Blogs

Let’s chat blogs today but first, I’d like to welcome over 700 new subscribers! Thank you for downloading my report and I hope you enjoy.

Looks like “Your First Wordpress Blog” tutorial guide was a hit during the GOLDEN WEEK GIVE AWAY event hosted by my friend James Brown. If you will, drop him a line and thank him for rounding up all the free gifts for you, please.

A lot of questions came in asking what is a blog. My first thought?, it’s whatever you want it to be.

A blog is an on-line journal. Seeing that it’s online, it’s known as a Weblog. But it can be anything you want it to be. I’ve said that already.

For me, a blog is a tool, a way to share information with people. It’s also a way to interact with people via comments.

Before blogs, I used HTML sites. HTML sites are very difficult to manage, no where for folks to comment for interaction and a bit cumbersome.

With blogs, you can do all kinds of cool stuff like, make changes to 100’s or 1,000’s of pages easily. Have a dialog with subscribers, have cool looking contact forms, and lots more, too many to list.

Maybe you don’t have a blog and that’s just fine. Just remember, you define the meanings.

For some people, Blogs are used to do affiliate marketing. For others, they’re used as a personal journal which is kind of funny because the content is published publicly on the Internet for the world to read. Others use them to do niche marketing, some just use them to talk bad about others. Whatever people use them for is just fine but know this, there is no “right way” to use a blog.

If you don’t have a blog online, no worries… You have my guide now so when you’re ready, you’ll be able to do it. Just make it fun, ok?

If I may suggest, figure out what you’d like to do online first before you start a blog.

So many people get sucked into “I have to have a blog” then they get sucked into “I have to post content to it everyday” and never really gave much thought to the why behind the blog.

Why do you want a blog? Want one so you can do some affiliate marketing? Want a hobby blog? Want a blog to sell your services or products? Have a passion to talk about and make money doing it? (Assuming there’s money in it like golf, designer brands, cameras, health and fitness, etc…) Just want one to write about life?

“There is power in clarity” – Tony Robbins.

Maybe give it a good thinking over first?

So what’s your reason for wanting a blog? What would the end look like? (Great question there if I do say so myself)

Leave your answers below if it’s not too personal. I’m asking the question because I sincerely want to know and help you get clear on what you want from having a blog on the Internet.

I’m also considering taking a small group with me and doing a workshop on blogs. By the end of the workshop, all members will have their blogs up and running. It’s a whole lot of work for me (with making the videos an other training media), but if the interest is there, I may put something together.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions, can be added belowby clicking on the “Comments” link.
Thank you again for joining me if you’re new and please do introduce yourself

Tags: blogging, blogs

17 Responses to “Blogs”

#859. Rab Anderson Says:
May 6th, 2009

Hi Craig,
I found your site the other day while searching for wordpress info. I found exactly what I was looking for in a straight forward easy to understand language. you are offering material that is excellent for people like myself, wanting to learn and do it yourself. I will certainly be back often to keep up with you.

Cheers fae

Rab Anderson in Scotland

#860. George Says:
May 6th, 2009

Hi Craig,
Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to get your report, but the information on this post has been helpful. I have been trying to get a blog goingb but have been having a little difficulty putting everything together. Anything that you can recommend to guide me along the right path to setting one up would be extremely appreciated.
Thanks
George

#862. Craig Says:
May 6th, 2009

Hi George,

You can still get my report by adding your name and email in the sidebar at the top of this blog. It’s under the video. Then you’ll get the link to the report mailed to you. You’ll also get auto updates every time I post content here.

#863. Mary Blackburn Says:
May 6th, 2009

HI Craig,

I love to write, even though my high school creative writing teacher told me I had no talent to write, I figure with the internet there are alot of untalented people writing out there and making a fairly decent living at it.

I want my blogs to be about the things that interest me and that I think will interest others. I want to blog about cooking, gardening, and dogs. I want to make money with my blogs, maybe with some affiliate links that link to other products related to what I am blogging about.

If by end you mean when my blog is created the way I want it to be, with everything just right (in my opinion), I want to have a blog that people want to read. They want to read it because it is informative or funny, or makes them think or take action, that helps them answer questions that they may have about the subject that I am writing about.

I also want to make a decent living from it. So that my husband and I don’t have to get up at 4:30 am and work 12 to 16 hour days everyday. So that I can be a successful WAHG (work at home granny) I want to be able to teach others how to also be WAHM’s, starting with my daughter, because I think children should be raised by their parents not the daycare workers. (Guess I’m showing my age there.)

Hope my answer wasn’t too long.

Thank Craig for a blog that gives information, and gets people thinking.

#864. Rick Says:
May 6th, 2009

Thanks, Craig, for the report. Really appreciate it. my challenge is finding a reasonably priced and competent person to customize my blog. Multiple themes available and not sure who to go to for customization and integration.

Rick

#865. craig Says:
May 6th, 2009

Awesome response Mary.

Loving to write is a BIG plus online. Working 12 to 16 hours? OMG… That’s some motivation to work at something for your future.

You know, Wordpress has something called categories. I can see it now,
one category for cooking and one for dogs and another gardening.

BTW, what do you consider to be a decent living?

#869. Debra Parker Says:
May 6th, 2009

Craig, Your tutorials are my favorite to read. They are very clear and concise. Thank You for all the help. Deb Parker

#870. John Says:
May 6th, 2009

Hi Craig,

I noticed that you used social bookmarking plugin for your blog. However, I cannot figure out how to make the Display Title non-clickable like you did. ===> Bookmark It

John

#873. Frank Pacey Says:
May 6th, 2009

Hi Craig.

