The Blogger'S Survival Guide: Lexie Lane & Becky Mcneer

The Bloggers Survival Guide
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The
Bloggers
Survival Guide
Tips and Tricks for Parent Bloggers,
Wordsmiths and Enthusiasts

Lexie Lane & Becky McNeer

Foreword by Angela Santomero
Creator/Executive Producer/Head Writer
Blues Clues, Super Why! & Daniel Tigers Neighborhood


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Wayman Publishing

waymanpublishing.com
P. O. Box 160693
Clearfield, UT
84016

The Bloggers Survival Guide Copyright 2012 Lexie Lane & Becky McNeer
Visit the authors at The Social Media Panel
https://thesocialmediapanel.wordpress.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without permission in writing from the publisher, Wayman Publishing. The views
herein are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of
Wayman Publishing.
Edited by Janie Goltz & Elisabeth Hirsch
Cover Design by Candiss West
_________________________________________________________________________________
ISBN-13: 978-1481863469
ISBN-10: 1481863460
_________________________________________________________________________________
Printed in the United States of America

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FOREWORD .......................................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 7
THE GIST OF IT ALL ........................................................................................................... 7
DAY 1: THE SETUP .......................................................................................... 10
FIND A GENRE THAT FITS YOUR INTERESTS ............................................................... 11
CHOOSE A BLOG NAME THAT SUITS YOUR TOPIC AND STYLE .................................. 15
TELL OTHERS WHAT THE PURPOSE OF YOUR BLOG IS ............................................. 16
CREATE AN EYE-CATCHING SLOGAN .................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
CRAFT AN EFFECTIVE "ABOUT" PAGE ................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
CHOOSE A BLOGGING PLATFORM ........................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHY PAY TO USE A PLATFORM IF YOU CAN GET IT FOR FREE? ..................... ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHY WORDPRESS.ORG WILL NOT RECEIVE GREATER CLARIFICATION FROM US
................................................................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DAY 2: THE DESIGN ........................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR BLOG'S ELEMENTS? .... ERROR! BOOKMARK
NOT DEFINED.
ENCOURAGE REPEAT VISITS WITH SOME USEFUL FEATURES ON YOUR BLOG
3 COMMON LANGUAGES OFTEN SEEN ON BLOG DESIGNS . ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
DAY 3: THE LEGAL STUFF ................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
BEWARE OF COPYCATS ......................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
UNDERSTAND THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER . ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
MAKE YOUR COPYRIGHT EXCLUSIVE .................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DECLARE YOUR INTENTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH A DISCLAIMER AND
DISCLOSURE POLICY ............................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY POLICY ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHO NEEDS TERMS OF SERVICE? ...................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
HOW TO LEGALLY HOST A GIVEAWAY ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

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THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) ON REVIEWS AND ENDORSEMENTS
TAXES ...................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DAY 4: THE CONTENTS ..................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
LET YOUR BLOG SHINE WITH YOUR BLOGGER VOICE ........ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BLOGS APPEARANCE WITH IMAGES . ERROR! BOOKMARK
NOT DEFINED.
HOW TO ATTRACT READERS WITH YOUR WRITING .......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
POLISH YOUR WORK WITH SOME EDITING ....... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
PLAN THE TIMING OF POSTS ................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
BLOG COMMENTING ETIQUETTE ......................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHY A BLOGGING SCHEDULE IS IMPORTANT .... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DAY 5: THE TRAFFIC DRIVERS ...... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
WHAT IS SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION? ....... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES ................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DAY 6: THE MEASURMENT OF TRAFFIC ........ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
COMMON METRIC SYSTEMS USED TO MEASURE BLOG TRAFFIC ..................... ERROR!
MORE ONLINE TOOLS TO MEASURE YOUR BLOG TRAFFIC ....... ERROR! BOOKMARK
NOT DEFINED.
DAY 7: THE MONEY MAKERS .......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DIRECT VERSUS INDIRECT MONEY MAKING TECHNIQUES ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
HOW TO FIND THE MONEY MAKING TECHNIQUES THAT WORK BEST FOR YOU

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ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES FOR GOOGLE ADSENSE? ...... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
HOW AFFILIATE MARKETING WORKS ............... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
TIPS ON HOW TO SELL YOUR ADS ...................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
MAKING COMPARISONS TO DETERMINE THE PRICES FOR YOUR ADS ............. ERROR!
HOW RELATIONSHIPS WITH BRANDS CAN IMPROVE YOUR BLOG .................. ERROR!
PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE EQUALS SUCCESS .............. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
INDEX ................................................................................................................ 219

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FOREWORD

"This book, The Bloggers Survival Guide,
will become your friend as you build your brand."

