Yesterday I discussed the need for specific tactical goals. I realize that I didn't give you any set numbers, but I'll save that for later. Right now I'm still in getting set up mode. So without further adieu, I'm going to list some of the plugins I've been downloading to make blogging a little easier, and more effective. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve spent some time thinking over my initial idea to use one column for the diary, and another for the blog. Now I’m starting to think, perhaps it would make more sense to just start every post with the diary entry, and then immediately below that would be the actions I am taking in response. Like this:
Thursday January 21, 2010
There would be problems with the 2 column idea. Unless the thoughts and the actions took a similar number of words, there would soon be a huge difference, and there would be no visual connection between the two.
Alternatively, I found a widget that allows me to write text in the sidebar. Well, actually it’s a plug in. It’s called WYSIWYG. For those of you who have never seen that expression, it stands for “what you see is what you get”. The Holy Grail of web design for those of us who, like me, are code challenged. Hey…we want to focus on writing content, not designing the website.
I feel like I’m still at sea in the design mode, but slowly making progress. I just wish my sense of how I want this site to look is as clear in my mind as the purpose of it is. i do know that so far I’m not close to what I think the final look will be. But I’m working on it, and, of course, there is the learning of Thesis, and how to control the hooks. I can’t wait ’til I have an understanding of that subject. Right now I understand it in a vague general sort of way, but the nuts and bolts of it still elude me.
I know that with time, all will be revealed. It will be an evolutionary experience. That is, the blog-log.net will evolve according to as yet unknown needs.
As always comments are encouraged.
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The Life Of A Blog
I’m not concerned with making money on this site…yet. Why not? It’s not time yet. Blogs like everything else have a life. They have different stages to their lives too. Just like people. This blog is still an infant. Let’s examine the stages of the life of a blog.
The Birth Of A Blog
The preparations in anticipation of the birth of your blog are important. There are concepts to be considered. What is your new blog going to be about? What interests will it address? You must choose a name. Unlike a baby’s name, however you will need to make sure it’s available. When’s the last time someone named a baby and then had the state tell them, “Sorry, you can’t have that name. Somebody beat you to it?”
You will need to choose a host for your blog. Who’s server will your blog live on? There are any number of choices for your new blog’s home. Not being monetized at the moment, this blog won’t be making any recommendations just yet. There are sites that rate the different hosts. A simple search will find these for you.
Then when you get the blog home, so to speak, there are more decisions to be made. How are you going to dress it? You need to choose a blogging platform. Most people choose wordpress, although there are other quite nice platforms available too. Joomla, and Drupal are popular alternatives.
And then there’s the theme. What do you want it to look like? Will you choose a free theme, or go with a premium theme? Can you customize it yourself, or will you pay an expert to write the code that gives it exactly the look you want?
The Care and Feeding of Your New Blog
Now that your blog has a new home (the host server), and you have dressed it (the platform and theme), it’s time to teach it to talk. You need to give it a voice by writing new content. Most articles I have read advise having at least five articles ready to go when you put your new blog up. The thing to keep in mind is that when readers come to your blog, it’s important that there is actually something there for them to read.
There’s is going to be lot of hard work involved in growing your new blog. There is promotion. You have to find ways to let people know that it’s there. You will want to comment on other blogs (preferably in related niches), and comment in such a way as to make readers of your comment want to learn more about you by visiting your blog. You’ll want to have guest posts published on popular blogs. You will need to work hard at promotion.
Then there is the continuing need for new content. This never ends. A reasonable metaphor would be that content is your blog’s food. It’s sustenance. And like the food that you would feed a child, you will want to supply food of the highest nutritional value. Write quality articles for your blog. As a reader would you continue to visit a blog that didn’t have interesting or helpful content? You would not, and you should not expect your readers to either. Give them a reason to return again, and again. Give them content that is your best effort. You owe them that.
As your blog grows, you may find that it begins to change. The focus that you originally planned to write about changes. This is normal, and is nothing to worry about. Growth is about change. As your readers comment on your articles you may notice that they have a preference for certain topics, and want to focus more on those topics. Or perhaps it just may be that you find that it is your interests that change. That’s not a problem. While you don’t want others to dictate what your blog’s focus is going to be, it is important to listen to your readers. Think of it in terms of the growing pains of a teenager.
As you gain experience and your blog matures, you will find that writing comes a little more easily, and promotion becomes second nature. As it grows, your blog becomes something that you can take pride in. Before you know it, you’ll be taking it to little league games and soccer matches.
Then one day you’ll find that it’s all grown up. All your hard work is going to be rewarded. It’s time for your blog to go and find it’s first job. You’re ready to monetize. But that’s for another article.
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As always, comments are encouraged.