Thank you for the WordPress Guide. It is easy to follow and I picked up some
useful tips outside the subject of blogging – Google likes domains registered
for more than a year, Omnis is worth looking at.

I am reluctant to store passwords on my computer. I make up nonsense
passwords and write them in an exercize book.

I use Go Daddy now and it can be tedious find my way through the upsells.
Who would have thought Google was concerned about the length of domain
registration?

I host with Web Hosting Buzz and have to pay for a year. I was able to find
Fantastico on it and there is no reason why I should not be able to follow
your instructions from there. I read the terms and conditions of Host Gator
and it says double opt-ins are not allowed.

I was programming in the days of MSDOS and quite enjoyed it. I am now an
accounts clerk with a young company. I use Excel a lot in my work and have
been learning about Excel macros, which are written in Basic. If you think
you need a program to do a simple task, a goodknowledge of Excel may
save you having to find and purchase a program although Excel has its limits.

As for a text editor, it is worth downloading and installing NotePad++. It is
totally free and you are even encouraged to give it away. The best text
editor I have ever seen is VEDIT but, when I had to get a new computer,
I could not find the old install program and am not willing to spend 89USD
to purchase it right now.

#874. Mark McClure Says:
May 7th, 2009

I’ve actually met Craig (this Jan in Tokyo) and he’s, how shall I put this so he still talks to me lol – he’s like the Billy Graham of Blogging
A tell-it-like-it-is tech and internet business blogging evangelist. (That should get me a beer…)

As to his question – I use a blog to communicate with prospects, clients and (sometimes) other ghostwriters and copywriters. Blogging allows me to write more personally and let readers see a less serious side of my business.

And the serious side? Well, in my case (and this is not the only way to do it), I have the html ’static’ pages on samuraiwriter.com for people interested in checking out what exactly I do without going through a zillion blog posts to find out… seems to be working so far.

@Mary Blackburn – you wrote: “even though my high school creative writing teacher told me I had no talent to write”
With a blog you can write in whatever style works for you. One thing I’m having to unlearn is to stop writing like I’d swallowed a dictionary… yep, my English teacher wouldn’t be impressed. But then, he never had to craft words that sell…

#875. Mary Blackburn Says:
May 7th, 2009

@Mark McClure – you said you can write in any style that works for you. Reading other blogs, I’m finding that out. I like to write just like I’m talking to people. So I’m hoping that there is a place for that kind of a blog.

#883. Frank Pacey Says:
May 8th, 2009

Hi again, Craig.

If I run a blog and monetize it, I need a domain name, a web hosting service and an autoresponder to do things properly. I have the first two.

You have just told me I also need to learn how to lock down my blog. Is there anything else that will cost me money?

#884. Craig Says:
May 8th, 2009

Hi Frank,

That’s it!
Here’s the auto responder I use…
http://www.idiotproofblogging.com/recommends/autoresponder.html

If you start blogging and start bringing in Money, you could take it to hire writers, buy books to learn selling, etc… But for now, what you listed is all you need.

There are a lot of internet marketing products out there that are very good at talking you into thinking what they have are must haves. And if you ever write such a letter, you’d need to do this as well but the fact is, when just starting out, all you need is what you listed.

#893. Frank Pacey Says:
May 10th, 2009

Thank you, Craig.

I suppose I am almost ready. I have given things a lot of thought.
(I do a lot ofthinking.)

About the autoresponder, do you have to pay extra for each list?

Better see what I have to do about GST (Goods and Services Tax).
If I break 50,000 AUD per year, I pay 10% of what I keep out of
money paid by Australian customers, and money paid by other
customers is GST free.

I suppose PayPal can tell me which customers are Australian. Then
what does $50,000 a year mean – $4,167 over the last month,
$50,000 over the last year? Not your problem but interesting to
find out.

On the other hand, some marketers have a similar problem – VAT
in the UK (and NZ?) and I believe some US states have a similar
tax. Possible info product.

I would not discriminate by price. Too much hassle and it would
not look too good anyhow – charging my fellow countrymen more.

In any case, I need not even try to make money right away, simply
get people interested in my blog. That could include asking what
people might want in a spreadsheet.

#897. Craig Says:
May 11th, 2009

Look around in the plugin settings within your admin panel, the answer to your question is there.

#900. Craig Says:
May 11th, 2009

Sent you an email… Let me know how it works out

#904. Mary Blackburn Says:
May 12th, 2009

Well Craig,

You asked me what I considered a decent living, and I have to say $2000.00 to $3000.00 a month would certainly help out, but, to be able to replace my husband’s and my income and be able to pay off all of the debts and costs incured in owning and running your own business in a slow economy, and have a enough left over to help my mom out. I would have to say that I would need to have an online business make between $5000.00 and $8000.00 a month. I realize that wouldn’t happen overnight but if I could start making money and build on it over time that would be fantastic.

My dream is to be able to get out of our current business and work strickly online. My mother was a widow at 46 and never remarried, so she and my dad never got to enjoy growing old together, or traveling, just worked forever and that’s not something I want for my husband and I. I want to be able to travel or garden or whatever, while I’m still young enough to enjoy it.

Guess I’ve rambled again, sorry.

Blogs

17 Responses to “Blogs”

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