SEO – Search Engine Optimisation (or ‘optimiZation’ for our american brothers and sisters) is how the humble blogger makes a quid or three via the google ads (and the like). I’ve managed to get a reasonably good looking website together (you’re allowed to disagree) thanks to the creators of the template I’m using. I’ve tweaked all the php pages and code to ensure that the site looks as I expect it. I do love WordPress and the features and the support and all the extra development that goes on. One of the things that I found is a WordPress plugin specifically for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO – I’ll use the acronym from now on). After watching a brief video I’ve worked out how it works and so will give it a shot.
So for anyone wanting to go through the necessary steps to setting up a blog and hosting it etc I do have a few pointers now. Experience, if you will …
- Plan your site. Take the time to really think over what you want it to look like. Think about the content and the focus. There are a squillion sites out there that tell you all about this and it will DEFINITELY save you time in the long run.
- Research other blog sites. You’ll quickly see why the popular sites are popular and what really works. This will help you decide which direction you’ll go in regarding style and content. You’ll also realise that it takes some effort, which leads me to the next point …
- Be prepared to work. I’ve spent a good 20 hours on getting things set-up and in place. It’s not like mowing lawns or clearing the guttering but it is work all the same. I don’t mind th effort – I’m just acknowledging that there is effort involved.
- Be resourceful. You’ll hit minor hurdles and you’ll need to find your own solutions. Don’t panic – everything has been done before and the answers are out there. You may have to hunt them out is all.
- Stay focussed. Family and friends may offer ‘suggestions’ or even ‘help’ but sometimes they’ll be unwittingly negative. Don’t be deterred. You’ve got a plan. Stick with it.
7 Recession Busting Tips!
Feeling the pinch of the recession?
Looking for ideas on how to beat the recession? Bust it even?
Here are seven tips – practical tips – for making sure that the pinch you feel is nothing more than an inconvenience rather than devastating to your known world.
1. If you’ve dug yourself into a hole – STOP DIGGING!
Obvious?
Of course!
This is fundamental really. If you find that you’re really in strife already it’s time to stop the obvious things that you do that have contributed to your predicament. The Large Latte for morning tea every day. A bought lunch to save having to make it the night before (and cafe food is so much tastier – right?). Wine with your meals. Those extra Sky TV channels. Hey, I’m not saying you should join a monastry and sell everything you own and give it to the poor … but maybe you are ‘the poor’ and you’ve not yet heard the eminent ‘knock knock knock’ on your door by the bailiff.
Take a moment to think about the luxuries you enjoy now but may have to really pay for later and that you don’t really need …
2. Take stock of your situation
How much time do you have available to do maintenance on the house? On the car? Do you even have the skills to do so? What items in your world require significant funds to upkeep? What extras, what luxuries are you really paying for right now – directly and indirectly? How long till the car needs replaced? When will the kids need new shoes? Uniforms? What plans do you have this year that may require money? Holidays? Weddings?
Taking stock of your situation means looking at your lifestyle and trying to account for everything – now and future. This requires honesty and courage. Honesty to tell the truth about the things that need to be sorted and courage to write this down and make it real – to your wife/husband/partner/kids/YOURSELF!
3. Create a budget – a REAL budget.
A budget is not a ‘wish list’ nor is it a ‘nice to have.’ It is another fundamental necessity. How many buildings do you think were built without working out the costs first? How many government departments operate without knowing how much they’re spending every week, month year? How many successful businesses go from strength to strength on the hope that that when bills come in there’ll be money to pay? How long do you think a hospital will provide care if those who manage it have no idea how much it will cost to keep th elights on, pay the nurses, replenish medicines and repair the plumbing? Budgets are ‘real world’ records of the money coming in and properly assessed forecasts of money going out.
It’s beyond the scope of this article to provide in depth budgeting advice however you are very welcome to contact us at support@clannz.com and be put in touch with helpful, free and independent advice on budgeting.
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