In this post, I’m introducing a list of 15 tips that surely will help you to create a great successful blog:

1. Post early and post often. If it’s a news oriented blog you should be posting 3 to 5 times each day. An authoritative blog can get away with 3 to 5 times per week, but each post should be unique and of high value.

2. Make the blog look and feel like the feeling of the content of the website. Work with a designer if you don’t trust yourself to do a good job.

3. Outbound links should be of web sites and other authoritative blogs. Think quality when you are thinking about your outbound links.

4. Create and distribute a press release. Don’t necessarily concentrate on the main stream press, they have a habit of ignoring blogs and websites. Instead, send the press release to other blogs and websites that would be interested in the kind of content your feature.

5. Thank other bloggers if they mention you on their blog. The best place to thank them is in the comment section of their post that mentions your blog.

6. Use sticky posts for the posts that you really want the readers to see. Sticky posts will stay at the top of the blog rather than letting them fall down as new posts are added.

7. Create unique content. Even though the Internet if full of pages that link to other pages, the best way to get people to link to your page is to give them something new.

8. Optimize the wording in your title. Don’t let a software create the title for you. You should gear your title to the reader and not the search engines, even though the search engines do look at it.

9. Don’t show your Feedburner badge until you have at least 100 subscribers. Keep it a secret a little while, you will look much more professional after you can show 100.

10. Use new technologies on your blog. Posting video from sites like YouTube and audio from audio blogs and radio stations. Post your Twitter link as well as MySpace and Facebook links and post from other users. Google Earth widgets are good content for drawing visitors. Jump on any new technology that comes along, especially if it is a networking technology.

11. Use Full Text in Your RSS. This pulls readers in much easier than just the few words that most people use for their RSS feeds. That is what the competition is doing and you need to beat the competition.

12. If you have the gadgets, create a video blog or audio blog regularly on your site. These bring in different visitors who might not want to read. Video is much more popular than audio, but audio’s popularity is increasig as more iPods are sold and people are looking for stuff to fill them up.

13. Get your own domain. Even if you use blogger to run your blog, get a domain of the name of your blog. It gives a more professional appearance. This is good for possible advertisers who might want to buy ad space on your blog.

14. Be sociable with your visitors. Post links to their websites if the content if of quality and meshes with your blog. Answer questions and email that your readers send your way. This can help turn them into loyal visitors.

15. Get a niche. Blog on a topic that is a little different, a little more specialized than the other blogs in your category.

Any tip to add? share it with us via comments

While most bloggers create personal blogs to express themselves and generate income, other bloggers use their blogs to promote a cause. The latter become advocates of a social or political cause: their opinions are targeted towards seeking social change. As a consequence, most of these blogs face more criticism than blogs that tackle lighter themes. Nonetheless, blogs that focus on social commentaries are effective in getting the bloggers’ messages across. If you want to use your blog to promote a cause, here are two steps to become an effective online advocate:

Step 1: Choose the right cause

Selecting a cause may be extremely easy or difficult. The relative ease or difficulty depends on the preferences and beliefs of the blog owner. For example, if a blogger has a strong political conviction or has already committed himself to a specific cause, deciding is easy. For the undecided, here are factors to consider when choosing a cause:
Select a cause that you are either knowledgeable about, or willing to research on. You will post information on this topic regularly; your entries must be accurate.

Choose an appealing cause. Choose a topic that will be interesting to your potential visitors. Then, you must convince them to agree with the points you raise. It is not possible to influence all readers, but you must strive to be convincing at all times.

Step 2: Promote your blog

When you have decided which cause to promote, the next step is to draw visitors to your blog. There are many ways to do this, but here are two of the most effective and easy ways:

Search engine optimization: In this method, and most of you already knows, the blogger try to increase the rankings of the blog in search engine results, so that readers are directed to the blog whenever they type a particular keyword related to the cause. You can do this by putting appropriate keywords in the posts, including title or image tags, and creating back links to the blog. These increase the blog’s ranking, which in turn will generate blog traffic.

Forums and message boards: This is a common method too, participating in forums related to the cause will establish your stand on the issue. You will also gain the respect of other members. In your forum posts, offer information about the cause and include a link to your blog in your signature. You may even incorporate links to your blog in the message body, but be aware of the message board’s posting regulations.

Just follow these two easy steps, and you are on the right way to become an influential advocate of your chosen cause.

College applications are one of the most important things that a high school student will ever do. Knowing how to apply properly and accurately can mean the difference between being accepted into the college they want and settling for a college they do not particularly want to attend. College applications are actually quite easy to handle if you are careful and pay attention to the details.  

