The Blog
Before you even start to create your own blog, it is necessary to know what a blog really is. The word blog is actually derived from the word 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 stream of consciousness. Needless to say, the readers can still comment and share their applying for grants just about anything under the sun. Technically, blogs are also known as CMS or Content Management Systems. Being truly a CMS, blogs permit the writers to easily publish to a specific Site and manage the content without the need of having to deal with the program code. Publishing software also provides users with a GUI or Graphical INTERFACE for easy pointing and clicking of these articles. By using easy-to-do procedures, it is possible to perform configurations and set up, which can ease your job as a blogger because the tool can automatically organize your published articles next time you publish.
The Advantage of Blogging
The main question is; thinking about start blogging? One thing you should know is that blogging can boost and support your online communications. However, you must first understand the outcome of your blog that you require so as to attain success. Exactly why you should start blogging, is that it could be both a fantastic outlet for your frustrations or excitement. What 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 small business, especially those with dealings on the net, requires you to set up a clientele that are actually interested in your services or products. Blogs can perform this easily because of its accessibility and being an excellent medium for marketing that it's, blogs are essential for businesses. Way more, if you are handling a business, you will find a good chance your competition is blogging about their services and products. This is a better way for you to examine your competition and what their clients' preferences are. Additionally, blogs can create strong customer relationships as your target market can simply and directly communicate with the authority within your business. This type of opportunity is hard to resist since a solid customer relationship can eventually lead to lasting trust to your product and services; hence, eventual upsurge in your revenue.
How to start a blog as a business -- here are 7 steps to truly get you started on your journey to creating a blog for profit. Follow this step-by-step guide that presents 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 surely got to go back to the fundamentals of determining a good blog idea.
We're back to "fit" again - blogs are simply like business ideas -- they have to be a "fit" for you, your personality, interests, and expertise.
2. Check-Out Your Competition
Another important factor for how to start a blog would be to check out your competition to find out what they might be doing? This is good market research! Spend some time on their blogs...
What is your competition doing well - can you incorporate this into your blog? What ideas must you 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 web voice - witty, humorous, serious, challenging, etc.?
3. Brainstorm Some Domain Name Ideas
Sit down with a notebook if you are learning how to start a blog and begin jotting down a range of names which get at the intent of your main topic idea and/or your spin. This will give you as well as your business a head start determining a good domain URL and providing you with the most flexibility and traffic at the beginning for your business blog.
4. Find Your Domain Name
When you're first determining how to start a blog, you can easily belong to the trap of trying to do this as cheaply as possible. Don't do it together with your domain name!!!
You're domain name can cost you around $10 - do this step! It's important and can save you problems later on. Remember that this is like any other business and do the right steps!
Find a domain which has your unique topic in the domain name - this can help you with the search engines and building your traffic organically as time passes. Maybe you can even get your "spin" in the name to give your domain some character.
Try to purchase a .com or .net URL -- this will serve your business best since these are probably the most recognized tags on the net (this might change over time, but for now these remain the standards). Avoid "cutesy" or "weird" domain names - while they're fun in as soon as, others may totally miss your point should they find you at all on the net.
One of the free tools that i find particularly helpful is at http://www.NameCheap.com.
5. Decide On A Software/Hosting
If you are learning how to begin a blog, among the major decisions you'll make is deciding on blogging software and hosting sites, be sure to are comparing apples to apples (and not oranges). Many sites which claim to be "free" are anything but free. There are several perceived cheap options in the hosting world (roughly it seems if you are just getting started!)
However, these options might cost you more in the long run since they do not actually provide you with a business building system (BBS) and the give you support need and deserve to create your life easier also to help grow your business. As you compare options, be sure to consider both your short-term and long-term needs for your business blog. Consider what tools will be important to your organization blog over time.
You'll want to browse the fine-print to check out any site restrictions to find out if they will continue to work or may negatively impact your future business plans.
Does your host offer you training (you'll need it for whatever type of business and software you're using)? Look for a system that includes all you need to build a small business -- this includes built-ins that 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 to assist you grow your business.
Beware of hosting systems requiring you to pay extra for each little plug-in you'll need to build a successful business. With this particular kind of hosting model, you're charged for each individual piece of business software including another fee for your domain name, domain hosting, blogging software, keyword searches plug-in, new 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, be sure to benefit from any tutorials offered. These will be a tremendous value and benefit for you personally and your business -- remember you're learning a complete new industry and language. You will have specific nuances you'll need to learn at each step along the way. Keep learning and building your site so it looks professional to these potential customers.
6. Create Good Quality Content for the Visitors
This is ESSENTIAL step if you are starting a blog! You intend to provide your readers with good quality information - and you'll want to have a minimum of 30 pages, but 50+ is way better to begin with with. Each of your pages should be between 350 - 500+ words (<350 aren't enough to supply valuable information to your readers).
If you plan to make your blog a business, you will need to write proficiently for several hours each day... That is why it's so important to LOVE your topics and write about what you know and so are interested in. Many bloggers will quit because that is work and it's a business! This requires dedication just like starting any business.
When we're discussing how to begin a blog, we'd be remiss if we didn't discuss the necessity for good quality original content. Your articles has to be interesting, honest, and you must be yourself when you're writing. This means you will be witty, charming, motivating, or rugged dependant on your personality. Just keep it real! This can keep your readers engaged, interested, and coming back for more of your terrific featured articles.
Write your site content for folks with a brief attention span - this is simply not a novel where folks will stick around until the end of the plot. They'll be looking to gain their information in quick short bursts.
7. How To Start A Blog & Promote It
One of the best ways to promote your site is to gain traffic organically by using specific keywords being searched for by your visitors. When you use the right keywords, the search engines will reward you by delivering your blog site to readers throughout the world. Get Get more information identifying specific words being searched within your niche.
Ensure that you tell your family and friends about your blog - keep these things visit and present you constructive feedback. Make any necessary changes you think will help your site.
Get your blog link published on your social media websites to encourage your social friends to visit your blog. Look for other media opportunities to obtain the word out about your blog. You can even advertise in hard copy magazines, online websites, or share links with other bloggers to encourage their traffic to visit your blog.
Who knows... maybe friends and family will ask you how to start a blog and you could send them here!
Thanks for reading my article, hope that it was helpful and that you enjoyed.