1. Choose a blog name that can also be used as the domain name. Is this necessary. No, but it will greatly improve the marketing success of your blog. Michael at Remarkablogger is one of the few popular bloggers that has ignored this tip, but most top blogs follow this convention.

2. Choose a name that is memorable. Don’t try to get too fancy, but choose a name that will be remembered by your readers. Consider your audience when selecting a memorable name.

3. Find a name that clearly describes your blogging topic. This tip is very important and adds several benefits such as improving search engine results. The name should help readers quickly understand what your blog is about. My favorite example…Blogging Startup, of course.

4. Made-up names are okay, but keep them very short and easy to spell. Two of the top blogs, Engadget and Gizmodo are excellent examples of this tip.

5. Keep the name to as few words as possible, and almost never more than three. This tip is really part of keeping the name memorable. The more words in the name, the more likely the reader is to forget part of the name or confuse a word or two.

6. If the name is also your domain, be sure it is easy to spell. You may be tempted to use unique spelling variations, but your creativity may cause users to forget how to find your blog. Short and simple is best.

7. Choose a name that is easy to pronounce. Tongue twisters are fun, but not when you’re trying to tell a friend about that great blog you read each week. So find a name that rolls off the tongue, not one that ties it in a knot.

8. Consider using a name that is easily converted into a logo. Of course, the more creative the logo designer, the less important this is. But a strong visual name is easily remembered and lends itself to becoming a great logo.

9. Look at the blog names in Technorati’s top 100 to see some naming conventions. You will see that most follow all or most of these quick tips.

10. If you have a short name you want to use, but the domain is taken, consider adding a simple prefix or suffix. For example, if you like Bass Fisher, but the domain is taken…try Big Bass Fisher or Bass Fisher King (both available in .com at this moment).

BONUS TIP: Test the name on friends. Ask at least five different people what they think of the two or three names choices you are considering. But remember, you have the final vote because, hey, you have to live with the name.

So, there you have 10 quick tips for naming your blog. Take the time to find the right name and you will jump start your success. Don’t get stuck with a weak name because you rushed the decision.

[PhotoCredit:BrentandMariLynn]

What topic will you be blogging about? The general consensus is that niche blogging has a better chance of long term success then just random posts about unconnected topics. Read “An Introduction to Niche Blogging” at DoshDosh.com.

Why are you blogging? Knowing the reason(s) you are blogging puts everything else in perspective. Probably the most important question, “For love or money?” Read “14 Awesome Reasons to Start Blogging Today” here at Blogging Startup.

How will you measure success? Once you know why you are blogging, you can set a standard for success. Having a goal will keep you focused and on track. Read “How Do You Measure Blogging Success?” here at Blogging Startup.

What blogging platform will you use? Will you be using an online blogging host or your own domain? You can start a free blog quickly with Blogger, WordPress.com, or LiveJournal, or you can purchase your own domain and hosting to have a truly independent blog. Read “Choosing a Blog Platform” at Problogger.net.

What will you call the blog? Every blog (like every child) needs a name. (Hey, we can’t have nameless children running around!) Choose a name that describes your blog (like BloggingStartup) and, if possible, matches your domain name. Read “Choosing the Domain Name for Your Blog” at Problogger.net.

How will you promote your blog? You might ask, “Do I need to promote my blog?” And I might answer, “No.” But if you want visitors, readers, traffic, guests, friends, money, fame, wealth, and a reason to live…you will promote your blog. Read “10 Surefire Ways to Promote Your Blog for Free” at OneMansGoal.com.

That’s it. Answer those six questions and you are ready to start your blog.

So the answer to the question is NO. You are not obligated to put anyone in your blogroll just because they have done the same. Well, unless you agreed to exchange these links beforehand. So if you’re not obligated to put their link in your blogroll, what should you do when listed in someone’s blogroll?

Of course, the first thing you want to do is visit the blog. When you find out that you are linked in someone’s blogroll, visit the site and read some of the content. If you like what you read, then you might consider putting the blog on your blogroll. It’s not an obligation, but there is no reason to not consider adding a blog you really like.

Then, send the blog owner an email (or at least a comment) thanking them for adding you to their blogroll. If there was an unwritten rule, this should be it. Always thank those that link to your blog.

I strongly believe that blogrolls should reflect the blogs that you read and consider among the best. If I like a blog, I will often check out their blogroll in hopes of finding additional blogging gems.  So put your favorites in your blogroll as a treat for your readers.

[PhotoCredit:Rusvaplauke]

It was fun to be an observer looking in as Michael worked to resolve this problem, but now I’m more than an observer. It seems that BloggingStartup has also entertained more than a couple comments that appear to be more about promoting someone’s website than adding valuable comments. Take, for instance, the last two comments on my April 6th post. The names given for the two commentors were “baccarat” and “Internet Advertising”. I have also had comments from individuals named POS Software, Hairstyles and EPOS in the last couple weeks. They each left comments specific to the post, so I left them alone.

So now the question is, should I continue to allow comments with these names, or should I enforce my policy of no keyword comment names. Hmmm, a real dilemma.

First, let me make a couple points. Number one is, I value each of my readers, including those that push keywords in their comment names. I don’t want to alienate anyone who takes the time to visit my little blog and read my posts. I particularly appreciate each individual that shares their thoughts through commenting. Also, I understand the desire on every bloggers part to promote their blog…and commenting on other blogs is a valuable means for doing this.

