Blogging 1O1

It’s never been a better time to establish your business online. People are seeking sources for extra income and blogging has become a means of making passive income about topics you’re passionate about. Whether the topic is about technology, antiquing, or Martians from outer space, there are people who are willing to frequent your blog for information and the payoff can be hugh. Please don’t misunderstand me blogging is not for the timid. Blogging requires focus, tenaciousness and self-promotion.

I procrastinated for over a year before starting my blog and finally developed enough confidence to take the plunge. With my Web Design Certification and additional virtual technical training and encouragement from Chris Morgan of Chris Morgan’s Web Services http://cmorgansweb.us/?Monthly_Freebies I’m very excited about the opportunity to share my expertise with others willing to be patient enough with me as I continue to learn and grow as a blogger.

There are important steps we must follow to develop and manage a successful blog including learning as much as possible about online marketing. This article will offer some techniques for writing a successful and profitable blog.

Don’t wait until you have all the answers before getting started, the internet is a virtual world that generates real dollar bi$$s and it’s an opportunity to let your creativity take over and see where it takes you. You will make mistakes, but if you believe in yourself and your product you can be successful.
According to www.emarketer.com by 2012, more than 145 million people—67% of the US Internet population—will be reading blogs at least once a month. That is up from a readership of 94 million in 2007, or 50% of Internet users.

It is not a mystery to get facts about being a successful blogger, bloggers are generous and share techniques and tips of the trade because they realize how big the pie is.

Select Software

First step. I highly recommend hosting your blog on your domain to attract attention but if funds are limited and you don’t have a website of your own, do a little research to find out the best blog publishing software for your needs. There is an overwhelming pool to select from but to name a few there’s WordPress, Blogger, MoveType and Typepad.

Research target audience

Prepare a plan of your topic selections according to the type of audience you want to target. Content is king so select a topic that you’re familiar with and passionate about, next gather information and begin writing on the subject.

There is nothing more embarrassing than publishing misspelled words. I know that because I’ve done it before, and at the recommendation of a loving family member I write everything using Microsoft Word initially, even if it’s only one sentence and I strongly urge you to write all your articles in Microsoft Word first to ((wink,wink)).

Have a plan

Another major commonality among bloggers is to be disciplined in how often you write. Create a schedule for the frequency of posting to your blog and stick to it. We’ve all been to a department store and wasn’t able to find a sales person to assist us, walked out of the store without purchasing anything. Being online is no different, your customers don’t want to visit your site to find out there’s been no updates to the post since their last visit, they will happily move on to the next, more reliable resource. Unreliability screams unprofessional and will send your traffic in the opposite direction.

Discipline and dedication is a necessary part of committing to blogging so make sure you have sufficient access to a computer and resources. The more frequently you write initially the faster you’ll build your confidence and the better you’ll become at creating quality articles.

Conclusion

Finally, promote, promote, promote your blog. Oh, did I say promote your blog? If I didn’t I’ll say it again I can not express the importance you letting everyone know you’re online. Once you’ve launched your blog share it with family, friends and co-workers this will allow you to get some feedback. Join blog carnivals to post articles about your subject matter and forums related to your topic. Taking these small steps go a long way in positioning yourself as an expert in your field. Find out what people are seeking and offer it.

When I launched my blog; although, I was nervous at first I sent information via every possible technical venue from emails to text message. As people inquired about my blog and genuinely wanted to get more information about what I was doing, it really made me feel like an expert. I could feel the admiration instantly and received praise and respect as a marketing and technical “guru” and I’m already being asked about blogging techniques. So I decided to offer these suggestions in my blog.

Please check back for posts related to income-generating opportunities.
By Lukeither Willingham, Willingham Digital Solutions

Success is not a spectator sport so start blogging, get in the game.