Creating A Blog From Scratch For Newbies !!!

Creating Blogs :

Hi, you've heard of the blind leading the blind, well that's somewhat the situation here.

I've only been blogging for about two and a half months, so I'm by no means an expert, but in my opinion that's what qualifies me to write this article.

The reason being, I've managed to get my blogs on the net.

If you're familiar with Face book and Scrapbooking, that's great, you have an advantage over me!!!

There are literally millions of blogs on the net, possibly because they're far more simple to create over a web site, needless to say for the likes of me, and they're usually FREE, user friendly and it's not necessary to know or understand HTML Code.

If you're reading this then you are obviously looking at a web site that has published my article or visiting one of my blogs, either way you're looking at my original content.

Just to inform you as a side point, I am Dyslexic, not something I like to admit freely however I hope with this info, it will allow you to understand that maybe it's slightly more difficult for me than for some.

Your reasons for creating a blog may vary, maybe you have a story to tell, or information others may benefit from, maybe you just want to create your own personal space or create a forum for others to leave comments, or perhaps just use the experience as a learning curb, or maybe try to create an extra income source

There are many FREE blog providers but for now the one I use is Blogspot.com later if you want you are free to play around with Wordpress or others, that's up to you.

Time to start.

Most other websites would show you "how to" by using a video, in my opinion this can work great because you can see the illustrations and someone talking you through the process, this method can also be a disadvantage as well, for example most of us can't memorize all of the instructions given so unless you take notes or continually work between the video and the set up process by flicking backwards and forwards from the video page and the set up  page your brain can become confused  and frustrated, my way would be to print the instructions and then follow accordingly.

Ok, let's go.

Go to Google in your web browser the Google Home or search page. Sorry if I'm insulting your intelligence, but this guide is for the totally in-experienced!!!

Type in the search box, blogspot.com and hit the enter or return key, or use the mouse to click "Google Search" .

The page results will show within the top three Blogger: Create your free blog or you can click this link, it will bring you to the page.

On the Blogger page you will see "Create a Blog" in an orange box. Click using the mouse, this will bring you to the sign up page, there are 3 stages listed in the top bar;

Create an Account.
Name Blog
Choose Template
The page you are on is No 1 Create Account.

The first box on page 1 asks you for a valid e-mail address, (If you don't have one click this link Google Accounts and create an account .

Once you have created the e-mail account enter your e-mail address in first box on page 1 on the create blog page.

The next box down asks you to re-type your e-mail address.

Next comes your password, Choose a password you can remember easily and type in the boxes requesting it.

The next box asks you for a name you are going to use to sign your blogposts posts, this is the content you will add to your blog.

For example I used Heartcare for the purpose that my primary blog was based on Heartcare, however you can choose a Knick name or a user name, this will become the name under which your posts will appear. For Example my daughter uses Hiba, so all the posts or articles on her blogs appear as "posted by Hiba"

At this stage I don't want to make things complicated, for example if you decide to post your articles on other sites like Article base to help create traffic to your blog this will be the name used to create the back link to your blog...

In the case where I've posted replies or added comments to forums on other sites or blogs, they've been posted under Heartcare, this also helps create back links to your blog and once again helps to direct traffic to your site.

So give a little thought to the name you're going to use!!!

Next you will see a small box asking if you want to be informed about information announcements and advice regarding getting the most out of your blog, It's up to you whether you tick this box or not, If you tick you will be added to the newsletter and receive e-mails on the latest information, this is an automated service giving the option to un-subscribe if and when you like.

Next you will be asked for your date of birth, remember this is a secure encrypted site provided by Google and your details will be kept private and not passed on to third parties, Google hate spam as much as the rest of us.

You will then need to type the word verification in the box provided, this is to ensure that it's a real person using the sign up and not a robot being used to create thousands of blogs used for spamming or money making.

Accept the terms of service by clicking the small box and move on by clicking continue.

Page 2 Name Blog

The first question asks you to choose a blog title, I used Heartcare, It's always a good idea to go to http://www.doteasy.com/ there you can find out if your chosen blog name is available.

Just take a look on the doteasy page to your right and you will see a green box (Search), just above type in your chosen name and hit search, this will take you to the next page to see if your chosen name is available, I try to stick with the results of availability from .com, .net or .org, or even .co.uk it depends on your location. If your chosen name is available hit the back button on your browser, the left arrow on the top left of the website page until you get back to page 2 of the blog setup. If your chosen blog name isn't available try another until you find one that is.

Remember this is the name that the search engines will use to try and find your blog so try to think of something that you think people will search for.

Enter your chosen name into the first box on page 2 and then the second, in the first box you can put spaces between words; for example Heartcare 4 Life  but in the second you must leave out the spaces.

Click on availability, normally the words "This Blog address is available" will appear!

Hit Continue, this will now take you to page 3.

