Basically a blog contains these features:

title- which allows you to label your post
body- this is the content of your post
trackback- other sites can be linked back to your blog
permanent link- every article that you write has a URL
comments- this allow readers to post comments on your blog.

One of the advantages of blogging, is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike, other websites that is made up of numerous individual pages. This make it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fix setting that include: slots for title, body of the post, category, etc.

This is especially useful for first time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can chose from a  number of templates that blogging websites provide.

Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice. Once they’ve become members, they automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. They can browse through other bloggers pages, and link them back to their own blogs. They can also make comments on other members’ blogs.

Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs that follow a theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, etc. These blogs espouse on their specific themes. This way blogging becomes a medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.

Some bloggers even use their blogs as a means to advertise. Some authors advertise their books on their blogs. While other bloggers, use their blogs to shed light to currents issues, events, news and catastrophes.

Nowadays in education, blogs also play an important part. Professors use blogging to document the lessons that they have discussed and taught. This way, students who who have missed classes, can easily catch up with their assignments.

A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their businesses on their blogs, with millions and millions of people logging onto the net everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. While others profit through advertisement.

But by far, the most popular blog type is the one that takes the form of a personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, poems, rants, opinions, find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.

Bloggers usually communicate within themselves. This is one of the appeals of blogging. It creates a community of people sharing their ideas, thoughts, and comments with each other.

Blogs varying in topics, themes, and set-ups, can be found in blog directories. First time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these directories. This way they’d get an idea of what these blogging communities are like.

Blogging is popular all over the world. Blog is short for the term weblog. There are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves how ever way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.

There are numerous blogging websites to choose from in the net. This give first time users the option of joining a blogging community that appeals to their interests.

Just search any blogging directory and you’d get a listing of a lot of blogging sites that are available on the net. It’s easy to search a blogging directory, because it is organized according to category. This way you would get exactly what you are after. Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy.

Many people spend time reading blogs.  People read their friend’s blogs, their favorite author’s blogs, blogs on topics that they are interested in, and blogs on product reviews.  With the increasing popularity of blogging, it is even feared that people rely on blogs to get the latest news.

While getting news reports from blogs isn’t reliable, some people look for product reviews through blogs.  In some cases, this is more dependable.  While it is true that some media persons are being paid to write good reviews about a certain product, blog writers write about their actual experiences on products and services from a company.

Since there are many people who read and start their own blogs, blogs are a good medium to market a product.  With the increasing blog traffic means increase in product sales.

Blog traffic can be increased by joining affiliate programs and sites, which will list your blog under a certain search category or name.  You can also have your blog advertised in popular websites.  This, however, will cost some money and is not advisable if you have just started blogging.

A writer who has just launched his/her blog will want as much traffic as possible to increase advertisements on the site.  Also, some advertisers pay every time their link is clicked or the page that has their link is viewed.

When you have increased traffic on your blog, you should try to keep you visitors coming back and recommending your blog to friends and colleagues.

This can be done by having informative or amusing content and good blog layout and design.  You may develop your blog’s content or you can also acquire the services of a web content writer to provide you with the blog articles.

The blog’s layout and design also plays a big role.  While most of the companies offering free blog hosting offer pre-selected templates, there are also some that allows customization that if you utilize this feature correctly can increase your blog’s traffic.

Here are a few tips to make your blog stand out from the millions of blogs out there that have standard designs.

* Customize the banner

The banner usually has the most generic designs that are common to the blogs from a blogging company or service.

You can personalize this banner by having a graphic with the dimensions of the banner.  You can also edit the graphic so that it will also include the title of your blog.

In this case, you can create your own graphic or you can purchase professional looking graphics online for less than $10.

* Personalizing photos

Of course, most of the photos that you will be posting will be your own.  However, if you don’t customize the photos before posting them, you may miss maximizing the enhancing benefits graphics can add to the page.  Adding photo borders can help the photo stand out from the page.

It can also add to the design of your blog.  You can choose a standard border or you can also create your own border which can be associated with your blog’s templates.

* Add a favicon

Don’t you think sites with icons on the address bar before the website’s URL are cool?  Many people do.  These favicons add a professional look to the URL.  These easy to do using photo or graphic editing softwares.

* Check out blog templates, layouts, backgrounds, textures and skins from sites

There are sites that offer free blog templates, layouts, backgrounds, textures and skins.  You can make use of these so your blog will not look generic like most of the blogs hosted by the service provider.

* Include RSS feeds

This is a cool way to inform people with newsreaders about your blog headlines.  Tutorials on RSS feeds are available on the internet.

* Audio makes your blog more personal

Not only does audio personalizes the blog; it can also keep your visitors coming back.  You can try having streaming radio stations, mp3 file or playlists loading with your blog.

