How Blogging Benefits You As An Author

As a writer planning to blog, your first decision is whether you want to write about the topic covered in your most recent book or about the process of writing and publishing a book. Or possibly both. Both are subjects you should know well.

The option is yours. You can always mount two blogs. Or better yet, combine the two subjects in a single blog. Either way, you must be certain that you have the time to keep them updated. That's crucial. A blog requires continuous fresh information or commentary to keep readers coming back. Allow your blog to become stale, and you will see a speedy exodus of visitors.

You certainly don't have to feel restricted to the two subjects I mentioned above. I picked them because you're a writer, but you have the option to select any topic you wish to concentrate on. However, that topic should in some way relate back to your book. After-all, your reason for embarking on this blogging gig was to hype and sell your book.

Content Rules

The prime consideration as you sit down to plan each edition is to remember that this site is not an advertisement for your book. Not even an advertorial. To be effective, a blog must offer solid content. It is an informational resource; not a promotional vehicle to sell your book or boost your vanity. The days of mental meanderings about personal issues that characterized the early stage of the blogosphere just won't cut it any longer. Leave those messages to Twitter.

The ideal blog serves as a treasure chest of information on a subject the reader wants or needs. Consequently, it is imperative to keep it updated with fresh material on a regular basis. I suggest that updates be made at least every week and more frequently if possible. Archiving earlier issues is important too. This gives your visitors the opportunity to research back to find the information they need which may be contained in a previous blog that you posted.

Starting Your Blog

There's little risk to developing your own blog. If money is a concern, you can find free sites on the Internet to assist you in building it. If you are unsure whether or not you can sustain a blog with its demanding updates, create a chart of 25 or so subtopics that you can write about within the overall subject to which you plan to dedicate your blog. That will assure you of substance for at least 25 weeks of posting as you get into the swing of blogging on a regular basis.

By entering "Creating a blog" in your favorite search engine, you'll find an assortment of free design sites that will lead you step-by-step through the process. One of the most popular is www.blogger.com, a product of Google, but you will find others as well. For those who want a more sophisticated blog with a design that is unique to them, most website designers also prepare customized blogs. Search the Internet for them, and check out their galleries of websites to find the best.

The designer's function is to create the shell into which you can easily drop copy whenever you prepare a new post. The prices range widely. They are based on the designer's experience and expertise.

Your Blog Is Your Signature

A visit to your blog is the closest contact most readers will ever have with you. They will judge you and your work by the quality of the blog. A well executed blog will boost sales of your book and contribute to building your reputation as an expert in the field you choose to write about.

Two major factors will form each blog visitor's opinion. The overall impression of the site-its cleanliness, neatness, excitement-will tell the reader a great deal about you. The quality of the content you place on the blog will bring him/her back again and again and will serve as an invitation to read articles you write, visit your website and perhaps buy your book.

Taking Full Advantage of the Blogosphere

Using the blogging world to your greatest advantage includes reaching out beyond your own site and placing material on the sites of other popular bloggers. This can be done by either posting comments to the content on the other blog or by actually offering content to a fellow blogger.

You have a distinct advantage in placing your copy elsewhere because bloggers function as a close-knit community and are usually quite welcoming of submissions by fellow bloggers. This is a carry-over from the early days of blogging. As a newcomer to the communications world, blogging was disparaged by other journalists and looked upon as an amateurish, often narcissistic form of writing. That has changed dramatically today, but the sense of camaraderie between bloggers remains strong.

Stick to a Schedule

It is essential to stick strictly to a regular schedule of posting, as I stated above. This doesn't mean you suddenly have to devote your life to blogging. If you devote 10 to 12 hours a week to creating your own posts and supplementing them with comments on other blogs, you can enjoy a great deal of success and build a sizeable following. You'll gain great satisfaction and have a good deal of fun as well. So join the thousands upon thousands of your fellow writers who have discovered this marvelous tool for harnessing the promotional power of the Internet.

