Blogging For Babies - Part II

With over 70 million blogs and growing and millions of websites with content, what makes me think anything other than a behemoth, all-consuming effort will land my writing blog anywhere near the top 40, unless I live, eat and breathe in the blogosphere. I created a blog to enhance my writing objectives, not take over. I’ve found myself trying to create a blogdom and my ambition, long since gone awry. Along the way, I have found a few things that don’t take much time:

1. Google Analytics helps me measure my website’s traffic.


2. I created a list of favorite websites using “Template,” “Add a Page Element,” “Link List.”


3. I maximized my ability to add page elements by going to “Template,” “Edit HTML” and searching for all occurrences of “showaddelement.” Then changing “no” to “yes.” I verified the results under “Template,” “Page Element.”


4. I’ve saved notes to refer to each time I post using “Settings,” “Formatting,” “Post Template.” Notes to “Read Aloud,” “Spell Check,” “Check Links,” etc. have been helpful reminders. This is the perfect place to save frequently used HTML code, copies of basic links, links opening in new pages, picture links and anchor text links.


5. I periodically type my name, user name, blog name, post titles and keywords into search engines to see what others see.


6. Google Alerts helps me monitor words, phrases and topics of my choice.


7. After accumulating content, I set up a Google AdSense Account. This allows advertisements related to my blog to be placed on my blog. In return I might earn money.

I love technology but hate technical stuff. Blogging is something I can do without an HTML degree as long as a steady, long-term perspective is maintained. I definitely can’t put all my energy into one blogsket. Ultimately, I am a wordsmith not a widget maker.

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blogging, blogging for babies, HTML, writing

Blogging For Babies - Part I

Writing, plus marketing yourself and your writing, is enough for a small volunteer army. Blogging need not be so intense and complicated for the uninitiated. I‘ve been in basic training for a few weeks so, from a rookie to a newbie:

1. Save any text such as your blog description and your profile on your computer and removable media. Perform the same backup for your template.

2. Compose profile sections and posts in your word processor, then add to your blog. This will help you catch mistakes. Reading posts aloud also helps.

3. Create and post at least three to four posts before trying to create traffic. You’ll get practice and have time to fine-tune your blog and its description. When visitors come, they’ll see several posts and your format will be more static.

4. Each post's title and labels are the keywords and phrases used by search engines. Also, what you post as comments on other blogs and in Groups can be found during internet searches.

5. Read The Ten Commandments For Bloggers.

6. Submit to the main search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and MSN Live Search. If asked, select the “add meta tag” option, it’s easier. The latest search engine is Megaglobe.

7. Pinging is like an insect landing on a spider’s web. When you ping, the search engine spiders come to your site to see what new information you have on the web. Sign up for automatic pinging at Autopinger.com. This will ping dozens of search engines automatically at intervals or you can ping them each time you post by going to Autopinger.com and quickly pinging all sites at once.

8. Feed item footer text can be found during internet searches and is attached to the end of each post once you setup your RSS feed. My feed item footer includes blog description, copyright notice and feed URL. Subscribe to this blog in the sidebar to see an example.

9. Setup your RSS feed at Feedburner.com and then subscribe to your own feed to see what other are seeing.

10. Subscribe to Blogger Tips and Tricks and Dummies’ Guide To Google Blogger.

Finally, for now, add your blog’s URL to your email signature and join me in the wading pool of the World Wide Web. Jump in blog first!

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beginners, blogging, newbie, tips and tricks