Blog Software/Blog Directory

A blog is a Web site or part of a Web site that can be used to post news, thoughts, and updates as well as interact with others. Many people use blogs and would be quite happy to use a blog service where they can quickly and easily develop and maintain their blog on a blog portal. The number of people using your blog service, the number of people they promote their blog to, as well as the number of references to publicly promoted blogs (in the case of maintaining a blog directory) will be the key to many visitors, and then your pages are in turn worth advertising dollars. Blogs can be as specific or as general as the owner pleases—some might relate to an individual’s travels so friends and family can keep up to date with where they are and know that they are safe; others relate to corporate products and uses; others are used to provide useful information to customers and potential customers. There are as many uses for blogs as there are products and services.

Blogs are quite versatile; they offer posting options such as inviting friends to post, having your blog open to the public to post, or keeping the posting to yourself. Blogs are making it possible to hold ongoing conversations in public with thousands of people.

A blog software site or a blog directory has many revenue-generation opportunities. You have banner advertising, sponsorship, and subscription opportunities. You can promote additional products and services that you provide related to technology products and services.

SKILLS NEEDED

If you have the programming skills to build the blog software, portal, and directory, you will be able to do this yourself. If you don’t, you will have to outsource or contract these elements out.

COST TO START THIS BUSINESS

You will need a computer and the appropriate blog software. Start-up costs will also include the design, development, and hosting of your Web site, which will include the blog software, blog portal and the blog directory. The start-up costs for this type of business will generally run between $4,000 and $30,000, depending on how much of the programming you have to outsource.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NEEDED TO START

Starting off you need only one employee—not even full-time if that’s not what you can fit into your schedule.

INTERNATIONAL POTENTIAL

This business’s international potential increases if it’s translated into the major languages of the globe. English is widely accepted, however.

E-BUSINESS MODEL/PAYMENT PROCESSING METHOD

Ideally, a blog directory should charge advertisers throughout the year. E-business level 1 or 2 would be appropriate for this type of online business. See Part 1 for more details.

IMPORTANT BUSINESS ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED

In order to utilize your blog software service to its full potential, you will want to invest in advanced blog tools as they are available. These tools today offer such things as e-mail notifications when updates are made, sending the blog content via e-mail to subscribers, and the option of collaborative authors; tomorrow, who knows, as this is a fast changing environment. You should have a Web traffic analysis package on the server that hosts your site so that you can show advertisers accurate information about your site traffic.

ONLINE MARKETING TECHNIQUES

• Participating in newsgroups and discussion forums related to your target audience would be a great way to increase exposure of your blogs and the traffic to your Web site.
• Launching a strategic banner advertising campaign on topic-specific Web sites would generate targeted exposure for your blog.
• Develop links from as many Web sites, directories, and meta-indexes related to the topic of your blog as you can.
• Make sure your site is optimized for organic search engine positioning and also consider participating in pay-per-click campaigns with the more popular search engines.
• Develop a sponsored listings campaign to bid on appropriate keyword phrases with the popular search engines.
• Participating in publicly accessible opt-in mail lists related to the topic of your blog would be a great way to communicate with your target market.

ADDITIONAL INCOME

Additional income comes into play by charging a fee if the blog is educational or is an area of expertise. Also, you may be able to host a blog directory, be it all the same topic or various types of blogs. You can join the affiliate programs of providers of products or services that your target market may be interested in.

ONLINE EXAMPLES

Free Webs https://www.freewebs.com A large online blog software provider. There is a chance to join the affiliate program and advertise as well on this site.

Globe of Blogs https://www.globeofblogs.com An online blog directory. This site is very easy to navigate.