Tips that save time.
(Here’s the deal. Things you’ll find inside this post: a list of 6 sites where you can create free blogs and then use them to get backlinks to your main site.)
This is the third part already. Previously in this series on how to get backlinks to your blog / online business we covered article directories and web 2.0 sites. To get the full view of the issue we’re talking about here make sure to check that out if you haven’t already.
The name “free blogs” is pretty self-explanatory. There’s simply a number of sites that give you the possibility to create, and then host a blog, all free of charge. Those blogs can be used in any possible way … just like a normal blog.
Pros and cons of free blogs
The default approach is to create a blog as part of the service’s main domain name. So, for example, your free blog’s address could look something like this: mysite.wordpress.com. This gives you one big benefit…
The domains of the most popular services (like wordpress.com) have a strong position in the search engines, and solid authority. Some of that authority will be naturally transferred to your new blog giving it a head start in the search engines – which is a good thing.
On the other hand, there’s one downside to this. You don’t actually own the blog you’ve created. Because it sits on the main site’s domain name, the administrator can shut you down whenever he pleases, without any warning.
That being said, as it turns out this isn’t a serious issue if you’re using those blogs only as a supplemental real estate for your main website. In case a free blog goes down you just create another one.
That is the main reason why you should never use a free blog as the base of your online business. You need to have full control over your website, domain, and hosting. Being in a position where one person can shut your whole business down because of a bad day they’re having is a losing position.
That’s why I advice you to use free blogs purely as a way of reaching new audiences and spreading the word about the things you’re offering.
(Note. You can actually buy a normal domain name and connect it with a free blog, so it has a unique address instead of just sitting on a sub-domain, but I don’t really see the value in this. If you’re going to buy a unique domain name you should host it yourself too.)
How to get backlinks from free blogs
… and how not to.
The actual content you publish on those blogs is up to you. But don’t think that you can achieve great results with duplicate content. It’s much better to find a unique angle in your field (niche), write some entries about it and publish them on free blogs.
Remember, what you’re doing is spreading the word about your services (or main content) through free blogs, and as an additional benefit you get to link to your main site. The key phrase here is “additional benefit”. You get to link to your site after you’ve provided some interesting content.
Sorry, there are no tricks here … if you want to get anything out of this SEO game you still need to be able to provide some nice content. Free blogs are just tools, it’s up to you if you use them right.
6 free blog sites worth using
There are two leaders in this field: WordPress.com and Blogger.com. They are both highly respected in the search engines (Blogger is actually owned by Google) and they both have massive communities and host thousands of blogs.
If you have time to create only two free blogs then WordPress and Blogger are the places to go. I, personally, like WordPress better. It’s a much friendlier interface, hundreds of plugins, and a real 21 century and web 2.0 feel … Blogger seems a little outdated if you ask me.
3. http://www.livejournal.com/
7. http://www.typepad.com/ (bonus; paid after the trial ends)
The series is not over yet, so tune in for the next part – it’s coming soon. Feel free to subscribe to my RSS feed or email updates to get the posts delivered to you the minute they are created.
Also, feel free to comment and let me know if you know of other free blog sites that would be worth mentioning here.
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I have a few blogger blogs, but have been urged to get a wordpress, self hosted site.
I’ve just done it (the site in my link) so it’s quite new and still being worked on. I tell you, it’s the hardest thing I’ve EVER done. At present I don’t even know how to get into my html page – I’ll learn though. I’m a writer, not a tech person, so this sort of information is actually very helpful to me.
Thanks for the comment. By the way, if you want to get to the HTML structure of your blog you can do it from your WordPress admin panel (Appearance > Editor). And good luck with your new site!
Having a backlink from a small standalone web 2.0 is nice, but having a backlink from a web 2.0 property that is nicely established with its own backlinks as well as internal activity is even better!
A well established web 2.0 blog with its roots all over (activity with other hosted blogs) receiving link power from the main domain usually has like 100x the effect of just a lone web 2.0 property from my experience.
You’re 100% correct, Richard. There’s nothing I can add. 🙂
Fantastic site. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your effort!
I also found some .edu sites that you can post a backlink in. Does google still find more value in .edu backlinks?
I believe they do.
so what the different free blog from website 2.0 from you list from your previous post?
can you tell me?
The way that the site is constructed. Free blogs are constructed to provide a friendly way of blogging, web 2.0 sites are a friendly way of creating any website.
This is a great idea and am just now going to take this idea and implement it. So would it be a good idea to create backlinks to the free blogger sites as well to give those backlinks more authority?
Sure, building backlinks to your network of free sites is always a good idea.