But ask Michael said on his blog (and I summarize), when you leave a keyword for your name, it means: “•It makes it difficult for me to respond…•It makes you look like a cheap spammer…•It makes me look cheap….•It simply isn’t appropriate.” So that lead me to make a decision. I decided that I can no longer allow comments to be left with a name that is mearly a keyword to promote your website. The names left on comments must somehow represent who you are. So let me share specifically what I mean and, at the same time, try to be as fair and flexible as possible.

If you use a personal name followed by a branding title, that is fine. For example, I often leave comments using the name Jim|BloggingStartup. This give my personal name and the title of the brand I want to promote. I specifically do not separate the two words in Blogging Startup because I do not want this interpreted as keyword plugging. Other acceptable examples from comments left on this blog include Gina Jackson Personal Fitness and Alex Top 10 Web Hosting Reviews. Although Alex’s name is a borderline example, at least I have a name.

If the name is the FULL name of your blog or website, that is acceptable. I know, this means that individuals will still be able to plug keywords if they are part of the blog name. But I will accept the premise that a blog or website name IS a personal identifier. Acceptable examples I’ve seen on this blog include ABlogContest, IndoContest, EWDirectory, and ExecutedToday. But adding spaces between words and .com on the end only makes it appear to be more advertising then commenting. By the way, I reserve the right to edit your name to comply with this expectation.

If your name is just keywords and not the full name of your blog, I will remove the comment or change the name. This is what I have done with comments in the past and those that I had recently allowed. I have also sent emails to each of the commentors to let them know of this action. If they send me an alternative name to use, I will repost their comment. But in the future, I can’t email everyone about this policy. Besides, any regular blogger should recognize that just using keywords for a name is not appropriate.

One final thing, I almost pulled Aaron Cook’s comments when I found out that he doesn’t even know where the kitchen is in his home. But I’ve decided to leave his comments as an act of solidarity with my blogging brother. Despite the suspect name, the blog is worth a visit.

And if you want to promote your blog (and if it’s no more than a year old) send me an email and ask for a review. There really is no need to stuffing your comment name with a bunch of keywords.

[PhotoCredit:Cambodia4KidsOrg]

• Custom domain name (you choose the name)
• Six months free hosting (~ $50 value)
• Assistance with initial WordPress installation (including theme and plugins)
• Blog review on Blogging Startup
• Two months free advertising on any Blog in the Coryan Network

Even if you already have a blog, here’s an opportunity to find another niche topic. Or, just use the blog as a test site for new themes and plugins. You could even offer the blog as a contest on your own site. Be creative, it could be fun.

And now for the various fun ways to enter. Each of the following activities is a way to enter the contest. The number of entries earned is listed after each activity. You may enter as many times as you want, except as noted below.

• Post about the contest prior to March 7th. (10 entries, 150 word minimum)
• Post a review of Blogging Startup. (10 entries, 250 word minimum)
• Subscribe to the Blogging Startup RSS feed. Current subscribers qualify; just leave me a comment saying you’re subscribed. (3 entries)
• Leave a relevant comment on any post. However, simply announcing that you’ve subscribed or blogged will not earn extra points. So write comments that share opinions, create dialogue, or start a fight…just make it relevant. (1 entry for each comment)
• Add Blogging Startup to your blogroll. (6 entries)

And here are a couple more fun ways to enter. Earn one entry for each correct answer to one of the following questions. All answers are found on this blog.

• Name two of the other blogs in the Coryan Network?
• What was the OFFICIAL launch date for Blogging Startup?
• What is #6 of the 14 Awesome Reasons to Start Blogging Today?
• What is the APADLAAPP?
• When did I publish the post, “Test Drive the WordPress Beta Version”?

And one last way to enter. Complete the following brief paragraph. It should only take a sentence or two. Oh, and don’t assume it’s an easy task. There is a bit of a puzzle involved. Once you’ve figured it out, send me a message with your answer. All correct answers will earn 10 entries.

A blog contest designed effectively feels great. However, I just keep losing my notes outlining prizes…”

If you subscribe, post on your blog, or add BS to your blogroll, be sure to leave a comment on this post letting me know. However, the answers to the five questions and the puzzle should be sent to my through the Blogging Startup comment page. We don’t want to give away the answers.

Finally, all individuals who accumulate at least 15 points will be listed in the prize announcement post with links to their blogs. The contest ends on March 14th. The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries, so even one comment could make you a winner.

A lot of bloggers believe that reader comments are a defining feature of blogging. What would a blog be if there was not discussion and debate? But it is true that regular blog readers can guess at your blog traffic based on the number of comments that are left. Randfish’s concern is that wise readers may not give your blog a chance if they think other readers are not interested.

I believe Randfish is wrong. New blogs need traffic AND dialogue. Readers want to interact with a blog, and comments increase the value of the content. And if content is good, traffic will follow. I’ve have started three blogs with comments on from the very beginning. It is tough seeing a trickling of remarks for the first few weeks. But as traffic increases, so the the comments.

Jeff Atwood at Coding Horror says,

I firmly maintain that a blog without comments enabled is not a blog. It’s more like a church pulpit. You preach the word, and the audience passively receives your evangelical message. Straight from God’s lips to their ears. When the sermon is over, the audience shuffles out of the church, inspired for another week. And there’s definitely no question and answer period afterward.” -From his post, “A Blog Without Comments is Not a Blog.“

So, what do you think? Should a new blog allow comments before the traffic base has been developed?

BTW, do go back and read Randfish’s 20 other strategies for increasing traffic…they are excellent.

[PhotoCredit:jrthoms]