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Many blogging beginners now have their sites live and I thought it was time to discuss “goal setting” in the context of giving some blogging instructions.

Each of us has a certain amount of time available to allocate to our blogs BUT I’m going to make a bold and outrageous suggestion here…

… part of the time we have available is wasted. I’d go as far as saying a huge percentage of the time available is simply frittered away by most of us.

I talked about dangerous assumptions on my Guru Fodder blog the other day so I’m not going to get into that conversation with you now but let’s just assume for a moment that I’m right.

What I mean is this.

Let’s say we have 2 hours a day to work on our sites.

We turn on the PC. Let’s check our emails before we get started.

There’s one from Buddy with a link to a YouTube video. Without thinking we follow the link and watch it. That was funny – oh look, right next to it there’s another video with the same guy – let’s check that out.

Whoops, 15 minutes have passed that’s 12.5% of the time available. Never mind, time to crack on.

Now, what were we going to do today?

Let’s write a post for the blog. Now, what shall we write about?

While we think we’ll just read that blog post about “How to make a million over night in my pajamas” – that really must be a good use of our time. If the product is any good we won’t have to write another blog post.

Mmm, that sounds like a great product – maybe we should go down that route – but it’s quite expensive. Let’s get a cup of coffee and think about it.

Another 20 minutes has ticked away. We’re now nearly up to 30% of the time available wasted!

Now you may not be like that, and if you’re not please don’t raise your eyebrows at me (see later) – but the vast majority of us are.

But it’s not your fault!

It’s simply because very few of us have ever been taught anything about goal setting. Yes, we’ve all heard the term and we probably know it’s a good idea to have something to aim for but that’s where it ends. We are all bombarded with subliminal messages all of the time that draw us to things that really should wait. Like exciting videos. So instead of doing something that will move us towards our longer term goals we satisfy our short term needs by watching a really funny video.

I’m not talking about some long drawn out mumbo-jumbo goal setting process.

I’m referring to a simple technique to keep us from doing unproductive things.

Drum roll please – Wizzer is about to reveal all  (no, no madam, I’ll rephrase that)

Before, I’ll repeat that loudly, BEFORE you sit down at your computer to work on your business know what you are going to achieve during that session.

If you are going to write a post – think about the content earlier in the day – plan what it is you are writing about and why. Think about the objective of that post – is it just to increase the content on the blog? Is it to encourage people to sign up to your newsletter – buy an affiliate product?

Whatever it is get it straight in your mind BEFORE you sit down during your computer time.

Tell yourself that today the post will be written, proof read, edited and published before you do anything else. Before you read your emails, before you watch anything on YouTube or go to Blip.fm (not a word from anyone thank you!)

I’m going to ask you about this video later, just click the arrow in the centre…

If there are other things you want to achieve; add some plugins, get some backlinks etc etc plan what you are going to do and make a list. Work out how long it will take and build that into the time you have available. Get it done first and then, if you really must, reward yourself with a little blip.fm, YouTube, over-hyped sales letters (don’t buy anything though!) BUT NOT UNTIL you’ve completed the tasks for that day.

Have your list of tasks for the day in front of you. Do what I do and add a phrase at the top of the page – bet you can’t guess what’s on mine…

Do It Now

I promise you – you won’t miss the YouTube video – if you really want to watch it you will anyway but wait until you’ve taken some action in your business.

Goal setting shouldn’t be difficult or complicated – just have a list of targets – what you are going to achieve each day and then do it. Tick it off – it’s a great sense of achievement.

Tomorrow I’ll be giving you some ideas, call them blogging instructions for goal setting, that may help you with this dailytask.

Oh, yes, here’s the question about the video…

When did you watch it – just as you got to it or after you finished you tasks for today?

Should I be resting my case? Take a piece of chocolate if you haven’t watched it yet!

Before the ink had even dried on my post yesterday about blogging instructions for dummies, Randy was posting his comments about… yes, his pet subject SEO, Search Engine Optimisation, why blogs do well in search engines etc.

Now rather than enlighten us all with his wisdom gained from hour after hour of peddling his bicycle to generate electricity to keep his computer running deep in his cave, The Hermit decided to just tell me I hadn’t written anything about why search engines love blogs!

Now the post was entitled blogging instructions for dummies so getting into a deep conversation about SEO – what’s that the dummies cry in unison I decided against going into any detail at all.

