Comments on: Beginner Blogging for Writers: part 3

By: Jeremy Day

Jeremy Day — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:46:59 +0000

Oh yes, I see that now. Guess I got to start reading the fine print. Thanks for the heads up.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:41:33 +0000

Hi Jeremy, I actually commissioned someone else to write this series! Rod Smith from http://www.hippowebsolutions.com I asked him to tailor it specifically to writers and he did so very well. I’ll pass on your compliment. Rod is a guest speaker on my non-fiction writing course that I run in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Fiona

By: Jeremy Day

Jeremy Day — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:03:47 +0000

Hi Fiona,

This is a great series for new bloggers. I like your final points about making money. Your first goal should be to get enough traffic just to cover costs. If you treat it like a business that becomes your break even point. Then you can continue building from there.

Cheers,
Jeremy

By: Rod Smith

Rod Smith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:49:15 +0000

Hi Gwyn,
It’s not the free hosting sites themselves who rip off people’s content - it’s just easy for spammers and scraper sites to utilise those platforms for their own nefarious purposes. It happens to everyone at some stage, unfortunately - I wouldn’t get too hung up about it. I tend to make sure my posts link back to other parts of my site - that way at least you can turn the tables on the scrapers by having them link back to your site (generally they will use your content as-is, without any modifications whatsoever).

Of course, you can always report these sites to their providers and get them removed, but it’s easy to get distracted doing this, and you may find 3 others have sprung up while you were dealing with the first.

My advice is to go ahead and set up your blog - you’ll find the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Good luck!

By: gwyn

gwyn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:52:03 +0000

Hi there,
i’m thinking about setting up a blog to gain exposure and experience for myself, as a hopeful writer. However, i’ve read horror stories about free hosting sites using your material for themselves… How can you protect your content on a free or self-hosted blog?
Thanks for all the great info and advice!
Gwyn

By: writinggb

writinggb — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:51:30 +0000

HA!! Yeh, I’ll have to try writing that post

I’m off to Peru in a few days and will only be posting sporadically, and not really checking in on other blogs. Internet cafes are few and far between where I’m headed.

Shall see you when I return.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:52:54 +0000

Thanks for stopping by. You’re right, the ‘how to’ articles get a lot of hits. But you’ve highlighted another key factor - anniversaries! I’ve been otherwise occupied so haven’t been able to capitalise on the Christmas rush. But coming up is New Year, Valentines, Easter … How to write a valentine’s card? Ha!

By: writinggb

writinggb — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:08:57 +0000

I am finding myself more and more interested in the blogging I’m doing. Funny, really, because I started merely as a way to seek some human contact while I’m on sabbatical leave this year. Oh, and I figured it was a way to keep up with the technology that my students would already know!

But I find myself checking my blog dashboard a lot and tracking number of views and how people found me, etc. Ever since I posted on How to Write a Christmas Letter, my views have shot through the roof, and I’m showing up on search engines, etc. Very interesting. Makes me think you must be getting all kinds of hits since you offer so much How To info that many, I’m sure, are seeking.

Anyway, just thought I’d stop in and say hello. I appreciate the tips on blogging. Thanks!