View more than 60 free, informative articles by author and editor Charles Jacobs. Click on to his new website http://www.wisewriter.com. Click on "Library" to discover this world of information to help you write, publish and promote better. Read Charles' widely-heralded book "The Writer Within You," named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR seven times and a gold and bronze medal winner.

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Understand Blogging - What Are Types of Blogs?

There would be hardly anybody these days who hasn't heard about a blog. In the last couple of years blogs have taken world at their stride. In simple words a blog is a short form of "weblog" that is nothing but a kind of website usually owned and maintained by an individual to share information with the outside world. Not just textual commentary but nowadays blogs can be in the form of graphics, pictures, videos and even music files.

In every blog, individuals who maintained it generally write on a regular basis. Literally, there are endless opportunities available when it comes to a blog, owner can write on any specific topic, other people can put their comments, they can also discuss over the subject mutually and finally the blog owner can moderate their comments. As the internet is revolutionizing itself very fast so it is really hard to define it precisely. The other similar term is micro-blogging that consists of relatively shorter posts and enhanced flexibility. Individuals can form groups and can interact with each other in a more advanced manner.

No matter, what type of blogs but in every blog an individual could share any series of event, critical information; useful information like news, videos, music etc. These are much faster and convenient ways to discuss and share things over any media. That's why blogs are much harder to control than broadcast or even print media. An ideal blog contains pictures, transcript, and links to other blogs.

Generally speaking, a blog contains text but there can be many different kinds of blogs nowadays, such as an artlog (blog focusing on art), photolog (focusing on photos), sketchlog (focusing on sketches), vlog (blog focusing on videos), mp3 blog (focusing on music), podcasting (focusing on audio). Blog could be used to share and retrieve the latest information of any subject matter under the sun.

Blogs can be categorized differently, not content wise, but also in the way that content is written and delivered.

Personal blogs - These are owned and maintained to share one's feelings and thoughts with family, friends and entire world. Blogs are nothing but just a way to express and share information with everyone. This type of blog could have sentimental quality. Personal blog are also used to get fame and popularity, and also a strong medium to stay in touch with personal contacts.

Corporate blog - It could be used for personal purpose in most cases, but it can be also be used for industry, corporate and marketing purpose. Theses are used to grow culture and communication for branding, marketing, public relations in a corporate company.

Question blog - It is a blog that answers questions. In this type of questions are submitted either through e-mail or telephone. And many experts answer them on a public forum. Anybody can ask question and answer them.

By media type - these can be photoblog, sketchblog, vlog etc. They can be anything related to these.

By class type-these are music blogs, education blogs, project blogs, political blogs, travel blogs, fashion blogs etc.

Sturat is an online practitioner with extensive experience in Quality Article Marketing Services. He is currently part of the SEO Results team. As well as keeping up with the cutting edge of search engine optimisation, he enjoys creating content on subjects that interest him. A full time internet marketer, he has a passion for the internet, and all things online. One day he hopes to have an internet connection surgically implanted in his brain.

Email: sturatm@gmail.com .

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Internet Blogs Friend Or Foe?

Hello all! Today we discuss internet blogs. Over the past 2 to 3 years internet blogs have ventured into a whole array of companies. It seems that everyone is trying to get one. Though the question should really be are they really helping and what can they do for a company? Today we are going to discuss both personal and business blogs.

Blogs in general are simply diaries or logs of daily or moment to moment activity, quite simply a journal of sorts. Although lately blogs have become a great way to share your opinion or simply share knowledge with others, in personal or social life as well as in a business environment. It has become a way to have fun, feel close, or even become reachable in all sorts of situations.

Business Blogs have become a way for customers and employees to share knowledge among them as well as make the visit seem more personable. The event is then recorded as if in a journal or guest book. How helpful is that! Well just as there are satisfied customers; there are always unsatisfied ones as well. You know the one neighbor who's never happy no matter what you do? We will also discuss their opinions of blogs and reasons for their choices.

