Blogging has become important to very important tool for interacting with customers, employees. A blog, because of its features, can be used for information dissemination, affiliate marketing, brand or product promotion.
In setting out fresh in 2014, the agenda should be what blog platform to use, hosting the blog or not and many times what and how many blogs to start with Even though it is suggested that while learning the art of writing blogs, you can start with a free hosting, it is better to know very early that professional blogging makes less impression as either free Blogger or WordPress host. A blog host can be acquired by spending around $100.
Also note that while starting, a blog looks very easy and fascinating, I started that way and even got myself to write for other blog sites, and I learned a lot about blogging start-ups. I learnt and am still learning that maintaining multiple blogs at a time is very tasking and leaves you dry on many of the blogs you are committed to. Seriously, it made me take a vacation on blogging. So the real deal is start one and put energy into it.
Another important thing to know is the reason for blogging. To succeed as a blogger, your success certainly would depend on what things or interest you are blogging bout. This is usually referred to as NICHE. Niche selection plays a vital role in making a blogger professional and blog successful. So choose right and be sure to know about the ‘Niche’ you choose because you will be needing along the way as you consider making money from it, thorough analysis which will eventually be focused at a target market to bring home the right earning from the niche. If niche is not important to you as a blogger, then future money making is also not an interest.
Now as you set out even as old or new blogger, the objectives of blogging is very important in the New Year. Your blogging objectives for 2014 should reflect short term objectives which should revolve around increasing recognition while the long term should be towards increasing engagement with your audience. However, the results that are generated from your efforts also need to be measured, analyzed and engaged for further actions. Key metric or blog analytics are available and can be integrated into your blog.
To increase recognition, you must be determine number of posts, have blog publication schedule, integrate RSS button and also include social share buttons. To increase engagement, you must create avenue for comments, forum pages, and add social share buttons. Basic metrics are number of posts, number of social shares, audience growth, conversation rate, conversions, subscribers, inbound links, directory listings and importantly, search engine optimization (SEO).
So don’t forget, one blog to start, going professional? Go for paid hosting, choose your niche right, have clear objectives and never be afraid of having them small.
Wishing You A Blogging Right 2014.
By: Ayangbayi-Olufemi Joshua
