11/07/2011

Starting a Business From Home - How Becoming a Blogger Can Pay

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Anyone interested in starting a business from home should consider becoming a blogger. People who have a lot to say (or in this case, write) about a certain topic can find happiness as bloggers. This joy comes from publishing one's thoughts to the world and earning money while doing it. Blogs have come a long way since their inception and nearly anyone can use them as income generators.
The word blog is actually a shortened version of the term "Web log" and is so popular that it was dubbed the 2004 Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster. In January 1994, Swarthmore College student Justin Hall created the first blog. The earliest blogs were personal journals for the world to read. Some people went a bit too far - the notable firing of Heather Armstrong in 2002 for discussing her job on her Dooce blog is just one example.
By August 2002, the world of blogging was in full swing with the introduction of technology blog Gizmodo and blog advertising broker Blogads. By June 2003, even Google had caught the blogging bug, launching AdSense, a now wildly popular program that matches ads to the content of blog pages. The following year, Jason Calacanis, founder of Weblogs, Inc., sold his portfolio of 85 blogs to AOL for an impressive $25 million. The year 2005 also marked a milestone for blog advertising, with an estimated $100 million in ads sold.
Blogs have several distinguishing characteristics from other Internet content. It is frequently updated by the owner, providing fresh content on a regular basis. The tone of the writing is usually more personal than content on a website. Most will include links to other sites or pages that might clarify information or provide archived content on a related topic. Celebrities sometimes create their own sites to have their voices heard unfiltered by media editing.
Blogging is attractive to many people because little investment is required. Free blog space is available from blog providers or blog owners can make a small investment to self-host their blog. When a self-hosted blog is used, the blog owner retains rights to the content. Otherwise, the blog contents are lost if the blog provider goes out of business. In either case, blogging software is provided to streamline the setup process.
A blog should be equipped with images and freebies like guest books and maps, reader comment boxes, and buttons. By enrolling in Google AdSense, the blogger has advertisements for relevant products or services placed on their site. Each time an ad is clicked and a purchase is made, the blogger receives a commission. Some bloggers supplement these ads with affiliate programs that provide them with additional cash for selling other people's products or services.
Including the blog URL when commenting on other blogs or in forums, link swapping, and article writing are several ways to market the blog on an ongoing basis. When starting a business from home, a marketing plan should be developed, and blogging is no exception. A highly visible blog can earn substantial income for its owner.
Are you interested in learning more about starting a home business opportunities? All-Things-Medical-Billing.com offers information on starting a home business, educational requirements, job outlook, and salary expectations for the industry. Visit the site today for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Conrad_Wysor

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