photo credit: drexston

One problem that you may encounter is that your post title may be too long and you don’t want a correspondingly long file name.  So  what are you to do?  Simple…change the post slug!

The slug is what you would like your post to be called.  The option to change this is right under the post title box.

Blog Setup & The Post Slug is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

But from a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) point of view the default permalinks aren’t very good.

Here is what a default permalink would look like:

http://www.yoursite.com/?p=89

p=89 means that this is your 89th post (you’ve been busy)

What we really want the link to look like would be something like this:

http://www.yoursite.com/carpet-cleaning-tips/

Now what you have here is a keyword phrase “carpet cleaning tips” and a link that tell you and the search engines exactly what the post is all about.  It gives pertinent information.

So how do  we go from p=89 to carpet-cleaning-tips? Simple!

From your WordPress Dashboard go to the:

Settings tab and select Permalinks.

That takes you to the Permalinks menu where you will see Common Settings.

At the bottom of the list is Custom Structure. Hit the radio button and in the box write:

/%postname%/

Click Save Changes and you are done!

Now your post title will be part of your URL. And your readers and the search engines will be happy because they know what your post is all about.

If you have any questions about blog setup let The Blog Builder Guy know and I’ll do my best to help you out!

Permalinks & Search Engine Optimization is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

photo credit: Charles Williams

It looks like WordPress 3.0 will be out soon. Below is a cut and paste from the official WordPress Blog.  Rather than me explaining the latest and greatest update for WP,  I'll let them do it for me. The Blog Builder Guy will keep you posted as more information is available.

Here is the link to the blog.  WordPress 3.0 Beta 1

Below is the cut and paste from the WP blog:

"Remember when I posted earlier about the Twitter account, and I said that hopefully you’d find out later today what has been keeping us all so busy? Beta testers, this is your moment: the WordPress 3.0 Beta 1 has arrived!

This is an early beta. This means there are a few things we’re still finishing. We wanted to get people testing it this weekend, so we’re releasing it now rather than waiting another week until everything is finalized and polished. There’s a ton of stuff going on in 3.0, so this time we’re giving you a list of things to check out, so that we can make sure people are testing all the things that need it.

You Should Know:

• The custom menus system (Appearance > Menus) is not quite finished. In Beta 2, the layout will be different and a bunch of the functionality will be improved, but we didn’t want to hold things up for this one screen. You can play with making custom menus, and report bugs if you find them, but this is not how the final screen will look/work, so don’t get attached to it.
• The merge! Yes, WordPress and WordPress MU have merged. This does not mean that you can suddenly start adding a bunch of new blogs from within your regular WordPress Dashboard. If you’re interested in testing the Super Admin stuff associated with multiple sites, you’ll need some simple directions to get started.
• We’re still fiddling with a few small things in the UI, as we were focused on getting the more function-oriented code finished first. For example, we’re getting a new icon for the Super Admin section.

Things to test:

• Play with the new default theme, Twenty Ten, including the custom background and header options.
• Custom Post Type functionality has been beefed up. It’s really easy to add new types, so do that and see how it looks!
• WordPress MU users should test the multiple sites functionality to make sure nothing broke during the merge.

Already have a test install that you want to switch over to the beta? Try the beta tester plugin.

Testers, don’t forget to use the wp-testers mailing list to discuss bugs you encounter.

We hope you like it! And if you don’t, well, check back when beta 2 is ready. "

WordPress 3.0 Beta 1 is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

photo credit: jcfrog

Yes you need to do some maintenance on your WordPress plugins.  The best way to do that is by deciding which ones you are going to use.  And that will depend on the purpose of your blog.  A blog used for keeping in touch with family and friends will probably not be concerned with search engine rankings so the All In One SEO plugin won’t be necessary.  But if you want your site to rank high in the search engines then the All In One SEO plugin might be something you want to take a look at.  So do some research before deciding which plugins to use. 

If The Blog Builder Guy did your blog setup then I will have talked with you about which ones are important based on your blog’s purpose.  But remember everyone needs spam protection and the Akismet plugin is a must! I install it on every blog I build.

It’s also important to remember that plugins require resources and too many may have an adverse effect on the speed at which your blog loads.  Don’t go crazy installing plugins!

After you install a plugin make sure that you give it a thorough testing.  Go through your blog page by page and make sure it doesn’t cause any problems.  If it does make sure it is configured properly.  If it still causes problems delete it and try one that is similar.  There are many plugins so you aren’t stuck with only one choice.

Every once in awhile it is a good idea to reevaluate the plugins you are using.  One that was useful a year ago may not have much use any more.  Or it might be better to replace it with a newer one that provides a similar function.  If you decide to not use a plugin any longer don’t just deactivate it.  Delete it. Under each plugin’s name you will find these options.  Use Delete to completely remove it.  Activate | Edit | Delete

And last but not least, always update your plugins as the updates become available.  And another tip is to do a backup of your site before updating the plugin…you never know what might happen.  I’ve never had a problem but I’m sure one day something strange will happen.

