Displaying "Related Posts" in Blogger

One of the harder widgets or scripts to find for Blogger is a good "Related Posts" or "Related Articles" feature. Generating "Related Posts" provides a number of benefits.

1. Encourage your visitors to spend more time on your site
2. Expose new and regular readers to your valuable older content
3. Help visitors find what they are looking for
4. Create a network of internal links for spidering and SEO
   

As a blog reader I like seeing "Related Posts". If I've read something I like, I often want more and serving it to me on a nice link platter is all I need to continue reading.

I recently found a script that I liked at http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/09/08/5-related-posts-techniques-for-blogger-blogs/ and I was able to get it working and customized for one of my blogs without too much fuss. I had tried a few other options that I didn't like earlier so I thought I would share this one and possibly save someone some time.

How Can a Blog Help My Business?

Why blog? Here are some concrete befefits that a blog might provide for a business:

• Organic search engine performance
• Seed press and media coverage
• Engage in a 2-way dialogue with customers
• Communicate your business values and culture
• Humanize and personalize your business - people buy from poeple
• Demonstrate progress and motion - ever go to an e-site that looks orphaned?
• Guide readers toward a desired action
• Show videos and images
• Manage your Public Relations

According to comScore, Blogs represent 34% of the total internet audience. Check out these demographic figures from eMarketer.com. Note that households with $75,000+ make up the largest segment of visitors to blog sites. Blogs are absolutely not just for teens and tweens anymore.

Blog vs Forum

I signed up as a contributor on this blog, however I believe it will be awhile before I actually contribute anything. I am still trying to understand blogging. I wonder what I am suppose to write on this blog.

• Do I have to be knowledgeable about something and give good advice?
• Can I ask dumb questions in hopes people will answer them?
• If someone sets up a blog do they always want comments?
• Loyan says he has good traffic on his blog, how did you get folks there?
• My brother in law just set up a family blog on blogger. Do we play you read mine and I'll read yours?

I ask all these dumb questions because I think people are scared of blogs, a lot like drinking wine. You suppose you need to know something about wine before you can enjoy it, when in reality buying a bottle and tasting it is the only way to learn.

Tami

Blogging for Corvallis Etailers: five steps, five minutes, zero cost

I created this blog for the Corvallis Etailing Group as an example. I have added John as an author and can add anyone else that would like to contribute or just test drive blogger. Let me know if you would like access here.

Total cost of this blog: $0
Total time to create: 5 minutes
Potential benefit: priceless (sorry, I couldn't stop myself)

STEP 1: Register for a new blog
I selected blogger.com because I think its easier than WordPress (I like them both). From http://www.blogger.com/ log in using your google account.

STEP 2: Select a blog address
Like a good domain name choosing a good blog address is important. Try to use terms that are relevant to your business unless your brand is well established. It is possible that your business name is not the best blog address. You can always go back and change your blog title and description, but try to get a good blog address up front.

STEP 3: Select a template
This is non-crucial. Just pick one that you like. You can always change this later.

STEP 4: Customize (optional)
The default settings are perfectly fine. You can always change them later. I spent a few minutes playing with the colors, added a few ready-to-go gadgets to the right sidebar and added Google Analytics. Gotta have Google Analytics.

STEP 5: Create a post
Just start writing. Try to tap into something your are passionate about because that is what is most likely to be interesting to your readers. The spell checker is the little "ABC" and check-mark icon. A lifesaver for me.
Sure, there is a lot more to it. But after these five steps you will have earned your license to blog. Welcome to the Blogosphere!