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A very effective strategy for any blogger on the internet would be to own your domain and pay for your hosting. By owning your domain name you establish stability you would not necessarily have by using a free blog site and the name they assigned you. Don’t get me wrong these free sites are great and can be very effective for several purposes. Many folks today however are blogging to make money and these free sites often impose certain restraints on the sites they are hosting. The blogging business is big money now a days and constrictions of any kind could mean a significant loss of income.

The general assumption is that any domain you use that you do not own is the property of a site that also provides you with free hosting.

Let’s look at 3 major advantages you have as a blogger when you own your domain name and pay for hosting compared to using the domain a free blog site assigns you that limits your individuality.

No Censorship

Free blogs can place restraints upon any of the blogs on their server. Any comments or opinions left on your blog by a reader could result in your site being suspended or shut down by the host if it is viewed as a violation.

Obviously the sharing of candid and sometimes inflammatory opinions could ‘ignite’ this reaction at any time.

In effect you inherit a type of censorship when using a free site.

More Professional Image

The name itself if it is a ’sub-domain’ usually does not have a clean looking appearance. It shouts TEMPORARY to any visitors to your site.

Your own domain however can be whatever you choose and will not contain the additional characters that clearly denote it as a sub-domain.  

If your blog site is used for business there are likely certain formats or layouts you may need or want to use to reflect the ‘message’ of the business itself.

By using a ‘free’ site’ you are automatically limited to what they offer you.

Greater Flexibility

Look and content are totally under your direction when you own your domain and pay for hosting. This is important since a large part of a blogs influence and popularity is dependent upon it individuality. Readers ‘want’ to hear your opinion and not a modified version toned down to placate the host.

It is the difference between ‘owning’ your home or ‘renting’ it!

If you become unhappy with your hosting company you can take your domain name elsewhere. You do not risk losing all your current ‘followers’ do to a complete name change.

As you can understand especially if you are blogging to make money a very effective strategy would be to own your domain and pay for your hosting. By doing so you spare yourself the inconvenient restrictions you would face at a free site where you are renting space. This type of unpredictability and limitations is not something anyone involved in the blogging business needs. Blogging is based upon consistency, individuality, and longevity and this necessary combination would be jeopardized at any of the free sites.

TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
To learn more about developing an Effective Strategy for your business and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit:http://blogbrawn.com/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/a-very-effective-strategy-for-any-blogger-1300444.html

Do you keep a list of blog post and article ideas? I do. They are great to reference when I get stuck or in a rut when writing. I just look at my post and article idea list and choose one topic off the list to write about. It is a great time saver.

If you do not already have a blog post and article idea list it is easy to create one. Just take a piece of paper and write down every topic you can think of. This should give you a pretty good start. As you think of more topics you can add them to the list.

What happens when you start running out of ideas? Then take a look around on the Internet. There a numerous ways you can brainstorm ideas for blog posts and articles. Below are a few of ways I brainstorm ideas.

1. Read other blogs.

I read other blogs to see what they are writing about. If I find a topic I really like on another blog I add it to my list. If find a certain blog post is getting a lot of traffic and comments I add the blog post topic to my list. With thousands of blog on the Internet it is easy to come up with blog post and article ideas this way.

2. Read Comments on other blogs

Some people leave great comments on other blogs. Often times the comments left on blogs will stark an idea. If a comment gets a reply then that usually means it would be a topic people are interested in so add it to your list.

3. Trending Topics on Twitter

Twitter is the place to be if you are online. Trending topics on Twitter tells you what people are talking about the most. If a topic is a trending topic on Twitter then it must be a popular topic. If any of the trending topics fit within your blogging niche then add the topic to your blog post and article idea list.

By creating a list of blog posts and article topics you are saving yourself valuable time. Next time you can’t think of anything to write refer to your list, choose a topic from the list, and get to writing.

Courtney Chowning is a Christian entrepreneur who runs a Christian PLR site and affiliate program, http://christianmomplr.com. She also blogs at http://courtneyspeaks.com about putting God first in your blog and online business.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/brainstorming-blog-post-article-ideas-1296181.html

Blogging Software

With blogging becoming increasingly popular, there is also an increasing need for software to simplify the process of blogging. However, there are many different software packages available which can make selecting a package seem overwhelming. Selecting a software package does not have to be difficult though. Bloggers can find websites which provide comparison charts for different software packages to simply the decision making process. These charts can save the blogger a great deal of time and effort because they compile a wealth of information into one convenient location. The blogger may still need some additional information before using these comparison charts to make a decision. The article will provide insight into some of this additional information which may be useful such as how to understand the comparison charts, methods for comparing the software packages and tips on selecting a blogging software package.

