With
so
many
blogs
being
created
every
day,
it's
a
mystery
to
many
bloggers
how
to
make
their
blog
stand
out.
It's
simple.
People
want
to
read
good
content,
and with good content comes
ad revenue. Well, maybe it's not
that easy… We've finally
unleashed the secrets of
successful blog marketing. Do
note that these are not
guaranteed to increase your
click-through ratios and they
will not bring good karma to
you or your ads.. If only..
Nonetheless, these tips should
benefit your blog and make it
more user-friendly, more easily
accessible, and more content-
enabled.
There are many types of blogs
or purposes for blogs and a
certain number of tactics are
applicable to just about all of
them, so here is a -short- list of
tips for marketing and
optimizing a blog:
1. Decide on a stand alone
domain name
www.myblog.com or directory
of existing site
www.mysite.com/blog. Sub
domain is also an option
blog.mysite.com. Avoid hosted
services that do not allow you
to use your own domain name!
2. Obtain and install
customizable blog software -
WordPress and Moveable Type
are my favorites.
3. Customize blog look and feel
templates - aka design.
4. Research keywords and
develop a glossary - Keyword
Discovery, WordTracker,
SitePoint, SEOBook Keyword
Research.
5. Optimize the blog:
* Template optimization - RSS
subscription options, social
bookmark links, HTML code,
Unique title tags, URLs, Sitemap
* Add helper plugins specific to
WordPress or MT
* Create keyword rich categories
(reference your keyword
glossary)
6. Enable automatic trackback
and ping functionality.
7. Create Feedburner Pro
account and enable feed
tracking.
8. Setup Google acount for
Sitemap, validate and prep for
future submission.
9. Identify authoritative blogs,
web sites and hubs for
outbound resource links and
blogroll.
10. Format archived posts,
related posts.
11. Enable statistics for tracking
- Performancing, Google
Analytics, ClickTracks.
12. Submit RSS feed and Blog
URL to prominent RSS and Blog
directories / search engines.
13. Engage in an ongoing link
building campaign.
14. If podcast or video content
are available, submit to Podcast
and Vlog directories.
15. Submit blog url to paid
directories with categories for
blogs - Yahoo, BOTW, bCentral,
WOW, JoeAnt.
16. Optimize and distribute a
press release announcing blog.
17. Request feedback or reviews
of your blog in relevant forums,
discussion threads. If you have a
resourceful post that will help
others, point to it.
18. Research and comment on
relevant industry related blogs
and blogs with significant
centers of influence.
19. Post regularly. If it's a news
oriented blog, 3-5 times per
day. If it's an authoritative blog,
3-5 times per week, but each
post must be unique and high
value.
20.Monitor inbound links,
traffic, comments and mentions
of your blog - Google Alerts,
Technorati, Blogpulse, Yahoo
News, Ask Blogs and Feeds.
21. Always respond to
comments on your blog and
when you detect a mention of
your blog on another blog,
thank that blogger in the
comments of the post.
22. Make contact with related
bloggers on AND offline if
possible.
23. When making blog posts
always cite the source with a
link and don't be afraid to
mention popular bloggers by
name. Use keywords in the blog
post title, in the body of the
post and use anchor text when
you link to previous posts
you've made.
24. Use social networking
services, forums and discussion
threads to connect with other
bloggers. If they like your stuff,
they will link to you.
25. Remember when web sites
were a new concept and the
sage advice to print your web
address everywhere you print
your phone number? The same
advice applies for your blog.
