How To Become A Better Blogger

October 5th, 2006 · by Sonnie · Ask Sonnie, Blogging, Pers. Social Responsibility, Self Help

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As I am browsing my mails, I found this interesting post from my weekly techrepublic newsletter. The items shared are both practical value adding and helpful for bloggers and about to be bloggers everywhere.

If nobody bothers to read your blog posts, you might as well just scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin. But if you truly want to share your ideas and opinions, check out these pointers for crafting an engaging blog and building a loyal following.

The Internet made it possible for anyone to publish content to a worldwide audience. The Web log, or blog format, has made it easier and more convenient. But all blogs are not created equal. Some draw an eager following and others languish in obscurity. Regardless of your reason for blogging, you can make your blog better, more readable and–if it’s what you want–more popular.

1: Define your purpose

The first step in creating a better blog is to ask yourself why you’re blogging. What’s the purpose of your blog? An important element in defining your purpose is to know your audience. That will help you determine the voice and writing style that’s appropriate for those you’re addressing.In keeping with your blog’s purpose, you should have a defined theme.

2: Create visual appeal

Content isn’t the only thing that matters. Your blog site should also be visually appealing, or at least visually neutral. You don’t want to scare away prospective readers or have them leave in frustration because the page is distracting or unreadable.

3: Use the proper tools

You can create a blog using any WYSIWYG HTML editor, such as FrontPage (soon to be replaced by Microsoft Expression Web Designer), Macromedia Dreamweaver, or the Amaya open source editor endorsed by W3C. You can even use a text editor like Notepad to compose the HTML code.However, blogging is made much easier, faster, and more convenient if you use a dedicated blogging program or the features of a blogging Web site that lets you compose posts in the Web browser or via e-mail.

4: Make it easy to navigate

If you’re designing your blog site from scratch, it’s important to make it easy for readers to get around and do what they want to do. For instance, if you’re using comments and RSS feeds, make sure it’s clear to readers how to post a comment or subscribe to the feed. You should also make it easy for readers to find past posts. Make sure archives are organized logically–not just in chronological order but in categories to make it easier to find particular posts.

5: Stay in one place

Many bloggers experiment with different blog hosting sites and/or with hosting their own sites, especially early on in their blogging experience. It may take you awhile to find the best setup, but try to do so as soon as possible and then stay in one place so your readers can find you. Moving around to different URLs too often is sure to lose you some readers. If you have an established blog and it’s necessary to move it to a different address, try to publish a last post on the old blog that points readers to the new blog and leave it up as long as possible.

6: Engage your readers

Perhaps the most important factor in attracting and keep readers is establishing a relationship with them. Even interesting content is rendered less interesting if we don’t know who’s talking (writing) to us. Tell your readers who you are and something about yourself. In some cases you may not even want to reveal your real name; give readers a pseudonym by which to identify you and tell them generalities about yourself that will lend you credibility without blowing your cover.

Engaging readers involves winning their trust and thinking of the reader first. If you make claims, back them up with cites and links. If possible, don’t link to sites that require a subscription or even free registration (or if you must, warn readers).

7: Establish a blogging schedule

Blog readers are a fickle bunch. Once you’ve drawn an audience, they expect to find new content when they visit your blog. You should establish a minimum blogging schedule and stick to it. Let readers know, preferably in a static text box at the top of your blog page, that you will update the blog daily, weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, or whatever. Do it–even if some of your posts aren’t particular profound or long. Readers will abandon your blog if they think you’ve abandoned them.

If you need to deviate from your schedule, let readers know that you won’t be posting at the regular time and give them an idea of when you’ll be back.

8: Keep it concise

Speaking of posts that aren’t particularly profound or long, don’t think you have to wait until you have something brilliant to say before you post. In truth, most readers have short attention spans and/or crowded schedules themselves and would prefer to read a short, pithy post rather than a long, complex one.

9: Proofread before publishing

It’s difficult to catch mistakes in your own writing, because you tend to fill in what you thought you typed, rather than see what’s really there. This is particularly true immediately after writing. If possible, have someone else proofread your post before you publish it. Otherwise, let it “cool off” for an hour or a day so you can approach it with a more objective proofreader’s eye.

