Blogging Trends to Watch in 2016

Posted on December 22, 2015December 27, 2015 by sitemanager

blogging trends to watch for, binoculars

Blogging is an ever evolving entity, so it should come as no surprise that we can expect to see some new trends in 2016. Let's take a look: Increased Frequency of Posts There's a growing trend in the blogging stratosphere towards more frequent postings. According to a study of 1,000 bloggers conducted by Orbit Media, more than half of all bloggers are publishing at least one post per week, some of whom publish two or even three times per week. The study also found that 6% of bloggers are publishing more frequently than they did just one year ago -- a trend that will likely continue in 2016...

The 7 Unwritten Rules of Blogging

Posted on December 18, 2015December 27, 2015 by sitemanager

Thinking of starting your own blog? If so, you'll want to follow these seven unwritten rules. While there's no universal standard for maintaining a blog, these rules will boost your credibility while attracting new visitors in the process. Blogging Rules: Cite Sources There's nothing wrong with including excerpts or quotes from other websites and sources on your blog. However, you should always link back to the original source. This is done as a courtesy of saying "thanks," but it also shows search engines that your blog isn't a one-way street. Use a Custom Design The great thing about bl...

5 Things No One Tells You About Blogging

Posted on December 17, 2015December 27, 2015 by sitemanager

You'll Get Spam Comments... Lots of Them Allowing visitors to submit comments on posts and articles is a great way to boost engagement while creating fresh new content in the process. If you've been blogging for any significant length of time, however, you'll notice many of these comments are nothing more than spam. Such comments may consist of "Wonderful blog! I'll be sure to grab your RSS," or similar generic messages. This doesn't mean that you should disable your blog's commenting feature, but rather use an anti-spam plugin like Akismet to filter them. Competition Is Stiff There are lit...

WordPress App Launches for Windows

Posted on December 16, 2015December 27, 2015 by sitemanager

With Automattic having releasing the WordPress app for Apple's OS X, it was only a matter of time before a Windows version was released. Well, it appears that time has come, because the developer behind the world's most popular blogging platform has announced the release of a Windows version of its app. The new app seeks to streamline the process of creating and editing blog posts straight from your Windows desktop. Up until now, WordPress.com bloggers were forced to either log into their blogs to create new posts, which some users complained as being tedious. No Need For a Web Browser wit...

Blogging for Lead Generation

Posted on December 10, 2015December 27, 2015 by sitemanager

blogging spelled out, blogging for leads

Still struggling to generate leads for your small business? One of the easiest ways to attract new leads is to start blogging. It allows you to connect with your target audience on a more personal level, instilling the trust and confidence necessary to capture their contact information. Avoid 'List' Blog Posts Don't get me wrong, list, e.g., "Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid," are a highly effective and engaging form of web content, which of course is why you see so many of them online. They naturally capture readers' attention, enticing them to read through the items. But lists aren't particularly e...

Help! Someone Copied My Blog’s Content

Posted on December 5, 2015December 6, 2015 by sitemanager

cyber thief stealing content, hand coming out of computer screen

You know your blog is popular when someone else copies and publishes your content on their own website. But having your work blatantly stolen can be disheartening to say the least. When you invest your time, energy and money into creating high-quality content for your blog, you don't want others "piggybacking" off your success. So, what's the best course of action to take in instances such as this? How to Identify Stolen Content First and foremost, you'll need to identify what content (if any) has been stolen from your blog. There are several different ways to do this, one of which is to ...

How to Create an Effective ‘About the Author’ Page

Posted on October 2, 2015October 3, 2015 by sitemanager

The key to maintaining a popular, successful blog is to establish a strong relationship with your readers. If readers view your blog as being nothing more than generic source of the same rehashed content that's found elsewhere on the web, you will ultimately fail to gain any notable traction. If your readers don't know much about you, you have less chance of connecting with them. This Is Where An 'About the Author' Page Proves Useful. With an 'About the Author' page, you can show readers that you are a real person, giving them a sneak peek at your personal side. Use a Head-Shot Photo When ...

Blogging Tips for Travelers

Posted on September 26, 2015October 3, 2015 by sitemanager

One of the perks of blogging is the simple fact that it can be done anytime, anywhere. As long as you have a laptop and Internet connection, you can blog. This has allowed many road-bound travelers to enter the realm of blogger. However, there are a few things you should know if you plan on blogging from the road. Beware of Public WiFi When blogging on the road, you'll have to rely largely on public WiFi for Internet access. In doing so, however, you place yourself at risk for hacking and cyber attacks. Hackers may intercept outgoing traffic on unencrypted wireless networks, viewing users' p...

Getting Started as a Blogger: What You Should Know

Posted on September 4, 2015September 5, 2015 by sitemanager

So you're thinking about starting a blog? Whether it's for commercial or recreational purposes (or both), you'll find that blogging is a fun and rewarding experience that allows you to share your thoughts with readers. And if you do it right, people will begin to remember who you and what you write about, following your blog to catch future updates. What to Blog About One of the first steps in getting started as a blogger is to decide what you want to blog about. This is arguably the single most important step, simply because it will dictate your blog topics. Choosing a niche that doesn't in...

How to Get Noticed as a New Blogger

Posted on August 29, 2015August 30, 2015 by sitemanager

Did you know that there are an estimated 152 million plus blogs currently on the Internet, with hundreds more being created each day? As a new blogger, it can be difficult to make a name for yourself and attract readers. However, following the steps listed below will set you on the right path for success. Add Images to Posts If you aren't adding images to your blog posts, you are missing out on one of the easiest and most effective ways to attract new visitors. Images enhance blog posts so they are more appealing, and thus visitors are more likely to stay and read the content rather than cli...

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