Blog better every day: My daily blog tips from August 2011

Throughout 2011, I share a daily blog tip via my Twitter account, @WadeOnTweets, at 7 a.m. CDT.

You can …

• Ask follow-up questions in the comments.
• Tweet out your favorites.
• Follow #DailyBlogTip on Twitter.
• And follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.

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The tips for August, all on getting started …

1. Getting started: What do you and your business want to accomplish? Is blogging the best tool for the job?
2. Getting started: For blog name, using a topic is less personal, but has better resale value.
3. Getting started: For blog name, using your name has high branding value, but almost no chance of resale.
4. Getting started: A graphic artist and photographer can help your site launch with polished, distinct look.
5. Getting started: What is the one way you shine? Helping others, making them laugh? That’s your blog focus.
6. Getting started: Personality goes a long way in making your posts sparkle. Don’t shy away; embrace it.
7. Getting started: The most important page? Your “About” page. Explain the site, introduce yourself.
8. Getting started: Decide your licensing: copyright, Creative Commons, public domain, copyleft.
9. Getting started: No site is perfect on launch. Make your fixes as you go.
10. Getting started: Brainstorm a topic list, headlines and images. Lead with your best stuff.
11. Getting started: Drop the notion that people will read your blog because it exists. Plan to market it.
12. Getting started: Most important feature to include is email capture system, for a newsletter or an ebook.
13. Getting started: Stockpile completed posts, to get your blog off to a smooth start.
14. Getting started: It’s not the platform, the computer, the desk, the look. It’s you that makes it go.
15. Getting started: Build time into your schedule for blogging, lest it become a non-priority.
16. Getting started: Vow to make each post informative, inspiring or entertaining. Hopefully, all three.
17. Getting started: Investing money in a site makes it real, ups your commitment to make the blog work.
18. Getting started: Plan your editorial calendar with assigned writers, deadlines and art.
19. Getting started: What will your site look like to a mobile user? A tablet user? Design for them, too.
20. Getting started: Determine the goal of your site. Will it be customer service, sales or ideas?
21. Getting started: Spend extra time on usability. Make navigation and leaving a comment dead simple.
22. Getting started: Ask colleagues and friends to test the site, and act on their best feedback.
23. Getting started: Make contact info prominent: email, phone number, contact form or Twitter handle.
24. Getting started: Sprinkle images and videos throughout the site to add flair, color and energy.
25. Getting started: What is the promise your site is making with the reader? Never forget it.
26. Getting started: Think speedy and simple. Faster load time means more traffic, better ranking.
27. Getting started: Use keywords for URLs, not numbers and coding, for strong SEO out of the gate.
28. Getting started: Have someone else proofread your copy, down to the smallest item.
29. Getting started: What’s better than a site map? A site tour page that introduces features, policies.
30. Getting started: If you don’t know how to do something, ask ask ask. Questions make you smarter.
31. Getting started: Perfection is your enemy. The more you tinker, the more you delay. Get blogging.

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