INFORMATIONAL BLOG: Blogging Information

STARTING GUIDE:

When starting a blog for the first time you will want to do a bit of research to make sure to avoid some common mistakes - mistakes I made when I was new that I cannot correct now. I came up with these 10 steps to give you a basic outline of what I think you need to start a blog.

You could just go to Blogger or WordPress and within 5 minutes have a basic blog in place but preparing just a bit by using these steps will help you avoid mistakes in the future. Some mistakes like picking your topic, blog title or blog URL aren't that easy to fix later.

If you are just setting up a blog for fun then just go ahead and throw it up because it doesn't matter. You are doing it for fun. But if you want to start a blog to drive traffic to your business website or you want to start a blog so you can make the blog your business you will want to plan your blog carefully.

Step 1: Pick your blog's topic - what is your blog about?

Multiple Topics
If you are starting a blog for fun then your blog could be about a variety of topics. You may attract readers for various reasons because you will be writing about various topics. In time, however, you may upset some readers each time you change a topic. They found you because of a specific thing you were writing about and then you change in a totally different direction. Other readers may not mind.

Single Theme
If you are setting up a blog for business purposes then your blog should have one overall theme or topic. This way you can optimize the posts and keywords you want to rank for on the SERPs (search engine results pages). Your readers will be much happier because you won't be all over the place. They come to your blog for a specific reason - because you are an expert, or are at least knowledgeable, about certain things. They search for a topic, they find you, you give them answers on their topic, everyone is happy!

This doesn't mean that you have to write about one thing every time you write a blog post. It means that the topics all fit within a common theme. Think of your posts like a book. The book is about one specific theme but each chapter in that book is about slightly different topics that all fit together nicely within the book's theme. Of course, we hope your book will be about one subject and not a novel (personal blog).

I wrote a long post on picking your blog's topic you might want to read.

Step 2: What kind of blog will you run? Social? Search Engine?

There are really 2 very distinct types of blogs - social blogs and search engine blogs. However, that doesn't mean that a blog can't be both.

A social blog is a blog that attracts readers that make comments and stick around to see what you will say next. You are writing content that solves a problem for your reader, makes them laugh, encourages them to be social or maybe creates a sense of community. You will spend a lot of time writing to make your readers happy, using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter to get more people to read your blog, commenting on other blogs to leave a trail for people to follow back to your blog, and generally interacting with your readers. You are the expert and your readers are coming to you for various reasons.

A search engine blog is a blog that is written to attract search engine visitors and not loyal readers. People who use search engines are looking to solve a problem. They ask the search engine a question and it comes back with results. When they visit a blog or website they are hoping to solve their problem by reading the information that is found on that blog or website. The best thing you can do is to NOT solve their problem. You should give them good information but let the ads you place on your site solve the problem. They will click the ads and are on their merry way, leaving you with a nice fat paycheck at the end of the month.

I will have to thank Grizzly for teaching me this little gem. It really does make sense if you are trying to make money with your blog and want to attract search engine visitors to let the advertisements solve your visitor's problems.

Social and Search Engine blog
You attract readers who like what you say and stick around to read more. They come all of the time and hang on your every word (one can hope can't they?). Every once and awhile they click on an ad that is relevant to them.

You also attract people who have no use for what you write about, don't like your "butt ugly" blog design, maybe are offended by what you say and leave by clicking on your ads, thus helping you to earn some money. This is an example of a social blog that also can be a search engine blog. It attracts search engine visitors because you are ranking for specific keywords, those visitors don't find the answer they need and they move on to the next site, hopefully through your ads.

I think most blogs are a combination of both social and search engine.

Step 3: Pick a Blogging System

When starting a blog you will want to figure out what blogging system best suits your personality. Do you want to use Blogger which is owned by Google, hosts all of your blog files and domain name for free? Do you want to use WordPress and pay for monthly hosting and have better template options? Then there is also TypePad, Drupal, and many more. Each blogging system has something different to offer so you should do some research to figure out which system has what you need.

Step 4: Pick your Blog's URL

Even though this is step 4 in starting your blog it really should be step 2 because after picking your topic this is the next most important part of starting a blog. And, if you pick the wrong URL you can't change it. You can setup a new blog and start over but why not put some thought in what your URL should be and get it right the first time.

Your URL (Universal Resource Locator) is the address people will use to find your blog. In previous articles I talked about the difference in using a free blog URL or buying your own domain name. I said that most of the time people probably don't type your domain name into the browser's address bar. One of my other blogs is getting quite popular and I have been watching the statistics along the way to find out how people are getting to my blog. I was totally surprised to find that 30% of them are actually typing the URL in the browser's address bar. That means that owning a domain name is more important than I originally thought.

