So you want to write a blog, but are not sure how to go about doing so. The very first thing to remember is the basic question: what is a blog? An online blog, officially called a "weblog", is simply put an online journal where someone can put their feelings, reflections, ideas, etc., on showcase to the users of the internet. If a blog is created well, it can take off with no limit in sight. With that said, there are some effective techniques one can take in order to have a successful blog. The following are some tips to help you along your blogging journey.
The importance of the title
The title of the blog is obviously the first thing the reader is going to see. In other words, it is your first impression. It is important to be descriptive in your title, but keep it simple. Titles should not surpass the ten word range, otherwise readers are going to surpass you. Another important aspect is to be careful about the words you select. You want to use words that are popular keyword search terms. This will help your blog get seen on search engines. One simple way to see what people are searching for is by using a basic keyword search tool and relate your title around those keyword search terms. There is also a section of most blogs called "Tags". This is where you can also enter in those keywords that you have found to be useful.
Don't be afraid to go against the grain and show passion
You want to keep people interested with your writing. People are coming to read your blog because they want to know what YOU have to say. It is important to remember to know what your opinion is and stick with it. Consistency on your opinion is vital. Keep that passion, but be respectful. You might have differing opinions than the general public, but this could be very beneficial to your blog. If you ruffle a few feathers, you will more than likely to get some user interaction in your comments section. Remember, no matter what your opinion is on the topic you are writing, you are bound to have some people disagree with that opinion. That is OK! Just stick to your respectful opinion and let it carry your blogs content.Be informative, current and make your blog useful
You want the information on your blog to be information that people find useful and can relate to. Blogging about a topic that is not current will not be useful to someone nor will it draw them in. Just remember: Quality over quantity. The information in the blog should have strong quality, rather than having a blog with a lot of "filler" space.
Keep it short and sweet
A useful blog is simple and to the point. It is suggested that a maximum number of words for a blog should be somewhere around 250. If you go beyond this, you are going to lose the readers' interest. Remember, if they wanted to read an essay, they wouldn't be reading a blog, they'd be reading an essay. Keeping it short and sweet also allows you to get your point across with just enough information that it leaves the reader wanting a little more. In turn, this opens the blog up to discussion.
Encourage user interaction/allow comments.
If you are creating a blog, having a solid base of subscribers is an important way to ensure that your blog is successful. A new reader of your blog is going to base a lot of your credibility on the amount of subscribers you have. If you ask questions in your blog, you are then opening the blog up to discussions, which is going to entice more people (interested readers) to want to speak their mind on answering the questions or ideas brought up in the blog. Therefore, hesitant subscribers will be more likely to join.
Use links and reference the material you post
Include links to sources that you referenced when possible. This keeps your blog credible. It also allows your readers to explore other views of the topic of which you are talking about. If you show them an interesting site through a link, they could keep coming back to yours since you are showing them relevant, interesting information.
Use spell check
This is an obvious basic for any public writing. It only takes a minute, yet it could save you from losing numerous amounts of followers. Even though it is a blog and not a professional essay, readers do not care to read through spelling and grammatical errors.
How often should I post?
This is a tricky situation. Constant posts do not necessarily make a blog a good blog. However, not enough posts could lose your readers interest as they move onto other blogs. There really is no "right" answer. The amount you post is related to the content you are posting, your readers feedback, etc. If the content of your blog has to do with a recent event, you want to keep up on the blog regularly, to keep up with your content. If your readers are feeding your blog with questions, discussions and ideas, it is a good idea to build off this to create a new post. Keep in mind, even though there is not a set amount of correct number of times to post, it is possible to post too often. When blogging started, people believed it was best to blog daily. It has adapted to different amounts of postings per week, and that is the best answer to this question above: adapt with the blog to determine how often you should post.
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