So, you ask - how do I start blogging?
First a bit of history is in order. Blogs were first introduced as weblogs that refer to a “server’s log file.” Web logging has, over time, basically saturated the virtual community, which has made the Internet an extremely good source of information on countless numbers of topics.
The drawback with web logging is that you will need a web site and domain name. However, all you'll need to begin your blogging activities is a blog hosting account at a blogging provider, and quite often your account setup is free of charge.
More often than not, blogs are setup by individuals for there own personal use. They write about the goings on in their lives, activities, or perhaps base their blog around a specific issue or cause that is important to them.
However, over time businesses have moved some of their operations online, and blogging has become a way for them to increase their exposure, both of their brand name as well as their product offerings.
This increased exposure is designed to improve product sales as well profit margins, since blogging has such a low cost involved as compared to the costs of traditional retail channels. Blogging has become one of the best free ways to make money online.
Using blogs, businesses are able to provide useful information to their online visitors (potential customers) that is of immediate value to them.
Once this relationship has been established, the blog can then be "monetized" simply by directing the visitor to the company's website via a hyperlink.
If you are thinking of creating a blog, either for personal or business use, here are a few tips to get you going that should help differentiate you online from the other blogs within your category.
Here’s how:
1. Determine who your visitors are
The primary purpose of your blog, even if it is a personal one, is to give voice to your message - to be heard. Therefore, keep your visitors in mind and be sure to create content that is of interest to them.
2. Dress it up
Nothing makes a blog more visually applealing than a bit of intersting grahics. If it's apersonal blog, add some pictures that you can identify with in some way - this shares your personality with readers. If it's a business blog, add some product pictures, and of course your company logo.
3. QUALITY CONTENT
The purpose of your blog is to share useful insights and information, not just ramble endlessly with drivel. Always be sure your content will in some way be of value to your visitor.
4. Don't make complicated posts
Do not try and impress your visitors with your knowledge of the dictionary. Write in straightforward language that the masses can understand. This is not a college thesis - just a simple transfer of information.
Remember, many of your visitors will simply be browsing the web, and you do not want your posts to be difficult to read.
5. Involve audio or video to enhance interactivity
If your provider allows it, add some audio or video. This will enhance your blog by having your readers watch and/or listen rather than just read.
Additionally, allow your readers to comment or give you feedback. This gives your blog more of a community feel, and you'll gain insight into exactly what your visitors are looking for from your blog.
So, whether for personal or business use, blogs can be a great way to share information, get your message heard and build your network. Enjoy!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Internet Marketing Tips - Website Traffic Series #1
Welcome to the first installment of the website traffic series.
I've decided to begin a series of posts that will address the issue
of generating targeted website traffic, which we all know is THE
key factor facing not only internet marketers, but anyone doing
business on the web.
If you don't have the knowledge and ability to drive lots of visitors
to your website, it doesn't really matter how great your content,
pricing, etc. is......nobody will get the opportunity to see it.
Consequently, if nobody is visiting your website it will be virtually impossible for you to make money online.
Can you imagine a standard brick and mortar business opening up and doing no advertising to drive potential customers to their store?
Of course not...
That is essentially what traffic generation methods accomplish. The methods you use are forms of advertising that drive visitors to your website, which then gives you the opportunity to present your offer(s), whatever they may be.
So let's begin exploring the many options you have of driving targeted website traffic to your particular site on the web.
Increase Website Traffic - Method #1 -- Provide High Quality, Unique Content
This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many marketers forget this critical element.
The web is cluttered with low-quality, "also-ran" websites that provide little, if any, useful information to the visitor.
Set yourself apart by creating high-quality, useful, keyword-rich content that will be easy for web surfers, and more importantly the search engines, to find.
As you progress, the search engines will consider you a more valued and trusted site, as compared to others in your niche or category.
Also, as visitors come to value the content you produce they will naturally want to share the information with their friends and business audience. This will lead to those highly valuable one-way links to your site, and they'll often do this without being prompted to do so - they simply want to share a valuable resource.
Keep in mind as you create your content that if you can in some way solve some type of problem or situation that someone else has, they will love you for it, return again, and share your website with others.
See you soon with another tip to help you increase your website traffic.
I've decided to begin a series of posts that will address the issue
of generating targeted website traffic, which we all know is THE
key factor facing not only internet marketers, but anyone doing
business on the web.
If you don't have the knowledge and ability to drive lots of visitors
to your website, it doesn't really matter how great your content,
pricing, etc. is......nobody will get the opportunity to see it.
Consequently, if nobody is visiting your website it will be virtually impossible for you to make money online.
Can you imagine a standard brick and mortar business opening up and doing no advertising to drive potential customers to their store?
Of course not...
That is essentially what traffic generation methods accomplish. The methods you use are forms of advertising that drive visitors to your website, which then gives you the opportunity to present your offer(s), whatever they may be.
So let's begin exploring the many options you have of driving targeted website traffic to your particular site on the web.
Increase Website Traffic - Method #1 -- Provide High Quality, Unique Content
This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many marketers forget this critical element.
The web is cluttered with low-quality, "also-ran" websites that provide little, if any, useful information to the visitor.
Set yourself apart by creating high-quality, useful, keyword-rich content that will be easy for web surfers, and more importantly the search engines, to find.
As you progress, the search engines will consider you a more valued and trusted site, as compared to others in your niche or category.
Also, as visitors come to value the content you produce they will naturally want to share the information with their friends and business audience. This will lead to those highly valuable one-way links to your site, and they'll often do this without being prompted to do so - they simply want to share a valuable resource.
Keep in mind as you create your content that if you can in some way solve some type of problem or situation that someone else has, they will love you for it, return again, and share your website with others.
See you soon with another tip to help you increase your website traffic.
Privacy Policy
I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site internetmarketingtipcenter.blogspot.com The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates, I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense, ROI Rocket. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Scott Cofer at scottcofer@gmail.com. This privacy policy updated December 2008.
Update April 2009 - Privacy Policy
This website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit Google's Advertising and Privacy page.
If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at Network Advertising Initiative.
Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at Doubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates, I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense, ROI Rocket. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Scott Cofer at scottcofer@gmail.com. This privacy policy updated December 2008.
Update April 2009 - Privacy Policy
This website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit Google's Advertising and Privacy page.
If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at Network Advertising Initiative.
Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at Doubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center.
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