It has been over a year

since I posted on this blog. I have been in China - teaching English at a university in the ancient city of Shaoxing. I am back in Australia, so again looking at my blogs. I did continue to blog from China, but with some Challenges.

I'm going to start by taking time out to learn some things. Other bloggers may find this of interest.

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Making comments on blogs.

Bloggers love to know that their blog is being read. There are ways with many sites to check on site statistics, but bloggers get a real thrill when someone comments on their blog.

It's easy. Just click on the comments section below each post and a dialogue box appears and you write a message. You can often do it anonymously - but most bloggers like to know who has read their blog, so leave your name. And if you have a blog - do a link back to your blog. That's how you get more readers.

Don't write anything rude or negative in the comments. By all means disagree with the blogger if you wish but do it politely. And don't write personal insults. Generally a blogger can delete rude comments anyway, but not always. So best to be "nice".

What do you "blog" about?

Content is "king" in the blogosphere. People like to read information - they like to "learn"something. If you are some one with technical know-how about a certain topic, a blog is a good way to create more business for yourself, or get "known" or acknowledged. Do you have a hobby? Interest?

My first blog was commenced when I travelled in 2005. I had the theory that I would be unlikely to send postcards often back to family and friends, so I found the blog a great way to inform friends and family of my travels, and they happily made comments. It worked for me. Unfortunately I had the blog with a blogsite that I paid for, so when I came back I decided I did not wish to keep paying and stopped it. (I wish I had known about Blogger then).

I have created one about my dog (www.kramersdiary.blogspot.com), one about our Gerbera flower venture (www.aboutgerberas.blogspot.com), one about the area in which I live (www.onwynnummanly.blogspot.com), and so on. Each little niche has its (small) readership, but it does give mea few clicks and a few dollars through Adsense.

The big money is there for the taking if you learn how to promote your blog well. You can make hundreds of dollars a day.

For some time I have been studying/planning to take on a role as a Teacher of English in an overseas country. When I received an offer a couple of weeks ago, I thought that, as the likelihood was high that I would be going overseas, I'd start a blog about it.

If and when I go, I will be able to update it from China and keep friends and family informed about my travels. I will be able to download photos so that I will have some further interest on my blog. Adventures of an English Teacher Blog was born. You can see it here.

The exciting thing about blogs is that you are under no obligation. You can choose to update it regularly or not. Obviously serious bloggers will update regularly - so to keep their readers coming back.

Think about what you could blog about.

Business Cards

Well, I have just had business cards printed. Nothing fancy - really just my name and contact details, but the "website" is this blogsite. I am hoping to encourage other Aussies to blog. It is so much fun, and for my writing friends it is a good way to keep writing and earn extra dollars.

There are many sites that you can use to create your own blog - but one of my favourites is this one. Just go to www.blogger.com and sign in. It is FREE.

I have a variety of blogs - but have been using this site for my Diary of a House Sitter. and quite a few of my other sites. You can find them by clicking on the links on this site.

One of the benefits of blogging is that one is learning all the time. It's great fun, and I've developed some amazing skills doing it.

It is easy with Blogger

I've started a new blog - because I am starting a new adventure. You can read all about it at here . It is so easy with Blogger to do exactly that. I will be keeing friends and family up to date with that new blog.

Keep on keeping on.

That is one of the key challenges for Bloggers. You need to write good material and write often, and do those things that make your blog stand out.

I find it pretty easy to write material frequently and I like encouraging other bloggers to blog on a regular basis, but at the same time I encourage folk to comment. I like to comment about 3 times for every blog post.

Bloggers need to know that their work is being read - and they know it better when one comments. so I make a point of putting a few words in the comments of blogs. It does a number of things. Bloggers like reading comments on their blogs, it is good feedback. And what happens is that a blogger will usually follow the link of the blogger who has commented - so it makes for more reading of other blogs. I often learn things by following these links. If you don't like a blog entry - there's no need to insult the blogger. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

This may be of interest

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.