If Andy Rooney Can Blog, So Can You!

By: Aaron Wittersheim
Submitted: 2007-01-17 13:05:00
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Everybody is talking about blogs: but what are they? Weblogs, or blogs, are simply a particular type of Web site, with emphasis on simple. Where a traditional business Web site usually requires considerable programming skill to build, maintain and update, you can be up and running with a blog in a matter of minutes without even knowing how to spell HTML.

You can think of a blog as an on-line journal. Entries, known as posts, typically display in chronological order, with the newest post at the top of the page. Other common elements of a blog are: A comments area, which displays visitor comments relating to a post; An archive of previous posts, displayed either chronologically or by subject category; “About me” information; and A “blogroll” displaying links to the author’s favorite blogs.

That’s it. Simplicity is why blogs have caught on in a big way. Technorati™, a popular blog-tracking Web site, now follows almost 50 million of them. Most experts calculate that new blogs are being created at the rate of one per second.

Along with simplicity comes a related benefit — low or no start-up cost. Most bloggers use a Web-hosted platform; two of the most popular are Blogger™ and Movable Type™. Since the hosting companies have pre-configured the programming, all the blogger needs to do is select a template, adjust a few settings, and start posting. Like magic, a Web page appears, looking as clean and professional as anything on the Web.

Bloggers can easily move beyond a bare-bones blog by modifying their template any number of ways. Popular modifications include: Text and/or banner ads relating to the blog’s theme; Affiliate advertising that displays, for example, links to recommended books; Photos, screen captures and graphics; RSS feeds so visitors can subscribe and be notified whenever a new post is made; and Links. Serious bloggers usually pepper their posts with hyperlinks to external blogs, to provide more information to the reader and forge relationships with other bloggers.

Of course, all this simplicity and economy mean something because blogs themselves have enormous value. Individuals blog to explore a subject of interest, to communicate with family and friends, or just to blow off steam. Companies blog for a many reasons, such as building dialog with customers, establishing themselves as thought leaders, enhancing search engine optimization and promoting new products or established brands.

So, even if you prefer to think of the computer as the “confuser,” don’t let that stop you from launching a blog. Programming technology has finally advanced far enough to be simple; soon posting to a blog will be as common as dialing a cell phone.

Aaron Wittersheim is president of Whoast Inc., a suburban Chicago search marketing firm. For more information, visit http://www.whoast.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Blogging category

  • OES Tsetnoc, Webmaster Contest for SEO - By: Mike Duff
    Want to make some extra cash? Participate in the OES Tsetnoc, Webmaster Contest for SEO.
  • B Is For Blogging - By: Steve Shaw
    Blogging is a powerful web platform that can be used in a wide variety of ways online. It can help you build a reputation in your niche, build your relationship with your customers and drive traffic to your own product or your affiliate links.
  • Real Estate Blogs 101 - By: Joshua Keen
    In addition to your conventional real estate web site, starting a blog will help you capitalize on search engine rankings, back links, and lead conversion. A blog can get your name out there, and allow readers to get to know you in a way that isn't possible through a standard web site. And unlike more traditional advertising methods like bus banners and newsletters, blogs are always evolving, attracting new visitors every day.
  • How to Make Your Real Estate Blog Work for You - By: Todd Levinson
    As opposed to websites, the content on a blog is always dynamic and can quickly become outdated. If you update your blog only once every 3 months, your readers will quickly click away. They want to see the latest real estate news, so it's imperative to stay on top of your blogging. Set aside time to post every week, and treat blogging as an important tool in your marketing arsenal.
  • Finding Superlative Ideas For Your Blog. - By: SONAM GOYAL1
    Being a blogger can sometimes seem like such a simple business at times. It is something that almost everyone can do and have success. But after a while, the fun of blogging sometimes wears off. It is a hard task to come up with new and exciting topics every week for your blog that will captivate your audience.
  • Few Thoughts for Blog Content - By: Ginfo Geleven
    Where are you going to get your blog content from? What type of content are you going to provide? In this article all above questions have been answered.
  • Where Should I Put my Blog On My Site? - By: Ajay Mehandru
    Whatever one you choose, be sure to follow the instructions provided by the company so that the installation goes smoothly. Most people who host their blog to help their site get listed quickly dont put the blog on the main page of the site, because the site isnt all about the blog. But you can really put your blog anywhere on your site,so its your call.
  • How do you make Your Blog Popular? - By: Jaswinder Singh
    Well Blogs serve as an unstoppable entity in today's scenario for online advertising and branding. With the Internet scattering like wildfire and reaching every part of our daily life.
  • All Internet Marketers Are Aware Of The Significance Of Building Backlinks! - By: Jaswinder Singh
    There are many bloggers out there that do not comprehend the potential of their blogs; specifically, the money making potential of a blog and how it can be optimized to generate a steady online income.
  • How To Ready Blog For Increase Profit? - By: Amar Dhaliwal
    Optimizing your blog for fun and profit can be a daunting task. There are secret tricks of the trade that separate newbies from techies but that does not mean you cannot do some of it yourself.