So, because of this, you need to think long and hard about the right domain name for your blog. Your blog's domain name should be easy to remember and it also should have your blog's topic or main keyword in it. The topic of your blog, the domain name for your blog, and the keywords you use when you write posts will all work together to help drive traffic from search engines. These 3 components are the most important factors when starting a blog if you want to get it right the first time.

Step 5: Picking a Blog Template

What do you want your blog to look like? We have seen that it really doesn't matter if you are starting a blog for search engine results. If you want to start a blog for social reasons then you might want to be more concerned about what your blog looks like.

If you have a business and you are using your blog to drive traffic to your business website or to teach your customers about your product or service you will want to brand the look of your blog to match the look of your website. You should use the same colors, fonts, and logo if possible. You can do this without paying for a blog designer to design a custom template. There are many good templates available for free that only require a minimal amount of tweaking to change colors and upload a header. You might have a logo or header on your website that you can use on your blog.

If you think you are going to become a social blogger then you might want to consider your template more carefully. You will want to find a blog template that can be customized as you go along. Maybe your blog will become a business and you will want to brand it a certain way. The more recognizable your blog can become the easier it will be for people to remember you.

Step 6: Your Blog's Title

The title of your blog is very important. It is what shows up on the browser tab or title bar. It is used by the search engine to help place you in the SERPs and it should match your URL, if possible, and have some of the same keywords you will be using throughout your blog posts.

Step 7: Your Blog's Post Titles

Once you have figured out what you are going to write about on your blog (your blog's topic), have picked your blog's domain name (URL), have setup your blog using your favorite blogging system, and have picked your blog's template you are ready to start writing.

One of the MOST important part of your posts will be the title. You only get a certain amount of characters to use in your post title before the URL is cut off. I really do not know the exact number but I think it might be somewhere around 34 characters. That means that the first 2 to 4 words of your blog's post title should contain the keywords you want to target in the post. Those keywords don't have to be the very first word in the title but it should be within those first 4 words if possible. If the words are too long they might get cutoff so plan wisely.

When Google and other search engines crawl your blog they look at your blog's title first and then start moving down the page looking at your post title, label names (topics or categories), images (if you use the ALT tag properly), words within the posts, and anything else you have on a blog page. The more similarities the search engine bot finds the more likely you are to get ranked for your blog's topic and the more targeted ads will be placed on your blog.

Step 8: Blog Posts

When writing a blog post you should consider using the keyword or keyword phrase you want to get ranked for 5 to 10 times throughout the post. This will help the search engine to add up all of those similarities I talked about to figure out exactly what your blog and/or post is about. That, in turn, will help you get a better ranking for that keyword or phrase.

Step 9: Image Tags

How many times have you added a picture, graphic, or photograph into your blog post and didn't add anything to the ALT tag?

What is an ALT tag? ALT stands for Alternate Text.

Why do I want to use an ALT tag for images? You want the search engine to look at ALL of the elements of your blog and after comparing everything it finds to add those elements together to come up with an idea of what your blog is about. If the search engine comes to the image in your post and doesn't see an ALT tag attached it will just ignore it. That is okay if you put the image there JUST for your readers but WHY wouldn't you add alternative text to do both things at once - spice up your blog post and help out the search engine?

An image in HTML looks something like this?

Use the keyword you are targeting in your post as the alternate text for the image. It is just another way to help the search engines put 2 and 2 together.

If you want to read more about HTML and images visit the W3Schools site.

Step 10: Backlinks

The last, but very, very important step, is getting backlinks. Once you have your blog setup the way you want and are writing posts on a regular basis you should search out people to exchange links with.

You want other bloggers and websites owners to link to your site USING YOUR KEYWORD OR KEYWORD PHRASE!

These are some of the top things I think you need to do to have a successful blog and to help you not make the mistakes I did when I was first starting out. A little planning in the beginning when you are starting a blog will help you become more successful faster!

HOW TO CREATE A STATIC HOMEPAGE IN BLOGGER:
The last time I wrote about how to create a static homepage in Blogger I said that it couldn't be done. I have learned a thing or two over the least few months and have found a way to make it appear that your blog really does have a static homepage.

I am finding that I love Blogger more and more. I really think WordPress is for those who aren't "geeky in nature" and I love playing with HTML. My new name is the MAD TWEAKER!

To make Blogger have a static homepage you first need to create an HTML/Javascript Gadget (formally called widgets).

Follow these simple steps to create a static homepage:

1. Log into your Blogger.com account.

2. Click the Layout link from the Dashboard.

3. Click Add a Gadget from anywhere on the Page Elements screen.

4. Click the + symbol next to HTML/JavaScript gadget.

5. Type test in the Title for now and test in the body of the gadget and clickSave. You will change the words test to whatever you want later. For now we will be using the word test to find the gadget easier in the HTML code.

