One of the great advantages of being a blog writer (author) and a blog reader (viewer) is the fact that there are few hard and fast rules about what a blog has to look like, say, deliver, and accomplish.
Every blog is a little bit different and unique.
Some actually go way out on a limb and try to be extremely different to the point of overstepping the boundaries of good writing.
Nonetheless, blogs are a form of digital expression and learning.
By their very nature they are personal, custom, and a reflection of the blogger's preferences and wishes.
If you have ever considered starting a blog, let me suggest some ideas that will help you to be successful. These are not like the Ten Commandments, set it stone and the basis of human conduct.
They're simply my ideas of things that will help you be a better blogger.
1. First, determine the purpose for your blog. What do you want to accomplish?
What niche are you writing about? Who are your perfect customers or viewers?
By defining the basics up front, you will be in a great position to be clear about blog topics, where to promote, and who the customers are you're going after.
2. Be careful with your choice of blog software and hosting. Many bloggers start out with free blogs hosted by one of the large blog aggregators. That's a viable choice but it will limit your blog design and ability to customize the features you want.
It will also give you a blog address (URL) that will be a sub-domain of another company.
Some feel that having a sub-domain means you're just after a "cheap and temporary (free) solution" and that you may not be given the credibility that you really want.
3. Choose a very specific and targeted topic and stick with it. Most readers aren't interested in general information. They want to dig deep down into a niche and find very item specific details that not everyone has access to.
By being focused and highly targeted, you will do better in the search engines for the targeted key words that define what you do and what you talk about.
4. Keep up with the news and happenings in your niche and tell your readers about them. Most people that will be interested in a deep niche will also have some knowledge in the subject and will know if you're just trying to "blow smoke" and appear as an industry expert.
In addition, some readers will rely on you to give them their daily dose of industry news and opinion – that is, if you're good at delivering.
People are generally in a hurry and don't have time to read a dozen blogs every day even though they might like to. These people could bookmark your blog and get everything they want to know from you, their sole source!
5. Be credible. If you are talking about a public issue, make sure you know enough about it to have your own opinions and insight.
No one is interested in reading something that other people figured out long ago and already dissected in other media.
If you are talking about books, or music, or movies, make sure you've read them, heard it, and seen it.
If you talk about products, it would be helpful to have used them. You get the idea – don't fake your experience.
6. Commit to consistency. Blogging takes time and effort. The best bloggers are all consistent, blog often, and keep their readers informed if they're going to be absent (on vacation, away on business, etc) for any length of time.
Old news is nothing more than stale history. Readers want the latest, the newest, the trends, the breaking headlines in the industry.
We'll finish up these suggestions in the final installment (Part 3).
