Blogging best practice, tips, hints, advice etc (Wordpress-centric)

[Martin_S]

Hi guys,

I have, for the first time, set up a Wordpress blog. I'm moulding the overall theme of it to relate to the industry we operate in. I'm new to this, so looking for any advice, help and info etc on how best to utilise it that you can offer.

My initial plan is to write articles as often as possible on what's happening in the markets, and link back to our site where applicable. I'll also do content exchanges with other relevant sites (using My Blog Guest as one means to find relevant bloggers), and give access to contributors as well (felt a bit weird about doing it initially).

Sound like a decent blogging strategy?

Any and all ideas welcome.

Thanks

[Benj25]

I see. We have set up a blog on their own domain.

[Benj25]

I see. Thanks.

[EGOL]

I enjoyed your connection between pushy people and rubbish.  lol

That is very true.   Most of the people who have contacted me about sharing an article with my website visitors have articles that are either total rubbish filled with links... or are chest thumping attempts at marketing.

I think that pushy and rubbish can be extended to other things as well.

[eunaneunan]

you need to install wordpress on to you domain like any other CMS.  Wordpress offer blogs on their own domain, but its much better to have it hosted locally as EGOL has said.

[EGOL]

To create www.myurl.com/blog... you will simply upload the wordpress file packet to the /blog folder of your website.  There are lots of informative articles and videos out there that describe this in detail.

Also, there are lots of highly skilled people who will install the software and customize the "look" for you for a small fee.  If you are unfamiliar with this type of work and your blog is an important project, that is what I recommend.

[Martin_S]

Thanks mate,

We are going to set up a blog with the main site, so thanks for reassuring me on doing so as well. The Wordpress was, honestly, intended to garner links (within carefully considered content/blogs, though) from other relevant sites. Perhaps a tactic to have a think on then for me.

Your advice on being cautious with contributors has rung true already - pushy people, who, having had a look at what they produce, are pretty rubbish.

[Benj25]

I've a similar question, sorry to hijack - how on Earth do I host my wordpress blog 'on' my website.

So that www.myurl.com/blog points to www.blog.wordpress.com or similar.

[EGOL]

Just tossing out a couple of cautions...

It sounds like you are setting this blog up because you think that it is an easy way to get links to your website.  If that is one of your primary motivations then it would be better to place this blog on your main website.  Why?  Because then ALL links that hit the blog will FULLY benefit your main site instead of your main site getting a tiny leak of linkjuice through a few links on the blog.  This will also increase the domain diversity of your main site rather than just having a lot of links from the single domain of the blog.

Be careful with content exchanges.  The content is usually low-quality, potentially infringing garbage that the author wants to load up with links to sites that are engaged in strong manipulation.  Giving access to contributors can be really dangerous.  Do that only with people who you know well and trust.

Blogging is a great way to strengthen a site with great content and attract subscribers who want to read your next post (I use feedburner).  It can also attract links and earn a reputation for your site.  A very valuable activity.

Good luck.