Six Ways to Improve Your New Blog Over the Holidays

Dec 24, 2007
17 Comments

My Blog Booster project is a great success, but it brought me face to face with a lot of new blogs. Although I hate to say it, I saw some common beginner’s mistakes. Of course, I want to help everyone do the best they can, so as my little holiday gift to everyone, I made a video about six ways to improve your new blog over the holidays.

Here they are, briefly (details are in the video):

  1. Use “pretty” permalinks
  2. Tighten the focus on your blog overall
  3. Learn to write compelling headlines
  4. Use pictures in your posts, if not in your blog theme
  5. Use Feedburner
  6. Have a point to each post–don’t ramble
  • Im new at this and these are All great tips for successful blogging!!Thanks!
  • Great points. So how did the experiment turn out?
  • @ Cyndee - Yeah I love Jott! It's awesome. I keep meaning to write a post about it by jotting to the blog, but I have yet to pull the trigger on it.
  • Michael - Regarding Pierre's comments - I also recently heard about services that transcribe videos for a relatively small fee for those concerned. I'm with you - audio and all is around the corner I believe - just look at the free service www.jott.com - I find it amazing how you can talk and it transcribes darn near perfectly.
  • Michael Martine
    @Pierre: It's easy to add the needed text to a video post to help search engines for now, but Google is developing the technology to intelligently understand text in video. Audio won't be far behind. So I don't see video as an SEO problem at all, anymore.
  • Content is king, right. When you video blog your posts don´t have to much text content for search engines to index.

    Do you think that new blogs should stick to old fashion text post rather then video blogs just make sure that you get the search engine visitors?

    The way Im thinking it´s that more posts and content the more indexed pages and hopefully more visitors you get. But in your case you have so high page rank and posts indexed so it doesn´t matter.

    The video was great.
  • Michael - Glad you made it handy for people.

    I bet there are lots of people would like coaching on starting videos and I don't haven't seen many good resources (hint hint)- maybe it will be an offering from the Remarkablogger in 2008! A girl can wish can't she!! - Cyndee
  • Michael Martine
    @Cyndee: well, since you mentioned it: Start videoblogging for less than $40
  • Ok - now that is inspiring for people - because that is a dang good production on a shoestring budget - on what $40 _ halogen lamp - People need to visit your original post on how to start video blogging if not doing it yet - thanks for sharing!! - Cyndee
  • Michael Martine
    I'm still using the same cheap webcam I was before, but now I have much better light. I added a monster halogen lamp to my office. Makes a big difference.
  • Michael - I had another question...what are you using to do your videos? I've seen a big improvement in clarity, quality - you look awesome!
  • Thank you Santa Martine :-) All great tips for successful blogging!!
  • Great post. I'm guilty of not writing compelling headlines - but I am working on it.
  • Ed
    Good points well made.

    I would also be interested to know how you think a blog a year old could break through to the next level of traffic.
  • Good video. A lot of your point apply to my blog. I will improve myself with your valid points.
  • All very good points. I really want to see a picture in a post or in this case a video works. Another one worth mentioning is formatting the text well. No wall of words. Make sure it is easy to read. Happy holiday Santa Blogger! - Ashley
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