As a relative newbie to the world of blogging, I must tell you that this book is your
golden ticket. "The Blogger's Survival Guide" is like having instant, informed friends to
help you navigate the often confusing and ever-evolving blogosphere. You will feel as if
Lexie Lane and Becky McNeer are virtually holding your hands as you experience this
great adventure. And, let me tell you, you need a friend to hold your hand.

I still remember my first bloggers' conference. I felt like I was a freshman back in high
school, watching all the cool kids hang out, laugh, and share with each other. I shyly
introduced myself on my first panel and talked about my own world of children's
television. I admitted that, at the time, I was just dipping my toe into the blogging pool.
To my surprise, I was greeted by many smiling faces who were as excited to meet me as I
was to meet them. Many stayed by my side through the rest of the conference (not
holding my hand, but you get the idea!), introducing me to the different bloggers and
telling me about the amazing work each of them has contributed to this vast cauldron of
shared ideas. To me, this was like being accepted into the inner circlethe "in" crowd.
These were bloggers whom I have admired from afar. I read their blogs, posts and tweets
and felt like I knew them and their families, and was right there for their ups and downs. I
felt that we were, in fact, friends, and as a result, I was made privy to some tips and tools
throughout my own journey that I still find invaluable.

This is exactly how I feel about the authors of The Blogger's Survival Guide.

You are now in the inner circle . . . the "in" crowd. Lexie and Becky are giving you
the keys to the kingdom by writing this no-nonsense book about the tools of the trade,
their tricks and tips, and insights from all of their years in blogging.

And they want to share it with you. How cool is that?

My role? I am a child advocate first, brand builder second. I found myself drawn to
this world of blogging to get up close and personal with my viewers. I create, write, and
executive produce educational television for preschoolers. So far, I've created Blue's
Clues to promote Kindergarten Readiness skills, Super Why! Super heroes with the power
to read to teach preschoolers all the skills they need to know to learn how to read, and
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood to promote socio emotional skills through "life lessons."
Like you and your new blog, the hope is that our vision and voice be heard. For many,
this idea transforms into a brand which, in my case, will hopefully educate children
around the world.


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I've learned a lot over the years by listening to parents about how their kids watch my
shows. I'm all about research. My team goes into schools once per week to test each
concept, script and early animation to make sure that kids are learning, and that we are
meeting the goals we set for ourselves for the success of the shows. But when the world
of social media opened up, I was able to get a lot of wonderful and instantaneous
feedback from parents. This information has given me many insights into how kids are
watching my shows and what parents would like from television, online, and digital apps.
(My Blues Clues character Side Table Drawer became the "star" of Blues Big Musical
because parents told me they wanted her to say more than one line: "Blue's Clues I'm so
excited! ") In essence, social media became a way for me to learn from my audience and
strengthen my overall brand.

Since we are all on this journey together, I thought I would share with you a few
"clues" that I've learned over the years, to help you think about as you build your brand:

Clue#1: It's all about the brand. Be true. Be steadfast. Own your brand.

When I first started developing Blue's Clues, back in 1995, we wanted to own the
color blue and the pawprint. But how? We branded every piece of development material
we had with a simple blue pawprint stamper. Our logo was the pawprint, our main
character was the color blue, named Blue. Everything and anything had a signature
"Blue's Clues feel." Our approach to education, our look and feel of the show, the
animation, our characters, even our notebook was branded. If you ask, Who wears a
green striped shirt? chances are, someone will say, Steve! How does this apply to
blogging? Decide what aspect you want to be known for and go there. Write from that
vantage point as much as you can. Your visuals, blog entries and point of view should
stay on point. There is nothing wrong with trying something out for a while but soon
enough you should narrow in, focus and own it.

