your mortgage team for life © 2005-2008 aimee & shailesh ghimire blogging 101 shailesh ghimire...

“Your Mortgage Team For Life”www.aimeeloans.com© 2005-2008 Aimee & Shailesh Ghimire

Blogging 101

Shailesh GhimireAzMortgageGuru

CTX Mortgage Company


Introductions

• We are in the mortgage business

• CTX Mortgage more than 3 years

• Blogging for more than 3 years


So… You Want to Blog

• Part One– What is a blog?– Self hosting vs. Free hosting– The Wordpress Platform– Setting Up a WP Blog

• Part Two– Blog Topics– Blogs as Networks– Marketing your blog– Search Engine Results– What makes a blog great?– Turning clicks into deposit slips


What is a blog?

• A blog is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.

• A blog provides commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.

• Source: Wikipedia


Blog vs. Website

• A blog is a type of website

• Websites are typically more static with a brochure feel

• A dialogue, a conversation with fresh content

• One does not displace the other, they serve different functions

• Lets look at a blog and compare it to a website


How to Set Up a Blog

• Easy 1-2-3 step

• Requires a blog software

• Available platforms:– Wordpress– Typepad– Blogger/Blogspot– LiveJournal

“Your Mortgage Team For Life”

Setting Up a Blog

• Free hosting– http://your-blog-name.wordpress.com

– http://your-blog-name.blogspot.com

– Advantage: No cost to you whatsoever

– Disadvantage: Brand equity, ownership

• Self hosting– http://www.your–blog-name.com

– http://www.your-domain-name.com/your-blog-name

– Disadvantage: Cost?

– Advantage: Brand equity, ownership

www.aimeeloans.com© 2005-2008 Aimee & Shailesh Ghimire


Setting Up a Free Hosted Wordpress Blog


Free Hosting Setup

• Go to www.wordpress.com

• Click on the “Sign Up Now”

• Select username and password and submit

• Blog is set up as http://username.wordpress.com



Setting Up Self Host Wordpress Blog



Follow These Steps

• Obtain domain name– GoDaddy, DreamHost

• Select host for blog:– GoDaddy, DreamHost

• Host will need to do the following:– Install Wordpress– Configure Wordpress access– If you already have a domain, then ask the host to set up WP in a

subfolder



File Transfer and WP Folders

• FTP Setup– To transfer files, themes, plugins etc.– GoDaddy already has a built in FTP tool– DreamHost – you need a FTP tool (Coffee Cup)

• Three folders:– Plugins (to install WP plugins)– Content (to install themes)– Admin (admin – never need to go there)



Wordpress Themes

• Themes and design (thousands of free themes available)– http://www.freewpthemes.net/– http://www.freewordpressthemes.com/

• Useful tips when selecting a theme:

– Test your blog on varying platforms (IE, Firefox ...)

– Check the load time (anything greater than 7s is bad)


Wordpress Plugins

• Install some useful Plugins such as– Askimet– Ultimate Tag Warrior– Google Site Maps– Flickr Photo Dropper– Social Bookmarking– Contact Form



Final Setup Stage

• Search Engine Optimization and Analytics– Install Google Sitemaps– Register with FeedBurner– Register with Technorati, BlogCatalog…– Register with Google Analytics


Some Lessons Learned

• Host your blog within your own domain name

• Choose a web host experienced in hosting a blog

• I’ve heard mixed things about GoDaddy

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions while setting up a blog


WordPress Tour

• Dashboard, Write, Manage, Comments• Blogroll, Presentation, Plubins, Users/Options

• STOP HERE……………...

• You’re ready to write your first blog post!

• Stand up and clap!!!!!



Part Two: Content and Marketing


Define the Goals of Your Blog

• To be found on the Internet

• To be read by peers and potential clients

• To demonstrate your expertise

• To maintain relationships with past clients

• To turn clicks into deposit slips


What Do I Blog About?

• Anything and Everything– Start with an area of expertise– Neighborhoods/Farm Area– Parks/recreation– Hobbies/Interests– Customer stories– Personal triumphs– Controversial topics (if you’re comfortable)

• Make it distinctly you, don’t plagiarize, don’t compare and don’t underestimate yourself


Content is King

• Write about what you want to be known about– Brush up on your writing skills if you need to

• Keywords in your post title and story

• Picture descriptions and title

• Relevant tags and categories

• Keep the blog fresh (3-5 posts a week)


Some Blogging Idea Tips

• Subscribe to: – RSSPieces.com (A Years Worth Of Blogging Ideas)– Daily Blog Tips Website (dailyblogtips.com)

• Read local newspapers and comment

• Read industry publications and comment

• Read blogs from outside of the industry


Networking: Becoming a Blogger

• Visit other blogs

• Use a RSS Reader – Google Reader, Bloglines, Feedreader, FeedBruner, Pluck ...

• Leave comments on others posts

• Draw inspiration from other blogs (don’t plagiarize)

• Link to other blogs and posts– Trackback


Links, links and more links

• Links coming back to your blog (keyword rich links) help your search rankings

• Deeplinking helps keep your readers within your blog

• It brings new visitors to your website


Congrats! You’re a Blogger


Now That You’re a Blogger

• Manage your Ideas– Make your blog predictable (Funny Friday, Monday

Market Update...)– Jot ideas down when you think of them– Save good articles you have read– Save funny cartoons you have viewed– Save YouTube videos that may be relevant– If you’re on writing roll, then post-date a few articles


Bloggers Creed:Common Sense

• Become familiar with copyright laws

• Backup what you say with proof, because they will question you

• Never lie, never personally insult, never vent aimlessly

• Respond to questions you receive about your posts

• Read the comments people leave and respond

• Be careful about what you write. Once you publish it’s set in stone. Google will find it one way or another!

• Just be you!


Resources and Blogs of Note

• Locally:– RealEstateWeblogging101.com– PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com (Real Estate)– BlogArizona.com (Home Inspection)– ChristophSchweiger.com (Real Estate)

• Nationally:– http://www.reagentinct.com/blog– http://www.brokerbryant.com/


I do mortgages on the side to support my blogging habit!!!

Call Aimee at (480) 516-1819

E-mail: [email protected]

Shailesh at (480) 516-1851

E-mail: [email protected]

On the web: www.aimeeloans.com

Blog: www.azmortgageguru.com


Questions

your mortgage team for life © 2005-2008 aimee & shailesh ghimire blogging 101 shailesh ghimire...

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