Yes, I am suitably chastised!

So here is Wizzer’s rough and ready, off the cuff reasons for search engines liking blogs – I’m sure many of you would love a Search Engine Optimisation from the export type of post – in which case you need to visit Randy’s HowToBlogSite where you’ll find a much more technical flavour.

So, what are the SEO blogging instructions?

Put yourself in the search engines shoes for a moment. They are a little like librarians. When someone asks where to find a reference book on a particular subject that’s what their job is – to offer the best possible information on the requested subject.

Can you imagine the scene if a library visitor wanted a information on Tiger Woods but was given information on Cake Making, because there was a reference to a Tiger Cake for kids in the book somewhere?

Well that’s the challenge search engines face. But they’re not human and rely on the information their spiders collect when they crawl over the webpages of the world.

So if the objective is to serve up the most relevant information in response to every request received how best to do that?

Obviously one webpage showing information on the subject is fine but is that likely to be the most relevant page available on the internet? Probably not but there are likely to be millions to choose from.

So the search engines are looking for websites that are regularly updated and have loads of quality content relating the the subject matter. They are looking for other “proof” that the pages are relevant and they gain this by assessing the number of other “relevant” sites and pages linking to those pages. They also look for other clues that the pages are relevant by looking at the context of the pages.

For example, a page that is trying to compete for the key word – Nike Drivers (golf club) would fare well if relevant information is mentioned in the rest ogf the post – Tiger Woods, longest drive, fairway, greens, golf clubs, US Masters etc If the post includes reference to that information there is a much higher likelihood that the content of that post would be relevant to someone searching for Nike Drivers.

So, now we have a basic understanding of how search engines feel about things (I know, you may think search engines don’t have feelings…) we can see why they are keen on blogs.

If you are doing things correctly you’ll be writing many posts about a particular subject. You’ll be writing frequently, 3,4 or 5 times a week and thus feeding the habits of the search engines. You’ll be ensuring your keywords, tags and categories are all relevant to the content of your post and what people are searching for. (See Blogging Beginners for more detailed information and instruction).

And when those hungry little spiders come crawling around your blog what do they find?

Information about one niche. Plenty of relevant contextual text and a liberal sprinkling of keywords associated with the subject. Oh, yes and it’s fresh and regularly updated.

And of course, you’re doing your bit. You’re checking your stats. You’re identifying what people are looking for by seeing what keywords they used to find you and are serving up more of the same.

And that makes those search engines feel real good.

Told you they had feelings!

So that’s Wizzer’s introductory SEO blogging instructions. Let’s see what The Hermit has to say about that.

Man, it’s like handing in your homework!

I thought long and hard about using Blogging Instructions For Dummies as a heading!

Is it derogatory?

I think it is…

But then someone has made a fortune out of books on virtually any subject “for dummies” so perhaps I’m just too sensitive!

So I decided to keep the title but make it clear that I was really just trying to get across the point that this post is not an advanced tutorial on blogging!

Back to the plot.

I can clearly remember attending a seminar a few years ago where one of the presenters was harping on about blogs and why they were so great compared to websites and why everyone should start a blog.

At the time I didn’t have a clue what he was prattling on about! I’d only just got my head round the idea of making money using a website and now I was being told there was something better.

Being Wizzer I had to find out more and started doing some research – I came across Wordpress, TypePad and Blogspot (at least that’s what I seem to remember it was called) As the last one was free I thought I’d give it a go.

Of course, I had no blogging instructions and no one to ask so I just went ahead a created a templated blog. Now what to do with it?

Never mind – the guy at the seminar said that the search engines love blogs – it must only be a matter of time before I get loads of visitors.

Well, within a week or two I’d lost my sign in details couldn’t remember the address of the “blog” and of course had no visitors.

Surely that classifies me as a blogging dummy!

To be honest I then did very little online for another year or so during which time the information available about blogs improved dramatically and success stories were popping up all over the net. Time for another look.

This time I did some proper research.

• What is a blog and why is it so different to a normal website?
• How should I go about starting one?
• Should I start one?
• Are there any disadvantages to using a blog to a standard website?
• What about those website builder programs?

And the answers I found to those questions led me to where I am today – the world’s greatest authority in blogging!

OK, I made that last bit up but it caused a reaction in you didn’t it

So here, in mind boggling simple to understand language is the answer to those questions:

What is a blog and why is it so different to a normal website?

