25 Blogging Tips You Need To Learn Today
Posted by on July 17, 2013
Blogging is a fun way to express your thoughts and a great way to
share your passion. Success in blogging means hard work and a whole lot
of patience. Like in any other field, success comes to those who are
open to learning. The best way to improve your blogging skills is to tap
into the knowledge from people who are already successful.
The insights from people who have done it before is very valuable and has been tried and tested. Here are twenty five tips from twenty five bloggers you’ll probably want to implement today.
“I have been blogging for many years now and at first not so
successfully If I could give one tip to anyone new to blogging it would
be this: Write, write, and write some more. In the early days of
blogging for me, I found writing hard – so I didn’t post as often as I
should have at times, and I regret that. I spent a lot of time worrying
about what people would think about my topic, or that someone else had
covered it better, or any type of self doubt scenario you can think of.
Staring at a blank page unable to write anything was a familiar setting.
Over the years though I did write more and more – every time I wrote an article I grew a little more – I found my voice a little more – I was able to think up great topics and research them a little better. Once you find your voice you will know it, and your audience will to. Engaging and connecting with your readers through your writing is crucial to growing an audience and standing out from the rest. These days writing is much easier for me and I actually enjoy writing a lot (and a few people have actually mentioned that they like it too. I enjoy being able to help inspire and teach people online through my writing, it is more than just a blog – its a passion! So keep writing, the internet needs you!”
4
Blogging isn’t like taking a walk in the park. Even seasoned bloggers
knew this. Posting frequency, getting/keeping readership, having
constant flow of ideas, motivation/inspiration – are few vital things to
take prime care of. You have to be passionate, persistent and at the
same time, you have to stay versatile and let enough room for
development. Blog on stuffs you find moving rather than emulating what
others are doing. Whatever your niche, try to be unique as much as
possible, give your blog a life, give it a voice, survive hard, and most
importantly have fun too!
Utilize the social networks for good results. Concentrate on the big three: Twitter, Facebook, Google+. Connect with fellow bloggers, engage with them, and promote their content consistently to make your blog’s announcement. Reciprocity is the key here. Keep in mind, limit self-promotion. More over, Whether you blog 3 times/day or 1/week, always follow a schedule to let your readers know you’re here to stay. Forget SEO, for starters, priority should be on providing quality content.
The most helpful advice I’ve ever received as a blogger came from my friend and mentor Mark Schaefer.
I’d been writing regular posts as a columnist for him, and he was happy
with them, but thought I could do more to distinguish myself as a
writer. “You’re reporting,” he said, “and it’s great for my blog, but
that’s not how you’ll make a name for yourself.” His challenge for me:
“write posts that only you can write.” So I dug deep, and wrote a post on the dark side of social networking.
It generated nearly 100 comments (the first of my posts to attract that
kind of engagement), and people shared it all over the web. The New York Times
even mentioned it! So, my advice for new bloggers is this: there’s only
one you. Find your voice and your passion, then don’t be afraid to
share it. Some people won’t like it, but that just means they’re not
your audience. Be real. Be you. Be really you.
The best advice I learned when I was new was to not follow any of the
blogging “rules.” I’m so glad took that advice. If there are blogging
rules, I may break them all but I think doing things your own way is
best. Don’t worry about hitting the publish button, just get started and
get writing. I think people worry too much about getting started and
give themselves writer’s block before they even start. Your blog might
not be perfect when you start but cut yourself some slack and don’t
compare yourself to more established blogs. Be original and have fun!
My advice for a new blogger would be to focus on headlines. Writers
spend so much time and energy focused on developing their distinctive
voice and point-of-view yet many don’t stop to realize that readers
won’t read their stuff. I’ll relate how I came to this realization: for
the first six months that I was blogging I used an online tool that
purported to measure the resonance of any given title. One day I wrote a
rather matter-of-fact piece, brandished it with a rather matter-of-fact
title and it had wider readership and reach than anything that I had
done previously. I realized that by trying to finesse my titles, I
wasn’t communicating succinctly or clearly about what the piece was
about.