Page 3 Choose a Template.

Choosing a template is how your blog will appear. However if you're not happy with the look of your blog you have the option to change your template later. Before you save your template you have the choice to preview, if you're not happy highlight another and preview it.

When you're happy with your choice, Click on save template (the orange box top right of your template page)

Your blog is now created. You can now scroll back to the top of the page and click view blog.

At this stage I recommend you add it to favorites in your bookmarks option.

This will allow you to manage your Blog by selecting it straight from your Favorites menu (DON'T forget to add to favorites, it's very likely at this stage Google will not find your new blog in a search at this stage).

It's very important also you make a note of your e-mail address your password and user name unless it's something you can remember easily, the next time you open your blog you will need to use these details to enter your blog by signing in.

Please accept my apologies if you have found these instructions an insult to your intelligence, however for those who have little or no experience of computers I've tried to take you through the process in simple easy steps, you'd be surprised how many people out there are not computer literate or even have disabilities like me.

However even I know DNA doesn't stand for National Dyslexic Association!!!

Yer, it's great when you can make fun of others, but I go one step further, I make fun of ME,

Here's another, The Dyslexic, Agnostic Insomniac knelt by the bed at 3 in the morning "Is there such thing as Dog"??? he asked.

Now you've created your blog in the next article I'll try to show you how to add content.

What's Your Purpose For Blogging???

Ok, so you've now created your blog, you have your new template, time to add some content.

Or IS IT?

Before you think about adding the content, ie; your posting (something you've written), I need  you to understand a few things, your reading this on  Article base or my blog http://freeultimatesupertips.blogspot.com/ However its my original content...

First of all let's examine

The reason for your blog.
Your expectations.
Your audience.
Let's assume just for one minute that's the reason why you're here is not just to learn how to set up a blog but to earn a six figure income or even just a few bucks.

What you need to FULLY understand is your new blog is like a tiny Island in the middle of an enormous ocean

.An Island that no one except you have ever heard of.

In order to get people to visit your tiny Island you need to provide them with first of all the knowledge that it even exists and secondly how to get there.

This is the WHY I ask the reason for your blog.

By now you have probably been pulled into people's adverts, (squeeze pages) high pressure selling techniques, and paid  money to sign up to join all kind of get rich schemes, they offer 100's of dollars worth of Free aids (normally Free e-books) memberships to Guru sites, seminars and loads more.

Start making money in 10 minutes from now….We'd all like to be like them….if only it was that simple, no one would work, everyone would stay at home earning a six figure income.

The people selling these systems are part of huge affiliate marketing groups, you can join for small enough money (at the bottom of their ladder).

They give you all the tools, 100's of tools, they even set up the squeeze pages, the affiliate links the whole lot.

I recently bought a package, (I checked it out for scam probability first), Amazing reports, came up over 2.5million hits in Google search, best thing since sliced bread, the re-invention of the wheel in Internet terms, Guaranteed to make 1000's.

There were so many tools, (e-books) it took me 3 solid days to browse them, not read and take in the information fully.

The package was complete, however still full of further squeeze page ad's trying to part me with more cash. Some even offering a 60 day free trial and only after the trial finished I'd pay, bull, after the 60 days I'd pay 57 dollars a month, but if I took advantage of this one time offer TODAY I'd pay only 27dollars a month, free trial with a catch, eh.

Do YOU want to be like them?
Regarding earnings I'm sure you do….. so do I…..
Let's get to the real point……

They can sell you the package, they can set you up with all the tools, they can give you all the advice you need, but are they going to create the traffic to your ISLAND?

Simply NO NO and NO…..

I doesn't matter what package or get rich quick scheme or money earner you subscribe to, YOU have to develop the traffic.

These people even tell you that you don't need a site or a blog, True, there are many ways you can generate traffic to the squeeze page, they provide with your affiliate link but it all takes time and work, a lot of time and work.

Unless you have an established blog or site getting tons of hits every day it will take you a lot of time and work.

If you were to do just a couple of hours a day like they suggest in their squeeze ad's you'd be 150 years old by the time you see a return.

I have a good friend of mine he was getting over 7000 hits a day on his site and over 1500 followers, he decided to affiliate, drop in a few squeeze pages, its surprising how quick his followers and hits dropped off. It took a long time to re-gain the confidence of his group.

I'm sure all the Guru's who read this, if they even bother, very unlikely, would disagree, but I'd challenge them to start from fresh Today and get traffic to their Island as quick as they expect you to do it.

To start with try and find a URL or domain name that's still available using" make money" in the title.

Yes you can use key words, that helps.

Don't get me wrong, It can be done, It is being done, but it's not as easy as these people make it out to be.

THIS IS THE REASON WHY I ASK YOU TO EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVES FOR BLOGGING…….