10: Go syndicate yourself

You don’t have to wait for readers to come to your blog every day or every week. Instead, you can take your blog to them. Use RSS to feed your new blog posts to readers who sign up. This makes it easier for your readers, who don’t have to remember to visit your blog Web site to check for new posts–and whatever makes it easier for readers is good for authors. You can syndicate just your post titles, short summaries, or entire posts.

To read the entirety of the article please go here.

Source: TechRepublic

http://techrepublic.com.com/

Blogging Pers. Social Responsibility salt & light Self Help

20 Responses to “How To Become A Better Blogger”

sn0w_princess October 6, 2006 at 1:35 AM

hmmm…good points. i’ll make sure to apply these things on my blog.

have a nice day, Sonnie!
sheila mapanao October 6, 2006 at 9:09 AM

hi, sonnie! have been receiving your email messages (thru butterntoast) and checked out this particular post. i found this a very interesting read and want to post this on my blog as well. hope that’s okay … let me know. thanks!
Austri G. Basinillo October 6, 2006 at 9:16 AM

Hi Sonny,

Thanks for the input on Blogging. Today, I will start to make my blog.

Can you please teach me how to blog? what blog program are you using?

Austri G. Basinillo
642-05-78
09186346872
09155081303
agbasinillo@yahoo.com
Sonnie October 6, 2006 at 10:28 PM

@ Honney– it appears to me that you\\\’re doing well with your blog. And thanks for dropping by my site again..

@Sheila– sure.. by all means! Just don\\\’t forget to credit techrepublic for this tip. BTW, what is your blog url?

@ Austri– Tay, you can register for a free blog at either wordpress.com or multiply.com . Both are user friendly. Happy blogging.
siena October 8, 2006 at 7:00 AM

Hi Sir!

Good morning.
Thanks for sharing this great article. Tips are easyt to follow. Sana maiapply ko din.

And by the way, Sir Yehey I can access to blogspot na..:-D I just found this out last month.

Have a restful Sunday and happy blogging!
Sonnie October 8, 2006 at 8:23 AM

Nice to see you here Siena. WordPress.com is better. Try it before you settle in one place.

You have passion in blogging, you’ll make waves soon…
Iloilo City Boy October 8, 2006 at 12:50 PM

Thanks for sharing these tips. Can you give more tips on how to syndicate my blog? How exactly does RSS feed work and/or how do I put it in my blog?
siena October 8, 2006 at 1:13 PM

Hi Sir Sonnie,

You inspired me with these words. Thanks a lot.

I do hope to try WordPress.com kaso I am a techno-bobo talaga. Starting and settling for just one is a little bit difficult for me Sir Sonnie. But I will keep your tip in mind.

I love the entries and we want more…

Keep blogging!
Sonnie October 8, 2006 at 7:50 PM

Siena– don\’t worry, wordpress is user friendly.
Sonnie October 11, 2006 at 7:37 AM

Hi Oliver,

This link will guide you on feeds: http://www.semiologic.com/resources/help-with-feeds/

or for blogspot, check this:

http://help.blogger.com/bin/topic.py?topic=8927

or signup with feedburner.com

Happy Blogging
MARGARET October 16, 2006 at 7:38 PM

Thanks so much for taking your time to teach us on effective blogging.I will put in to practise that which i have learnt from your article and create my own soon.
Regards.
Maggie Ezbon.
Sonnie October 17, 2006 at 10:10 AM

Hi Maggie– do let me know your url so I can also visit your blog.
jjjunio April 17, 2007 at 1:09 AM

I’ll make sure to follow these points sir! have a great week ahead!
Prudence May 28, 2007 at 10:56 PM

Why didn’t I think of that before? Hmmm…those are good points! I may have some difficulty maintaining the same blogging schedule, though, because of my work. But, will still try
rodel November 12, 2007 at 7:09 AM

sana nun ko pa binasa to.. i bump on other resources about blogging kaso i was not paying attention kaya tuloy palpak ang ginawa ko. good thing i’ve come across to this article again. tnx..
Leonard November 21, 2007 at 12:33 AM

Great Post. I like #7, Establish a blogging schedule, because search engines also like freshness. It takes time and dedication to stick to it though.
Gene December 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM

good post bro

Gene’s last blog post..SM Naga City 100% sure na!
luiza January 6, 2008 at 11:35 AM

good read.. thanks for sharing..

luiza’s last blog post..Distance.
Sonnie January 7, 2008 at 9:35 AM

Hi Iza,

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you’re a-ok.