subject: Blog Creation: Revamped [print this page] And it starts long before the first stroke of the keyboard.
The problem is newbie bloggers have a the wrong kinds of expectations. Fortunately this is a very easy problem to correct.
Blog creation begins with market research. There is absolutely no point in writing about something that no one else cares about. If there's no market then there's no readers. And of course if theres no readers there's no cash.
Once you know what you are going to be blogging about and why you are doing it, put your main keyword in Google and see what shows up. You should see several pages of PPC ads on the side of the search results and you should have no trouble finding other blogs in your niche. This is how you know you have a solid market base.
If there is no competition and no one buying ads then you know that idea is a dud.
Once you've established your market, start reading the other blogs in your niche. Set up your free account at gravitar so your pic shows up whenever you leave a comment and start commenting on the blogs.
The most important thing you can do to grow a successful blog is network with other bloggers. I can't stress the importance of this enough. The other blogs in your niche are NOT your competitors. They are your allies. In the big bad blogosphere you need strong alliances if you want to stay alive.
Don't treat networking like self promotion. Treat it like what it is, making friends. The right connections an take your blog light years ahead of everyone else.
And for the most part, blogger tend to be very friendly and social. They also are trying to grow their network and make friends. It becomes a mutually beneficial relationship.
These friends will be the ones who help you get your blog rolling. They will be he ones leaving comments and giving you RT's. But you have to take the first step. Start reaching out to people and give freely before you ever expect to take anything.
Remember, it's give and take, not take and give.
When you are writing your content, make sure each post covers at least one or more of the 3 E's.
Educate, entertain, enlighten.
This means writing with personality. I you don't have one grow one. Buy on EBay, invent at alter ego to write through. It doesn't matter how you do it, just don't write all dry and wordy. That really turns people off.
Don't be afraid to be bold and edgy. Most bloggers write like they are trying not to wake the sleeping dragon. That's ridiculous.
You need to find and angle. Don't just just do what everyone else is doing. That's old and boring and far to many bloggers are polluting the Internet every day with that crap.
Be original, be yourself and above all, have some fun with it!