Blogging Software Criteria

Those interested in starting or maintaining a blog should fully understand the blogging software criteria before attempting to compare software packages. Some of the criteria it is important to understand include the minimum server requirements, data storage and the post editor. Understanding these criteria is critical to the process of comparing and selecting blogging software packages.

The minimum server requirements refers to the minimum requirements for the server on which the software is to be installed. In most cases the power and speed of the server is not relevant but instead it depends on the power and speed of the software necessary for the proper operation of the blog software. There may be additional costs associated with this software as well as additional license requirements.

Data storage is also an important part of evaluating blogging software packages. This may include options such as a flat file, a data file or a database. A flat file refers to storage options in which the full page is pulled each time the blog is requested by a browser. A data file refers to situations in which the data for the blog is inserted into a template when the blog is requested by a browser. A database refers to storage options in which the necessary information is pulled from a flat file and inserted into a template when the blog is requested by a browser.

The post editor is another criterion a blogger may want to investigate carefully before selecting blogging software. The post editor refers to the type of editor which will be used to fill in the posts listed on the blog. These data entry methods may include options such as HTML or JAVA.

Comparing Blogging Software Packages

Bloggers who are seeking a blogging software package should carefully compare the different software packages available. This is important because obviously some software packages are superior to others. It is also important because some software packages may be better suited for the needs of a particular blog than other packages. When comparing blogging software packages it is important for the blogger to first carefully consider the needs of the blog. This is important because it will help the blogger to realize which criterion is most relevant to his particular blog.

Selecting Blogging Software Packages

After carefully evaluating blogging software packages, it is time for the blogger to make a decision and select one of the available packages. Ideally the blogger will have already compared important data such as storage space, server requirements and post editors. However, the blogger must also consider other factors such as cost and versatility. Many blogging software packages are available free of charge while there are some which are available for purchase. The blogger will have to decide whether or not it is worthwhile to purchase a software package or whether free software packages will meet his blogging needs.

After considering software criteria and cost, the blogger should consider viewing sample blogs created using a particular software package. This is a good idea because these samples can provide a good indication of the capabilities of the software. This is because in general the higher the quality of the samples, the greater the capabilities of the software.

For the mother of a new baby, blogging is likely to be the last thing on her mind. Taking care of an infant is an almost incredible amount of work, and between changing diapers and putting the final touches on the nursery, it seems unrealistic to imagine that there would be time left over for any mother to blog. However, a growing number of new moms are joining the blogosphere to share their experiences during this exciting time of life. There is a whole range of benefits that new mothers can reap from blogging, and the spectrum covers everything from getting through the night to helping distant relatives feel closer.

Among the reasons why, for a mom dealing with the hassles and triumphs of a baby, blogging is a great idea, is that having a blog about motherhood is a great way to blow off some steam. Babies often have very erratic sleep patterns that leave parents up at odd hours of the night, and sometimes the best way to fill those hours is on the internet. Many new moms turn to television to help them weather these dawn vigils, but by blogging through the night moms can turn what feels like a somewhat depressing situation into an actively positive and productive one.

Another reason why new moms often find blogging very satisfying is that it helps them to be a part of a community. For moms who are not able to successfully juggle a full social life with the very tough demands of taking care of a new baby, blogging can be a great way to stave off the isolation that sometimes comes with this stage of life. A baby requires constant attention, and it can be difficult to attend social gatherings or events when you are responsible for an infant. Luckily, the blogosphere is full of other moms in the same situation, and by chatting with them it is possible to overcome some of the loneliness that many new mothers are surprised to encounter.

Of course, for a mom with an adorable new baby, blogging can be as much about celebration as it is about necessity. Having a blog about living with a new child can give mothers the chance to reflect on how powerful and warm the sensation of motherhood is, and
sometimes sharing the triumphs of this unique time can make them even sweeter. A blog is a great way to keep friends and family updated with news about your baby’s first words or first steps, and with new technology it is easier than ever to make photos and video clips a part of your blog, so you can give far-away relatives the chance to feel much more involved in your child’s life.