Personal Blogs:

Personal blogs are everywhere; they give people a place to share life long events. They give people a place to express their creative sides and talents; most of all they give people a place to meet people. With the hustle and bustle of today's hard working society many people simply don't have the time to meet and make new friend, contacts, or acquaintances Though we still long for stimulating conversation we rarely find it. In personal Blogs people have the chance to share the things with everyday people they would normally share with friends. Like posting vacation photos, stories they heard that day, even just a funny joke someone told at work. People share their opinions on current world events, to even house and garden issues.

Personal Blogs can be created for free and some even custom designed (For a small fee that is). They have different templates and different formats something to satisfy everyone. The fee ranges from $2.99 and up and can be paid monthly or yearly; Depending on the person's preference.

In 1997 the term weblog became known and in 1999 the term blog was created. In 1999 there were only 100 web diaries and in 2005 there was a remarkable 50,000,000 started; long way from were they started, don't you think?

Business Blogs:

In the business world as well as the personal world; blogging became a way to share information fast. The short inserts published were able to reach readers across the globe with the click of the mouse.

Everyone was blogging from political parties to small business. Many people saw blogging as a way to express their views on the war in Iraq as well as other political matters that were troubling them. Blogs became a new informant for media coverage as well as other topics like celebrity news.

Blogging stomped the competition when it came to society listening to the news man or the next blog. The business world found new ways to advertise and draw others to their company. Many of them developed there own blogging service to compete with the new competition.

Now thousands of companies have some form of blogging inquired into there company and blogging changed the way many people look at communication. Bloggin gives businesses a way to communicate straight to the consumer, to find out what people want and the things that people don't want also. If gives their customers a way to talk to the company and voice their opinion on how things are going and what they think; After all a good business care about the consumer and their opinions good or BAD.

Bloggin also gives small companies a way to expand; to reach millions and millions of consumers everyday. What could be better then that! After all isn't that the main objective of all companies. To reach the largest base of people they can, in the most convenient way to the business as well as the consumer?

Cons Of Blogging:

Well to be honest there are a few rotten apples in the bushel, but aren't there always? Some people of course are not happy with the way technology is changing lives and that's ok, that's their opinion. Usually those who aren't happy with it don't blog.

Some people feel that it causes social trouble sometimes. (The story of our lives)No matter were you are you see some of that.

Blogging has reached the lives of many in all age groups, in all classes of people and in most countries. It has changed us as a society in many ways and overall millions use it everyday. It opens up communication and advertising to everyone rich and poor; young and old.

In an interview a child of 11 described blogging and said

"Blogs tend to cause social trouble at times, but over all they're mostly just to communicate and to just learn about one another. I'd say that blogs either business related or not, are a lot of fun".

So if you need help with your companies expansion or just need to find a friend blogging is the way to go.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Blogging [http://blogging-guided.com]

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Are You Doing This in Your Blog?

This week, we'll wrap up our series on blogging. I have to say, I learned so much at the Design Bloggers Conference I attended last month and I'm so glad to have this opportunity to share it with you all! I'll spend this last article focusing more on the basics of blogging, sharing some of the most valuable tips that I picked up from the various presenters at the conference. So here's my short (well maybe not so short) list:

Don't apologize for your absence in blogging. We all have a tendency to feel bad when we've committed to blogging and then fall off the wagon so to speak. Just pick up right where you left off and skip the apologies. Your readers want content not apologies.

Be aware of what's above "the fold". Make sure the content that people first see grabs their attention. Don't make your readers have to scroll down to get to the heart of your content. You want to avoid your blog read like that book that starts out slow and is hard to get into. Capture their attention from the start.

Pictures are everything! Give your readers lots of eye candy and sprinkle with your own comments or tips. Make sure your pictures are of professional quality and post well to your blog.

Speaking of pictures, always make sure to give credit where credit is due. Publish source, designer and photographer if available. Too frequently people post without giving proper credit and this can very quickly sever relationships you've worked so hard to create within the blogging world.

Always keep in mind that when you blog, you are also marketing your business. Make sure, as I've mentioned before, you blog aligns with your brand and speaks from the same voice.

