This unit guides students through selecting and configuring blogging platforms, defining goals, and planning promotion and monetization strategies. Learners will compare hosted and self-hosted options, create free trial blogs, apply SEO and analytics tools, and develop ethical content and monetization plans to prepare for hands-on design and publishing in subsequent units.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze hosted and self-hosted blogging solutions and major platform options (e.g., WordPress.com, Blogger, self-hosted WordPress) to recommend the best platform for a given project based on cost, control, scalability, and audience needs
- Apply SEO, web analytics, and social listening tools to create a measurable promotion and performance-tracking plan for a blog
- Demonstrate the ability to create and configure a free blog (WordPress.com or Blogger), including setting up basic site elements, navigation, and copyright/fair-use compliance
- Evaluate monetization approaches (ad types, affiliate marketing, sponsored content) and build an ethical monetization strategy aligned with blog goals and target audience
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 49 Lessons
- 30 hours
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Unit 2 — Platform Selection and Promotion49
- 1.1Defining Hosted and Self-Hosted Solutions20 mins
- 1.2Taking a Look at the Most Popular Blogging Platforms20 mins
- 1.3Understanding the Two WordPress Options20 mins
- 1.4Creating a Free Blog at Blogger.com20 mins
- 1.5Finding SEO Tools20 mins
- 1.6Choosing a Web Analytics Tool20 mins
- 1.7Harnessing Social Buzz with BuzzSumo20 mins
- 1.8Formulating Tasks20 mins
- 1.9Writing Often20 mins
- 1.10Posting Comments on Other Blogs20 mins
- 1.11Finding Popular Social Networking Sites20 mins
- 1.12Syndicating Content20 mins
- 1.13Defining Your Goals20 mins
- 1.14Deciding to Publish Ads on Your Blog20 mins
- 1.15Benefiting From Each Ad Type20 mins
- 1.16Benefiting from Affiliate Marketing20 mins
- 1.17Publishing Sponsored Content Safely20 mins
- 1.18Building Your Brand20 mins
- 1.19Selecting Types of Ads to Sell20 mins
- 1.20Booking Speaking Engagements20 mins
- 1.21Planning a Visual Content Strategy20 mins
- 1.22Deciding to Include Video Content in Your Blog Strategy20 mins
- 1.23Getting to Know the Most Popular Social Media Platforms20 mins
- 1.24Discovering Why Podcasts Are Popular20 mins
- 1.25Understanding Why People Blog20 mins
- 1.26Selecting Suitable Topics20 mins
- 1.27Identifying the Basic Elements of a Blog20 mins
- 1.28Understanding Copyright and Fair Use20 mins
- 1.29Finding Out What Makes Niche Blogs Successful20 mins
- 1.30Establishing Yourself as an Expert20 mins
- 1.31Determining the Audience Potential for a Niche Blog20 mins
- 1.32Networking and Commenting20 mins
- 1.33Benefiting from a Corporate or Non-Profit Organization Blog20 mins
- 1.34Creating a Blog Marketing Strategy20 mins
- 1.35Publicizing Your Open Blogger Job20 mins
- 1.36Discovering Tips for Business Blog Success20 mins
- 1.37Understanding Search Engine Reputation Management (SERM)20 mins
- 1.38Considering the Types of Blog Hosts20 mins
- 1.39Comparing Popular Blogging Platforms20 mins
- 1.40Creating a Free Blog at WordPress.com20 mins
- 1.41Reviewing the Blogger Dashboard20 mins
- 1.42Interpreting Keywords20 mins
- 1.43Using Your Blog Data20 mins
- 1.44Sizing Up the Competition20 mins
- 1.45Scheduling Your Work20 mins
- 1.46Being Organized20 mins
- 1.47Handling Comment Moderation20 mins
- 1.48Using Social Networking Sites to Boost Blog Traffic20 mins
- 1.49Curating Content20 mins
Instructor
Free
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