Now I rely on my intuition to craft clear headlines that will compel readers to click. I craft them first and sometimes won’t even write an article if I can’t generate interest with the headline I may not write the article. I know that I’ve written a compelling headline when people are responding to the headline on Twitter or Facebook without reading the article.
Keep in mind a blog – even a company blog – shouldn’t be used as a
sales platform. I understand some will use it to showcase their
products, and services but ultimately it should play a supporting role
in your online presence. I like keeping the tone on a personal level.
Again you are not selling your services here; you should be introducing
readers to your brand, company, and the people that are driving that
brand.
I personally like to write the way I speak, in order to create conversations. One advice most newbies will ignore is responding to comments. Make sure the comments come from legitimate users and not spam. It’s hard to differentiate between the two, since they (spammers) have become pretty sophisticated. But take the time to look at the URL they are coming from. I know you want to approve all of them in order to look like your blog is popular…but don’t do it. In conclusion mix things up, don’t just write great content, make great videos, share great conversations, and keep it coming monthly. Don’t stop, it takes a while but very well worth your time!
Just getting past the anxiety about ‘Can I do this’ may the biggest
hurdle you overcome when starting a blog. I assure you, you can do it.
Everything from “Do I use WordPress theme or is Blogger the way to go”
to “What is SEO” can be so overwhelming. But, none of that will matter
if you don’t have a clear vision for your blog. Of course just about
everything has been blogged about, so define your niche. What do you
love? What is your passion?What do you know that sets you apart? And
most importantly, what won’t you get bored with after a few months?
What do you want your blog to accomplish?
a) Do you want to inspire your readers? b) Do you want to educate them? c) Do you want to share your expertise? d) Is your goal to have fun or to make money?
How often will you post?
a) Once a week? b) Twice a week? c) What day? What time?
What will you post?
a) Short snippets and paragraphs? b) Photos and/or videos c) Will you have guest bloggers?
You get the idea. No matter what you decide above all else, you have to be consistent. Consistency is the holy grail of blogging.
Edit your post before you hit the publish button. It doesn’t matter
if you are new to blogging or whether you are a veteran, you need to
make sure your words makes sense and your spelling and grammar is
correct. If you are unsure, have someone you trust read your article
with a critical eye and offer editing suggestions to make sure your post
is worth reading and sharing by your target audience. All great writers
have editors working with them.
Aside from editing your written post, it is also imperative that if you use video as a main component of your blog to have a trusted colleague watch your video before you post it publicly. Is the information on your video accurate? Are there any technical issues? Does it flow properly and tell a story? It is important to share content that is relevant and well made. You only have one chance to make make a positive first impression. Don’t blow it by sharing mediocre content.
We’ve had our site up for 3 years now and it’s still a WIP (work in
progress). I’m still learning but there are a few things I know to be
true! Be yourself! Write like you talk and in YOUR voice. Don’t try to
be someone you aren’t. It’s easier to do when you’re blogging about what
you love. Find YOUR niche and stand out it in it by being YOU. Be
consistent. Give readers a reason to come back! Post frequently when you
have GOOD content to share. No posting just to post!
Build relationships! Respond to your readers questions and comments. Take time to interact with readers on your social media networks, like Twitter and Facebook. Visit their blogs and leave a comment. Just get started and GROW as you GO. There will always be more to learn, new tricks, new tools, and something “shiny” you need to have, hold, or install. Just jump in! The magic is in the action! And most of all, HAVE FUN!
My number one tip for new bloggers is to become very active in social
media. People are more likely to read and recommend your blog if they
feel they know you or something about you. So build online relationships
with key people, brands and other bloggers that are involved in your
areas of interest. Follow them on Twitter, friend them on Facebook,
comment on their posts and participate in their conversations. Every
time you do, you are exposing yourself to their audience and letting
people know who you are. Don’t just say “Hey, read my new blog”. Social
media is SOCIAL so be sociable… and remember to keep your profile up to
date
As a new blogger, your goal is to provide quality information that
people are searching for. And how you catch their attention is by using
an inverted pyramid style of writing.In this style, the most important
points of your blog post are stated first. You present your key points
and conclusion in the first paragraph. Then, you provide background
info and supporting details in subsequent paragraphs.
