| the beginning of life, people have wanted to be heard. | | | | as possible. |
| In the past, this required an intensive and expensive | | | | The more people that visit a blog, the more people |
| education, as only the richest and noblest were | | | | click on advertisements, and the more people will order |
| allowed, or taught, to write. Now, since the widespread | | | | the writer’s products or services. The ultimate |
| adoption of public school systems, more people are | | | | deciding factor in website traffic is the site’s |
| fully literate than at any other time in history. However, | | | | content. Bottom line: If people do not find information |
| traditional analog printing (books, magazines, etc.) is | | | | they desire or enjoy, they are off of that website in |
| expensive, time consuming, and as such, publishing | | | | less than five seconds. Period. So it stands to reason |
| companies are reluctant to print anything that crosses | | | | that if the goal is to make money, the writer should |
| their doorsteps. These companies are struggling to | | | | pick a topic that lots of people are interested in. There |
| survive, though, thanks to the rise of, and near | | | | are a multitude of websites on Search Engine |
| ubiquitous access to, the Internet. No longer do the | | | | Optimization, or SEO, that provide insight into what |
| large publishing companies decide what makes it into | | | | people are searching for, and how they are searching |
| widespread syndication. Now, anybody with access to | | | | for it. After picking a high-interest topic to devote |
| a personal computer at home, work, school, or the | | | | writing energy to, there are some small things that can |
| library can document their thoughts and feelings, and | | | | be done to drive up traffic to the blog. Based on what |
| make them available to the world at large. | | | | the SEO sites say about the chosen topic, the writer |
| There are a few major points to consider when the | | | | can fill their blog with relevant |
| “blog bug” bites. First, will the blog be | | | | “keywords”, or words that people |
| used as a diary, a place to write down and keep track | | | | searching for any given topic use most frequently. For |
| of the ups and downs of daily life, or will it be used to | | | | instance, a blog on Ponies would probably want lots of |
| post updates and news for a chosen topic? If the | | | | words in its content that relate to ponies, like |
| former is true, then the size of audience will probably | | | | “stable”, “horse”, |
| not matter- as long as stuff keeps happening in the | | | | “Clydesdale”, etc. This way, when |
| writer’s life, there will be plenty of content to | | | | people search for anything that is related to ponies or |
| post. The goal of a diary-type blog is usually to provide | | | | horses, the blog will be near the top of the list of |
| a hobby or calming ritual to the writer’s life, so | | | | results. |
| who cares what other people think of what’s | | | | So, even though the digital revolution has made writing |
| actually written there. | | | | more popular and available to the masses, it can be |
| If the Blog is to be used for advertising, news, or other | | | | difficult to gain a foothold in the market. Just like with |
| commercial venture, then website traffic is obviously a | | | | everything else, hard work, dedication, and education |
| large concern. The goal in commercial blogging is to | | | | will pay off in the end, resulting in a new, booming blog. |
| get as many unique visitors to that blog, in as little time | | | | |