Posts Tagged blogging
Give Your Blog a Sneeze Page
If you have a blog, whether for your business of for personal use, you know that writing your posts takes some time and effort. You want to keep your blog up-to-date, yet you also want your reader to see your past entries since they contain valuable information. And hey—you worked hard on them, so you want them to be read! But how do you get your reader to check out past blogs instead of the most recent ones?
That’s what a sneeze page is for. By categorizing your past posts into relevant themes, you can create a list of archived blog posts that your readers will want to check out. Your readers will see a category they’re interested in, click on that link, and then be sent to the past blog posts that relate to that subject. Sneeze pages are also good for search engine optimization since the links that you include on your sneeze page will be included during the search-engine ranking process.
Darren Rowse, creator of the sneeze-page concept, recently posted an article on the subject at ProBlogger.net. I highly recommend this article; not only will you learn more about how sneeze pages work, but the article also contains priceless tips for putting together your blog’s very own sneeze page. Visit http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/04/23/create-a-sneeze-page-for-your-blog/ and get your sneeze page started!
Add comment April 23, 2009
Business Web Sites vs. Business Blogs
You may think that since your business has a Web site, you’re set—it’s Web presence, right?
There’s a problem with this thinking. While yes, Web sites do establish some presence for your business, many business Web sites are often static and lack fresh content. That’s where blogs come in. In his article, “Business Blog Value Exceeds a Website,” Martin Zwilling weighs the value of a business blog against that of a Web site. His verdict is that since blogging gives you the power to frequently add new, relevant content to your Web presence, it’s vital for a business in today’s “Web 2.0″ world. The more content you have associated with your business, the higher your business will show up in search rankings—and that’s exactly what you’re trying to achieve.
Checking out Zwilling’s article at http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/2009/03/business-blog-value-exceeds-website.html. You’ll find more reasons as to why you should consider blogging, as well as helpful advice and tips on starting and maintaining a blog for your business.
Add comment March 27, 2009
Go Viral with Microblogging
If you use TwitterTM for either business or personal use, there are a few things you can do to maximize the reach of your “tweets.” Your TwitterTM account and other microbloggins sites are great viral-marketing tools that can quickly spread awareness of your business, its products, and its services. You can also work towards establishing yourself as an expert in your business by posting links to articles and studies that are relevant to your industry. Over at Coppyblogger.com, Dan Zarrella wrote a great article on using TwitterTM to help your business go viral. Check out “5 Steps to Going Viral on Twitter” to get some tips on how to easily spread word of your small business by microblogging.
Add comment January 28, 2009
How to Create Your Own Blog
Recently, one of our readers asked for additional information on how to create a blog. In response to his request, this blog entry will explain the steps for constructing your very own blog.
Creating Your Blog
The first step to becoming a blogger is to find the right tools for your project. Blogging requires ongoing involvement. Therefore, you want the entire process to be as quick and simple as possible. Blog publishing applications, like WordPress® and Blogger™, can facilitate your blogging efforts. These applications provide WYSIWYG editors, which enable users to edit/format their posts with or without the use of HTML codes. Many applications also allow users to:
- Preview their posts prior to publishing them.
- Add descriptive tags.
- Categorize their entries.
- Upload photos and videos with ease.
- Customize their blogs by adding themes, gadgets, polls and more.
Although basic blogs are usually free to create, users must pay for the optional feature they add.
Those who currently own a Web site should check with their Web hosting provider prior to selecting a publishing application. Some Web site hosting packages now include complimentary blog hosting services. If these services come with exceptional tools, as well as free customer support, then the choice is simple.
Once you’ve chosen a blogging application, select a blog title that will appropriately represent the focus of your blog and use that title in the blog URL. After selecting your title, pick the design theme for your blog. You can choose from pre-designed templates or create your own, using HTML.
Additional Tips on Blogging
It is also a good idea to put together a tentative posting schedule (e.g., how often you wish to post per week) prior to publishing your first post. No one expects you to post as frequently as a professional blogger, so set a realistic goal. Determine the number of posts you are capable of handling in the span of a week without drastically interrupting your everyday routine, and make this number your minimum number of posts per week. To make things easier, you can create a list of potential topics for your blog and add to this list from time to time. That way, when it’s time to write a new post, you can simply choose from your list of topics.
In addition, always incorporate strong keywords into your blog posts and tags. Strong keywords are words or phrases that are frequently searched and highly relevant to your blog topic. Using them will help your posts reach their intended audience. Because you will use the same terms fairly often, it is wise to put together an index of good keywords.
For additional tips on blogging, go to: http://www.mysolutionspot.com/improving-your-web-site/how-to-use-blogging-to-compliment-your-web-site-5-ideas-for-generating-traffic-to-your-web-site-1183/1249/#1249
Add comment January 14, 2009
How to Create a Decent Blog
Blogging can be a fun activity, as well as a cost-effective way to promote your business or hobby. If you are interested in starting a blog, take the time to plan your strategy and brainstorm post ideas. These steps will help you get the most out of your blog.
Continue Reading Add comment December 17, 2008