6. Next, click Edit HTML at the top of the page.

7. Click Download Full Template to make a backup of your existing template before making any changes to your HTML. You should do this each time you plan on tweaking the HTML code in case something goes wrong. Then you can easily upload your template before you made the changes and restore your blog if needed.

8. Click on the checkbox next to Expand Widget Templates.

9. Using your Find feature on the browser through the Edit menu or pressingCTRL + F on your keyboard at the same time, search for the word test.

10. Click just AFTER and press the Enter key once. Then type or copy and paste this line of code

11. Scroll down just slightly and look for and click in the blank space IN FRONT OF this line and type or copy/paste this code in.

When you are done your HTML code should look like this. You may want to click on this picture to make it larger so you can see it better.

12. Click Save Template at the bottom right.

13. Now click View Blog at the top of the page.

14. You should see the word test twice near the top and your posts just below that. Click on one of the posts. Now, if you have followed the steps correctly you should NOT see test on the post page.

What we have done is to create a gadget and by just adding 2 lines of HTML code you have made it static - meaning it will only appear on the homepage and not on the post pages.

15. Now you can go back to the Layout/Page Elements area and change the word test in the title and the test in the content area to whatever you want to appear on your homepage.

The best way to use a static homepage gadget is to set your posts to show one each page. You will then show the static gadget on the homepage and then one post just below it. To set your Blogger blog to only show one post per page click on the Settings tab at the top of the page and then click the Formatting link. You will see the box where you specify how many posts show on each page.

Here are some examples of what you can do with a static homepage:

Create a welcome paragraph that introduces your blog
Create a Google Adsense ad that only shows on your homepage
Create a small gallery of pictures that you only want to show on your homepage
Create a list of popular posts and link to those posts

HOW TO INSTALL A BLOGGER TEMPLATE:
Installing a template for Blogger isn't all that hard. There is one problem that I see that WordPress would be better for when it comes to changing templates. Blogger does not retain all of the widget/gadget info and you have to manually back up the contents before you change over to a new template. That is, if the new template is drastically different than the one you are using.

You should always back up your existing template in case something goes wrong. You will need to copy the HTML code, JavaScript code, or write down the list of links you have in the widgets before you change templates.

To backup widget contents I usually open Notepad and copy all of the data in each widget into that. Notepad will not add any weird coding like Microsoft Word or some other word processing program. It also loads fast. I wouldn't suggest using WordPad either.

I would also suggest making a list of all of the widgets you are using on your site so you don't miss any when you change over your template.

And, if you have anything special added to the HTML code like Google Analytics or other tracking code you will need to copy that in case it gets lost.

When you want to change your template you are doing these basic things:

Find and download a new template which is usually one single file.
Backup your current blog template.
Upload the new template file.
Customize your new template by changing fonts, colors, and adding gadgets.

If you already have your blog setup you will want to back up your current blog template in case something goes wrong or you do not like the new template once you have it install. If you are starting with a new blog then just skip this step.

How to backup your existing template:

From your Blogger Dashboard find the blog you want to work on and clickLayout.
Click Edit HTML.
Click Download Full Template.
When the window pops up find where you want to save that file on your computer.
Click Save.How to install the new template:

You do not have to know how to copy or paste HTML code to install a new Blogger Template.

From Edit HTML click the Browse... button.
Find the template file (usually ends with .xml) on your computer.
Click on that file and then click Open.
Click the Upload button.

Once you click Upload you might get a message that certain widgets/gadgets will be deleted. If you are fine with that click Upload or OK (not sure what the button reads).

Sometimes you might get a weird Blogger error code similar to this:

How to Install a Blogger Template

What it usually indicates is that you have widgets/gadgets that are now emptythat should be deleted. To fix it you will probably have to go back to Layout | Page Elements and manually delete all of the widgets before uploading the new template.

To customize the look of your template or add gadgets:

Go to the Page Elements tab. You can add Gadgets and drag them around wherever you want on the screen. Some templates that you get will let you change the fonts, background colors, heading colors, etc. easily by clicking on the Font and Colors tab. If you go there and there are no options then the template you picked does not have that feature and you can only change these things by going into the HTML.

Customize your template:

When you get a template, whether it be one of the basic blogger templates you are presented with on the Layout tab or one you download from the Web I suggest that you customize it.

If you go to the sites I am using this template on you will see that no two look alike. Each one looks so customized that the "average person" will not know it is the same template. It doesn't even look like I own each of these blogs because the colors scheme and headers are all different.

