When you blog on a regular basis, it’s easy to forget about your old posts, especially after they’ve been off your main page for a long time. Even though your old posts may not be getting the spotlight treatment on the front page, it doesn’t mean they are going unnoticed. In fact, a great deal of your new visitors may land on your blog’s archived material through search engines or outside back links.

This is why strictly focusing on your main page, in hopes of keeping your returning visitors impressed, is only a small part of building a better blog. Sometimes, it’s worthwhile to go back and dust off your previous work. Here are some strategies for improving your blog’s archives:

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The following is a list of 50 blogging goals you can set for yourself to energize your efforts online and give you a sense of direction when you write. Some are short term and can be attained everyday; others will take longer to achieve. No matter how challenging they seem, they are all possible as many of the Internet’s most recognizable bloggers have demonstrated.

These goals, both big and small, are sure to inspire your blogging efforts. So print this off, scratch some off with a pen, and fulfill your blogging dreams!
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In response to threats and misogynistic comments left on the blog of Kathy Sierra, Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media proposed a Bloggers Code of Conduct, self-regulated rules that bloggers would abide by as they run and develop their site.

We thought the concept was worthwhile and that any disciplined effort to deal with inflammatory or bigoted comments is essential for established writers online. So, courtesy of Wikipedia, here is the conceived Bloggers Code of Conduct:

1. Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.
2. Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
3. Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
4. Ignore the trolls.
5. Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.
6. If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.
7. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.

I think that’s a pretty comprehensive and fair set of commandments, wouldn’t you say? Do you follow any blogging creed to help you deal with the pressures of writing in the open?

If you’re thinking about taking the leap into blogging but don’t quite know where to start, good for you! You’ve already taken the first step by reading Apollo Media’s social media blog. But what next? With all this blogging information here and on the Net, where do you start?

We thought we’d help out a bit by simplifying the process and sharing our blog start-up formula. This way, blog newbies have a clear, step-by-step guide to starting a blog that they can follow. Here it is:

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At Apollo Media Blog, we are currently mulling over a new sense of direction and purpose for our articles here. While we are still going to keep posting about blog tips, SEO and other highlights from the Web 2.0 world, we feel that there needs to be a more distinct focus for our efforts in the realm of social media. As we go through the process of brainstorming ideas and coming up with an action plan, we thought we would share some of the steps and considerations we are taking, so we can all learn together.

Whether your blog is fairly established, just starting out or on the brink of collapse, there are several pathways to lead you to a better blogging experience. Here are some of the key ideas we are currently delving into as we shift our blogging priorities:

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There are many forms and functions in the expanding realm of social media and Web 2.0. While we have spent some time describing, defining and analyzing social media on this blog, we have yet to really delineate the different applications SMM can have and what it means for users and businesses alike.

Here is a simple yet comprehensive breakdown of various social media types, and their application, so you can better understand what services, features and networks will work best for your online enterprise, satisfying its purpose and goals.

While some social media applications may overlap each other in terms of their overall use and value, we found social media services and sites could be lumped together into several specific categories:

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It’s hard to be original these days when you consider the hundreds of thousands of blogs out there, covering every topic imaginable. Despite the crowded playing field, there are several strategies that bloggers can use to inject some personality into their work and be different.

If you truly want to create something that’s not just useful but remarkable as well, take a look at some of these suggestions:

1. Break your content down into sub-niches

If you see several other blogs covering your niche, you may want to break your content down to even small sub-niches, narrowing your focus to better establish your authority. If you are having difficulty writing substantial content on a regular basis, the scope of your blog may be too broad. You don’t want to spread yourself to thin when it comes to content development. Examine and analyze your niche and the blogs that currently cover it. How can you break it down further? Will it still have an audience after you streamline it?

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For five years in a row now, since getting my life priorities straight, I’ve taken a vacation every Spring. This year, however, several unexpected expenses have arisen and at this very moment, taking a vacation before the summer descends appears to be an unrealistic expectation.

So as I gaze longingly at a postcard of Mexico hanging next to my office computer, my mind wanders from the task at hand: brainstorming for blog ideas. Then it hits me – blogging is like taking a vacation! The following are a few ideas why bloggers don’t need a tropical paradise getaway to get away:

1. Surfing the Net is better than traveling. Why leave the comfort of your own home when you can travel the world through the Internet? Think about it: no line ups or waiting for hours. There’s no risk of plane crashes or car accidents. No fear of foreign microbes setting up camp in your body. You can’t get traveler’s diarrhea blogging! And forget about the time and stress that goes with travel planning. Did you forget to leave the oven on? No problem! Just head into the kitchen and check. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve noticed an interesting occurrence in content creation among blogging blogs. It’s what we call, the compilation post. A compilation post is similar to a list or ‘best of’ post but it consists primarily of links to software or blog previews to showcase the best (or worst) of a certain trend taking shape in the blogosphere.

The benefits of creating compilation posts are fairly clear. They are easy to read and scan through, they are excellent reference guides, they beg to be bookmarked and they spread link love to talented people across the blogosphere. We thought we’d weigh in, and better explain the trend by creating a compilation of compilation posts.

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A friend of mine has confided that he is having trouble staying motivated when it comes to writing consistent posts and articles. After some careful analysis of his dilemma, I decided to write a post dedicated to anyone who wants some motivation and is willing to change their blog to get it. The following are some general tips to help those looking to revamp their efforts find some footing as they look to the future:

Consider a new layout and design. You may feel that you’re blog’s appearance is hindering your motivation to write for it. A new design theme or layout can help rekindle your desire to post. Incorporate greater accessibility, uniqueness and clarity into your design to maximize the presentation of your content. A fresh new look for your blog is a great way for you to take more pride in your work, especially if you take the time to design it yourself.

Define and narrow your blog’s focus. Your blog’s content may be too broad and varied, making it difficult for you to get down to business and develop consistent content. Write a list of things you are interested in and capable of writing about. Create a list of possible categories that Read the rest of this entry »