This document provides information and tips for starting a successful blog. It discusses blogging statistics, different types of blogs, getting started with domain names and content, promoting the blog through search engines and social media, engaging readers, using analytics, and maintaining a consistent posting schedule. The key points are to do market research on your topic, find your niche or angle, build an audience through commenting on other blogs, and focus on creating engaging, unique, and timely content.

1. Plug Into Profits Blogging 101

2. Blogging facts: There were 77.7 million unique visitors to blogs in 08 (comScore) 94.1 million US blog readers in 07 (eMarketer) 184 M worldwide have started a blog (Universal McCann) 1,000,000 posts per day 40% of blogs are abandoned each month 77% of “active” Internet users read blogs

3. Types of Blogs: Personal blogs – to inform about a trip, your rantings, share your thoughts. Corporate blogs – for marketing, branding, public relations, ongoing communications Question blogs – answer questions – about your business, about your product, a dynamic FAQ Genre – expresses your interest in a subject to facilitate dialogue with others of the same interest.

4. What is the purpose of your blog?

5. First – Do your homework: Who are the other bloggers in this space? What are they blogging about? Do you have a different slant or direction to take the conversation? Lets get started

8. Getting Started: Find the popular bloggers and start posting to their blogs. Read what others post at these blogs. How does your target audience get information – will they read a blog – your blog? Now what can you do differently? Will your blog be your website or just a part of your website? Domain name for your blog?

14. Now lets blog: Make a list of your first 5 - 10 ideas for your blog. Subscribe to either an RSS feed or get blogs emailed to you to get information for your blog. Collect photos, videos, resources to include in your blog Attribution – don’t forget!

17. I am blogging – How do I get someone to read it? Blog for a few weeks before you start publicizing – it just might not be “your thing”. Submit your blog site to the search engines, FeedBurner, Technorati. List resources on your blog page – other blogs you recommend – this is becoming part of the community. Link out from your blog – often Continue to comment on other blogs. Give readers the opportunity to share your information – Stumbleupon, Digg, Reddit

18. I need to do more? Tell everyone about your blog. Have a link on your email signature – to your blog Engage your audience – surveys, controversy, questions. Use a search function on your blog Sign up for Google Alerts For your topic For you The name of your blog

20. There’s more? Install analytic software with your blog. Just because you don’t get a post back does not mean no one is out there. Find out how folks are coming into your blog Content is the key Is it engaging, different, timely Be consistent – whether it is once a week or once a day.

22. Questions! Rick Simmons 267-626-9094 [email_address]