Comments on: Melanie asks: Create a Blog or Website?

By: amber@anniversary party planning

amber@anniversary party planning — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:21:45 +0000

Hi Lynn,

Thanks so much to you and to everyone who has commented on the “website vs. blog” debate.

I have a static website which uses a wordpress platform. It was a first attempt at internet marketing, so I’ve learn a lot. My next venture will be a blog instead of a static website, however I will use the blog to drive traffic to my other sites.

For anyone starting, I really do recommend the wordpress platform. The plug-ins make building and managing a site so much easier. The Wordpress community is pretty friendly, and very open about sharing information.

By: Christian Guitar Lessons

Christian Guitar Lessons — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:32:47 +0000

I would say to have both. Blogs can generate traffic and interest as well as give you a consolidated place for content creation, while your website can highlight static thoughts and content which will be the core of your theme. For me, I update my Guitarmann Blog with tips on how to play the guitar, but my site, Guitarmann is a resource of video lessons.

By: taylor

taylor — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:49:43 +0000

wow! i just died and went to heaven. i have been researching, reading, downloading and uploading everything i could find to help me start my life’s passion in my blog/website. but… still i’ve done nothing, until now, i thought i was alone in the scared to start category, and have been too embarassed to ask for help. but you all have given me the “push” i’ve needed for a long time. thank you all, and especially you lynn, i’ve been here for a short while and have finally found a place to call home. chris malta speaks very favorably of you, he sent me here. i’ll be in touch. thanks again!

By: Mike J

Mike J — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:10:17 +0000

Great article. To answer the question; You create an information interaction site. basically a blog+ a whole lot more. I think every successful site must have some key features these include ways to interact with both the writer and other readers. It also must give readers ways to share what they have found with others such as social bookmarking, Twitter, Facebook etc. You will know when your blog or site is successful when a community forms around it.

By: Kaiser M

Kaiser M — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:42:23 +0000

If this is your first time to create a blog you can try to use free blogs from Blogger or from Worpdress. Then you must know what is the purpose of your blog. If you want to blog for money, problogger and other related sites can help you.

By: Diane Dick

Diane Dick — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:11:19 +0000

Wow Lynne and to the many people who have posted above, thank you heaps. I have a so called “static” website, which I have owned for almost 6 years, which now has a CMS (contact management system) that I operate daily to sell my products from this site. 12 months ago I started hooking up to and researching Internet Marketing ideas on the net and now I am just starting out to set up a separate Blog site which I will use to do other online marketing and to direct traffic back to my “static” website. I too suffer from hesitation and “what ifs” and information overload, but all this is about to change as I am ready to take action. Keep me posted on your progress Melanie.

Thanks Melanie, these are reassuring questions that you have proposed and I suggest that you check out the sites on some from the above commentators as there is lots more reading there for you too, but above all, like me we need to just “take action” and do it!!

By: Rich Avery@Work-Life Balance

Rich Avery@Work-Life Balance — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:02:28 +0000

I think taking action is the key. Don’t get stuck in the paralysis of analysis. Get started moving in one direction (I’d suggest you do the log instead of static site). You can make corrections, and even switch gears,later without a lot of cost or hassle.

By: Bonnie Boots@wordpress,small businesss marketing,

Bonnie Boots@wordpress,small businesss marketing, — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:27:36 +0000

“Web site or blog?” You’re asking the wrong question! Even two years ago, “website or blog” was a valid question. Today, the question to ask is “What platform will I use to publish on the web?”

I recommend wordpress to all my clients, from solo self-employed to small businesses. It’s easy to get started in. It’s highly flexible.There’s an amazing variety of free plugins available (and the number grows daily.) which allows even a new web site owner to create and manage a very sophisticated site. The cost of development is lower, ranging from free (if you host at wordpress and DIY) to less than an html site, if you work with a webmaster. There’s a huge, free wordpress forum where people will answer questions about anything you get stuck on, something you won’t find for html sites. And because wordpress is open source, it’s constantly being updated and improved. This means your site design and performance will never grow stale.

Use of wordpress is totally free! It takes an investment of time to learn to use it, but so does every publishing platform. You may as well learn to use the one that will take you into the future, rather than leave you sitting by the side of the road wondering why, after all your hard work, you got left behind.

By: Andy Perkins@satisfaction questionnaire

Andy Perkins@satisfaction questionnaire — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:41:33 +0000

As for fear of getting started… It’s RESISTANCE!

Run out right now, or go online, and get a copy of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It’s a quick read and should help you see through the tricks that your mind/ego are playing on you to keep you from acting.

Good luck,

Andy

By: Andy Perkins@satisfaction questionnaire

Andy Perkins@satisfaction questionnaire — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:32:37 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion Ivan. Just changed my own. ‘Topics’ is much friendlier to the casual reader. ‘Categories’ really is jargon.

Andy

By: Ivan Walsh

Ivan Walsh — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:16:42 +0000

Tim Ferris suggests that you rename Categories as Topics.

By: Judith Atkinson

Judith Atkinson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:15:51 +0000

I was terrified of Word Press and it took me a year to pluck up courage to begin. I’m still not an expert but as a non-technical person it was not as difficult as I imagined. Plus the benefits against other sites are enormous. As Lynn says there is also huge amounts of help available.

Just do it! You won’t regret it.

By: Alex@Best Price Ebook Seller

Alex@Best Price Ebook Seller — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:12:16 +0000

I really feel stupid that I have not opened a blog till now. Will really start up a blog now.

By: Smartgirl

Smartgirl — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:43:57 +0000

I think it is important to have both blog and website

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:59:02 +0000

I think the blogs are better than webpages because you can more easely edit them and get traffic