Leverage your posts on other social media platforms. Make sure you utilize the power of Facebook and Twitter to get your posts out there.

Comment and repost. Nothing helps establish your online relationships more than commenting and sharing posts from other blogs that make an impression on you. In the blogging world, that's the ultimate compliment you can give someone.

Blog "must haves" include:

An "about me" section that briefly describes you and your business

A "contact me" option so people can connect with you directly

A "sign up" box so people can subscribe to your blog posts.

That's it! I hope this series on blogging has been helpful for you. I'm just getting my feet wet with blogging myself so these tips from the conference have really helped give me direction and realize like so many things, we are the ones that over complicate the process. Just keep blogging simple, consistent and speak from a place of passion. That's really all there is to it!

Action Steps:

Start blogging! Don't keep saying "someday" just dig in and get started. Go back and read through the past few ezines I've devoted to blogging and most importantly, implement those action steps. They will guide you step by step in how to get started. Blogging is really about finding your passion and then sharing it with others. Let your personality shine through and don't focus on impressing others or "getting it right". Blogging can really be relaxing and fun if you don't over complicate the process. In terms of the process, remember KISS - keep it short and simple. Let the pictures inspire you and talk to how those pictures inspire you. Share you passion and the conversation will follow. Good luck!

Karen Dunlap is an interior designer, business owner and creator of the Design For Your Success NOW System?, a unique training and coaching program specifically created for design professionals. Using specific strategies and systems, Karen coaches design professionals on how to simplify their business, attract ideal clients and get back to their original passion, designing and decorating.

Karen Dunlap - Interior Designer, Student Member ASID, Trade Partner AIDP
KMD Interiors, LLC, 43283 Thaddeus Lane, Lansdowne, VA 20176
p. 571.218.6531
f. 571.333.7641
e. karen@kmdinteriors.com
w. http://www.kmdinteriors.com

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Your Online World and You

In a Few Hours

The speed at which your online world can be created is simply astounding. As you discover what is taking place when you...

1. Start a Blog or Website

2. Create a profile on a social network

3. Spread content around the internet

4. And start linking everything together

... you're creating a virtual world and you are right in the middle of it.

Parents have been telling their children for generations that the world doesn't revolve around them but this is different. The world you create is designed to revolve around you.

Whether your world is intended for personal, professional or philanthropic purposes you are the designated epicenter. You are the center of the online business world you create and the more that world reflects you the better your business will be.

What Your World Sees...

In real life the world you live in is unique. No one else has the same exact people in the same exact relationships sharing the same exact experiences as you.

You are a small part of thousands of other people's worlds all intersecting and sharing some common ground.

So imagine being thrown in the middle of that world with all eyes fixed on you and every ear hanging on your every word; kind of scary.

... Is What You Show Them

The magic of your online world is that for the most part you control what people see, hear and discover about you. The greater the control you have over the media you utilize, the more accurately you can portray yourself to your world.

Honesty is the most important ingredient in any relationship. The people in your online world have limited information to consume about you compared to actually knowing you but they will always recognize sincerity and will always expect integrity.

The clearer your content presents your image or your brand, the more likely the people in your virtual world will have that sense of really knowing you.

Popularity through Value

In addition to the people in your online world recognizing you regardless of where they find you as an honest and sincere person, they expect some type of reward for belonging to your world.

In the same way we expect our friends in life to put themselves out there for us and expect even more from our families, being the center of your own internet universe does command a few expectations.

The most important question to ask is, "How have the people in my internet sphere benefited from their experience today?" This will force you to provide honest value and increase the gravitational pull on anyone who is still orbiting you in cyber space.

How valuable is your free time and are you willing to sacrifice 2 hours a day for 6 days in order to see the potential of transforming your free time into the opportunity of a lifetime? The learning curve has been eliminated and this book will open the gate to the future so that you can create your online world quickly and easily. Simply go to http://WorkAtHomeBusinessFromAnywhere.com/online-business-world for your copy of "How To Create Your Online Business World In 6 Days" to discover exactly what is involved while you do it.

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