Here are five things you need to know about applying to college and the process:

College applications are ever changing: The application process is never the same from year to year it seems for a given college. That said, networking with other students that have recently applied is invaluable in learning what to expect. Reach out to recent applicants and take in anything that you can learn about the process.

Applying Early Is Encouraged: If you are considering college and know where you are intending to apply, it is always a good idea to get the application in early. Do not wait until the last minute and then scramble to get everything right. Applying early will allow for amendments, and for you to keep your studies up in the meantime. You do not want to spend important senior class time worrying over applications.

Visiting the College is Vital: Before you take the time to apply to a college, you should certainly take the time to visit. Many people will go on a “college road trip” to try to learn which schools they should apply to. If you have several colleges that you are considering that are in the same general area, this is a must. Be sure to look at every part of the college experience. This should include curriculum, facilities, housing, student life, surrounding areas, and class sizes and locations.

Your High School Guidance Counselor Really Is Your Best Friend: In all the world, you will not find a more vital cog in your college search. Use this invaluable resource to its fullest measure. High school guidance counselors are always well informed and can prepare you for those things that you would not even consider without them. For example, how much it will cost you to travel from housing to class each day. Some schools have little details like this that you would never consider if your high school guidance counselor did not tell you. Pick their brain and learn every single thing  that you can about the colleges you are interested in. You will be glad that you did. 

Do Not Give Up On The First Try: Many people give up on a college after being turned down. This is truly a mistake if you are serious about attending any college. Take the time to contact the dean of admissions and ask what would have to happen for you to be accepted in the future. Often, it is a matter of shoring up that GPA, or becoming more involved in some manner. Always follow up and find out if you are wanting to attend a particular college. Even if you have to start at a different college and work your way up to the college of choice, it is still a possibility. As a matter of fact, it is sometimes easier to transfer than to get in out of high school. Do not give up on your college dreams so easily!

Make certain that before you apply to college that you are prepared for what is to come. Applying haphazardly to colleges can often burn bridges. If you do not apply properly, you can not “un-apply” once you are rejected. Take the time to apply properly, and give it your best shot. College is about becoming responsible and informed, and learning your future job. This requires that you pay attention to details, and it starts with your college application.

Chances are you have seen advertisements offering up to $40 to complete online surveys. Most of the ads promise quick and easy cash, yet the majority of online surveys require a great deal of personal time in exchange for little pay; this question of time versus money making one wonder if these offers are really worth it.

A computer job is a great option for those looking to work from home or make a second income. For many, surveys seem like a viable and credible opportunity to make easy money. Because online surveys do not require any prerequisite skills in sales or management, millions of people feel they can make fast cash by sharing their opinions online.

It can be difficult to find legitimate businesses that pay for public opinions. Many internet sites promise to pay, but include multiple requirements one must finish before getting paid. These scams could include free trial offers requiring you to pay after 30 days or up front- a promising offer sadly tossed into the deleted bin of your email account.

Seasoned web seekers will sometimes find companies that do pay for opinions. However, after spending lengthy amounts of time compiling lists of product reviews and answers to survey questions, many become frustrated and decide to forgo the survey altogether . The $1 or $2 cash reward no longer seems worth the required time and effort.

There exists paid surveys that might be worth the extra time. For the lucky ones who stumble across already compiled lists of valid businesses, they might find higher salaries and better offers. These companies can offer higher benefits because they primarily use free online quizzes to collect necessary data.

It simply takes time, research and tenacity. Research is the hardest part of the process. You need to visit the sites and look at the fine print. Never pay to sign up and get leads unless you read the small print at the bottom of the form. The large, flashy portion doesn’t matter. It’s the print you can hardly see that makes you either a successful survey person or a washout.

Finding these companies is the key to success when looking into online surveying. Be aware of the less reputable sources claiming to pay for your opinion, only to find yourself paying through sign up programs or click-through exchanges. Prior to signing up for a survey site, thoroughly research every source.

The majority of people who complete a free quiz online work part time. Many people are pleased with the capability to express their opinions while earning money in the process.

Paid surveys can be a promising option depending and tie right into your individual income goals. If you are looking for a job with high earning potential, survey sites might not meet your financial expectations. This is more of a part-time occupation that adds to your overall financial status. If you’re looking for something to buy those extras, make times between paychecks a little easier or pay for books for college, the Paid Survey sites can be quite lucrative. In other words, if you are looking for a few extra dollars in your pocket, you have found a winner.