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Question: I want to share videos from the Daily Flip with my audience by embedding the video code in my sidebar. But, I don’t want to do the updates manually. Is it possible to subscribe to a YouTube channel, embed code and have automatic updates occur with each new release from the channel?
Yes, it is possible, but not with YouTube… yet. If you want to embed a “show” of your or someone else’s videos in your blog or website, you’ll have grab a show player from a site like Magnify.net, assuming that show is created there.
In other words, The Daily Flip show is not just uploaded to YouTube, but it’s also uploaded to Blip.tv and is also duplicated in its own channel at Magnify.net.
So remember, it’s always best to upload your videos to more than one location… not just YouTube. Other video players have better options you might like more.
Question: I have been running a blog for almost 3 months, during this period the blog changed the layout for a better one, then I was learning step by step how to build some backlinks and everyday a learn a little more, I even bought some ebooks like Blogging to the bank 2.0. However it looks everything I do and all my efforts doesn’t bring any solid results.
My average of visitors per day it is around 80 (once it went to 800 but it was one time only) my PR it is still 0, and all the time I read some websites saying how they increased they PR and how they get hundreds and sometimes thousands of visitors.
I would like some advice on how to get more traffic because I’m really desperate as I like to blog and stuff but it seems I’m blogging to nobody?
Ahh, the number one question we get here at Ask the Blogger.com. How do I get more traffic???
You CAN make indirect income from your blogging efforts by building your brand name and becoming a thought-leader or expert or guru in your niche industry. When that happens, it doesn’t matter how many people read you, it’s all about how many of the “right” people read you.
Advertisers want focused eyeballs from their direct target markets. So if you can provide them with a small readership of their exact target market, you can get them to value your blog, and then pay you to reach those readers.
In the previous article I wrote, link above, I defined some ways you get more traffic. Those are:
Solve Problems & Think Of The Reader
The best websites or blogs solve problems. People come to the Internet mostly for that reason, to have problems solved. Maybe they need a chicken recipe for dinner? Maybe they need to know how to put up drywall? Whatever, people like to get answers online.
So does your website or blog solve problems? If not, why are readers visiting your site? What are you offering them that they don’t have? Put yourself in a reader’s head. What do they want to know… then give it to them.
Try Digg
Digg.com is a fast way to get attention. Essentially, you write some content on your website of blog that you think is interesting. Then you submit it for free to Digg.com, where it could be exposed to hundreds of thousands of readers if it’s good enough. If it is, watch out, you can see thousands of visitors to your site very quickly, helping you build an audience.
Link Unto Others
Don’t be stingy with your links. If you want to get more traffic, you should be exchanging links with other websites or blogs that match your content. People follow links as that is the nature of the web.
Social Networking
Open up a Myspace.com and Linkedin account and network with similar people in your industry. Don’t spam people, but really go out and introduce yourself and make some friends. Ask those friends to visit your site and build relationships with them.
Things To Avoid
Stuff like traffic exchanges and webrings don’t really work. Sure, they’ll get you some hits, but what they don’t get you is targeted hits. Avoid trying to build a quick audience with tools that claim you’ll get “XXX” # of hits in “XXX” days. Usually it doesn’t work.
Question: A client would like to integrate a blog into its site in which an expert would write about relevant topics to this particular industry. The client’s site developer doesn’t have database servers that support Movable Type. Is there a basic blogging tool that you recommend for a professional site that would work on what seems to be outdated equipment?
If you cannot make a database on your server, then you’re not going to be able to use blogging software like Movable Type or Wordpress.org.
Instead, what you should be doing is…
A. Get the blog hosted on new server. The problem with that is you cannot integrate the blog directly into your clients domain name. (xyz.com/blog)
B. Get a “hosted” blog at someplace like Wordpress.com. Again, you can’t directly integrate your blog on your domain. You can, however, link to it off of your domain in a forward.
C. Get a new webhost. If your host can’t make a simple database, then well, it’s time to find a new one, seriously. :)
Question: I have a blog on Blogger (blogspot). How do I put a RSS feed icon to let people subscribe on my blog template?
