A couple months ago, I decided to create a post on my Searching Solutions Blog that contained a giant list of blogging tips on everything from setting up an effective blog, to advanced SEO tactics.  It has become a regular feature of my site, and something I update every week with new tips.  There are currently over 100.

I'll be posting portions of the list on AR for reference.  If you want to see more, make sure to check out the origianl list here: Ultimate Guide to Blogging

** If you plan to link to or bookmark this guide at some point, please do me a favor and link to the original at: www.searchingsolutions.com/blog   Thanks for your help!  **

Here are some of the categories I cover in the guide:

Contents:

• Tips For Getting Started
• Basic Blog Formatting & Structure
• Blog Design & Features
• Blog Content Tips
• Blog Participation
• Blog & Article Promotion Tips
• SEO For Blogs
• Social Media

Here is part 1 in this series on Blogging Tips:

Tips For Getting Started With Blogging:

• Track Your Analytics - I'm a huge fan of Google Analytics, but sitemeter can work for the more basic user.  Tracking all this data can be huge for SEO efforts, and help to give you benchmarks on traffic, pageviews, and search traffic.
• Sign Up For Webmaster Tools - Google Webmaster Tools, Yahoo Site Explorer, and MSN Webmaster Center.  All of these can give you great insight into crawl data, errors, strong pages, keyword data, and alot more.  It's like looking through a window into the secret search engine world... albeit a bit cloudy.
• Register On Blog Directories - This is the classic first step when setting up a new blog or website.  Get on some relevant directories.  Since you have a blog, blogging directories would be appropriate here.
• Get on Dmoz, Yahoo, and BOTW - Yes, there is a small financial investment here, but it's worth it.  These will all help you build trust with the search engines.  When you submit to Dmoz, only do it once, and don't write about your site like you're writing an advertisement.
• Claim Your Blog on Technorati - Go to Technorati.com and register.  Simple.
• Use An RSS Reader - As a blogger, you're an RSS publisher.  Because of that you'll want to familiarize yourself with an RSS reader and get used to the technology.  Beyond that, it's a great way to process alot of information quickly and will help you progress as a blogger.
• Naked?  Put On Your Avatar - Register for the following:  Gravatar.com, Mybloglog.com, Blogcatalog.com, Yahoo Avatar, Blogger.com, Wordpress.com.
• Don't Blog For Someone Else - Let me explain... there is nothing wrong with participating on industry blog sites like Activerain.com.  But don't use them as your primary outlet.  It may be a great way to promote your articles, and network with other people, but you need a voice of your own on... a web property that you own.  When you write for a blog network site, you are giving away the rights to that content... read the fine print!
• Have a Launch Party - Email everyone you know, send out cards, tell everyone you meet... the launch should be BIG.  Make sure you build up a decent amount of articles before you open the doors.  Your first big push (if done properly) should be able to secure many subscribers and create a buzz in your industry for at least the first couple of months.
• Create an About Page or Mission Statement - Every blog needs a purpose.  There is nothing worse than going to a blog and not being able to figure out why it exists.  Make your purpose clear, and introduce yourself properly so readers understand the direction you want to take them in.
• Build Core Relationships - Find 10 experts in your industry, and do what you can do to get to know them.  Comment on their blogs, participate on social media, interview them, write about them, call them, and work on building meaningful relationships.  These are the people that will help to grow your blog.
• Write Your Brains Out - When you start, it is extremely important to build a base of content.  Try for 5 new posts per week for the first 3 months.  That will give you roughly 60 articles to work with and a good base to build from.  After the first 3 months, write at a pace that is comfortable for you.
• Build Basic Directory Links - This can be a daunting task, but it's completely necessary in order to build some basic links and trust with the search engines.  Here are some links to some lists of directories and tips:  From: Blogger Buster, From: Search Engine Journal, From Searching Solutions: Article #1, Article #2
• Setup Google Alerts - This is a very simple way of finding out who is saying what about you or the blog.  Setup alerts for your blog name, company name, blog url, and anything else you want to be notified of.  Also, read this post on how to find new customers through Google Alerts.
• Read The Best "How to Blog" blogs - In my opinion, these blogs have the best information about learning how to blog effectively... in no particular order: Problogger.net, Real Estate Tomato, CopyBlogger.com, ihelpyoublog.com,

** If you plan to link to or bookmark this guide at some point, please do me a favor and link to the original at: www.searchingsolutions.com/blog Thanks for your help! **