Advice on developing a golf blog

[cheapshic]

I've recently had a lot of time made available to me and am trying to start a golf blog site as golf is my passion. Anybody doing the same thing that is establishing themselves? Are affiliate links a no no even if they are genuine?

Thanks in advance guys, bear with the newbie!

 

[madandra]

I find blogs by ordinary people a complete waste of time because there is nothing to get people hooked on it other than you talk about how YOU played today. Sorry but I couldn't think of anything more boring.

Oh, and the fact there are hundreds already live.

 

[cheapshic]

your missing the point a bit, the blog isnt focused on me but is more of an in depth blog on the fundamentals of the golf swing, I may reference myself at times, however I had hopes for it to be an open forum and is in no way a diary of games iv played

 

[Oddsocks]

Affiliate links are liked by search engines, but if the linked site has any issues re spamming etc this can possibly effect your site.

One of my suppliers has their top ten retailers listed (me included) when you log onto their site one of their company links had potential issues so mcafee rated the suppliers site as a potential risk through association.

Not good for end user traffic

 

[bobmac]

Pictures and lots of them.
Short pieces of text followed by a picture etc etc
Nothing puts off a reader more than pages and pages of text.

 

[brendy]

The perfect golf swing in terms of a 100 percent full proof blueprint

First ironic line on your website and I switched off Im afraid. Blogs have been done to death, they always turn into "look at me, no qualifications in golf or whatever but I am right so anything I tell you is generic gospel."

If you have a family, spend more time with them, noone will thank you more.

 

[Oddsocks]

Lol brandy you sarcastic ...........

 

[cheapshic]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, its been duly noted. This might be getting a little of the broader subject of golf, but as far as backlinks are concerned I've just been creating profiles on high ranking forums that I got as part of a highly recommeneded monthly package, is this a good idea? Also if as far as affiliate links, I put a couple that genuinely helped me in to the site, should I be going for ones that I think have a better chance of being like by search engines and if so what kind of golf products would you suggest? Also I would love and welcome any contribution to blog, I dont mind if they are conflicting opinions just as long as its constructive and by all means put in a signature o your site. Moderators stop me now of Im doing anytihing iligitimate lol

 

[bigslice]

you are trying to sell something here, welcome to the forum hope you stay the course, but imo you are pushing your blog to another site to sell something. for that reason COF.

 

[Smiffy]

I love golf. Not as much as I used to, but I still love it. I can't stand reading a "blog" where the person posts once or twice a week and tells you what club he proceeded to hit off of every tee and exactly what club he hit for his approach shot and where the bloody ball went etc. etc.
If anybody came up to me in the clubhouse and started going through their game with me I'd be quick to stop them and say "great. Talk me through your round. Start at the 18th".
Fecking boring.
But of course, nobody does that do they????

 

[cheapshic]

all that shows is that you didnt read mine or my last post on here, does anyone have anything constructive to add? even its negative its more helpful than someone who clearly needs to find another hobby than griping, id really appreciate it

 

[bobmac]

If anybody came up to me in the clubhouse and started going through their game with me I'd be quick to stop them and tell them all about mine

I also think if you want to endear your blog readers, try and avoid phrases like

"The discovery of my perfect golf swing"

"I can tell you from my own experience"

"Let me break it down for you"

and I'm afraid I don't agree with

Just remember the goal is to not have to rely on swing thoughts, just a sound method you’ve devised that works.

Good luck though

 

[richart]

I love golf. Not as much as I used to, but I still love it. I can't stand reading a "blog" where the person posts once or twice a week and tells you what club he proceeded to hit off of every tee and exactly what club he hit for his approach shot and where the bloody ball went etc. etc.
If anybody came up to me in the clubhouse and started going through their game with me I'd be quick to stop them and say "great. Talk me through your round. Start at the 18th".
Fecking boring.
But of course, nobody does that do they????

Don't you start at the 18th and work back to the 1st Smiffy ?

 

[cheapshic]

thanks, any suggestions on how to endear myself, and was there any positives

 

[richart]

Get involved with the banter, and don't take anything too personally. Anyone who joins the forum just to flog something gets quickly outted. Hopefully this is not the case.

 

[cheapshic]

I asked if I should take the affiliate links out but was confirmed in my thinking that the search engine likes these, so I used ones that helped me, its not good press being branded wihout even looking at it, im all for banter, but someone would look at that, say to themselves its a con and not even look, when its peoples opinions that arev essential

 

[surefire]

A few thoughts from me:

Check your grammar. Any errors or typos just make things look unprofessional and put people off.

Think about your content. Saying that there is no one foolproof way to swing a club and then linking to a golf swing "method" being sold, is a little inconsistent.

Perhaps make it clear what you are linking too. Saying "click here" and then making clicking the link the only way for people to find out, may make some people curious, but may make others just not bother.

Also I find artificial SEO not to be that effective long term anyway. Generally the cream tends to rise to the top eventually.

 

[haplesshacker]

Without giving away any of my hard earnt (limited) knowledge. You need to work out why you're doing the blog. Is it to diarise your own golfing exploits, is it to promote another online commercial enterprise, or are you trying to create a discussion group?

 

[cheapshic]

thanks for the advice guys, il be sure to check out your blogs to maybe learn a thing or two

 

[JustOne]

I'd say affiliate links within the text are a no-no, if you want to monetise your site then use adverts that are more 'honest'. If you're in it for the money STOP, there's no point unless £5/month interests you for the next 6 years.
You need to keep posting... nothing is more boring than a blog with 3 posts... once you have 500 posts you will start getting traffic... if you can't write that much then you've chosen to do the wrong thing.

My opinion of course but then I do make a living (just about when I can be bothered) from doing what you are TRYING to do

Hope that helps.