I hope you found this helpful.  If you have any questions shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to help you out.

Maintaining Your WordPress Plugins is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

photo credit: adria.richards

In a previous post I listed 5 reasons to use WordPress for Your Blog  If 5 reasons aren't enough here are 3 more:

1) You can have 2 for the price of 1.  With WordPress you get a blog or a website or you can have both.  With the proper customization you can have make your site into a website.  If you wish you  can also add a blog to it as well.  The Blog Builder Guy is setup that way.

2) You can be the master of your domain, your website's domain, that is. Updating content is easy and with a little practice anyone can do it. And adding photos and video are easy as well.  No need to hire a  webmaster to do it for you.  Think of the money  you'll save by doing it yourself!

3) WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com) has become the fastest and easiest  way for businesses to get online.  It is also a great way personal bloggers to get started as well.  And as I stated in an earlier post there is plenty of help available if you need it. 

So there you  have 3 more reasons to use WordPress.  And remember if you don't have the time or inclination to build a blog The Blog Builder Guy will build it so you don't have to!

3 More Reasons to Use WordPress is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

photo credit: Jan Tik

You’ve got a great blog with an eye catching template, all the right plug-ins and widgets. Not to mention some killer content including audio, photos and even some video.  Excellent!  A great blog is…well….great but if no one can find it, it’s not doing you much good.

So how do you get the search engines to love you?

The answer is…. Link Building. It is one of the most important steps a blog builder can take to boost their search engine rankings. This is accomplished by using one way backlinks with the appropriate Anchor Text.

Anchor Text:  Anchor text is one of your main keywords that have been converted into a hyperlink to a page on your website.  For example, one of my keywords is “blog construction”  and it would look like this in a post on a forum or a comment on a blog. Blog Construction.   If you click on it you will go to the home page of my site The Blog Builder Guy because I linked the keyword to the site.  Always use one of your keywords as your name when you make a blog comment.

So where do you find places to add your links?  Below is a list of the easiest places to start.

Forum Posting: find forums related to your niche and place links in the body of the message or in your signature.  Make sure your comment contains helpful content and follow the forums rules.

Blog Comments: Post relevant comments on blogs related to your niche. Use your anchor text as your “Name” when filling out the comment info box.

Yahoo Answers: Find questions that are related to your niche and give answers.  The resource section allows you to put links to your site.

Social Bookmarking:  Bookmark your site on places like StumbleUpon, Digg or  Technorati.  At the bottom How to Set Goals for Social Media Marketing you’ll find a number of bookmarking sites listed.

Once you have started your backlinks building campaign make sure you stick to a schedule so you can achieve maximum effect.  Don’t do all of your linkbuilding on the same day of the week either.  Spread it out so it looks more natural to the search engines. 

And remember it takes time to build quality backlinks and it takes time for them to have an effect on your ranking.  Be patient…remember the turtle and the rabbit story!  

Link Building to Boost Your Blog’s Search Engine Ranking is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

Forums

WordPress has their own forum:  WordPress Forum

WordPress has their own TV show  WordPress.tv

A  Different WordPress.com Forums  WordPress.com Forum

Premium Themes You  have to pay for them but they offer much more flexibility. Here are two of the top ones I have found:

IThemes  The Blog Builder Guy is built with their Flex Theme

Thesis Themes

Books:

These are affiliate links…if you buy a book I make some cash.

WordPress For Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson

WordPress 24-Hour Trainer: Watch, Read, and Learn How to Create and Customize WordPress Sites (Book & DVD) By  George Plumley

You can always do a Google search for just about any topic related to WordPress.

And last but not least you can always contact The Blog Builder Guy with any questions.

I hope you found this helpful and if you want to add some resources of your own feel free to put them in a comment!

WordPress Resources is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

photo credit: adria.richards

There are a number of blogging platforms out there and they all have their pros and cons.  In my opinion WordPress is the best of the lot and here are 5 reasons why.  Agree or disagree?  Let me know what you think!

1)  Hosted and Self-hosted Platforms. The hosted solution puts your blog on WP’s server and it’s free.  The self-hosted solution requires you to buy a domain name and get your own hosting account which will cost your some money.  But remember the software is free to use.

2)  Open Source- Not only is the software free but it is open source.  And while no programming skills are needed to use it, because it is open source you can rewrite the code if you are of a geekish bent.   

3) Flexible- a great word to describe the WordPress platform because of the large number of plugins that are available. What’s a plug-in? Visit Plugins,Widgets & Permalinks to learn more.  The vast majority of plugins are free and there is one for just about every need.  There are also specialty plugins which you can purchase.

4)  Themes-there are 1000s of themes or a templates available to help your blog setup. And guess what most of them are free.  Have you noticed that the word ‘free’ keeps coming up?  Free is good!!  You can also buy customized themes which allow an even greater degree of flexibility and personalization.

