Blogging All–in–One For Dummies

Dive into the exciting blogosphere so you can create, publish, and maintain your own blog

Blogging is fun, and this comprehensive guide makes it easy to get started! From blogging terms and platforms to theories and effective strategies, you′ll find all the information you need to join the blogosphere and achieve your goals. So start thinking about what you want to write about and get ready to head down the path to blogging success!

Find a niche — determine what you want to write about and quickly set up your blog Blogging for business — follow steps to start a business blog and review companies that are doing it effectively to gain powerful ideas Picking a platform — select the best blogging applications and blog hosts to meet your needs Get a helping hand — learn about the tools to help with search engine optimization, analyze your blog′s performance, create a podcast, and more Build a following — find out the secrets to blogging success, how to build a community, and ways to market your blog using social media Show me the money — discover the monetization opportunities waiting for you in the blogosphere, including enabling advertising, publishing sponsored reviews, and selling merchandise

Open the book and find:

Advice for picking a domain name that stands out The rules of the blogosphere you must follow Details of WordPress®, Blogger, and Tumblr® Steps for creating a blog feed and adding images How to blog on the go using a mobile device Secrets to making money from your blogging efforts Microblogging basics using Twitter

8 books in 1

Joining the Blogosphere Niche Blogging Corporate and Business Blogging Choosing a Blogging Application Blogging Tools Promoting and Growing Your Blog Making Money from Your Blog Microblogging with Twitter®

Introduction 1

Book I: Joining the Blogosphere  7

Chapter 1: Joining the Blogosphere 9

Chapter 2: Preparing to Start and Write a Blog 29

Chapter 3: Blogging Basics 43

Chapter 4: Blogging Rules and Ethics 65

Book II: Niche Blogging  79

Chapter 1: Understanding Niche Blogging 81

Chapter 2: Benefi ting from a Niche Blog Approach 95

Chapter 3: Choosing Your Niche 105

Chapter 4: Writing for Your Niche 127

Book III: Corporate and Business Blogging  147

Chapter 1: Starting a Business Blog 149

Chapter 2: Developing a Business Blog Marketing Plan 175

Chapter 3: Choosing Business Bloggers 195

Chapter 4: Writing a Business Blog 213

Chapter 5: Keeping Yourself and Your Company out of Trouble 225

Book IV: Choosing a Blogging Application  239

Chapter 1: Choosing a Blogging Application 241

Chapter 2: Finding the Right Blogging Application 251

Chapter 3: Taking a Look at WordPress 269

Chapter 4: Using Google Blogger 299

Chapter 5: Understanding TypePad 327

Chapter 6: Blogging with Tumblr 355

Book V: Blogging Tools  375

Chapter 1: Search Engine Optimization 377

Chapter 2: Measuring Blog Performance 393

Chapter 3: Editing and Finding Images 409

Chapter 4: Understanding RSS, Blog Feeds, Subscriptions, and Syndication 427

Chapter 5: Blogging on the Go 441

Chapter 6: Creating a Podcast 451

Chapter 7: Creating a Vlog 469

Book VI: Promoting and Growing Your Blog  485

Chapter 1: Secrets to Blogging Success 487

Chapter 2: Building Community 495

Chapter 3: Social Networking 503

Chapter 4: Social Bookmarking 517

Chapter 5: Inviting or Being a Guest Blogger 529

Chapter 6: Hosting Blog Contests 539

Book VII: Making Money from Your Blog  551

Chapter 1: Blog Advertising 101 553

Chapter 2: Publishing Contextual Ads 561

Chapter 3: Using Text Link Ads 575

Chapter 4: Placing Impression Ads 583

Chapter 5: Making Money with Affi liate Advertising 589

Chapter 6: Publishing Sponsored Reviews and Paid Posts 603

Chapter 7: Merchandising for Profit 613

Chapter 8: Displaying Ads in Your Blog’s Feed 621

Chapter 9: Selling Ad Space Directly 629

Chapter 10: Benefi ting from Indirect Monetization Opportunities 641

Book VIII: Microblogging with Twitter  649

Chapter 1: Getting the Short Story with Microblogging 651

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Twitter 659

Chapter 3: Getting More out of Twitter 679

Chapter 4: Using Third–Party Twitter Applications 699

Glossary  713

Index  723

Susan Gunelius is a 20–year marketing veteran and President and CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc. (www.keysplashcreative.com), a marketing communications company. She writes about marketing, branding, and social media for Forbes and entrepreneur.com, is featured on CNBC and BusinessWeek.com, and owns the award–winning blog WomenOnBusiness.com.