Greg B. is ‘just another guest blogger’. He is setting up his new blog as we speak, so don’t get overexcited.
We all know it’s tough to start a good blog, tough to be original. There is no top blogger, there are only good bloggers and newbie bloggers that want to become good bloggers. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. If you’re serious, get a domain (been told like a thousand times and people still don’t listen)
2. Get a .com domain
3. Your domain should be the same as the name of your blog
4. The blog must be installed in the root directory, and not @ blog.domain.com or domain.com/blog
5. Use WordPress
6. Use Timestamp
7. Proof-read your posts. Twice.
8. Be the first to comment
9. Provide a Full RSS feed. It attracts loyal readers
10. Find a huge RSS button
11. Register with Feedburner
12. Make a to-do list
13. Always have emergency posts in case you run out of time
14. Never go off-topic
15. Reply to users’ comments
16. Link to other bloggers
17. Make friends with them
18. Try to find guest bloggers
19. Guest blog yourself
20. Comment on other blogs
21. Install DoFollow
22. Write down ideas
23. Track your stats
24. Enable users to post your entries to social bookmarking sites
25. Monetize only after at least 6 months of blogging
26. Optimize your blog for search egines, don’t forget Yahoo and Live!
27. Put your keywords before the title; > example: “Cook ‘delicious meals’ with Martha Ilikecake”
28. Use your keywords in entries.
29. Use them only if they don’t ruin the meaning of a sentence
30. Always show related posts
31. Organize a blog carnival
32. Organize a contest. Try to find a sponsor
33. Write a free e-book
34. Advertise your blog on forums, chatboards
35. Make your own free VistaPrint Bussines cards
36. Register at Digitalpoint Forums
37. Make an About page
38. Make a Top posts page
39. Show some love to your top commentators
40. Write a huge list of blogging tips
Finding a sponsor for a contest can be hard! Registering at Digital Point gets you tons of linkbacks.
Digital point is ok, but I also like the SitePoint forums as well as Wicked Fire.
Those are some good tips. I’d like to add some ideas as well:
- Use descriptive titles
- Make sure you have rewrite urls turned on for whatever blogging software you have on.
You should add there that using have a mint or google analytics would be helpful.
Digital Point is a good source for everything computer related. If I have a question and need help I usually go there. Thumbs Up!
interesting list, i missed a few points out i will add them now, btw i added to my favs at technorati too.
Thanks for mentioning proofreading in #7 – I think that’s sadly overlooked all too often. Just aiming to write in proper language indicates you take your blog seriously, in my opinion, as opposed to writing things like “thru” and “u” which can imply flimsy logic and ditziness (yes, even in males! haha)
This is a great list of 40 Tips, I’m printing it out now and will follow as closely as possible. Thanks
my favorites
7. Proof-read your posts. Twice.
20. Comment on other blogs
36. Register at Digitalpoint Forums
37. Make an About page
Best content I ever seen. Huge amounts of live feeds, high payouts. Realy cool.