Clue #2: Know your audience. Research, research, research.

When I started in television, I was one of the first producers to have a Masters'
Degree in child developmental psychology (Fred Rogers being the pioneer), with a sub-
concentration in instructional technology and media. I knew child learning theory, how
kids learn, how they grow and develop, and specifically, how they learn through
television. This foundation gave me an edge in writing, producing, and creating content
that I knew kids would love and learn from. Because I believe so much in knowing your
audience, I set up my own formative research department to talk with children and test
my concepts for their educational value. The Tipping Point (what is The Tipping Point?)
wrote about our process and many other children's shows have followed in our footsteps.
I still rely on this type of research for all stages of production in each of my shows.
Research enables me to push the limits of what we can do for children on television,
online and in apps, by keeping me grounded in who kids truly are and assuring me that
my audience is learning, laughing and feeling good about themselves.

Clue #3: Grow your brand.

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To me, a brand is a living, breathing organism. If you have stayed true to your brand
and know your audience, your brand can take you anywhere. Imagine how I felt to take
the Blue's Clues and Super Why brands to Radio City Music Hall and watch thousands of
children interact with the live stage show! (I cried through the whole show!) Watching
my brand grow to consumer products, including books, toys, online games and apps, has
enabled me to teach kids through entertainmentwherever they are.

In the end, simply imagine the possibilities. The blogging arena is demystified for
you in the upcoming chapters. You are in great hands with this book and just remember
. . . when you use your mind and take a step at a time, you can do anything that you want
to do!

~Angela Santomero
Creator/Executive Producer/Head Writer
Blues Clues, Super Why! & Daniel Tigers Neighborhood
Personal Blog
www.Angelas Clues.com
Host - The Parent Show
www.pbs.org/parents/theparentshow

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INTRODUCTION
What is blogging and why is there so much buzz around it? How has a random person who posts
their personal interests suddenly become an "expert" of something?

Blogging, in a nutshell, is similar to having an online diary. Bloggers write down their
thoughts and gain an audience based on the topics of their blogs, while creating specific groups
of like-minded individuals.

Many people claim to dislike the idea of reality TV shows, but it doesn't stop most of them
from watching it. In fact, ratings are the reasons new shows launch every year. Why? People
love drama and a non-fiction, compelling story is something that we can relate to more than ones
that are made up. Blogs allow us to create our own "reality" shows online, where we can express
our deepest thoughts, share our knowledge, and release emotional moments, while having the
opportunity to be discovered.

With the rise of unemployment rates, blogging has become a possibility for household
income contributions. However, since the internet has become the "go to" place for almost every
literate person on the planet, competition for popularity has increased. New systems, techniques,
and a variety of activities are becoming more and more necessary for bloggers to keep up with in
order to survive amongst the "gurus" and "influencers."

Many bloggers start off thinking they are bringing something new into the web and that their
blog will be discovered for the simple fact that it is unique. When reality finally hits, they are
suddenly overwhelmed and confused, realizing they are swimming in the ocean with sharks
rather than being a big fish in a small pond.

As experienced bloggers, we understand the challenges faced by beginners as well as
advanced bloggers. This book will help you understand the ins and outs of the blogging world
without the added pressure of having to research and learn everything yourselves. It is a crash
course to explain what would otherwise be confusing beginner concepts and help you attain your
blogging goals.
The Gist of It All

To give you an idea of the gist of it all, we've created a short summary for each chapter. If you
feel you already know everything there is to know about one topic, you can easily move onto the
next without feeling like you missed anything.

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Day 1: The Setup

This is where your entire blogging adventure begins. Here, we provide steps to help you decide
what your blog name is, how to choose your URL or blog address, and expose you to the two
most popular blogging platforms out there. We even give you important "know how" details of
the control panel (cPanel) to help ease your mind about working with a hosted company, if that is
your chosen path.

Day 2: The Design

Here, we go through the layout of a typical blog and the important elements that can help you
succeed.
This chapter will also help you understand your platform, while having some basic
knowledge of codes and website languages that are commonly seen throughout the blogosphere.
Internet languages can be very intimidating for some, but this chapter teaches the basics so you
will never feel lost again.

