertoire of marketing techniques.

However blogging does not come without its downside. Many successful businesses have discovered that their blogs are not working the way they had hoped even if their business is highly successful. They have failed in the blogging arena because they do not know how to recognize the many pitfalls that come with blogging and how to avoid them.

Before you start blogging for your business you should be aware of the pitfalls and how to avoid them so you do not fall into the same trap many other successful businesses have. Here is a list of blogging pitfalls to avoid.

Pitfall #1: Filling your blog with nonsense.

If your consumers have made a comment on your blog that needs addressing, address it. Answer the questions they have truthfully. If you are unsure what topics to address on your blog, ask your current customers what kind of information they would find helpful on a blog. This is a business tool and should be used as such. Fill it with useful information that will be a benefit to your customers.

Pitfall #2: Not knowing how to properly use your blogging software.

Blogging software is really not difficult to use but many companies pretend they are experts in using it when they really aren’t. This hurts your credibility and while your customers may accept the excuse that you are new to blogging, they will only accept this excuse one time. Do your homework and research the many features your blogging software offers before you make your corporate blog live.

Pitfall #3: You didn’t specify the category your blog or posts belong to.

If your target audience does not know what your blog topic is all about, they will get confused and avoid your blog. Use the blog category feature to preview what your blog is about. This will help your readers understand what they are going to read about before they click on your post.

Pitfall #4: The blog is not a reflection of you or your business.

Corporate blogging should be a direct extension of your company and the products or services you offer. If your customers read your blog and are left wondering what your post has to do with your business, there is a problem. Current and potential customers should be able to see a similarity between the information in your blog and what is on your website. Just like traditional marketing tools projects a professional image of your company so should your blog.

Pitfall #5: You didn’t research other blogs in your niche market.

If you are new to blogging take time to research the other blogs in your niche market for ideas. Competitor’s blogs can show you the different strategies being employed in the industry as well as what they are writing about. Take your time formulating your content and utilizing some of the research you have done on other blogs to make yours informative and useful.

Pitfall #6: Your blog has no real content.

Do not fill your blog posts with advertisements and product marketing. This will bore your customers and if they are already reading your blog then you do not need to pitch the sale to them. Instead give them information on your products and services that mean something to them, even if your post is about a related topic.

Pitfall #7: The blog is not updated regularly.

It is important to update your blog on a regular basis. If you do not post on your blog for an extended period of time your customer will think that you simply do not care and they will stop visiting your site. You will be the one that ultimately loses out.

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