When it comes to generating traffic, nothing beats
starting your own blog. For years, blogging was
considered a place to record your thoughts and connect
with family. Maybe the blogs of yester-year branched out
a bit to include friends and business associates.
Nowadays, if you haven't started a blog, you are missing
out on some of the best website traffic freely available,
and losing out big time.
It's a fact. Warm-blooded humans love to read blogs. Search engines, like
Google and Yahoo! adore blogs. For the search engines,
the reason is pretty simple; content is constantly
updating and search engines feed off these updates. For
humans, much of the best in information, resources, and
product reviews (and products themselves) can be gleaned
from following good blogs. It's easy to create loyalty
and keep your readers coming back for more, when you
have your own space to pour your heart and soul
into.
The key to successfully starting your own blog is to
first know your limitations (we'll cover passions in just a
bit). While Google does have their own blogger area, will
you have the know how to make yours stand out from all the
hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of other bloggers
using this blogging platform? If you do not know how to
draw traffic to your blog, you face the same trials and
tribulations as you would putting up a static website. You
must know how to increase traffic, draw and keep visitors,
and use the tools and tricks of blogging to be
successful.
Let's presume, for now, that you are only interested in
the first stepping stones to creating a successful blog.
Your first step would be to determine (ah, here it is) your
passion!
Bloggers passionate about their fields, hobbies, know
how, etc., joyfully exchange information with their
readers, yes even years down the road. Conversely,
individuals who choose to blog about subjects they have no
real know-how for tend to abandon their projects. No heart,
no blog.
You need to think outside the box. Remember, when it is
your own space on the internet, you have the freedom to do
what you want, not do what you are told. You also gain the
flexibility to introduce a wide variety of subjects to
explore and still maintain the overall essence of your
blog. Blogs allow for the creation of categories and tags,
and make a neat, easy, simple system all their own to
"file" your information. By using a blogs filing system
effectively, you make it easy for humans to find your
information, and have the search engines worshipping you.
Humans need humans, search engines need data.
The next step to start a blog is to choose a platform.
As mentioned above, Google has their own, with a limited
amount of (not very attractive) templates to begin. Sure if
you want to learn the ins and outs of code-related blog
themes, you can substitute templates found out online.
However, the platform most recommended for starting a blog
is Wordpress.
Wordpress does allow you to host your blog on their
servers, but we would highly recommend not going that
route. Purchasing a long-lasting (keyword driven) domain
name, and finding (excellent) hosting for that domain
should be your aim.
So what do we have so far? We know you must:
o Unearth your passion - talking with knowledgeable
individuals often helps you discover what it is your really
love in life!
o Research and buy your domain name - again getting help
so you don't end up with a loser of a domain name is
important.
o Locate great hosting - highly recommended that you
make sure your host uses cpanel as its backbone. Free
hosting may not allow for the installation of php or just
be cumbersome to work with. You want blogging to be fun and
easy!
Okay, so what's next?
Well, you'll need a template. The template you choose if
you pick Wordpress as your platform can be your "ideal"
design or just a good substitute while you continue to
look. With Wordpress, it is so easy to change your mind and
swap the old out for the new look. So find a good "theme"
that is labeled three column, widget ready, and plug in
ready, and begin from there.
You will need to install these files. If you do not know
much about FTP and installation, be sure to get some help.
It's not hard, but why frustrate yourself when help is
available.
You also will need plugins and "widgets" and a way to
get traffic rolling immediately to your new blog. Again,
don't pull you hair out and go crazy over this, help is
always available. Seek it out.
IN SUMMARY
Looking back through this article, you might, but need
not, feel overwhelmed. The information above is just that -
information. The actual use of blogging as your worldwide
platform is so easy anyone willing to follow simple
directions, and put in some work, can do. Driving traffic
to your blog that is fine tuned to pull in, and continue to
draw more, traffic is also easy, with proper
instruction.
And the very best part about starting your own blog
is...
You spend your time and your money and your effort on
yourself!
Sure you can still sign up for affiliate programs and -
in most cases - this is highly advisable. But now as you
"do your thing online" you are investing in yourself not
advertising for someone else. By choosing your passion to
blog about, even if six months from now you no longer
promote "the other guy's program," you never lose! Your
efforts are exerted to promote yourself, your blog, your
information. You gain flexibility. Your life online is now
a joy!
Blogging is the greatest platform for continuous
interactivity and fun for yourself and your visitors. If
boredom or frustration is your situation, or you need to
expand your business online, consider starting a blog today
(yes today!). Your online future depends on it.
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