How to Use WordPress More Effectively

Posted on July 26, 2015July 26, 2015 by sitemanager

Do you use WordPress to blog? There's no denying the fact that WordPress is a powerful blogging platform. It features a massive directory of plugins and themes while preserving a clean and user-friendly interface. Backup Your Files Don't forget to backup your files. Many first-time WordPress users make the mistake of only downloading their core files via a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program. But WordPress isn't static, and most of its data is stored in the form of a database. Therefore, you'll need to download both your core files, as well as the database associated with your site. If all ...

How to Create a ‘Blogger’ Blog

Posted on July 21, 2015July 23, 2015 by sitemanager

Formerly known as Blogspot, Blogger is Google's own self-blogging platform. Much like WordPress.com, it allows individuals and business owners to blog without the need for a third-party hosting service. All files and data are stored are Google's servers, eliminating the need for a domain name and web host. If you are thinking about creating a Blogger blog, however, there are a few things you should know. Getting Started In order to create a Blogger blog, you'll need a Google account. This can be the same account used to access Gmail or other Google services. If you don't have one already, vi...

Should I Blog Under My Real Name or a Pen Name?

Posted on July 15, 2015July 15, 2015 by sitemanager

This is a question many first-time bloggers ask (and some seasoned bloggers, as well). One of the key differences between a traditional content-driven website and a blog is that blogs have a more personal touch. The author usually includes his or her name along with a thumbnail photo to create a stronger connection with their readers. But should you use your real name or a pen name when blogging? Pen Name Let's go ahead and discuss the most obvious benefit of using a pen name: identity protection. By blogging under a pen name, you can conceal your real identity from the public. Why is this i...

The Scoop on Product Endorsements in Blogs

Posted on July 4, 2015July 6, 2015 by sitemanager

You might want to think twice before blogging a product or service that you were either given for free or paid for writing about. Even if you good intentions -- which most bloggers do -- you could be breaking the law. So, what's the scoop on product endorsements in blogs? Just five or so years ago, this wasn't even a topic for discussion. Bloggers wrote about products without disclosing any relationship they had with the manufacturer. Since then, however, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revised its guidelines to prohibit this practice. Bloggers are still free to write about products ...

Choosing a Niche For Your Blog

Posted on June 29, 2015June 29, 2015 by sitemanager

Thinking about starting a new blog? If so, you'll want to choose a niche that's best suited for your goals. Many bloggers make the mistake of creating a generalized blog, covering every topic under the sun. While this tactic may work for large-scale, established brands like Huffington Post, it's a sure-fire recipe for disaster for everyone else. So, how do you choose the right niche for your blog? Lots of Traffic, Little Competition A good rule of thumb to follow when choosing a niche for your blog is to choose one with high traffic and low competition. In other words, you want plenty of use...

5 Easy Ways To Uncover New Blog Topic Ideas

Posted on May 27, 2015May 27, 2015 by sitemanager

Still struggling to come up with new topic ideas for your blog? We all know the importance of publishing fresh content on a regular basis. It encourages search engines and visitors to return to your site, which often boosts your search ranking. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially in some of the more narrow niches. If this sounds like a familiar problem, check out some of the following ways to identify new topics. #1 – Search Forums When you are stuck and can't seem to think of any topics for your website, try searching through forums related to your niche. This is an excelle...

Mistakes To Avoid When Starting a Blog

Posted on April 30, 2015May 1, 2015 by sitemanager

Thinking about starting a blog? Doing so is a great way to establish a strong presence on the web, generate a following, and even promote your products and/or services. However, you'll want to avoid making the following mistakes when blogging. Wrong Content Management System There are literally dozens of different content management systems (CMS) available, some of which include Drupal, Joomla, BigCommerce, Blogger, Business Catalyst, Tumblr and WordPress. With so many different choices, how do you know which one to choose? For the purposes of blogging, most experts will agree that WordPress...

Can You Really Make Money Blogging?

Posted on March 27, 2015April 3, 2015 by sitemanager

The short answer to this question is yes, you can make money blogging. But it takes more than just throwing up a WordPress site and a couple of short articles to produce any sizable income. Blogging is highly competitive industry, with millions of active blogs currently online. If you want to succeed, you must differentiate yourself from the rest while providing something of real value to your readers. So, how can you make money blogging? Dozens of different opportunities exist, one of which is writing blog posts for high-traffic blogs in exchange for a flat per-post fee. It's not uncommon ...

Why Small Business Owners Should Blog

Posted on March 20, 2015March 31, 2015 by sitemanager

Many people assume blogging is only useful for personal purposes, sharing with world your political views or movie critiques. While there are literally thousands of blogs that fall under these categories, blogging can also be used to promote and grow a small business. To learn more about the benefits of blogging for small businesses, keep reading. Builds Authority Arguably, one of the greatest benefits of blogging for small businesses is the simple fact that it helps to build authority and credibility. Your target audience will read your blog's content, at which point they will view you ...

Common Blogging Pitfalls and How To Avoid Them

Posted on March 18, 2015July 6, 2015 by sitemanager

Thinking about starting a blog? Thousands of people make the decision to launch their first blog every month, but only a small fraction succeed. This week we're going to take a look at some of the common pitfalls of blogging and how to avoid them. Generic Cookie-Cutter Template If you're serious about blogging, you should invest in a custom template (or theme for WordPress sites). Using the same web design as hundreds of other blogs sends the wrong message to your target audience. Readers will view your blog as being unprofessional and generic, and they may even mistake it for another bl...

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