Write a Blog To Pass Time Online
Surfing the web easily consumes a lot of your time if you don't have a clear purpose. For example if you belong to several online discussion forums your back and forth conversations will eat up your time. Before you realize it, several hours have passed by and you haven't accomplished anything. It's easy to become distracted by all the information and interaction you can enjoy online.
Why don't you pass some of the time you spend online to write a blog?
Here are the 10 steps to write a blog
1. Choose a niche
Select a niche you feel passionate about. If you choose a niche you're not interested in it will be difficult to come up with new content a regular basis. If you find it difficult to decide on niche make a list of all the things you are interested in ie hobbies, relationships, money, sports, etc. After deciding on a broad niche, narrow it down to a small one. For example if your interested in skiing, think of a smaller niche such as Alpine skiing.
2. Set up your blog
Requirements for setting up a blog include a domain name, Web hosting and WordPress software. Choose a domain name that represents your niche, is easy to spell and remember. Select a web hosting company that uses cpanel, a control panel that includes a one click install of WordPress and manages your web hosting account. A free WordPress template is included in your WordPress installation. Google "free WordPress Templates" to find alternative templates.
3. Optimize your blog
Optimizing your blog means it's fast loading, contains search engine friendly pages, appropriate meta-tags and a correct structure for your posts, pages, comments and RSS feeds. Unfortunately your WordPress blog is not optimized when first installed so you'll need to learn how to do this your self or hire a professional WordPress designer.
4. Write your blog
Create a long list of possible topics you can write about and use these to populate your blog. Decide on a schedule how often to post content. If you're starting from scratch it's best to write a new post every day for at least the next 30 days. After that write at least 3 new posts every week.
5. Optimize your content
To attract visitors and search engine traffic you need to write captivating headlines, sub headlines and include keywords people are searching on in your content. Use the free Google keyword research tool to find keywords related to your niche. The tool will show how many searches the keyword receives each month. Weave the keyword into your headlines and web copy so search engines will find and index your content.
6. Create a marketing plan
Visitors won't automatically visit your blog without creating a marketing plan. One effective marketing method is article marketing. Simply rewrite a portion of your content and submit it to the top article directories and ezine publishers in your niche. Make sure you always include a link back to your blog at the end of your article.
7. Interact with your visitors
Once you begin to get traffic to your blog visitors will comment on your content. Make sure you answer their questions. Use Twitter, and Facebook to direct visitors back to your blog. Interacting with your visitors helps build a community of loyal followers around your content.
8. Monetize your blog
Only monetize your blog after you've added at least 30 pages of content and got a steady flow of traffic. Ways to monetize your content may include adding AdSense Ads, Affiliate Programs, Product Reviews, Sponsored Ads and selling your own products. Test different methods to determine which program is the most profitable.
9. Monitor your traffic
if you don't know how many visitors you're receiving, where they are coming from and what keywords they are using to find your blog you'll have no idea how to create a successful blog. You need to monitor and analyze your traffic statistics. If your web hosting company doesn't provide this (from the hosting control panel) install Google Analytics code.
10. Be consistent
The key to building a profitable blog is to add new content frequently and consistently then to promote your content through social media sites, article marketing and other marketing methods.
Stop thinking about starting a blog and get the process underway. With time you'll see that good things will come to you.
original source Ezine Articles
Surfing the web easily consumes a lot of your time if you don't have a clear purpose. For example if you belong to several online discussion forums your back and forth conversations will eat up your time. Before you realize it, several hours have passed by and you haven't accomplished anything. It's easy to become distracted by all the information and interaction you can enjoy online.
Why don't you pass some of the time you spend online to write a blog?
Here are the 10 steps to write a blog
1. Choose a niche
Select a niche you feel passionate about. If you choose a niche you're not interested in it will be difficult to come up with new content a regular basis. If you find it difficult to decide on niche make a list of all the things you are interested in ie hobbies, relationships, money, sports, etc. After deciding on a broad niche, narrow it down to a small one. For example if your interested in skiing, think of a smaller niche such as Alpine skiing.
2. Set up your blog
Requirements for setting up a blog include a domain name, Web hosting and WordPress software. Choose a domain name that represents your niche, is easy to spell and remember. Select a web hosting company that uses cpanel, a control panel that includes a one click install of WordPress and manages your web hosting account. A free WordPress template is included in your WordPress installation. Google "free WordPress Templates" to find alternative templates.
3. Optimize your blog
Optimizing your blog means it's fast loading, contains search engine friendly pages, appropriate meta-tags and a correct structure for your posts, pages, comments and RSS feeds. Unfortunately your WordPress blog is not optimized when first installed so you'll need to learn how to do this your self or hire a professional WordPress designer.
4. Write your blog
Create a long list of possible topics you can write about and use these to populate your blog. Decide on a schedule how often to post content. If you're starting from scratch it's best to write a new post every day for at least the next 30 days. After that write at least 3 new posts every week.
5. Optimize your content
To attract visitors and search engine traffic you need to write captivating headlines, sub headlines and include keywords people are searching on in your content. Use the free Google keyword research tool to find keywords related to your niche. The tool will show how many searches the keyword receives each month. Weave the keyword into your headlines and web copy so search engines will find and index your content.
6. Create a marketing plan
Visitors won't automatically visit your blog without creating a marketing plan. One effective marketing method is article marketing. Simply rewrite a portion of your content and submit it to the top article directories and ezine publishers in your niche. Make sure you always include a link back to your blog at the end of your article.
7. Interact with your visitors
Once you begin to get traffic to your blog visitors will comment on your content. Make sure you answer their questions. Use Twitter, and Facebook to direct visitors back to your blog. Interacting with your visitors helps build a community of loyal followers around your content.
8. Monetize your blog
Only monetize your blog after you've added at least 30 pages of content and got a steady flow of traffic. Ways to monetize your content may include adding AdSense Ads, Affiliate Programs, Product Reviews, Sponsored Ads and selling your own products. Test different methods to determine which program is the most profitable.
9. Monitor your traffic
if you don't know how many visitors you're receiving, where they are coming from and what keywords they are using to find your blog you'll have no idea how to create a successful blog. You need to monitor and analyze your traffic statistics. If your web hosting company doesn't provide this (from the hosting control panel) install Google Analytics code.
10. Be consistent
The key to building a profitable blog is to add new content frequently and consistently then to promote your content through social media sites, article marketing and other marketing methods.
Stop thinking about starting a blog and get the process underway. With time you'll see that good things will come to you.
original source Ezine Articles
