Help
Many people start a blog and then abandon it. To enjoy blogging and create a blog worth reading, keep these tips in mind:
- Determine your focus.
Deciding on a focus for a blog can be a tricky thing. If it’s too broad, readers can’t quite figure out what your blog is about, but if it’s too narrow, you might run out of topics to blog about. If you focus on movie and book reviews, for example, your readers might get confused or turned off if you suddenly start posting political rants. If you specialize in political rants, on the other hand, readers aren’t following your blog to get your favorite lasagna recipe. Pick a focus enough to lend variety to your posts but narrow enough that readers know what to expect.
- Write about topics that matter to you.
Don’t start a blog on a subject you’re lukewarm about, even if you think that subject will bring readers to your blog. Blogging is a long-haul activity, and you’ll lose enthusiasm unless you enjoy thinking and posting about your chosen subject. Readers enjoy blogs in which the blogger’s genuine interest comes through.
- Plan ahead.
When you run out of topics, your blog runs out of steam. Keep a list of topics so you always have an idea or two at hand. If a new topic occurs to you as you write today’s post, add it to the list when you get a chance.
- Make your blog a community.
Readers love blogs where they can interact with the blogger and one another. Let readers post comments (you can moderate them if you want to make sure the discussion doesn’t get out of hand). Invite responses to your post and ask questions. And when someone does leave a comment, reply to it. When your blog feels more like a conversation than a lecture, readers will come back.
- Post frequently.
Some blogging gurus will tell you that you must post each and every day. There are very few “musts” in blogging—and daily posting isn’t one of them. It’s a good idea to post frequently, because frequent posting keeps your blog’s content fresh. But you set your own schedule. Figure out what’s comfortable for you.
- Respect copyrights.
Okay, this one is a must. Don’t steal content for your blog, whether it’s other people’s images or their posts. Use your own photos or find public domain images at a site such as Wikimedia Commons or Public Domain Clip Art. And if you can’t come up with your own content, well, you probably shouldn’t be blogging.
- Proofread before you hit Publish.
Blogs lose their authority when they’re riddled with typos and spelling errors. Use Word’s spelling- and grammar-checking tools to make your post as error-free as possible before you publish it.
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