Originally a blog was a way to keep an online diary – a log of what you’ve been doing. Blogs have since evolved and are now the easiest way for anyone to get a website online – with no need for any real technical skills.

How should I go about starting one?

You could go the “no cost” route and get a blog at say blogger.com but if you’re doing this to make money – you’ll want a self-hosted Wordpress blog. You can read more about this elsewhere on this site (it’s a Wordpress blog of course) or join us at blogging beginners where you’ll get access to all of our tutorials plus a way to get your own blog live in seconds – yes you read that right!

Should I start one?

Unless you know HTML and want to spend your time learning code, how to create menus, update them, design a look etc etc – YES – you should start one!

The old adage that search engines love blogs remains true – but only if you keep adding content – the search engines are looking for sites on a specific subject with information that people are looking for.

It’s easy to understand when you put yourself in the search engines shoes. If someone comes to you and wants an answer and you provide it they’re more likely to come back to you next time they want something.

Give them a pile of… and they won’t be back.

So I think you can see what needs to go on your site!

Are there any disadvantages to using a blog to a standard website?

Not that I can think of! There could be some design issues – but unless you’re really technical you won’t be able to handle them – and if you are – you won’t be reading this! – This is for dummies after all

What about those website builder programs?

They typically cost money. They typically look templated. They are not as easy to use as they’d have you believe. They don’t have thousands of people around the world developing free enhancements. Apart from that they’re OK!

So, in conclusion – blogging instructions for dummies says…

Go and get your self a Wordpress Blog and if you’re not sure what else you need to know join Randy and myself at Blogging Beginners.

I’ve found (or rather Randy found) another plugin that simplifies the action of putting video on your blog.

I’ve been using FLV embed for some time and really like it but for some adding the code to a post can be a little tiresome.

If you fall into that category you’ll love Viper’s Video Quicktags.

The plugin when activated adds a list of supported video sites to the Visual Editing toolbar.

To add a video you need the url of the one you want to display – for example go to YouTube;  find the video you want and copy the full url from beside the video.

As you write your post you then click the YouTube icon from the toolbar – in the dialogue box that opens you paste the url you got from YouTube.

And then…

There is no more! Click publish and you’re done.

Excellent. There are many video sites supported plus you can use the plugin to add your own flv videos – I’m having a problem with this at the moment because the flv video seems to sit over some text for some reason. It may be the dimensions need changing.

Something else for me to check!

I may create a video for the blogging beginners members area if enough people request one.

One of our latest members at Blogging Beginners wasn’t thinking he was in need of real blogging instructions but had a few “issues” with Wordpress that he was struggling to put right.

I’ve alw ays believed in “customer service” NOT the type you get in Customer Service Departments (what a misnomer those things are – the last thing they provide is service!) but what we all really know what is required:

Doing what you should to help someone and going the extra mile without thought of “what’s in it for me”. Oh yes, and doing it before you’re asked!

Well, back to Kevin.

Actually no, I’ll let you read Kevin’s story at his Kevingonline List Building blog.

Here is a small excerpt:

Then after changing my theme to a much more manageable one, I had a small issue I couldn’t fix and when I asked him about it, he made a 5 minute video and sent it to me with detailed instructions on how to complete the process — I was blown away!  Mark and Randy are my idea of what customer service should be everywhere.

We all do what we think is right and then someone actually stands up and tells you.

I can’t tell you how good that makers you feel.

Thanks Kevin – you’re a gentleman (That’s probably just a quaint old English saying – in modern day terms – You Rock!!)

Based on Kevin’s feedback I’ve decided to give something a try. I may live to regret this but I’ve decided to add a “Chat With Me On Skype” facility to WizzerSays. It’s already over there in the sidebar.

Now here’s the deal:

1. I’m in the UK and I won’t be getting up in my pajamas in the middle of the night to tell you how to put your cat out. (Those of you who know me from Guru Fodder will understand the pajamas reference!
2. I have a full time business away from the internet which means although I’m near my computer most of the time I’m not available all day everyday.
3. I have a family and I do move away from the computer at weekends
4. If I’m here I will chat with you and provide answers to your questions or if I don’t know I’ll find out.
5. The plugin I’ve installed looks pretty good but I’ve not fully tested it yet – bit hard to call yourself so please be patient while I iron out the wrinkles.

Kevin – if you’d like to do the honours…