| So you've finally decided to take the plunge and start | | | | write about long-term" is actually the most important |
| blogging about your art! But before you sign up for | | | | thing to consider, because effective blogging is a long |
| an account at Blogger or Wordpress.com, you need | | | | term activity. Just dropping in and blogging every |
| to do a little bit of planning first. Here are 5 things | | | | couple months isn't going to be as effective blogging |
| you must figure out before you start your blog: | | | | once or twice a week. So it needs to be a topic that |
| 1.What are you blogging for?- There are a lot of | | | | you can stand to write about on a regular basis. |
| reasons why having a blog is a great idea. You can | | | | 4.What are you going to name your blog?- Once |
| use your blog to to drive traffic to your existing | | | | you've figured out the why, who, and what of your |
| website, to create and/or expand your web | | | | blog, you need to come up with a great name for it. |
| presence, to get more customers or prospects, and | | | | Why is coming up with a name so important? |
| much more. Just deciding that you're going to start a | | | | Because a good name can attract potential readers. |
| blog because you've read or had been told that it's a | | | | One of the ways that people can find your blog is |
| good idea isn't good enough. You need to come up | | | | through search engines. If the main topic of your blog |
| with a tangible goal for your blog that you can work | | | | is about ceramics, then it's a good idea to have |
| towards and measure. | | | | something that has to do with ceramics in the name |
| So your first job is to ask, "Why do I want to have | | | | of your blog. Having the name of your blog match |
| a blog? What's my goal?" Because how you answer | | | | your main topic will give you a small boost in the |
| will help you decide: | | | | search engines. |
| - What you write | | | | Another way that people will find your blog is through |
| - How you write | | | | blog directories which are websites that list and ranks |
| - Who you're writing for 2.Who are you blogging | | | | blogs. If you're skimming through a long list of blogs |
| for?- All blogs have an audience...who's going to be | | | | to read, a catchy name can help you stand out and |
| yours? Well, that really depends on the goals for | | | | can mean the difference between someone visiting |
| your blog. You see, if you're blogging to increase | | | | your blog or passing it by. |
| sales on your website, then that means you're | | | | 5.Get a domain name for your blog- Once you've |
| blogging for your current and potential customers. If | | | | come up with a couple of ideas for blog names, go |
| you're a weaver that wants to expand into the | | | | to a domain name registrar and see if they're |
| interior design market, then your potential audience | | | | available for purchase. |
| will be your current customers and the members of | | | | Whether you're getting a free blog on Blogger or |
| the market you hoping to expand into, such as | | | | you're hosting your own blog, you should buy a |
| interior designers. | | | | domain name. A domain name is a very important |
| Once you figure out who your potential audience will | | | | piece of branding. Instead of having your blog |
| be, then it will be easier to figure out what you | | | | address as myartblog.blospot.com, you can have your |
| should be blogging about and who to promote your | | | | address as That sets you apart from all the other |
| blog to. | | | | blogs on Blogger and looks more professional on a |
| 3.What are you going to blog about?- Most popular | | | | business card. Also, if your domain name contains |
| blogs have a main topic which most of the individual | | | | some of your main keywords for your blog (i.e. |
| blog posts are based around, whether it's sports, | | | | "jewelry" if your main topic is jewelry, "painting" if |
| television, or life as mommy blogger. So what's going | | | | your main topic is painting), your blog will get a slight |
| to be the main topic of your blog? Your main topic | | | | boost with the search engines because of it. |
| should be something that:a) Helps to accomplish the | | | | Domain names are very inexpensive, usually $10 or |
| goal you set for your blog (the "why")b) Attracts the | | | | less a year. All in all it's a pretty cheap form of |
| people you want to bring to your website (the | | | | branding. So don't scrimp in this area and don't wait. |
| "who")c) Something that you'll be able to write about | | | | So before you head over to Blogger or WordPress, |
| long-term | | | | take an hour or so and work out these five things. |
| The third guideline, "Something that you'll be able to | | | | You're new blog will be all that much better for it! |