* Advertisements

If you have signed-up with Google Ad-Sense, which I am sure you would like to do, make sure that the ads are conveniently placed that these will not hinder your readers’ ease in accessing the information on your blog.

Try using these tips and you can definitely increase and retain traffic on your blog.

This was an event that was not recorded on video and may go down in history as one of the lost archives. Today was also Kevin’s first time speaking in public. Despite his soft voice in the noisy atmosphere, he spoke loudly with confidence.

One of the members said, “Thanks again. You sure fooled me. I would have never guessed that today was your first public presentation. You came across as a seasoned speaker.”

One thing that stood out the most was when Kevin had everyone raise their hand only to slap themselves. It wasn’t out of disrespect, but to wake them up. We can’t divulge on what it was about because it is members only. You’ll have to be at his future meetups or ask him directly.

Kevin hopes to have a good turn out on the next meetup, which will be on August 26th. The topic for that day will be about hiring your own marketing firm, without the actual costs.

Are you thinking of a redesign because you’re tired of the same old look?

If so, it is not yet the right time to do a redesign. You might be tired of the look, but a lot of your visitors might rely on seeing the same thing so it is easier to navigate and reference to. Of course, you could also give them a little warning that changes are about to take affect.

On the other hand, if your website is not converting from visitors to members, subscribers or sales, then perhaps it is time for a redesign. It’s hard to know whether your site is converting or not unless you track the number of unique visitors and finding out what they do on your website.

The primary purpose of a website is to capture a lead. If your site is falling behind in that department, then it may be time to re-structure your site, change the content and perhaps even change the design of your website. However, you must take precaution and make sure that the navigation is similar or enhanced.

If you can do it yourself, obviously, you wouldn’t be reading this. If you need help with it, we can certainly sit down and discuss your objectives and goals. We will then sketch up a model you would be happy with and make sure that it is converting higher than it already is now.

What have I done and do they work?

I would have to say, “yes.”

Here’s a list of things I’ve done to the forum:

1) Installed an auto image reflection to make images look ‘pretty.’
2) Added about a hundred different avatars.
3) Added forum statistics such as top posters.
4) Welcome headers for guests, new members and members who don’t post.
5) Welcome PMs that automatically sends a PM to new members.
6) VbBux/VbPlaza so members can have more fun while posting.
7) VbArcade so members can earn points by playing games. Point download store where members can download products from points they earn.
9) And finally, I’ve added a category sponsor feature that allows my members to display the banner of their choice (any size, the bigger, the better) in a category.

That ad stays there for 2 weeks until the next person in line. I haven’t finished all the details on it yet, but I will be working on it.

These tactics have proven useful because in just 2 weeks (without me promoting or participating), I’ve gained nearly 30 new members. Just this year, my forum has grown from 75 to over 600 members. The likely hood of doubling it’s growth for the year 2007 is a matter of will and I have plenty of that.

For more details, go here:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=592

I also posted 2 free downloads:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=593

And one of our members, Jay, a very talented marketer and an AdSense master himself, posted a very nice thread:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=594

He also continuously comes back and post very useful resources:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341

If you’re looking for a powerful PLR graphic make over software, check out this thread. There’s a 40% discount:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=591 If you want YOUR threads to be noticed and sent out to 500+ members in our community, I suggest you start one. It doesn’t have to be about giving away money or products, but if it is of interest, I will certainly notify our other members.I also still need ideas on what to give away, please submit them here:
http://www.networkersdebut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=587

Your Internet Marketing Friend,
Kevin Lam

Bad news number 2: The extreme package will become a monthly membership. If you already have the extreme package, I’ll more thank likely just upgrade you to the OTO (I hope that brings a smile on your face). The price for it later will be a non-refundable $50 setup fee and $24.95 a month. ***Why $50? Because I know there will be a lot of people who will try to pay me once, try to download everything and then cancel before the month is over – I have a trick up my sleeve to prevent that from happening.

Bad news number 3: The OTO will still be changed to the “Dream Package.” The price for it will be $247. I hope you kept my email on that special offer because you’re going to kick yourself for not taking advantage of it. It expires April 16th.

Bad news number 4: The HSR ebook will once again be resellable. But if you don’t have the extreme package or dream package you will not be able to re-brand it.
Bad news number 5: I have to create more training videos to help you build and promote your own business. If you have questions on how to do something and want a video made, let me know and I can have it done.

Okay, so they weren’t actually all bad news. One actual bad news is, I found a few errors in the member’s area. I will have them fixed asap. In case you’re wondering what it is, it’s the promotional links I provided for free. I use them myself to advertise my site.

Oh, I can’t help it but plug this in. If you haven’t already taken advantage of ForeverBusy.com, PLEASE do so now. I just received a testimonial from someone who’s been using my service for less than a month and she’s seen her Alexa ranking drop by the thousands and even put her page rank to number 2. So aside from giving a boost in your Alexa ranking it also boosts your page rank.