My long time friend Ed Gay called me the other day and said that he was interested in getting started with blogging for his business and wanted to know what I advised.  Here’s what I told him.

1. Decide on the blogging platform you’ll use: WordPress, Typepad, and Blogger are the big 3.
   1. WordPress and Blogger are free.
   2. WordPress can be run on your own server or off of the WordPress server.  I run this blog on WordPress on a shared hosting plan from Godaddy.
   3. Typepad charges a small fee for their blogging platform.
2. Ready – Fire – Aim: Get started ASAP. You really can’t go wrong with any of the blogging platforms mentioned above. Take some time to review them and make a decision and stick with it.  Because blogging is the number one thing associated with internet strategy success I think getting started sooner than later is more important than taking a lot of time to contemplate the platform.  Besides you can easily start on one and if you’re not happy relocate your content to another platform.
3. Post regularly: You don have to post everyday but you should post on a regular schedule.  This way your readers know when to expect something new from you.  If you’re going to miss a post or two, then tell them ahead of time.
4. Write about topics you know:  This can’t be overstated! Don’t cut and paste information from other blogs or articles.  Give your readers YOUR original thoughts on information you have first hand knowledge of.  As fast as your readers can turn you on they can turn you off – and they will if you’re not authenticate.
5. Avoiding writers block: These days there’s no shortage of information so, I don’t see any real reason to have it.  A good idea is to setup a news feed in Google Reader to provide a study flow of information, and what’s hot topics on your blog subject.  You can also subscribe to professional research groups that produce reports on your subject of interest.  This is a sure way to stay ahead of others as most bloggers won’t be willing to pay a fee to get information from researchers.
6. Help another blogger build credibility: Keep two things in mind – You can’t be the source of all the good insight on your topic, and there’s enough business to go around for everyone.  So when you read something you think is worthwhile for your audience, mention it in your blog with a link back to the original source.  You can even try to have the author write a guest post for your blog, or offer to write a guest post on theirs.
   1. Additionally when you link back to another bloggers blog they receive a notice that you have done so.  This is a good way to gain the attention of others in your blogging network.  They may begin to read your blog and offer your unique insight to their community of readers.
7. Share insider secrets – and little known things about your topic: I’m not talking about the equivalent of Cokes secret formula here.  For example if you’re writing a blog on sales share the secrets that helped you become successful.
8. Two are better than one: If you manage a team of people have the whole team or department blog.  A team of 5 people blogging, Tweeting, and Facebooking increases the power of your content marketing much quicker than just a single individual making post.
9. Remember post don’t have to be long.  If they are original, and informative, then they can be short, sweet, and to the point – like this one.
10. Keep score: By monitoring everything with Google Analytics.  Could you imagine sports team that didn’t know if they were ahead or behind and by how much.  Your blog is the same way.  You’ll try things some will work, some won’t but you’ll never know if you don’t keep score.  If you’re running WordPress then install Google analytics by Yoast on your site.  If you’re running something other than WordPress look for a similar plugin or install Google Analytics directly.
11. Follow other bloggers: Darren Rowse who is a full-time blog consultant has put together an excellent resource called How To Blog: Blogging Tips For Beginners.  I suggest you read his blog regularly as well as Marcus Sheridan’s blog The Sales Lion.

If I can answer any questions for you put them in the comment section of this post or holla at me using the contact form .

Bonus Tip: Once you start don’t stop and don’t make it about earning money.  Write it because you enjoy it and make it your gift to the world.