I hope I haven't burst your bubble….. there are ways to get people to visit your Island, and I'm going to try and show you the more simple ways but it still involves work.

You don't think this article wrote itself, or do you?

Regarding your expectations, even if you get people to your Island you will need to look after them, after all it was you that invited them, now you need to feed them give them something to drink, maybe then they will want to come back, especially if it's a nice Island with plenty to do and see, people don't want to come to your Island for nothing. So if they find nothing they surely won't stay or it's unlikely they will come back.

Well that's it for today, examine your motives, if it's to make a six figure income then maybe I can't help you, but if you just genuinely want to Blog and maybe gain a few Bucks to help you along the way then maybe you will come back for the next chapter.

Writing Articles And Submitting Them To Search Engines

In the last chapter we discussed the purpose of your blog, Like I said if it's to earn loads of money then you could be in for the long haul. Either way I'm going to show you some simple ways of creating Traffic to your tiny Island.

Just to make clear from the beginning  I AM NOT affiliated to any of the links in this Article, I will not make 1 single penny from the referrals, the links are purely to help you along your way to getting your Blog recognized……

Onward we shall go.

Some Guru's, the ones who tell you "you don't even need a website or Blog to create income from their proven system" are quite often right, however this invariably leaves you needing to advertize or possibly start an e-mail campaign….

These so called Guru's show you the massive proof of earnings on their squeeze pages, gets you excited doesn't it, first of all this is how much they've earned…..

No, No and No again, this is how much they've taken, how much have they spent in advertising, so what's their real profit?

On order for them to gain, or stay top ranked, they need to work consistently,  pay someone else to do it, or advertise.

The same applies to YOU, professional article writers are well paid.

Advertising can be cheap but you need a lot of it, 3 dollars a month here and 5 dollars a month there can soon add up to several hundred dollars a month. What do you get for your 3 or 5 dollars, very little, 35 to 50 dollars per ad maybe will get you a bit more.

So possibly you think about taking their advice of "starting an e-mail campaign";

You Simple attach a signature to your outgoing e-mails so everyone who gets your e-mail has a direct link to your squeeze page, your affiliate link they have provided you with in the package you bought.

Great !!!, NO, NO and NO again….

Why?

Take a look in your e-mail address book, is there anyone in there you don't know, these people are your FRIENDS, family, work colleagues, possibly even your bank manager.

How embarrassing would that be?

Do you REALLY want to ram your squeeze page down their throats???

If your just creating a Blog to have your own personal space, share your thoughts, holiday or Wedding snaps then join Face book or the like, why do you need a blog.

So let's start to be honest…..

You have other reasons,

Mine are,

To help others, Primary objective.
To try to make a few, and when I say a few I mean a few extra bucks in the bargain.
Meet and make new Friends.
For example my motives in this blog are to bring you to the realization that Blogging for money can be very time consuming, so let's take it easy, have some fun, enjoy what we do and gain by the experience.

Whatever your motives are is irrelevant to me, all I know is you need to create visitors to your Island, nourish them and invite them back for another visit.

So, here we Go.

1   Do your research on your chosen topic, no matter how much you think you know there's always more to learn.
2     Write well, just because you maybe an expert in your field doesn't mean others are… make things simple to understand.
3       Use short introductory paragraphs to gain the reader's attention.
4        USE Keywords but be warned use the key words sparingly, let people and the search engines know what your article is about but don't over or under do it, for example if you don't use your key words enough, search engines won't pick up on them, that's fine for your readers because they won't be getting bored reading the same thing over and over again, if you overdo it search engines may view your article as Spam and probably put you in their "sand box" where you could remain for a long time, not only will the search engines regard your article as Spam but probably so will your readers….visit http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/it might help, sign up for their 7 day free trial. Indecently I AM NOT AFFILLIATED TO ANY OF THE LINKS IN THIS ARTICLE, I DON'T MAKE 1 SINGLE PENNY FOR REFFERALS.
5      Use correct spelling and Grammar, difficult for me because I'm Dyslexic, If it wasn't for spell check you surely wouldn't be reading this :)
6      Try to be informative, interesting, funny, unique….
7       Try to install the want or need for your visitors to come back, make your Island a nice place to visit, encourage them to want to leave comments or even become a follower, the more people find your Island Interesting the more people will add it to their favorites or bookmark list.

In my first article How to create a blog I explained how to add a post or an article to your Blog, so now you've written something, it's time to post it, follow the instructions in that article, view your blog or preview how It's going to look and click on " publish".

That's it you've done it….

Now its time to submit your Blog to Google, one of, if not the leading search engine, go to http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl or click this link.

Copy your URL and paste it in the URL box, next, give a brief description of the content of your blog or article, ie. In Heartcare4life I used the title of my first post, Prevention is better than cure, Google will pick up on the rest.