Day 3: The Legal Stuff

The information provided in this chapter should be considered useful as it may protect you in the
long run. We recommend you go through it or at least keep it bookmarked for future reference.

Day 4: The Contents

These are the most important parts of your blogthe reasons people go to your blog. Here we
talk about the different types of content you can have, how to write in the most effective manner
possible, and how to choose images that appeal to the public.
We also discuss the various ways to manage your blogging tasks more efficiently by running
through the elements of time management.

Day 5: The Traffic Drivers

How does your blog become popular? Here, we help you understand the different avenues one
can take to tell others about your blog. Once understood, you will gain a comfort level that will
help you maximize your exposure.

Day 6: The Traffic Analysis

How do you know if anyone has even looked at your blog? In what region of the world are they
located? What posts are the most popular?
This chapter breaks down the common metric systems used to analyze your blog's traffic. It
can help you understand where your strengths and weaknesses are, who you attract, and the tools
you can use to find out some of the most detailed information of your blog's progress.


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Day 7: The Money Making Techniques

This is the business side of your blog. If your ultimate goal is to make money from your blog,
this will be your favorite chapter. Here is where your hard work pays off by learning how to earn
money with different examples of money making techniques.
Information about the entire blogosphere is limitless so it would be impossible to cover
everything. However, rest assured that once you get through this, you will be comfortable
enough to sit down with a cup of coffee and have an in-depth blogging conversation with even
the most knowledgeable and experienced bloggers.

So sit back, get your thinking caps ready, and enjoy your blogging journey!


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Day 1: THE SETUP

Your friends always rave about your homemaking skills, all the unique gadgets you have in your
house, and your lifestyle. You want to write your thoughts down and have heard about the
success people have in sharing their passions over the internet.
You begin blogging, but realize after 6 months of writing, nobody has taken any notice of your
blog. You start searching for blogs similar to yours and are amazed because the other blogs look
more sophisticated and have a lot more interaction than yours. Where do you even begin?

The Goal:
Getting started with anything is sometimes the most difficult task of any project. It requires
motivation, discipline, and nailing down your mission.
Here, we explain the importance of choosing a blog topic and sticking to it. We provide some
examples of genres that might be helpful in your decision-making process.
We also give advice on how to construct a unique blog name that fits your chosen topic. When
your reader leaves your blog, they should easily remember this name.
You will be introduced to two commonly used blogging platforms and discover how easy it is to
create a blog, regardless of whether you choose one of the two or any other available online
platforms out there.
Today we will . . .
Provide you with a list of blogging genres
Help you choose a name for your blog
Help you write the mission statement that tells your readers what your blog's ultimate goal is
Help you create an eye-catching slogan
Help you craft a page that tells your audience important details about you and your blog
Introduce a couple of easy-to-use blogging platforms

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First and foremost, begin with your idea. The following is an example list of popular genres.
Find a Genre that Fits Your Interests

Computers/Technology

Our ever-changing world of technology has a lot of features that people are always trying to
understand. As soon as you learn how to use one, something newer and better comes along. But
that doesn't stop us from learning about it and sharing the information.

Some of the most successful blogs have tutorials and information about technological tools. The
key is to help someone understand something the best way possible.

Dads

Dads describe what it's like to be in the shoes of the Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). They entertain
with funny stories about diaper-changing and lunch recipes. It's the guy's take on typical stories
we hear from the SAHM.

The Daddy blogs are growing as more moms work outside the home. These blogs stand out
because other parents are discovering that it's ok to change roles. Men are spending more time
with their families and moms are learning more and more about the modern-age dad.

DIYs or How-tos

Do-it-Yourself, known as DIY, has become such a popular blog genre because we are
discovering just how easy it is to accomplish something when we have thorough, guided
instructions. Bloggers offer tutorials on anything as simple as properly cracking an egg to
building a tree house and more!

A good example of a DIY blog is a food blog (see entry after Education). A DIY blog must be
visually appealing to its readers and easy to navigate. Many people rely heavily on the photos to
guide them. If this is your genre choice, you might want to think about purchasing a nice new
camera! That being said, the DIY bloggers must also provide the best description possible to help
their readers understand the featured lessons.

