Blogging for Dollars Blog

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This blog is the companion to my ebook, Blogging for Dollars, and although I emphasize START NOW, and even provide a “Seven Days To Blogging Success” blueprint in the ebook, some readers want to do everything except start, it seems.

Just starting your blog, even if you have questions, is vital, because most of your questions will be answered as you blog. Yes, then you’ll have a different set of questions, but again, those will be answered as you blog.

Here are two readers’ questions, and my answers.

Q. I want to change my design - what’s the best WordPress theme?

A. There are thousands of free WordPress themes, and you can opt for a custom design, but it’s best just to start blogging. A blog will change as you blog, and your own inclinations may change, so stay with the default WP theme for a few months, until you’re making some money.

Then, if you decide on a new theme, you will be able to tell your designer what money-making features you want in your theme. Or you’ll find a free theme and free plugins yourself which will enhance your blog’s money-making potential.

For example, the best theme I’ve found in years of blogging is a brilliant plug-in enhanced theme developed by PLR Pro, a content site I subscribe to. As a subscriber, I can use that theme and its automatic installer to create as many blogs as I wish. That custom theme and its installer is easily worth the price of subscription - you can see the theme on my new WIMP Affiliate Blog.

Q. I want a big collection of keywords - what’s the best way to optimize my blog?

A. Start with a small collection of keywords relevant to your niche, no more than five to ten. Then, you can buy a keyword tool like Ad Word Analyzer, after you’ve been blogging for a few months. Ad Word Analyzer will help you to target the best keywords for your niche.

Technorati Tags: pro blogging, money blogging, making money blogging, new blog, get started blogging

If you’re still undecided about a blogging platform that’s right for you, here’s an excellent review of BlogHarbor.

I’m a confirmed WordPress person, although I do have a TypePad blog, but if you’re starting out, and WP seems to much, BlogHarbor is a good alternative.

Technorati Tags: blogs, blogging, blog platforms, beginners

At least once a week, I’m asked the question “Which is better - a blog, or a Web site?”

Web site pages are great, because they’re static - they’re easy to optimize for the search engines. On the other hand, the search engines love blogs, because they’re frequently updated.

If you want to turn your blog into a “real” site, have a mix of pages and posts. Here’s a way to make a static home page in a WordPress blog - it’s easy since the release of WordPress 2.1.

Technorati Tags: blogs, blogging, Web sites, blog as CMS, WordPress