So You Have a Blog, Now What Do You Do With It? Blog Basics

(This article assumes you have already set up a blog your website. I highly recommend using sBlog: http://servous.se/)

What started out just a way you write an online journal has quickly turned into a very viable internet marketing tool. The weblog, or blog short, has become a great way draw attention your website. Below I will discuss steps you need take make most new tool.

1. Content: Probably most important feature your new blog content - what you post. As an example, you can see what my own company, JV Media Design, has put up here: http://www.jvmediadesign.com/blog. You will notice we post a lot articles related business design internet. Content relative your business or industry most effective. Articles, news, tips, tutorials, links or other resources are all great examples what would be considered good content your blog.

2. Updates: Optimally, your blog should always be up date with fresh content. Of course, this can't always be case, so would be advantageous update your blog much you can. If you can manage content, a few times a week would be enough keep your information fresh. There are plenty free resources online could help you with content. Simply do a search your favorite engine "free site content" or "free articles" you should fine multiple links could make even easier you keep your blog up date.

3. Links: Once you have some content posted into your blog, you will want tell internet world about it. The best way do this submit your RSS feed link sites that accept those feeds. What's an RSS feed you ask? RSS another acronym "RDF Site Summary", "Rich Site Summary", or "Really Simple Syndication". Basically, it's just a format sending out your content others. The best resource where submit this link is: http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/ It might take you a couple hours go through this list, but I highly recommend submitting all links you can. Simply click a submission link list then follow directions. Most sites will ask your "RSS 0.91" or "RSS 2.0" feed link.

If you are using sBlog, your links would be:
http://www.YOURWEBSITE.com/blog/rss/?mode=0.91
http://www.YOURWEBSITE.com/blog/rss/?mode=2.0

Some sites only ask URL your blog, which would be:
http://www.YOURWEBSITE.com/blog

Usually, site will also ask a description your blog feed. Try be descriptive possible while using keywords from your industry (ie. "JV Media Design - Web, graphic, multimedia design tips, tutorials, helpful information). Some will ask you choose best category your blog feed well.

4. Pings: Yet another web acronym, ping short "Packet Internet Groper" basically just a utility program that tests a network connection. In blog world, pings are used tell other sites that you are there. There debate how often you should ping others but general consensus that you should do every time you update your blog with new content. The best utility ping blog directory sites (where you should have been submitting your RSS feed links point #3) is: http://pingomatic.com/ - Simply go this site once you update your content, enter your URL (http://www.YOURSITE.com/blog) description, check off all boxes, then click "submit pings".

Sherry Holub received her degree design from UCLA 1995. She now Lead Designer Creative Director at Southern California Studio, JV Media Design. http://www.jvmediadesign.com