Education

Educational blogs usually provide tutorials, book reviews, and lesson-planning advice for people
who want to educate others as well as themselves. An example of this genre might include
experiences for the homeschooled as well as activities for parents who look for ways to entertain
their children while they are away from school.


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Food

This genre has grown dramatically over the last six years as well as other food-related topics. A
food blog generally contains a persons particular interest in recipes and cooking skills. The topic
can cover anything from diet types, food allergies, kitchen gadgets, coupons and/or dining
reviews.

A successful food blogger, also known as a foodie blogger, loves to introduce new ideas and
great photographs. So in addition to a camera that takes great pictures, you might want to give
your photos some extra attention with the use of a helpful photo software, such as Photoshop.
There are also plenty of free editing sites that allows you to add text, crop, or adjust your images.
Two of our favorites are Photobucket (http://photobucket.com) and flickr
(http://www.flickr.com).

If you are a food blogger, you might want to think about other available tools that make your
site user-friendly. The DailyBuzz Food (http://food.dailybuzz.com) and TasteSpotting
(http://www.tastespotting.com), two food aggregator sites, among many others that are helpful
with unique ideas.

Giveaways

Giveaways have spread like wildfire. Bloggers use them to gain exposure, followers, and, of
course, make money. There are blogs that focus entirely on products to give away. They often
associate reviews with their giveaways, especially while working with specific companies or
brands.

Blogs with different genres often use giveaways for promotional purposes. As a blogger, you
might initially be annoyed with the many bloggers who constantly promote giveaways, but once
you participate in holding one yourself, you will notice an immediate benefit to your blog-traffic.
So if you're undecided with the option of giving anything away on your blog, you might think
against "knocking it before you try it." On Day 5, we go into more details about promoting your
giveaways. So dont forget to pay close attention to that section.

Green/Environmental Awareness

These blogs share information about ways to preserve our environment by paying attention to
some of processed products we use. The authors provide tips for a better way to enjoy mother
nature, health, and fitness.

Health/Fitness

A health blog usually shares exercise tips, healthy recipes, and successful diets. Many are also
considered to be lifestyle blogs with a success story.


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Health and fitness blogs typically offer information about having a fit life, eating right,
exercising, and maintaining weight. A health and fitness blog shouldn't preach; it should share a
positive outcome with its readers.

Lifestyle

A lifestyle blog is commonly known as a diary or journal of a person's daily routine. These
bloggers invite readers into their lives and provide loads of information about areas that include
fashion, pets, children, education, work, and so on. Their posts are often published with
photographs, videos, links, and information that revolve around their stories.

Lifestyle blogs can be either private or public. If it's the public you are interested in, posts should
accompany quality photos or videos to capture your audience's attention.

Mompreneurs

A mompreneur is a mother who has created a business. Mompreneurs use their blogs to market a
particular product or service they have discovered or want others to try. These women are able to
work odd hours and still remain active in their family's lives. A great example of a blog by a
mompreneur is one called The Savvy Mompreneur by Roz K. Walker. She is a homeschool
teacher, who also works with companies to help promote her businesses through social media
and search engine optimization techniques.

Mompreneurs are similar to a Work-at-Home Mom (WAHM) who often gears toward other
women or moms as their target audience. Women love to hear about the success of other women.
So if you are thinking about sharing your mompreneur story, think about creating a blog that is
motivational and a true success story.

Money-savers

More often than not, you will come across a blog with useful tips about coupon collecting and
spending your money wisely. These blogs are often written by bloggers who want to educate
others about living within their means. These authors teach us where to find the best deals, how
to shop and cook on a dime, and in general, how to make our dimes go further.

New Moms (Onesie)

In order to stand out as a new mom, you want to be as entertaining as possible. Share comedic
moments and bloopers that pop up in a new moms life. Your readers want to relate. Trust us:
You are not the only one exhausted from sleepless nights. Share these experiences and you will
discover that other moms are going through the same thing.

Photography


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Photography blogs contain much more than just pictures. These blogs are filled with tutorials,
explanations, stories, and entertainment. A photography blog usually showcases the work of
freelance photographers, marketing their product.

These blogs typically contain their best work and the stories behind it.

