There seems to be a huge craze lately with everyone trying to blog and ping to get their websites indexed into the search engines. Although this can be a great tool, all marketers should first understand exactly what they’re getting themselves into before starting.
This article is to serve as a beginners guide to getting started with blogging and pinging.
1. What is a blog?
A “blog” is short for “web log.” A web log is an online diary or journal. The main aspect blog is that it is frequently updated - at least once a week, sometimes every day or even more.
Since blogs are regularly updated, they tend to carry more value than regular static HTML pages (in some cases).
2. What is a ping?
A ping is a program that sends out a brief request for a response from another computer or server. When you ping on the Internet, you send out a program to see if a remote server is responding.
3. How do bloggers use pings?
Two main reasons to use pings with blogs: First and foremost is to let the search engines know that you have updated your website so they can send their spiders.
Secondly, pings also update the websites on the internet who are using your blog on their site (through a feature called RSS feeds, they are displaying your messages on their site).
4. So what is the big deal about blogging and pinging?
Smart affiliate marketers use blogging and pinging to help get their sites crawled and indexed by the search engine spiders a lot quicker than they normally would.
They set up a blog either on their main site or on a sub-domain of their site. They then post links to their product pages on their blog and send out a ping to all the major servers on the Internet.
That ping says “This site has fresh content, time to go add it to your database!” It’s a trigger that sends the search spiders looking for updated pages on your site. When they find the new pages, search engines tend to index them much faster.
Blogging and pinging will not get you into EVERY search engine overnight. As of this writing, it is most effective with getting into Yahoo. But often MSN, and even Google, will follow in short order.
Combine blogging and pinging with good link recruiting for the best indexing.
Also, blog and ping on a regular basis if you want to “stay” indexed in the search engines.
6. Is blogging and pinging a requirement to get indexed?
No. You can get indexed quickly by getting plenty of natural backlinks. But for backlinks to be most effective, they have to appear as if they were natural and this can take weeks if not months. Blogging and pinging does seem to drastically shorten the process.
7. Is there a downside to blogging and pinging?
Yes, some marketers are starting to abuse this strategy and the engines are getting wise to it! If you go over-board you risk getting your website completely banned and removed.
Also, many marketers are blogging and pinging for a few days and then forgetting about the website - your website will likely be de-indexed if you do not continue to naturally blog and ping.
The bottom line is that blogging and pinging is a great strategy right now to help you get your website indexed faster. However, the old natural way of getting incoming links is still the best and most assured way - not to mention the long-term benefits of having incoming links.
If you have not yet started blogging and pinging, I suggest you start with a practice website first, not your main website.
Copyright 2005 Kurma Group
This article has been authored by Anik Singal, an extremely successful and young internet entrepreneur and affiliate marketing consultant. Anik has developed his own affiliate marketing system that helped him earn over $10,466 in 60 days - he is now training select students on his system.
http://www.AffiliateClassroom.com/free-course.html
Avoid “Bad” Manners While Blogging
April 3rd, 2008
Blogging, the hottest trend in online publishing right now,
is currently spreading like wildfire across the Internet.
A cross between an online journal and a bulletin board,
everyone from rock starts, politicians, business leaders
and your average “Joe” or “Jane” can instantly become a
center of influence online using blogs.
But, as with any social interaction, certain rules apply
(my grandma calls them manners) in order to be viewed as
behaving “properly.”
One of the things that gives blogging such strong appeal as
an online publishing method revolves around “comments.”
Blogs that allow “comments” enable readers to respond and
elaborate on the information posted by the blog owner.
These comments and the free exchange of information,
opinions, links, and new ideas creates the dynamic and
growing content that makes blogging such a popular online
activity for both publishers and readers.
However, rules and unwritten customs about the proper use
of “comments” on a specific blog are also where most of the
problems and controversy will arise.
Since a successful blog eventually becomes a community of
people (albeit in cyberspace), proper social behavior is
critical to be an effective and accepted member of the
community.
Keep these basic rules in mind when approaching a new blog
that allows commenting by readers so you won’t find
yourself on the wrong end of a scolding by people who
operate with a different set of rules than you.
As with any social circle, violating the group’s rules and
customs will instantly cause a negative backlash.
** Keep It Relevant **
Stay on topic with the post you’re commenting about in a
blog.
Nothing will earn you the wrath and disdain of your
fellow posters and the blog owner faster than posting an
off-topic comment.
** Watch What Others Do **
Different blogs operate under different rules. What rates
acceptable in one blog would earn you a verbal thrashing in
another.
Before posting (especially if you have not posted to a
specific blog before), look to see the types and quality of
posts others make regularly.
Are they long or short?
Do they contain a link to the person’s website?
Is there a “signature” under their name?
** Be Polite **
It’s fine to disagree with people when making a comment,
whether it’s the blog’s author or a comment made by another
reader.
It is not, however, acceptable to launch a personal attack
on anyone or make nasty comments in someone else’s blog.
If you feel the need to do so, do it in your own blog.
It’s the same principle of you can say whatever you want in
your own house, but when you’re in someone else’s house,
you act right (and better than you do at home).
** You Can’t Respond To Everyone **
If you operate a blog and someone asks a question, try to
respond, but both sides should understand that you can’t
respond 100% of the time.
We all get busy and a blog, unless it maintains a paid
membership, is often supported as a labor of love.
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.IGottaTellYou.com/blog/
About the Author:
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to
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