5) Help!! If you need it you can get it just about anywhere online or in the real world. From forums, websites, blogs, free tutorials, online courses (free & paid) to a variety of books at your favorite bookstore, help is available. See this post about WordPress Resources.

There are many more reasons to use WordPress but those are my favorite.  If you have a favorite or two let me know!

5 Reasons to Use WordPress for Your Blog is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

Blogging From Scratch: Four Elements Your New Business Blog Must Have

By Mark Collier

You've decided to launch a blog for your business and you're busy laying the groundwork. You've selected a name for it, and you know what you want to blog about and who your bloggers will be.

But do you have the right elements and information on your blog? What information should be on your blog? When visitors arrive at your blog, what information are they looking for?

This article will walk you through what should be on your blog and what information your visitors want to see.

Before we look at the elements that your blog should have, for the purpose of this article let's assume two rules:

1. Every visitor to your blog is arriving there for the first time.
2. You will have a maximum of five seconds to make the following information available to them: who you are, what you do, and your contact information.

With those two rules in mind, let's consider the four elements that your blog should have.

1. An About Page

The About link should be at or near the top of the blog (at the very least above the "fold"). The page it links to should explain who you are, what you do, and—unless you have a separate page for it—why you have the blog. Think of visitors arriving at your blog by accident and having no idea who you are or what you do. The About page is there for those people.

You might think that if that information is already on your website, then it doesn't need to be on your blog as well. But that is why you should assume that every visitor is arriving at your blog for the first time and has never seen your website.

Treat your blog as a separate site from your main website, even if your blog is housed on your website. A good portion of your blog's traffic will be from search engines, so it's very possible that the first exposure someone has to your company will be via your blog, not your main website. So you must clearly explain what your business is on your blog.

2. Complete Contact Information

Contact information should also be at the top of your blog. Include at least three ways that visitors can contact you: Ideally, your phone number, physical address, and email address.

Email address and phone number are a must. If you don't want to leave your personal email address and don't have a company email that you can use, create an email address just for the blog with a service such as Gmail or Yahoo.

And if you have only a personal phone number and don't want to publish it on your blog, sign up for a service such as Google Voice, which will give you a unique phone number that you can use,; put that number on your blog.

The point is, you need to make it obvious to visitors how they can easily get in touch with you. That is where the five-second rule comes into play.

Let's say you sell mountain bikes, and someone arrives at your blog after doing a Google search for a particular model, wanting to find out whether it's available yet. The person arrives at your post that confirms the model has shipped and is in stores now.

Excited, the person scans your blog for contact information to ask what the price is. The person immediately spots your phone number, address, and email address—exactly what the person was looking for!

But if that contact information weren't available and easy to find, that person probably would have left your blog and gone to the next search result. Again, that is where the five-second rule comes into play.

3. Your Product/Services Page

In the About page, you tell visitors who you are. With this page, you tell visitors what you do and what you can offer them. If you are an advertising agency, for example, this page would explain the services you offer and the clients you cater to. If you are a B2B company, you would clearly explain what industry you are in and which businesses you service.

That is also why you should have your About page on the blog, as well as several ways visitors can contact you. On your Products/Services page, include links to your About page and tell visitors how they can get in touch with you.

4. Pictures and Bios of Every Person Who Writes for Your Blog

So many blogs have no mention of who their writers are, and all their posts are signed by "Admin" or "The Blogging Team," or something similar. Let's face it, though: people can more easily connect with and trust another person than they can a company logo.

That's why it's vital that you have pictures of your bloggers on your blog, as well as a bio for each writer. Doing so makes it much easier for readers to trust your writers and connect with them.

A picture of each blogger, should preferably be on the front page of the blog. A good example of a blog that does this well is HomeGoods' OpenHouse blog. Notice how the pictures of the bloggers are at the top of the page. There's also a bio for every writer, which makes it easier for readers to trust the posts because they can literally see who is writing them. It also encourages readers to leave comments and contact the writers. http://openhouse.homegoods.com/

* * *

When you create and design your blog, make sure to include the four elements discussed in this article. Their intent is to clearly tell your readers who you are, what you do, and how they can get in touch with you.

The power of blogs is that they allow you to put a human face on your company. By adding the above elements, you are making it much easier for your readers to see who you are and what you do—and so to connect with you and trust your content.

Mack Collier is a social-media consultant and writes for The Viral Garden and MarketingProfs Daily Fix. Reach him via mack.collier@theviralgarden.com and follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mackcollier.

Blogging From Scratch: Four Elements Your New Business Blog Must Have by Mark Collier is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!

Once your start getting your Alerts you can use as a source of ideas for making posts.  Have fun!

You must have a Google account to do this.  If you don't have one go here and open one Google Account.

Watch  a short video on How to Open a Google Account

The next step is to go to Google Alerts!

And here is a quick video on how to Set Up Your Alerts.

How to Use Google Alerts is a great post from: The Blog Builder Guy-I Build It So You Don't Have To!