What I suggest you customize on your new Blogger template:

Header
Font
Link color
Background image or color

ADD A SEARCH FEATURE TO YOUR BLOG:
It is easy to add a Search Feature to your blog.

It will look like the search box just under my picture (not the one at the top of the page).

Follow these simple instructions:

1. Click the Layout tab from your blog Dashboard.

2. Click Page Elements.

3. Click Add a Gadget above the section you want to put your search box in.

4. Click the plus sign next to HTML/Javascript.

5. Type Search this blog (or whatever you want) in the Title box.

6. Copy and page this HTML code in the text area. Do not modify anything.

7. Click Save.

8. Click Preview.

9. You may have to drag the search gadget into a new area until you get it positioned where you want it.

10. To test it click View Blog.

BLOG TERMS EXPLAINED:

Blog

A blog is a collection of writing, similar to a diary. What you write may be about your personal life or in the case of a business blog you would probably write more about your product and services.

Unlike a website where the information pretty much stays the same from page to page unless you change it, the information seen on a blog changes everytime you write a post. A new post will show on the homepage and after awhile will fall off to older pages.

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Posts

A post on a blog is the content you write that makes up the blog. Think of posts as pages in the diary.

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Comments

A comment is a message written by a person who visits your blog. The comment appears either above or below a post depending on how the blog is setup. A comment is a way the blog becomes interactive because the public can leave their thoughts on your post. This is what sets a blog apart from a website.

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Blog Host

This is the company or service that allows your blog to appear on the Internet 24 hours of the day. Your blog is not stored on your personal computer because no one would be able to view it. It must be stored on a computer that will show it to anyone who wants to visit it.

If you decide to use a free blog service such as Blogger or Word Press then they would be considered your blog host. If you decide to pay a hosting service a monthly fee to host your blog then they would be your blog host.

What is the difference in a free and paid blog host?

A free host will store your files for free and give you a blog URL or address that will include their business name in it.

Example: http://businessbloggingguide.blogspot.com/

Blogspot.com is the company's name

If you pay to have your blog hosted you can buy your own blog URL and it will not have any other name but your own in it.

Example: http://www.businessbloggingguide.com/

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Template

A template is the design, color, and layout of your blog. When you register for a new blog at one of the free sites you are given several template choices. If you don't pick one your page will be white, like a blank sheet of paper. You can change your template at anytime.

For more advanced users: you may want to download a more customized template. This will help your blog to have more of a unique look than the "cookie cutter" templates that you are offered when you sign up with a blog service like Blogger or Word Press.

Downloading and then uploading a template will require some knowledge of HTML and CSS in case you get in a jam and the template doesn't work. Always download your existing template before uploading a new one. You can always revert back to the old design until you figure out how to get the new one working properly.

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RSS Feed

Okay, I've read several different versions of what RSS means. Some say it means RSS Really Simple Syndication while others say it means Rich Site Summary. It doesn't really matter what the letters stand for though. What matters is what it is and why you need it for your blog.

RSS is a way for visitors to keep up with your blog without them having to visit it all of the time. They subscribe in something called an RSS Reader which is really a piece of software or a special area on websites like Yahoo or Google.

Basically, all of the messages you post are compiled together and sent out to those websites on a daily, weekly or monthly basis depending on how you have it set up.

Some people like following blogs this way. They can log into their Yahoo account and on their personalized My Yahoo page there will be a section that shows the updates from that blog. Or, they can open up a Reader such as RSS Captor Proor BlogExpress and read the messages that way.

Here is a more comprehensive list of RSS Readers available: www.rss-specifications.com/rss-readers.htm

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Email Feed

See above for an understanding of a feed first.

Basically, all of the messages you post are compiled together and sent out to your email account on a daily, weekly or monthly basis depending on how you have it set up.

Some people like viewing messages in an RSS Reader while others would rather get an email to read.

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Permalink

In a blog, this is the permanent link that goes to a specific blog entry.

Remember, once you start writing on your blog all new messages get pushed to the bottom of the page and eventually off onto older pages.

If you want to tell someone about an blog post you wrote you should give them the Permalink so they can go right to it and not have to search your blog to find it.

How do I find the Permalink for my blog post?

- Locate the post on your blog you want to share. Hopefully you will know where it is.
- When you hover over the title of the post you will notice that it "gives you the finger" which means it is a link.
- If you look at the bottom of your screen at the status bar you will be able to read the full Permalink address.
- Right-click on the title and left-click Copy.
- Now you have the URL of that specific blog post in your computer's clipboard and can paste it in an email or anywhere you want.

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Blogosphere

Blogosphere is the collection of all blogs and their interconnections on the Web. Blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network.