The 5W’s of Who, What, Where, When, and Why are written in order of
importance in your post. The focused data is the point of the pyramid.
The rest is to build the base, which includes your personal story,
quotes, statistics, and other information that validates you as an
expert. Readers often scan rather than read. Therefore, this style
caters to your future readers, as you organize your thoughts
effectively, and present your key details up front. Writing that engages
readers with info-rich content, will entice them to read your whole
post, and keep them coming back.
Whether you’re a novice blogger or are reading this list because you
know most of the writers and tips highlighted here (and just want to be
polite), you’ve got room to grow when it comes to sharing via your
posts. We all do…
A successful blogger is someone who sneaks a peek at other successful blogs, particularly those that write about similar topics. Sure, you know your audience, but that’s today, and your audience changes as they consume (and produce) content in a shifting landscape. Heed advice and learn to shift with them. Can you tighten up your writing, or simplify your blog’s layout? Can you learn to incorporate other media along with the typical text and images? If you take your own photos, are you an expert at snapping memorable, moving shots?
Never stop looking for ways to improve on what you know, so you can meet and exceed your readers’ expectations for content. Every awesome blog grew incrementally, along with the skills of its writer. You can do this, too. On top of committing time to blog weekly (or more often if possible), consider dedicating time to reading lists like this, subscribing to blogging improvement sites like PodJam, and perusing trending blog lists like Technorati. If time and budget allows, join other earnest bloggers in improvement sessions at blogging conferences like BlogWorld once a year. You’ll get the support you need to stay focused and fresh.
2
It is not hard to find good topics to write about for your blog or
website. Most business owners have an abundance of challenges or
products that they think customers want to know more about.
However, the challenge is finding topics that people actually care about
and search. Let me explain very candidly — we are all victims of the
belief that we understand our customers and prospects. It is sometimes
true, but most often, we miss the mark by just a tiny amount and our
blogs and websites suffer. Search engine results can tell you if you are
on target or not for any keyword. Google offers a free tool that is
aimed at helping you determine what keywords your audience will click,
if you buy an ad on Google also known as Adwords. But that tool, even
though it is to help you buy pay-per-click advertisements from Google —
is also useful for figuring out if people are searching for your topic.
You do not have to buy Adwords ads to use the tool — just go to the main
Adwords page to signup. Once you do, you can get access to a variety of
tools, but the one that will help you find the terms that people
actually search for is called the Keyword Tool.
It is fairly intuitive to use — you enter a word or phrase that you think is the one customers are searching. It will tell you approximately how many and then below that it will suggest other keywords and phrases that have more (or less) search volume. I rarely write an article or blog post without first consulting the Google Keyword Tool.
As a new blogger it may seem like everyone else
knows what they’re doing and you’re just trying to catch up. It’s
difficult to know everything, though, so don’t be afraid to ask smart
questions. Social media is social and the number of people who are
willing to help will astound you. Social media also gives you access to
the insights, tutorials, and thoughts of many who graciously share their
knowledge for free. One of the greatest things about blogging is that
you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. By following hashtags, searching
for key words or just asking questions on Twitter or Google+, you’ll
find that people are willing to help you succeed.
The insights from people who have done it before is very valuable and has been tried and tested. Here are twenty five tips from twenty five bloggers you’ll probably want to implement today.
Over the years though I did write more and more – every time I wrote an article I grew a little more – I found my voice a little more – I was able to think up great topics and research them a little better. Once you find your voice you will know it, and your audience will to. Engaging and connecting with your readers through your writing is crucial to growing an audience and standing out from the rest. These days writing is much easier for me and I actually enjoy writing a lot (and a few people have actually mentioned that they like it too. I enjoy being able to help inspire and teach people online through my writing, it is more than just a blog – its a passion! So keep writing, the internet needs you!”
4
“Blogging is fun but requires a lot of work” – A.R. Karthick
Utilize the social networks for good results. Concentrate on the big three: Twitter, Facebook, Google+. Connect with fellow bloggers, engage with them, and promote their content consistently to make your blog’s announcement. Reciprocity is the key here. Keep in mind, limit self-promotion. More over, Whether you blog 3 times/day or 1/week, always follow a schedule to let your readers know you’re here to stay. Forget SEO, for starters, priority should be on providing quality content.
