Blogging Tips

The word "blog" comes from the phrase "Web Log". It was born as a place online to "log" your thoughts (often like a diary), and can include pictures, videos, helpful tips, links to exciting websites and more. Use your blog to express yourself fully. Have fun with it. The sky is the limit. - Create!

Decide whether you want your blog to be more like a diary or more like a newspaper. You'll see both types out there and some look like a little of both. If you define what it is you want to do with it, ideas will come to you faster.

Update your blog daily or at the least, every few days. People like to see fresh content and it gives them something to look forward to if you're writing a good blog and you have interesting things to say on a daily basis. If you haven't updated your blog in weeks, your visitors are likely to lose interest.

Jazz up your blog! I see too many blog sites out there that just look incredibly bland. While I like reading them, sometimes I wish the designs were more captivating. Add some color, create some pictures, incorporate fun plug ins, videos and links to other websites.

Let your personality come through your writing and attempt to connect with the reader. The best way you can do this is to write as if you're speaking to that person right in front of you. This way, it will come off more natural than contrived. Your blog posts will definitely be more interesting if they can connect with you on a personal level.

When you first start your blog, you need to decide how visible you want it to be. Many of the blogging sites have settings that allow you to set who is able to read your blog. For example if you just want your family and friends to see what you are writing, then set it to that feature. If you want the whole world to be able to read it then you can set it so that everyone can read it.

If you decide you want your blog to be read by anyone who stumbles across it on the Internet, consider the privacy of yourself and anyone you may mention in your blog. It might not be a good idea to call yourself or any family members by name, or mention who you work for, if you are ranting about your family or employer. You never know who may figure out who is writing the blog!

Once you pick a topic for your blog – stick to it. If you are going to do a political blog, don’t throw in random entries about shopping. This will allow you to gain and keep readers. They will be able to tell what the blog is about and they will determine if it is something that they want to come back and read.

If you are going to do a public blog, leave it open to comments. Allow your readers to feel as though they are involved. It’s even better if you can comment on the comments you receive.

Have an “about me” section so that you can tell your readers a little about you. If you are doing a blog on, lets say chemistry, your “about me” section should show your background in chemistry – where you studied, worked etc. This will give you some validity with your readers so that they know they are getting accurate information from you.

Quote your sources. If you mention something in your blog that you read somewhere else, post a link to what you read so that your readers can read it as well.

Be sure your blog is easy to navigate. Have buttons and links in order and make sure it's laid out in a practical and intuitive manner. Use shortcuts when needed and read your blog objectively now and then in a manner that someone else would read it. This might help you find errors or something about the layout you might have missed.

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Have a few friends read your blog from time to time and give you their opinions and/or constructive criticisms. They might even have ideas for your blog. Keep an open mind as two heads (or 3 or 4) are better than one.

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