Fabian Tan asked:
Statistics show that there are hundreds of thousands of blogs being created everyday, which is not at all surprising. With all the software, tutorials and blogging tips easily available on the internet, launching a blog and getting it up and running is relatively easy.
Yet, if you pick any one niche and study a cross section of blogs in that niche, you will find that some blogs are wildly successful while some of the others are struggling to survive. So what is it that determines the success of a blog? Surprisingly, it’s the small things that count- the intangibles that you cannot quite put a finger but they are there and they keep readers coming back for more. While you may have read hundreds of blogging tips here is one that you would do well to think about when launching your own blog.
Keep your Blog Personal & Warm
Visiting a state of art blog that is immaculately designed but devoid of personality and warmth and very rarely updated, is like walking through a museum with some fabulous works of art. You’ve seen it once and while you may want to go back and re-visit one more time you are hardly likely to go back and visit every so often unless the museum has acquired a new masterpiece.
However, a blog that is designed to draw the readers in with warm welcoming words and interesting, content that is constantly updated- in other words, a blog with a heart- is likely to have readers coming back time and again if nothing else for the huge feel-good factor. Soft words, a soothing voice and a warm welcome are what most readers look for. A virtual cup of coffee would be good too.
So let your competition read all the blogging tips they want. If you are planning on launching a blog in a niche that is overcrowded you now know the secret that will help you outlast any competition.
Billy Ojai asked:
Blogging Tips
Even though the internet is a fast paced environment and its getting harder and harder for the average blogger to keep up with it all, fortunately, some blog strategies have remained the same. Here’s a reminder, along with a few blog tips.
Posting Tips
Avoid large blocks of text
Be sure to break up your article into readable bites. Most people who use the internet are scanners. So make sure you use descriptive headings within your post to catch their eye. Keep it focused and as short as possible. Try and find a picture that is relevant, to place within your article.
Check Your Spelling and Editing
Misspelling words even happens with the pros and they are given a certain amount of leeway. But for unknown writers it is a stab at their credibility. It looks as if you don’t really care, so why should your reader?
Post Regularly
Try and set a regular posting rhythm. Not only will you keep your regular visitors interested, you will also keep the interest of the search engines and their bots. Fresh content equals better search engine rankings and more visitors.
Make Sure Your Post Titles Are What they Say They Are
The search engines read them and then sort and rank them accordingly. That is what is offered up to people who are searching for that particular information. Don’t let either of them down.
Include A Signature and A Post Date
Contrary to what you may believe, your posts are not always timeless. Letting your reader know when your article was posted also lets them know how long you have been at it and can give you more credibility. Your signature lets them know exactly who wrote the post.
Other Blog Tips
Include An Author Bio and Picture.
People like to put a face on the writer and their bio gives them a sense of what they are all about. Now unless you are writing exclusively about yourself and your life, don’t put out too much personal information. Once you post it out there on the net, it’s pretty much out there for good. Even if you decide to delete information later, there are ways for other people to recapture it
Bad Links
Nothing is more frustrating to your visitor when they click on a link that takes them nowhere, or when they are redirected to something completely else.
Keep You Blog Focused
Don’t try to be everything to everybody. Just focus on your targeted audience.
Your RSS Button
Be sure to have one, and that it is easy to find.
Sidebar Content And Links
Keep everything relevant. Studies have shown that offering too many choices to your readers is too confusing and they are less likely to click on them.
The Overall Best Blog Strategy
Own Your Own Domain Name
There are many services that host your blog and give you a domain name for free, and that’s a great opportunity to get started. But what about down the road? Its always best to own your own domain name and pay for inexpensive hosting. This way you will retain control over your content and internet destiny, not someone else.
Follow these basic blog tips and strategies, and then improve on them. If you want to be successful at anything, remember the basics and keep learning!
Be Fearless
Billy Ojai
TJ Philpott asked:
If making money is your goal, here are 5 vital blogging tips to insure your blog has a solid foundation from which it can grow.
1) Have knowledge or a Passion to Learn
If you don’t have some knowledge of or at least a passion to learn more about the material you’re blogging about it will be difficult to add content to your blog. Your knowledge or passion will be the motivation needed to continually post content that is both interesting and useful to your readers. It will also make your posting routine more enjoyable and less like work.
2) Establish a domain name
It is recommended that you purchase your ‘own’ domain name. The cost is minimal and and it will look more legitimate to your visitors. Also your domain will be more highly regarded by the online advertising networks, many of which will not accept sites without their own domain names.
You’ll also want to have your site hosted as opposed to a free site since this gives you total control of the site. A site hosted by for instance Google or wordpress can be shut down at any time due to any activity they view as a violation of their policies.
3) Keep Your Content Current
The more frequent you post to your blog the better. Your posts should remain fresh to encourage visitors to return while attracting new readers as well. Think of it as breathing air into the life lungs of the blog.
4) Identify with Your Readers
Be sure to cater to the interests of your readers by responding to and acting upon their comments. With the ability to interact with your visitors thru the comments they leave comes the opportunity for you to know them better. What is it they want to read about? What problems may they have that you can assist them with? Don’t ignore your readers; speak TO them not AT them. Their appreciation of this will be reflected by them continually returning to your blog.
5) Setting up a Money Making Blog
If you’re interested in making money by blogging, there are ways to optimize your blog to accomplish this. The use of banner ads that reflect products you may want to sell is a very popular and passive way to earn an income. Please note that by representing or promoting multiple products or services will diversify your income opportunities. Expecting to make a living with just one product is unrealistic. Google adsense, affiliate products, and other online advertisers looking for viable ad space are some of the more popular ways to monetize a blog, but by no means do the opportunities stop there.
I hope these basic yet vital blogging tips have given you a definitive direction in which to take your blog. Also remember to blog about something your interested in. The point is to make this experience enjoyable not only for your readers, but also for you!