Now I rely on my intuition to craft clear headlines that will compel readers to click. I craft them first and sometimes won’t even write an article if I can’t generate interest with the headline I may not write the article. I know that I’ve written a compelling headline when people are responding to the headline on Twitter or Facebook without reading the article.
The number one tip I can give new bloggers is to
create an outline before starting to actually write a new blog post.
The outline should contain two things: what major result you want
readers to receive from reading your post and then what points you
address to help readers achieve this result.
When you sit down to actually write your post, flesh out each point in as much detail as you need and then go back and write your introduction paragraph(s) and closing paragraph(s). From there, it becomes easier to create a title for your post too. Simply focus on the end result you want your readers to achieve. Following this structure will help you not only dramatically help you overcome writer’s block and decrease the time required to write an individual post but you’ll likely find the readability of your posts increases as well!
When you sit down to actually write your post, flesh out each point in as much detail as you need and then go back and write your introduction paragraph(s) and closing paragraph(s). From there, it becomes easier to create a title for your post too. Simply focus on the end result you want your readers to achieve. Following this structure will help you not only dramatically help you overcome writer’s block and decrease the time required to write an individual post but you’ll likely find the readability of your posts increases as well!
I personally like to write the way I speak, in order to create conversations. One advice most newbies will ignore is responding to comments. Make sure the comments come from legitimate users and not spam. It’s hard to differentiate between the two, since they (spammers) have become pretty sophisticated. But take the time to look at the URL they are coming from. I know you want to approve all of them in order to look like your blog is popular…but don’t do it. In conclusion mix things up, don’t just write great content, make great videos, share great conversations, and keep it coming monthly. Don’t stop, it takes a while but very well worth your time!
What do you want your blog to accomplish?
a) Do you want to inspire your readers? b) Do you want to educate them? c) Do you want to share your expertise? d) Is your goal to have fun or to make money?
How often will you post?
a) Once a week? b) Twice a week? c) What day? What time?
What will you post?
a) Short snippets and paragraphs? b) Photos and/or videos c) Will you have guest bloggers?
You get the idea. No matter what you decide above all else, you have to be consistent. Consistency is the holy grail of blogging.
Aside from editing your written post, it is also imperative that if you use video as a main component of your blog to have a trusted colleague watch your video before you post it publicly. Is the information on your video accurate? Are there any technical issues? Does it flow properly and tell a story? It is important to share content that is relevant and well made. You only have one chance to make make a positive first impression. Don’t blow it by sharing mediocre content.
Build relationships! Respond to your readers questions and comments. Take time to interact with readers on your social media networks, like Twitter and Facebook. Visit their blogs and leave a comment. Just get started and GROW as you GO. There will always be more to learn, new tricks, new tools, and something “shiny” you need to have, hold, or install. Just jump in! The magic is in the action! And most of all, HAVE FUN!
A successful blogger is someone who sneaks a peek at other successful blogs, particularly those that write about similar topics. Sure, you know your audience, but that’s today, and your audience changes as they consume (and produce) content in a shifting landscape. Heed advice and learn to shift with them. Can you tighten up your writing, or simplify your blog’s layout? Can you learn to incorporate other media along with the typical text and images? If you take your own photos, are you an expert at snapping memorable, moving shots?
Never stop looking for ways to improve on what you know, so you can meet and exceed your readers’ expectations for content. Every awesome blog grew incrementally, along with the skills of its writer. You can do this, too. On top of committing time to blog weekly (or more often if possible), consider dedicating time to reading lists like this, subscribing to blogging improvement sites like PodJam, and perusing trending blog lists like Technorati. If time and budget allows, join other earnest bloggers in improvement sessions at blogging conferences like BlogWorld once a year. You’ll get the support you need to stay focused and fresh.
2
“Consult with Google Keyword Tools” – TJ McCue
It is fairly intuitive to use — you enter a word or phrase that you think is the one customers are searching. It will tell you approximately how many and then below that it will suggest other keywords and phrases that have more (or less) search volume. I rarely write an article or blog post without first consulting the Google Keyword Tool.
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