Starting a new blog - GIFs, Images and Email Subscribe advice please

1. The use of images depends on the type of niche that you are. Ideally, it is better to have an image in your post. I read somewhere that the length of the post should determine the number of images. A post with about 2000 words with no image(s) will be kind of boring.

2. You can get started with AWeber and try all their great email marketing features for 30 days for FREE. If the plugin you are referring to is this "WP Email Capture", it has some great reviews from its users. I have not used it before, but you can go through all the reviews to find out all you need to know about this plugin from people that have used it before.

3. The impact of your social media accounts will be greatly felt, if you already have enough content on your site. It is good to enough content on your site so that anyone that visits your site from any of your social media accounts will not be disappointed on arriving on your site.

Again, if you intend to use the social media to drive your website or serve as the engine to your site, it is good to master one social media platform before delving into another or better still concentrate all your efforts on mastering one platform before you even think of another.

On the other hand, if the social media platforms are just having a presence and for connecting purpose, it doesn't hurt to register on the platforms where your audience are likely to congregate.

Just my 2 cents

Hi,

You seem to have a great plan in mind, that's great. I'm just going to say that you should do it step by step and not try to apply everything at once. For example, master email marketing first, before you move on to social media.

It has happened to me in the past. I would try to do everything at once and when I don't see any progress, I would lose motivation to work harder. Focus all your energy on one thing until it works and move to the next.

You didn't mention what would be the purpose of the website. Contrary to what most warriors would say, email marketing may not be suitable for all niches. I am in one niche where selling a product is just a one-off case. After they buy it, they probably won't need to buy anything else, so no use of building an email list in that case.

Building your mailing list and not doing anything with it for a certain period of time (not sending emails) is a very bad idea.

It's not bad because you lose potential gains, it's bad because once you email your subscribers it is very likely that some of them won't remember that they signed up X weeks or months ago to your mailing list and will report your emails as spam.

@madelyndon

A few questions...

How are you obtaining most of the images for your operation?

Creating them yourself?
Purchasing a license?
Fair Use?
Public domain?
CC?
Piracy?
Others?

Please advise...

Thanks,

-don

If you're able to create/render a good GIF image, then use it. They're typically very small in file size, but don't rule out JPG's or even PNG's.

I would get aweber now. Right now it's free for 30 days. Use it. The reliability is good and you already know what you're going to get - versus a Wordpress autoresponder plugin. Start using your Facebook page now. When marketing online, it's not about how "things look". All that matters is if you're making money. Period.

1. I've had more Gif's go viral on Pinterest than images. So, use both if I understand your question correctly.

But yes, you should have images on your site as well.

2. You can get Get Response for FREE for the first month. After that their lowest level is only about $15 per month.

3. You don't need much content at all before you start with social media. If you have longer blog posts of 2k words or more then 5 is enough to start. If you have short posts then 10 or so, which is not much content.

Patrick