Type in the squiggly confirmation text into the box below and click on the little box "ADD URL"

Don't expect miracles, the Google bot will now do its work and put your site where it thinks it belongs. Depending on your URL, content, keywords, and competition on the same subject will depend your position in Google listings, But at least you've made a start.

Next go to   http://www.acomputerportal.com/Simple_Submit_130_Engines/SmE_Fast_Submit.php add your URL  and this time your e-mail in the box provided, click on the "check all" link below the "submit my site" box, this will highlight and tick all the search engine boxes, click on "submit my site" and wait until it's finished it's work.

You have now completed the first simple step, still a very long way to go, but you've made a start.

That's it for today, my one finger typing digit is tired, hopefully I'll see you for the next step.

Like I said Take it easy, have fun and enjoy the ride.

Creating Traffic To Your Blog

Ok, let's try and get a few more visitors to your tiny Island,

So you've just moved into a small village, no one knows you and likewise you know no one,  you would like to take a step up the social ladder, get to know people and let them get to know you, up until recently they didn't know of your existence nor you theirs.

Free Google Traffic--here’s 3 Easy Ways to Get Top Gun Listing With Google
Websites or Blogs have ratings based on a scale of 0 through 10, you can use this knowledge to your advantage.

For example if you link to a 100 sites with low ratings you won't increase your ratings, however if you link to sites with high ratings you will be invited to the best party's by the search engines.

You can't just gate crash a party or in other words just attach yourself to another person's site or Blog, you need an invite.

High ranking sites like, Article Base, (+100's more) are high rated sites, and you have a free invite to join their party.

Providing you don't get drunk and make a fool of yourself they're glad for you to come to their party as often as you like, thus building yourself up quickly on the social ladder where you can invite others to your Island.

Be Warned !!! Read their terms and conditions, If you do get drunk and make a fool of yourself at one of their parties you will get yourself thrown out and not let back in.

Respect their rules , don't blow your nose on the curtains or urinate in the Flower beds and you should be fine.

Nearly all of these sites are free to join and submit an article but if you want to feature it expect to pay.

Understand that these sites are free domain, anyone can take your article and use it for content on their site, it is courtesy to leave in the link to you and your Island as a way to show their appreciation, this in itself creates links to your page, the more popular your article, the more it will get used, the more links to your Blog the more visitors you will get, plus you will be recognized more by the search engines.

But again be Warned, some Article sites will allow you to paste your URL in the Auther Bio, others in the Article, either way you will get the credit for your writing.

However don't make the same mistake I did, don't paste your URL into the title. I got removed from a very good site because of it, and now am trying to beg my way back in.

Before Google even new I existed, I submitted 3 or4 articles to one particular site publisher, ie: xyzArticles, the very next day Google found me and ranked my blog top of page 1 out of only 10 sites found, In fact I was listed position 1,3 and 4.

Within a week, top of 32 sites, a week later, top of 1300, after just 5 weeks and people using my articles, translating them into several languages and pasting them on their sites I arrived at top spot, No:1 in 76,300 sites, yesterday I checked again and got top spot No:1 in 117,000.

Having  now been removed from the site that more or less got me there I hope I can get back in before it effects my ratings.

Now don't get me wrong  top spot No:1 position out of 117,000 sites is small in comparison to the extent of cyberspace, but a good start for a Newby.

And all that just from 3 Articles….

I suppose by now maybe you should know how to create a link, so I'll tell you,

I am assuming you are typing your post into the Postings box  selected from the Dash board of your blog at Blogspot.com, your blog host, well let's put it this way you should be if you are using my instructions from the page "How to add content to your Blog"

Remember I explained the box where you type in your post is a little like Microsoft Word but a little simpler, I recommend you played around with it to figure out it's functions.

About half way across the tool bar you will see the tool "Link", if you want you can make ANY word in your typed article into a link, drag the mouse over the word and highlight it, click on "Link" button and a pop up window will appear, type the link address you wish to link to into the box "To what URL should this link go?"and click the "OK button.

Likewise if you type in a URL like http://yourlink.blogspot.com/ and click the "link" button it will create the link automatically because the HTML code used in creating the Blog Template recognizes it as a URL.

Whilst you were in the box that created a link from ANY chosen word maybe you noticed the button to change the link to an e-mail address. This option can be used in the same way except it directs the clicks from the chosen word to an e-mail page, that is of course if you typed your e-mail address into the box and clicked OK.

So now anyone reading your post on your Blog clicks on the link it will immediately take them to the link you specified. The same goes for published Articles submitted to xyzArticles. This is how you create links to your Blog (your back links).

I hope that wasn't too complicated for you…..

So now we've got a little further, you've hopefully begun to be recognized by Search Engines and you've learned how to create back links to your little Island.

Hopefully soon we can add some Affiliate links and a few ad's, and turn it into Treasure Island…..