The Blog
Before you even begin to create your personal blog, it is necessary to know what a blog really is. The term blog is actually derived from the term Weblog or Web log. Back in the days, around the late 1990's, these Web logs were utilized by individuals to track updates and references to other resources online. They served as journals, which made them useful as a publishing tool for the user's blast of consciousness. Needless to say, the readers can still comment and share their thoughts on just about anything under the sun. Technically, blogs are also referred to as CMS or Content Management Systems. Being a CMS, blogs allow the writers to easily publish to a particular Site and manage this content without the need of experiencing to deal with this program code. Publishing software also provides users with a GUI or Graphical INTERFACE for easy pointing and clicking of their articles. Through the use of easy-to-do procedures, you can perform configurations and create, which can ease your job as a blogger because the tool can automatically organize your published articles the next time you publish.
The Advantage of Blogging
The primary question is; why should you start blogging? One thing you have to know is that blogging can boost and support your web communications. However, you must first understand the outcome of your blog that you require as a way to attain success. Exactly why you need to start blogging, is that it can be both an excellent outlet for the frustrations or excitement. Everything you are passionate about and profitable as well. It does not imply that if you're not into blogging, you ought not blog. Being in a business, especially people that have dealings online, requires you to establish a clientele which are actually interested in your products or services. Blogs can do this easily due to its accessibility and as an excellent medium for marketing that it's, blogs are crucial for businesses. More so, in case you are handling a business, there is a good chance that your competition is blogging about their products and services. This is an easy method for you yourself to examine the competition and what their clients' preferences are. Additionally, blogs can make strong customer relationships as your target market can simply and directly talk to the authority within your business. This kind of opportunity is hard to resist since a solid customer relationship can eventually result in lasting trust to your product and services; hence, eventual increase in your revenue.
How to start a blog as a small business -- here are 7 steps to truly get you started on your journey to developing a blog for profit. Follow this step-by-step guide that shows you how to become a blogger who provides value to your readers.
1. Look for a Blog Idea (Business Idea) Which "Fits" YOU!
In order to determine how to start a blog, we've still got to go back to the fundamentals of determining a good blog idea.
We're back to "fit" again - blogs are just like business ideas -- they have to be a "fit" for you personally, your personality, interests, and expertise.
2. Check-Out Your Competition
Another important factor for how to begin a blog is to check out your competition to determine what they might be doing? That is good market research! Spend time on their blogs...
What is the competition doing well - is it possible to incorporate this into your blog? What ideas do you have to improve your blog when compared to competition? How can you write your blog to incorporate information that you don't readily see available? What will be your internet voice - witty, humorous, serious, challenging, etc.?
3. Brainstorm Some Domain Name Ideas
Sit back with a notebook if you are learning how to start a blog and start jotting down a number of names which get at the intent of one's main topic idea and/or your spin. This can give you as well as your business a head start determining a good domain URL and providing you with probably the most flexibility and traffic in the beginning for your business blog.
4. Find Your Domain Name
When you're first determining how to start a blog, you can easily fall into the trap of attempting to do that as cheaply as you possibly can. Don't do it together with your domain name!!!
You're domain name will cost you around $10 - do this step! It's important and can save you problems down the road. Remember that that is like any other business and do the right steps!
Find a domain that has your unique topic in the domain name - this will help you with the various search engines and building your traffic organically as time passes. Maybe you can even get your "spin" in the name to provide your domain some character.
Try to purchase Look at more info .com or .net URL -- this will serve your organization best since these are the most recognized tags on the net (this might change over time, but for now these remain the standards). Avoid "cutesy" or "weird" names of domain - while they're fun in as soon as, others may totally miss your point if they find you at all on the net.
One of many free tools that i find particularly helpful is at http://www.NameCheap.com.
5. CHOOSE A Software/Hosting
While you are learning how to begin a blog, among the major decisions you'll make is choosing blogging software and hosting sites, be sure you are comparing apples to apples (rather than oranges). Many sites which claim to be "free" are anything but free. There are some perceived cheap options in the hosting world (or so it seems when you're just getting started!)
However, these options might cost you more in the end since they usually do not actually provide you with a business building system (BBS) and the give you support need and deserve to make your life easier and to help grow your organization. As you compare options, be sure to consider both your short-term and long-term needs for your business blog. Ask yourself what tools will be important to your organization blog over time.
You'll want to read the fine-print and check out any site restrictions to find out if they will work or may negatively impact your future business plans.
Does your host offer you training (you will need it for whatever kind of business and software you're using)? Search for a system that includes all you need to build a business -- this includes built-ins which offer keyword searches, software built-ins so everything works together, e-zines, quality monetization models, constant upgrades as the internet and Google become smarter, and support forums that will help you grow your business.
Avoid hosting systems requiring you to pay extra for each and every little plug-in you'll need to build a successful business. With this kind of hosting model, you're charged for each individual piece of business software including another fee for the domain name, domain hosting, blogging software, keyword searches plug-in, home based business plug-ins, premium templates, e-zine support, traffic analytics, even extra costs for additional traffic as your blog followers grow, etc. This can cost your business a lot of money!
And as you're learning how to begin a blog, make sure you take advantage of any tutorials offered. These is a tremendous value and benefit for you personally as well as your business -- remember you're learning a complete new industry and language. There will be specific nuances you will have to learn at each step along the way. Keep learning and building your site so that it looks professional to these potential customers.
6. Create Good Quality Content for Your Visitors
This is VERY Important step if you are starting a blog! You wish to provide your readers with top quality information - and you'll want to have a minimum of 30 pages, but 50+ is much better to get started with. Each of your pages ought to be between 350 - 500+ words (<350 are not enough to supply valuable information to your readers).
If you plan to make your blog a small business, you will have to write proficiently for many hours each day... That is why it's so vital that you LOVE your topics and reveal what you know and are thinking about. Many bloggers will quit because that is work and it's a business! This requires dedication just like starting any other business.
When we're talking about how to begin a blog, we'd be remiss if we didn't discuss the need for good quality original content. Your content should be interesting, honest, and you must be yourself if you are writing. This means you could be witty, charming, motivating, or rugged depending upon your personality. Just keep it real! This will keep your readers engaged, interested, and returning for more of your terrific featured articles.
Write your site content for folks with a short attention span - this is simply not a novel where folks will hang in there before end of the plot. They'll be seeking to gain their information in quick short bursts.
7. HOW TO BEGIN A Blog & Promote It
One of the better ways to promote your site is to gain traffic organically through the use of specific keywords being sought out by your visitors. By using the right keywords, the search engines will reward you by delivering your site site to readers across the world. Get comfortable identifying specific words being searched within your niche.
Be sure to tell your family and friends about your site - ask them to visit and present you constructive feedback. Make any necessary changes you imagine will help your blog.
Get your site link published on your own social media websites to encourage your social friends to visit your blog. Look for other media opportunities to get the word out about your blog. You can even advertise in hard copy magazines, online sites, or share links with other bloggers to encourage their traffic to go to your blog.
Who knows... maybe friends and family will ask you how to start a blog and you will send them here!
Thanks for reading my article, hope that it was helpful and that you enjoyed.