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Soooo You Want 2...
Mike PihlmanNov 20, 2010AltamontCowork, TeleBitConsulting, TracyReaderDad, ForCarol.com
http://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/toblogornottoblog.JPG
What is a Blog?
A very robust form of communication
Web logExpress yourself, teach, sell, more..Words, video, sound, graphics, hyperlinks..
My Blogging History
Started on Yahoo360 in 2005
Moved to Blogger.com
Moved to Wordpress.com
Got my own domains, hosted by Yahoo.
Moved back to Wordpress.com
4 Blogs: TelBitConsulting, TracyReaderDad, AltamontCowork, ForCarol
Sooooo You Want 2 Blog?
Why? ...do you want to Blog?
What? ...will you blog about?
Do? ...you like to write?
Can? ...you devote time to the Blog?
Are? ...you motivated to stick with it?
Blogging is the Future
Newspapers are decliningAlthough the iPad may help
Journalists will be online
Book Reviews will be by bloggers
Much information you get will be via blogsBut.....be careful of accuracy
What you get...
If you are consistent and long termAbility to express yourself to hundreds or thousands of people
RecognitionTracyReaderDad, TeleBitConsulting are recognized in their niche markets
Don't expect...
Hundreds, thousands, or millions of readers instantlyIt could take years of hard effort
To make tons of moneySome do, most don't
Facebook, Twitter, Blog
A blog is long termBlog content can be viewed years after creation
FacebookI only look at one page, the rest will never be seen
TwitterGone in a minute unless I see a mention
Mike's
Unofficial Rules of Blogging
Rule #1: Be Succinct
Summarize in a few wordsMiranda rocks!, Awesome Thriller
500 words or less are bestIt is a fast pace world
Rule #2: Write Easy
Try to keep it so everyone can read and understand.
Rule #3: Use Video
Rule #4: Use Other Visual Aids
Photos, Diagrams, Graphs
Rule #5: Link to Other Sites
Link to other interesting sitesAllows your readers to expand their knowledge of a particular subject.
Helps your viewership if they link back
Rule #6: Monitor Traffic
Rule #7: No Plagiarism
NEVER NEVER copy content and claim it as your own. NEVER!!!
Very easy to check for plagiarismCopy a paragraph and Google it
You can site source then copy parts or allI asked Barry Eisler, he said sure, but, I also gave the original location and the fact that I asked.
Where to Start
Free or Not Free ?
That is the question!
Free Blogs
Wordpress.comLots of free themes
Home grown statistics
Cannot monetize
Some limitations wrt embedding
Secure and stable
If you leave, your readers can follow (!!)
Free Blogs
Blogger.comLimited number of themes
Can monetize by placing Google Ads on the site.
Use Google Analytics for statistics
Secure and stable
Not Free Blogs
SquareSpace.com
TypePad.com
More...
Blogging Hosts
Wordpress.com recommendsBlueHost, $6.95 / mo.
DreamHost, $8.95 / mo.
More Hosts
GoDaddy.comWordpress Hosting, $3.99 to $7.00 per month for 1 year commit
Yahoo.comI paid $13.95 per month per blog
My Suggestion
Wordpress.com or Blogger.comYou can always change
Lets look at Wordpress and Blogger
Wordpress.com
ThemeWidgetsPostHeader
PagePage Links
Blogger.com
Let's Get Started
Pick a Name(or several)Pick a Location(WP or Blogger)Sign Up!
Your First Blog!!!!
Write it(or several)Publish itShare it
Congratulations, Blogger!
Click to edit the title text format
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