Archive for February, 2010
Why Should You Blog?
By MJ Schrader
Blogs are just for vain people who just want to talk about themselves, right? While some people may believe that is all a blog is, that is far from the truth. Blogs have changed quite a bit from their web diary days.
What is the purpose of a blog?
The purpose of a blog is quite simply… anything. Yes, it seems like a non-answer, yet each day people are finding new ways to use WordPress blogs. People find a myriad of uses for other blog formats as well, but WordPress is probably the most versatile.
Can you tell me some purposes of a blog?
Some people write about their lives. Others use blogs for opinion pieces, celebrity news or news in general. Dog breeders use blogs for updates about their kennel and information about the breed they are raising. Cat Fanciers talk about all the different types of cats. Exercise buffs review exercise programs. The list goes on and on.
But what about businesses? Can they use blogs?
Online stores discuss new products and review products they are currently sell. News shows have blogs by newscasters who give their points of view and give general news that may not make the 5 o’clock news show. Manufacturers discuss potential products and products that already on the market. Food manufacturers have blogs with recipes.
Why are so many people using blogs?
Blog programs are surprisingly easy to use. They often work just a little different than your favorite word processor. Posts, which is what an entry is called, just require a bit of time typing, there is no programming required. The days of having to learn HTML to say something online are gone with a blog.
What do you mean blog programs? Are there different ones?
Oh yes, there are quite a few different blog programs. Some people choose to use an online blog program or service. WordPress.com, Blogspot and Blogger are ones that are commonly used online. These are completely free to use, but the blog program does own your blog so if they disagree with your point of view they can ban you or your blog.
Is there an alternative?
There are ones you can host on your own website. This means you get a domain name and you install the blog program on the domain name. WordPress is actually the most common used because it is such a versatile program. While it does require a bit of work to load WordPress (or other blog program) it does not require programming knowledge. However, many people hire someone to install it and after that it just requires being able to type.
Should I have a blog?
If you can type, you can run a blog. Just share your thoughts and opinions. Your blog can be as unique as you are, and be about any subject you enjoy.
Are you wondering how to get started online? Or need a little how to help?
You can find friendly, easy step by step guides and videos here.
MJ Schrader has a goal of “making your inner rockstar shine in your online business and life” which is reflected in her amiable and instructional forms.
Make your inner rockstar shine and visit http://RockstarGuideBooks.com
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Affiliate Marketers: How To Create A Website The Easy Way
Deciding to sell affiliate products can be a very profitable business, but most merchants require affiliates to have a website. If you don’t know how to build a website, therein lies your first hurdle.
Not that long ago, if you wanted to create your own website, there were several skills you needed to get the job done like learning HTML and how to use web design and graphic editing software. Most of them came with a steep learning curve and that left you with some hard choices. Here are a few of them.
1) Take the time to learn it on your own
If you have need to build a website, but don’t know how to use the tools to get the job done, it’s not impossible to teach yourself if you’ve a savvy student with the desire to learn. But, we live in a world of instant gratification and for that reason, everything around us revolves non-stop. Either you keep up with that merry-go-round or you’ll get left behind still trying to figure out how to use website development software while the other affiliates are banging out websites and making money. You’ll always need to have some basic understanding of how to insert the affiliate HTML code into your website, but if you don’t have the desire or time to learn how to actually build a site from the bottom up, you can always…
2) Hire an expensive web developer
A small straightforward site to promote an affiliate product can easily cost several hundred dollars. It also leaves you at the mercy of the developer’s schedule to build it and to maintain it. If you can make simple content changes yourself, you’ll still need a website editor and that involves that leaning curve thing again. Hopefully you’ll be a successful affiliate marketer and recover your programming expenses, but what if the commissions don’t come in as planned and you’d like another site to promote something else? Are you willing to spend more money to repeat that cycle for every new niche marketing idea you think of?
3) Use an online site builder
Most web hosting accounts come with free online site builders, but you’re stuck with the limited template selection in their gaudy greens, purples, and yellows. How can you promote bass fishing products when the closest outdoor template is one of kids playing on a swing set? Some of those templates make it impossible to modify header graphics, colors, and layout, and with good reason; they want you to pay for a professional web designer to build your site.
4) Free blogs
Free blogs are a great way to learn how to easily build a site, but some free blogs don’t allow affiliates to promote products. Some even go further and prohibit you from using the blog as a jumping off point to direct traffic to another site that contains your affiliate offer. Free blogs also don’t allow you to upload any plug-ins. There are so many wonderful free plug-ins that can turn a plain Jane looking blog into a stunning content management system.
So what’s an affiliate to do?
1) Start out with your own web hosting account that allows you to build unlimited websites and blogs. Better yet, sign up for a hosting plan from a green web hosting provider.
2) Buy your domain names cheap and take advantage of the unlimited add on domains feature on your hosting account. You’ll only need one web hosting account to host as many domains as you like.
3) Instead of building a website from scratch, install WordPress from your account’s control panel onto your new domains. You’ll be able to sell anything you like from your own site and not be at the mercy of some free blogging website.
Niche Marketing with WordPress
One of the most powerful features of WordPress is the ability to change the look and feel simply by installing one of the many free WordPress themes available for download, if you can find one with a header, color, and layout for your niche market. One caveat though, developers give them away for free for a reason. They usually contain a sponsor’s backlink in the footer and it must remain there.
The Ultimate Solution – Make Your Own WordPress Themes
So we come to the conclusion of this article with what I believe is the ultimate must-have tool in an affiliate’s arsenal; the ability to create your own WordPress themes without having to do any coding or pay someone to build a theme for you. If you can click a mouse, you can build your own theme.
You’ll be able to place the sidebars and navigation bars where you want and import your own header graphics to create laser targeted niche themes. Change colors, fonts, and layouts with the click of a button. Easily create a new theme for each product you promote, or create a master theme exactly how you like it, then only change the colors and header graphics. Download a fully functional free copy of Artisteer to see just how easy it is to create your own WordPress themes. I’ll give you fair warning, though. Artisteer is addictive.
