Lesson 4 | Course Contents | Lesson 6
LESSON 5: Blogging For Your Online Business
One tool that every Internet marketer should be using is a blog. Blogs are free and easy to set up, and offer the dedicated Internet marketer a huge opportunity to get his or her message out.
==>Blogging For Your Online Business<==
What is blogging?
Blogging is simply the act of putting out news, information, gossip, product reviews or whatever on a special type of website called a blog (short for "weblog"). However, a blog has features
that set it apart from other websites such as:
- Content entries (posts) are arranged in chronological
order with the newest content at the top
- Reader comments are often an important part of a blog and
create a sense of community.
- A free subscription system called RSS is offered so
readers know when the blog has been updated.
- Posts are arranged into some type of archive system so
readers can find information easily.
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Many Internet marketers base their entire business around
blogging.
Here's why...
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All it takes to set up a blog is a computer and an Internet
connection.
Blogs are free. You can set up a free blog with one of the
many blogging services.
Flexibility is also one of the outstanding features of a
blog. There are numerous platforms to blog from, and even if
you don't want to host your blog, you can set one up at one
of the many free blog services like Blogger.com or Wordpress.com.
Many people also feel that blogs create an intimate
atmosphere for learning and research. A blog can create a
simple credibility that can help sell your products because
it helps create an "Everyman" aura, that is, a stripped down,
hype-free way to talk about products.
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If your opinions get read and respected, you might find that
your credibility will begin to increase around a particular
subject. People will begin to look to you to offer your
opinions on forthcoming issues. And once you are established
and considered an expert in a niche, your ability to sell
from your blog will increase dramatically.
Once you are established, don't be afraid to ask people to
sign up to your list. (See Lesson Eight - List Building With Autoresponders.)
A great way to utilize your list is to send a message to it
when you have made a new post to your blog. Encourage your
readers to read your new article and also to comment on it.
By using your list in this manner, your subscribers won't
feel that you are using your list merely to sell to them.
Of course, you can sell to them from your blog, and if your
readers begin to comment on your posts, you are helping to
enhance your blog's "stickiness" - i.e. the degree to which
people stay on your blog when they arrive, and whether or
not they return to visit again and again.
Blogging is a terrific tool for any Internet marketing
business. Done in the correct manner (meaning that if you
intend to build your credibility, you should blog in the
most personal manner possible), you'll be able to make money blogging in a relatively short time.
The best way to find out if a blog is right for you or your
business is to look at the top 5 reasons to start a blog.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Start A Blog
1. You don't need any programming skills. Whether you use a
free blogging platform like Blogger.com or Wordpress.com, or
a self-hosted blogging platform like WordPress.org or
Typepad, you can literally have a site up and running within
minutes. Simply select a theme and go.
2. You can add content easily and often. Adding content to a
blog is no more difficult that typing a Word document and
hitting save. In the case of a blog, though, when you hit
publish your information is immediately available to the
whole internet community.
3. Search engines love them! Search engines are ravenous
for up-to-date, useful content to meet the demand for
information on the internet. By their very nature, blogs
provide fresh content on a regular basis--usually daily.
4. They build communities. Blogs are meant to stimulate
conversation between the blog owner and the blog readers.
Through this interaction, they build communities and the
blog owner can learn valuable information for his business
(if it's a business blog).
5. You can monetize them easily. Whether through Google
Adsense, Yahoo! Publisher, or affiliate links, monetizing a
blog is one of the easiest ways to begin making money online.
Those are the top 5 reasons to begin a blog. Blogs have other
advantages as well.
They are simple, flexible and focused. Because they are
simple to master, it makes it possible for more people to
have an online presence or even begin making money online.
Because they're flexible, a blogger is able to design a site
with the look, feel, and features that he and his readers
desire. And finally, because blogs are focused on a specific
niche or topic, they are able to attract focused readers and
buyers.
One good way to get a feel for blogging is to get a free
blog from Blogger.com or WordPress.com. Simply write and
develop your own blogging voice on whatever topic comes to
mind. If you want to make money with your blog, however,
you should host your blog on your own website, then decide on a
market niche, and focus your content to match that audience.
Blogging is still one of the easiest ways to start an online
presence and also one of the easiest ways to make money
online.
Best wishes,
David Hurley
Get A Free Business Website, With Free Wordpress Blog Installation
 
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