Reviews

Many parents love getting free products. However, due to the regulations made by the Federal
Trade Commission, these reviews must abide by very carefully regulated set rules. We will be
discussing this in more detail on Day Seven, where we explain the Money Making Techniques.
Please stay tuned and pay careful attention to this if you are planning on having your blog
revolve around reviews.

Spirituality

Freedom of religion, especially in the United States, are encouraging more bloggers to freely
express their religious beliefs and share their experiences with their faith. Spiritual bloggers post
about their faith or beliefs to spread inspirational devotionals to encourage others to follow
along.

Travel

Travelers love to tell others about their experiences visiting enchanting and exotic destinations.
Not all travel blogs have to be about faraway places though. For example, travel blogs written by
parents usually involve the perils of traveling with children. How to Travel with Multiple
Children or How to Pack for Your Toddler and other similar posts are quite popular, especially
during the holiday seasons.

Work-at-Home Moms or Work-at-Home Dads (WAHMs or WAHDs)

These bloggers usually love to share the balancing act between having a paying job and
parenthood. There are special skills in time management, educational games for entertainment,
network techniques, and more. These parents want to do it all and are proud to talk about it.

Of course, all parents know how difficult the job of a caregiver and an income provider can be.
It's okay to write about your frustrations and what makes your world crazy, but perhaps
providing some useful tips on how to get through it would create more buzz.

After you've decided on a subject and reached your comfort level, put a special stamp on it by
giving it a name. Can't think of one? Perhaps this next section will help.


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Choose a Blog Name that Suits Your Topic
and Style

Your name is what others know as your label. Think of your blog name in a similar manner.
Pretend you have a blog named The Social Media Panel. When others talk about it they might
say, "The Social Media Panel's last post was so helpful!"

The last thing you want is to get stuck with a name you aren't comfortable with. We hope the
following suggestions will help you discover a suitable name for your topic and style.

Make sure your blog name is directly related to the Uniform
Resource Locator (URL)
Check out the difference between the following 2 examples:

Example 1 -
URL: http://thesocialmediapanel.com
Title: The Social Media Panel
Example 2 -
URL: http://thesocialmediapanel.com
Title: The Site with Great Social Media Tips
Now, which of the 2 do you think people will most likely remember?

Keep it simple and easy to remember
In the blogging world, it's important to engage your readers to keep them coming back. Of
course your blog posts and unique style will get visitors to love your blog. But what happens
if they've erased the history on their computer? How will they remember your blog's name?

Easy. Yes, that's it! Make it easy.

Again, from the 2 examples previously provided, Example 1 would be a lot easier than
Example 2 to remember. Example 1 is less wordy and can't be easily replaced with any other
words. In Example 2, The Site with Great Social Media Tips even if you choose
http://thesitewithgreatsocialmediatips.com as your URL, it's still a bit long and can be easily
forgotten or reworded as The Social Media Site with Great Tips. Could your visitors
potentially visit http://thesocialmediasitewithgreattips.com?

17

Do not include symbols or numbers in your title
Symbols and numbers can be easily forgotten with titles. So you might want to refrain from
using them to stay on the safe side. Remember, your goal is to maximize the chance of
having your readers come back.

Embed your keywords in your title
Keywords in titles are big in search engines. How often do you find relevant search results
have your keywords in their titles?

If your readers forget part of your blog's title, the proper keywords will still help to keep you
up in the search engine rankings, which may potentially help them find you again. (Exception
to the rule: If the keyword makes the blog title too long or awkward, its best not to include
it).

Make it easy for your readers to understand the meaning
behind your title
The most important part of your title is the meaning behind the words. Does your title have
anything to do with your blog? Remember you want to be unique, but you also want to make
sure you keep your readers interested.

After finalizing your choice, make it worthwhile by asking your friends and colleagues what
they think. Sometimes those closest to you can give you the best advice. If you dont get a
great response, move onto your next idea.

Now that you have a name and most likely a specific topic for your blog, help your readers
understand it further with a mission statement.
Tell Others What the Purpose of Your
Blog Is

Did you start blogging with the intention of making money? Is your blog published strictly for
meeting other people? What are your true intentions for blogging and what is your ultimate goal
for having your personal thoughts publicly accessible on the internet? What is your mission?

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