Blog Smart

Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

Download

Part One: Defining a blog

Everybody from postmen to politicians are now blogging – having their say onthe events that shape our world. If like me, you started off not having a clueabout setting up a blog, gaining traffic, and also having the daunting task ofchoosing which blogger platform to use, then here is a short guide to puttingthose wheels in motion for the start of a successful blog.

What is a blog?

A blog, (or weblog) is a series of posts set out in diary format, where the writerof that blog can post his thoughts, comments, news (both personal andwider).

Choosing a niche

When people start a blog, they are often stuck for what topic they shouldchoose. As they say in the trade, content is king. So, it is essential, when youset up a blog, you have a firm idea what you are going to write about.For me, having studied journalism, my passion was always going to be fornews and politics. Blog design comes a close second, but the two do need tobe compatible. Internet marketers, those such as the Australian guru YaroStarak, who runs the

entrepreneurs-journey

blog, (I really recommend youvisit it) says the key to great content is writing something that will benefit thereader. These posts of content are called ‘pillar articles.’

What is a pillar article?

A pillar article is a series of ‘how to’ posts which teach the reader somethingthey didn’t know, or may have not been sure about. They can include anythingfrom how to design a blog template, to posting a guide on how to use Twitter,or even tips for journalists wanting to get into the industry.Your blog, in the beginning, will need to have at least ten pillar articles, beforeyou move on to choosing your topic. You know why? Because at the start,potential readers of your blog are sceptical, and are never sure how long anew blog on the already crammed market will last. With pillar articles, this canensure a first time reader will come back to read your blog, and it will lead to anew subscriber. When starting out, you need to write as much as you can.Your posts do not always have to be pillars, but it is essential you keep yourblog fresh with daily news, a witty comment piece, or, of course, the pillar. Andkeep your posts short and to the point.Here is a selection of other posts you could do:-

Quote of the day- Twitter of the day- Puzzle posts- Competition post – (when you have a few more subscribers)- Today in History- News and comment articles- Videos and Podcasts

Part Two: Building up traffic and subscribers

When you have first set up your blog, have a topic for the content, managed toget a neat template, (paid or unpaid) and have a short but catchy domainname, it stands to reason you will only have one loyal reader, YOU.After you have showed your blog to friends, family, your boss at work, andmaybe a handful of other loyal insiders, then where does the rest of the traffic

flow from?Here are some key ways to build traffic to a blog. Some take time, others youcan just do on auto-pilot.

Search engine traffic

The myth that you simply submit your blog to

, and then watch thetraffic flow, is far from the truth. Google traffic takes weeks, if not months, sochances are you will have to be ‘active’ in the first few months of your blog.

Blog commenting

Here lies the plan. Look at the top blogs in the niche you have chosen. Findout about them, and become loyal readers of their blogs – adding them in yoursidebar links. Comment in their blog posts and leave your thoughts andopinions. If you have something worth saying, say it. Yaro Starak often writesthat positive and negative publicity is all good publicity. It means people arelistening to you – even if they are slagging you off.

and

Chances are you have heard of these sites, and you need to bookmark yoursite to these, and FAST. You need to download the toolbar for

, and start stumbling on blogs and websites within your niche. According toanother internet marketer Caroline Middlebrook, you can get a rush of trafficfrom

.

Trackback and links

If you are HTML literate, then linking to websites of a higher ranking actuallydrags your website higher up Google and the other search engines. From thiscomes traffic. So it pays to learn basic HTML. It also helps with designing yourwebsite. Learn Javascript too.

Content is king

Finally, I mentioned in the previous post about ‘pillar’ articles, these are whatmake a blog attractive to potential subscribers. Aim to write at least two pillar

of 00

Leave a Comment