Blogging Tips for Gamers #5

blogging tips for gamersTip #5: How to get More Readers

You have your blog all set up, you know you’re in it for the long-haul with a purpose, you have a topic, and now you’re thinking to yourself, “How do I get people to read my blog?”  This is quite literally the million dollar question.  I think if there was a definitive answer, and you had it all figured out, you could make quite a bit of money.  Lucky for you, I can share what has worked for me.

When I started blogging I was writing for IGN and moderating their forums.  I knew a lot of people, and a lot of people knew about me, so I had a slight edge.  I could put my blog in my forum signature, and maybe a dozen people per day would click on it and hopefully not bounce off the page in 3 seconds.  This was back in 2007, though, when blogging about games was still somewhat uncommon.  Today, people know what gaming blogs are all about.  That can be an advantage if you’re able to stand out from the crowd, or a disadvantage if you’re just another face.

No matter your circumstances, here’s my advice. (more…)

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Blogging Tips for Gamers #3

blogging tips for gamersTip #3: Choosing a Blogging Platform

You’ve identified the reasons why you want to start a blog, and you’ve chosen a topic.  Now it’s time to get a little technical and start thinking about the right delivery method.  There are many, many choices to choose from.  Most people are familiar with WordPress and Blogger.  There are dozens of other options, but I recommend you stick with one of these two choices.

We use WordPress for our gaming blog. Specifically, we use a self-hosted installation of WordPress on a virtual private server.  If you’re just starting out, that’s a little more info than you need to know.  WordPress can be installed and hosted through your choice of hosts (if you have questions on that feel free to ask) or you can host through WordPress.com and get a blog up and running there for free.   I’ll break down the advantages of all three options then give my recommendations. (more…)

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