Gone are the days when blogs were used primarily to share personal information. Business blogs are very common now, often resembling regular websites.
Why are entrepreneurs blogging? Good business blogs are the darling of Google and other search engines - they often get indexed faster than static websites. They also can lend a very personal feel, something that customers like because it helps them to get a sense of who is behind the curtain of the company they are considering giving their business to.
11 Things You Need to Create Profitable Business Blogs
1. Key Word Research
Learn how to do it and keep doing it to determine if what you want to sell is both in demand and there isn't too much competition. You can use the free Google keyword tool or, better yet, invest in quality keyword software like Market Samurai.
2. Your Own Domain Names
If you are serious about making money, you need to own your own domain names, no exceptions. .com sites are ideal as are .org sites.
3. Good Paid Hosting
Get an account that has something called 'fantastico' so you can easily install a blog or other programs on your sites with just a few clicks.
Above all, avoid free hosting.
No matter how good the options and savings may seem, free hosting does not give you the control and security you need to run a profitable business blog. A basic account with a good hosting company usually costs less than $100/year - a very small investment considering the advantages!
3. WordPress
Wordpress is a FREE blogging platform that is versatile and continually improving in ways that benefit online entrepreneurs. Learning WordPress basics can be quick when you have the right resources. You can be up and running within a day in some cases.
4. Great WordPress Themes
Themes are free or paid additions to WordPress that change the look and structure of the blog. There are many excellent ones to choose from that are suitable for business blogs, and the better ones (often paid) are very customizable so you can move images around, change colors, etc. quickly whenever you like.
5. WordPress Plugins
WordPress plugins are small pieces of software that allow you to do different things with your blog such as block spam, insert YouTube videos, install popup windows to capture subscriber's names, etc.
Most WordPress plugins are free, but some may be worth paying for. You can find recommendations online.
6. Free Reports, E-series, Videos, etc.
Offer something enticing and free for visitors to sign up for so you can capture their names with a good autoresponder service.
This is a critical step to success. You must start to build a list of potential customers. And please avoid using a free autoresponder. You need the reliability and options that a good paid one offers.
7. Affiliate Link Cloaker if you are doing affiliate sales
Many successful online entrepreneurs sell their own products AND plenty of affiliate products, which is why they are so successful. If you don't have your own product yet, you can begin with affiliate sales and add your own stuff when you're ready.
8. PayPal or Merchant Account if you are selling your own products
9. Protection for Digital Downloads
If you are selling your own digital products like e-books and downloadable software, the paid service DLGuard is probably your most secure option. But you can learn how to protect your downloads adequately for free if you do a bit of research.
10. Great Blog Content
Keyword research will come in handy here, allowing you to target the headlines of your posts to what people are searching for in the search engines.
11. Professional Help - Marketing Forums, Coaches, Mentors
Last but not least, you need good information and feedback from professionals who have successful business blogs so you can find the best tools and techniques.
You'll find many great resources online, both free and paid. Ideally you will invest in a good coach or find a great mentor early on. Marketing pros often say that having professional feedback was a critical part of their success - so much so that they wish they had sought it sooner.
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Lillea Woodlyns simplifies
business blog setups and more with her FREE WordPress tutorial series at http://www.speedonlinewealth.com/blog/better-business-blogs-best-wordpress-theme/
