Information Overload

Great Elephant · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 09:41 AM

I've leaned so much about blogs in the past few month. Now I don't know where to start. I've figured out already that money making can wait and that I should focus on quality content first. But now there are things like SEO, RSS among other things swirling in my mind. Some of which I know I don't need to worry about.

I want to stick to a "Keep it simple Stupid" approach and as I get better slowly add things to my blog.

In your opinion what things should I be mindful of when starting a blog

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 10:18 AM

The great thing about blogging, whether you use WordPress or Blogger is that it's simple to setup. So all I would focus on is getting it started and writing good content. As you continue to blog and become familiar with the settings, all the things like RSS, etc. will fall into place. The great thing is, you don't have to learn what all that means as you're starting out. The most important thing is that you develop something informative, useful, etc. and you'll learn the other things as you go.

Don't feel you have to learn everything today to have a successful blog. Remember, the most successful blogs are at least 2-3 years old and you won't have much traffic in the beginning anyway. So take that time to experiment, learn more about RSS, etc. In the meantime, just focus on your content.

Great Elephant · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

The great thing about blogging, whether you use WordPress or Blogger is that it's simple to setup. So all I would focus on is getting it started and writing good content. As you continue to blog and become familiar with the settings, all the things like RSS, etc. will fall into place. The great thing is, you don't have to learn what all that means as you're starting out. The most important thing is that you develop something informative, useful, etc. and you'll learn the other things as you go.

Don't feel you have to learn everything today to have a successful blog. Remember, the most successful blogs are at least 2-3 years old and you won't have much traffic in the beginning anyway. So take that time to experiment, learn more about RSS, etc. In the meantime, just focus on your content.

Once again Lisa you've come to save the day. I feel much better now but Lisa if you don’t mind I need you to save me one more time.

I'm ready to start and my plan is to have about a month’s worth of posts completed before I go "live" but I want figure out some sort schedule that isn't going to overwhelmed me. I'm thinking 3 days a week with the occasional random blurb sprinkled on random days

What advice can you give me regarding scheduling

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 06:43 PM

That's something you'll have to figure out as you publish content. Bloggers develop different schedules over time depending on their audience responses, how often they feel they have something useful to say, etc. There is no right or wrong answer to this. Just don't publish content for the sake of publishing. Have something useful to say.

I remember Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.net mentioned his readers get upset when he doesn't publish often enough. He developed a schedule of 2-4 posts per day so his audience got used it. Darren produced enough useful content so he can maintain that kind of blogging schedule. Not everyone can. On the other hand, I publish to my blog 2-3 times per week. That's what works for me. Someone else may have a different schedule.

Once your blog develops you'll discover what works best for you. Start out 2-3 times per week or whatever you think you can maintain and offer useful advice. As your blog and readership grows you'll start getting feedback you'll get a feel for how often you need to be writing.

Another thing I pay attention to is blog comments. My posts about money and traffic seem to get more comments than any other topic so I try to write more in those categories. That's one of those things I wouldn't have known until I started writing and getting a feel for what pushes my audience's buttons. My point is you have to experiment to find what works best. It'll just come with time.

TechieGuy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:32 PM

Keeping a schedule is one thing I wanted to do with my blog. I post 3 times a week and always on the the same days.

For me I post a review (blog or web site) on Monday, and a technical post on both Wednesday and Friday. This way my subscribers know what to expect on my blog. As of right now 3 posts a week is enough as my life can get busy at times.

lisa · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:59 PM

That's a good concept, TG. That way people sort of know what to expect on what days. I haven't gotten that disciplined yet.

Great Elephant · #7 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 09:54 PM

thanks once again lisa

TG I was thinking along those lines too

lisa · #8 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 11:07 AM

ProBlogger recently posted a great article on this subject
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2...cy-for-a-blog/

Great Elephant · #9 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

ProBlogger recently posted a great article on this subject
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2...cy-for-a-blog/

That was a great article thanks Lisa

James · #10 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 06:17 PM

Anyone who works as hard as you do has plenty of discipline, anyway, but don't worry about the schedule thing on blog posts. Eric Meyer proves the point of your major theme. When it comes right down to it, content makes all the difference.

Eric writes about once a week most of the time. But sometimes he gets ambitious and writes two times a day or a dozen times or more in a month. Then again I've seen him drop down to once in a month (but rarely that little). No matter, he gets a huge following because he always has something to say that people want to hear.

lisa · #11 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 09:33 PM

Thanks James. You're right. At the end of the day, that's what truly matters but I do like the idea of doing certain kinds of posts on certain days. I may get to that point someday but if not, I won't lose sleep.

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