This is a simple beginner’s guide to writing a blog that is intended to build a readership.
If you were expecting something like the blogger’s version of Stephen King’s ‘On writing’, well, this isn’t it!
A blog-owner wears many hats and ‘writing a blog’ isn’t just about what you put in your posts. It’s the whole shebang and it’s not always easy to find your way when you start your first blog.
Be original
There’s not much point in modelling your blog on an established, successful blog. Find your own niche– one that suits you, excites you and can offer something new or different.
If you’re writing a personal blog about your own family– that’s original by default, because no one has a family like yours. But do try to give even a personal blog a definite focus– this helps create atmosphere and something to ‘hang your blog on’.
Be creative
Just because you don’t see anyone else doing it, doesn’t mean you can’t do it! And it’s fine to write on something unrelated to your blog if you style it towards your readership.
A good writer can find an angle and tone to suit almost any group of people on almost any subject. And you can too.
For example, if you’re writing a photography blog and you’ve just been to see a movie with your favourite actor in it– you could write a post about:
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- how that actor is portrayed in paparazzi/media photographs
- how to take a great quick portrait snap for a fan who unexpectedly comes across a movie star they love
- how you might photograph that actor if you had the opportunity
- the promotion of a specific camera you spotted in the movie
- the Photoshop techniques used in the promotional posters for the movie
Be engaged
If it’s a chore to post to your blog, something’s wrong. Writing a bit of ‘filler’ every day or week isn’t going to do anyone any favours, least of all you.
Do whatever you need to do to keep your blog fresh and your passion alive.If a blog no longer excites you– reinvent it, bring new people in, sell it… or walk away from it.
Be careful if you choose to sell a blog. Your name, photos and content may be all over your blog and can be used by the new blog owner in a way that you did not intend. Also, there may be potential in your blog that you left sitting on the table– be prepared to kick yourself if you sell and someone else makes a success of it.Be realistic
Yes ‘content is king’, but this term tends to be endlessly buzzing about the web like blowflies in the Australian summer.
What is great content to one group of people is waffle or even incomprehensible to another.
Write content that suits you, your blog and your readership.Some blogs consist of nothing but short, snappy reviews. For web users looking for a specific item, a quick review might be the bees-knees in terms of information.
And don’t believe that great content will always win. It will not. If Google can’t find you and if potential readers can’t find you, your wonderful content will go unread.
After all, an amazing book in a box under your bed might well be amazing, but how many people visit the murky underbelly of your bed each day?
If you’re unwilling to promote your blog in any way and if you’re unwilling to write content that matches your blog, your content might not find a readership.Be thorough
Check your blog posts for sloppy spelling and goofy grammar.
Its definately true that people writing posts about mispellings will offen have mistakes in they’re own posts!
(Of course, you spotted the incorrect spelling and grammar in the line above didn’t you? There are five instances.)
For some readers, mistakes will detract from their reading experience and may lead them to hold what you say in less regard.
(Personally, I’m far more interested in what a person has to say than focusing on spelling and grammar, but I find that a truckload of mistakes will make an article difficult to read. I do check my own posts carefully, but I’m quite sure that even then an error slips through now and then!)
If you have trouble in this area, don’t agonise over your posts– your content is more important. Always run a grammar/spellcheck or have someone who is great at grammar proof read your posts in turn for you doing something for them that you’re great at.Be accurate
Maybe blogging isn’t journalism, but you’re still putting information out there for the masses.
And maybe blogging doesn’t often consist of reports, but you’re still documenting some kind of information– even if you’re just talking about your predilection for coloured paper clips.
If in doubt, research it. Don’t take anything you read at face value. Remember that other people may have it wrong, so don’t go on their information without finding out from the original source first.
Admit mistakes and fix them quickly.Be real
These days, blogs that review or promote products and services are thick in the woods.
If your article is an advertorial, say so.
If you’re reviewing something, be honest about whether you’ve actually used the item or service yourself, and tell what you really thought of it.
A blogger can add a voice that is ‘real’ to the advertising world, and it’s important to keep that integrity alive.
A sign of the times article: Parenting Blogs May Be Be Held Liable For Product ReviewsBe true
You can’t please everyone.
You can’t believe in everything that others believe in.
You can’t trust in everything that others trust in.
You can’t be passionate for everything that others are passionate for.
You can change your mind, you can grow, you can learn and you can expand your horizons– but it’s important to stay true to yourself along the way.
Write what you’re compelled to write, not what you think you should be writing.This entry was posted on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 7:12 pm and is filed under Bloggers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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interesting I had no idea it was so easy to creat a blog nor how to get started but I became quite interested and will look into it in the near future,
cheers