6 Questions to Ask Before Starting a New Blog

Posted on April 4, 2016 by sitemanager

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There are several key questions to ask when starting a new blog that will position your blog for success and make it easier to connect with your target audience. What Will I Blog About? You can't expect to launch a successful blog without first identifying its core topic. Attempting to create a "general" blog with no single topic is a sure-fire recipe for failure. Opting for a more narrow topic, however, will reduce your competition while creating stronger relevancy with your audience. Am I Passionate About the Blog's Niche? Far too many bloggers choose their niche based on its monetary va...

Blogging on a Budget: Low-Cost Ways to Blog

Posted on March 29, 2016March 31, 2016 by sitemanager

Some business owners and entrepreneurs are reluctant to blog, assuming it will cost a fortune. While it typically does require some initial investment up front, there are ways to minimize these costs. So if you're looking to start a blog without breaking into your savings account, keep reading for some essential tips. Choose a Free Content Management System There are dozens of content management system (CMS) platforms available, but many charge a flat fee per month, which can cost you several hundred dollars over the course of a year. Consider using a free CMS, such as WordPress, Joomla a...

5 Things to Do After Launching a New Blog

Posted on March 21, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

So, you've finally made the decision to start a blog? It is a proven fact that blogs are a great method to deliver content and connect with your target audience. Thus, there are a few simple steps you should take after launching a new blog to ensure its success. Change the Design Whether you're blogging on WordPress, Blogger, Joomla, Drupal or any other content management system (CMS), you should use a custom design. The problem with many of the so-called "free" templates and themes is that they are being used by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of other blogs. Investing in a custom design wil...

How to Craft Killer Blog Titles

Posted on March 17, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

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What's the first thing a visitor sees upon accessing one of your blog posts? Yep, it's the title. Blog titles set the tone for your blog posts, influencing visitors' decision on whether or not they will read them. But how exactly do you craft killer blog titles? Create a More Focused Title The first step is to create a focused title for your blog. In other words, you want to hammer down the title to something specific with a targeted focus. Instead of a generic title like "Exercise Tips for Men" for instance, you can start with a title like "Top 5 Exercise Tips for Older Men." From there,...

How to Make Your Blog Posts Stand Out

Posted on March 16, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

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With more than 152 million blogs and counting, it's often difficult for new bloggers to develop a strong following. This problem is compounded by the fact that many industries and niches are riddled with competition. But the good news is that you can differentiate yourself from the crowd by focusing on unique, high-quality blog posts. Here's how to make your blog posts stand out. Write Longer Posts If you asked ten different professional bloggers what the ideal length is for a blog post, you would probably get ten different answers. Some prefer shorter posts consisting of 200 to 300 words, w...

5 Ways to Improve Your Blog Right Now

Posted on March 14, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

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You can always find ways to improve your blog -- some are quick and simple, some take a bit more time. Here are some ideas! Create an Email Newsletter Why should you create an email newsletter for your blog? The real question to ask is why shouldn't you (hint: there is no reason not to). Launching an email newsletter will allow you to collect the email addresses of your blog's readers, which you can then use later for marketing and advertising purposes. Just place a newsletter signup widget in a highly visible location of your blog and ask visitors to enter their email address. Respond to M...

Blogging Guidelines for Business Owners

Posted on March 11, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

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Who says that blogs are limited strictly for personal reasons? Businesses of all shapes and sizes can leverage the power of blogging to attract new customers and grow their brand identity. But there are some blogging guidelines you'll need to know when blogging as a business owner. Don't Send Traffic to Your Competitors Linking to relevant sources in your blog posts is a great way to enhance your own content while showing search engines that your blog isn't a one-way street way. But the golden rule of linking is to avoid linking to your competitors. If you add links pointing to your competit...

Local Search Optimization Tips for Blogs

Posted on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

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Still struggling to achieve a top search ranking with your blog for local, Geo-driven keywords and queries? If you own a small local business, a blog can help to attract new customers -- but only if people in and around your area see it. This is where local search optimization (LSO) comes into play: by performing various on-site and off-site optimization tactics, you can encourage higher search rankings for local searches. Include Contact Information as Plain Text If you aren't doing so already, add your business's contact information -- in plain text format -- to your blog. This includes yo...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Images in Blog Posts

Posted on March 9, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Using images in blog posts will make them more appealing, which subsequently lowers your blog's bounce rate while improving user experience. But there are a few things you should know about using images in blog posts. Don't Use Images Without Permission I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning -- you should never use an image without the owner's permission. Just because you see an image that you like doesn't necessarily mean that you can use it on your blog. Copying and uploading images to your blog could op...

How to Attract More Comments on Your Blog

Posted on March 7, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

A blog is an excellent platform for showcasing content while generating a strong response among readers. Because they are more personal and time-sensitive than traditional websites, they typically receive more comments. But you can go one step further by utilizing the following tips to encourage even more visitor comments. The Importance of Visitor Comments Why are visitor comments important for blogs? While there's no rule stating that you must allow visitors to submit comments, doing so will almost certainly prove beneficial. Fresh Content: For every comment a visitor makes, your blog re...

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