The best, and easiest way to do this is to create a free account at www.feedburner.com.
1. Login and burn a feed
2. Go to “publicize” tab
3. Click on “chicklet chooser” in the left hand side navigation
4. Choose the icon you wish and grab the code
5. Open blogger.com and login
6. Find your template, edit it, and place the code in the template (usually in your sidebar)
7. Save changes and republish
Question: How much money can I earn in my first month blogging?
It pains me to have to tell you what you don’t want to hear, but here goes. You’re not going to make much of anything for the first month of blogging and probably months and months after that.
To make money blogging you have to build a loyal audience of trusted readers who generate page views or affiliate sales or leads or tips, and that takes time.
My best advice to a new blogger is to spend the first six months writing as much high-quality niche content as possible, and don’t stop writing. Participate on other blogs in your niche and leave comments and introduce yourself via email to other bloggers and tell them about your blog. Don’t ask for a link, just make friends.
Soon enough, others will begin to do the same on your blog and you’ll be on your way. Then, and only then, can you start thinking about making money from your blog.
Note: There are exceptions. If you already have another site or list of readers (maybe newsletter subscribers) that you can immediately expose the blog to, then you could make money right away. But again, without traffic and readers, it’s going to be very hard to do.
Question: What is a blog and why are they such a big deal?
We came across this awesome video from commoncraft that we have to share for you. Want to know what a blog is and why they are such a big deal? Watch this 3-minute video.
Question: Can you tell me how I can add a box/link to my blog where people can put they’re own email in and receive updates when I add to my blog?
You’re talking about a subscribe box. Usually these are created from your RSS feed. To create an email subscription from your RSS feed, follow these steps.
1. Create an account at Feedburner.com.
2. Burn your feed in Feedburner.
3. Go to the “publicize” tab.
4. Click on the “email subscriptions” link in the left hand side navigation.
5. Follow instructions.
Now, paste the code they give you into your blog sidebar and save your blog template. Now anyone who wants to subscribe to your blog via email can!
Question: Is there a software (or a site) which can create a sitemap for my blog? I would prefer a site which is free, so i will not have to install any software (and or pay for it).
Sitemaps are good for your blog, but you probably already know that since you asked. :) Google LOVES sitemaps, in fact, if you haven’t already, head on over to Google webmaster tools and add your blog. They will ask you to submit a sitemap, and they give instructions on how to make one.
But back to the question. Are there tools to use to make a sitemap? Yes. Personally I have used a tool called Pingoat.com. It reads your site and creates an updated sitemap for you. Easy as pie, try it out. And yes, it’s free!
Question: How can you get free content for your blog. Is there a tool that can automatically feed your blog?
I have a question for you dear reader, and that is…
Why do you want free content for your blog?
I ask, because I cannot think of one legitimate reason why you would want to not write your own original, high-quality content for your blog. Can you?
It makes no sense, unless you’re looking to try and create an MFA, or “Made for Adsense” site. And personally, that’s not something I recommend, because Google is cracking down on this practice, and you will get your account banned for life.
Not to mention that “taking” content from someone else is copyright infringement. Why should you be able to take content from someone and use it for your own purposes? You shouldn’t.
Question: I’m new to blogging (5 days old) and I’m not sure how to approach my entries.
I have some blog entries where I’m sharing certain spiritual topics that I am learning about, entries about dreams I have, and some entries that are just about me. Is it a good or bad idea to mix topical entries with personal entries? Is it okay to mix the two..or should I have 2 blogs (one personal and the other spiritual topics)
One of the reasons blogs work is because they are relevant and on topic. People like to read about things they are interested in, so they come to blogs to be part of those discussions.
This is a tough question to answer, but in the end, I believe you need to look within and answer two questions before you can make a decision.
Ask yourself these questions.
1. Who’s reading my personal blog? And do those people want to read all of my life, or just some of it?
2. Am I writing my blog for me, or for everyone else?
In a business situation, I’m going to recommend you separate your blogs into different topics to keep things relevant.
In a personal situation. Well, I’d just do whatever I wanted to do. It’s your blog. And frankly, if something is a part of your life enough to blog about it, it fits on your personal blog.
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