A few years ago, blogging was in its infancy. Blogs were viewed as something akin to scrap booking or golfing: a hobby.Time passed and people learned that they could typically get real, not manufactured, information about just about anything if they took the time to read a good variety of blogs. Soon everyone wanted to be a blogger.
Reading blogs is the first step in starting your own. Gain insight on blog design, writing styles, and what makes some blogs more popular than others. Do not aim to make money with your blog as you will surely faily. Yes, you can make money with a blog but it is not going to pay your mortgage. Focus on making your blog something you enjoy and others will, too.
Blogging is a fantastic tool for self-expression. It is an easy way to spread the word on something you think is important...or just to do a little therapeutic journaling. You do not need to be a writing expert to gain entry into the world of blogging. Anyone can start a blog and there are sites on-line that will walk you through setting up your first blog in less than ten minutes. There are sites such as blogger.com or wordpress.com who offer free hosting and simple instructions on how to set up and personalize your first blog.
Once you have decided that blogging is something you would love to do, it becomes time to jump in and get your feet wet. You might have a small business you would like to promote or expertise in something that people would love to hear about. Maybe your life is full of drama or full of fun and you don't have time to write it all in a novel. Blogging is a good way to just let the bits and pieces out. You do not have to write a novel in one post (most people tend to like to read shorter blog posts because they don't have time to read a book!).
It is, however, very important to write regularly so that you don't make people walk away. Consistency is so important in blogging. If you write one day and then don't write for six weeks, your blog isn't really going to capture anyone's attention.You might not have time to write daily, but if you consistently post on certain days of the week, your readers will likely come back on those days to read your updates.
When you write a blog, it is important that you edit carefully. However, poor spelling takes away from the quality of your blog so take advantage of spell check and read your post a few times before publishing. We all make mistakes but it is hard for many readers to stay interested in post that isn't given some simple editing. If you have a blog about your business, it is even more important to edit each post carefully. You are selling your product or service so polishing up the content in your blog is key.
So, whether you're writing about your family life, your business or blogging about gardening, there are a few simple steps to follow that will help you become a great blogger.
1. Write from the heart. That means don't sound like a robot when you write. Be yourself. "Real" makes for a great read as opposed to someone who just copies and pastes cold, hard facts. Find your style and have fun!
2. Post often , even if your posts are short. If you do not want to post daily, make sure you post on consistent dates. This could be every Tuesday and Thursday or only Saturdays. Obviously writing more often is going to help you expand your reader base, but writing something just because you have to is never good reading.
3. Always allow your readers to comment ...and comment back! Show that you enjoy having their readership and they will return! Try ending your post with a question or "what are your thoughts on this?" to encourage people to comment.
4. Proofread for spelling and simple grammar errors. You might not be a professional writer, but it is so important to edit major mistakes in your posts. You look far more credible if you do.
5. Keep your blog simple as far as style goes. A white background is easiest to read. Tiny font is not suggested as not everyone has perfect vision! Make sure your background design does not overpower the blog. People want to read what you are writing, not admire your scrap booking abilities. Too many images on a blog slows down the load time. This will turn people away if they are using an older computer. Keep it simple!
5. Most of all, have fun blogging. Don't stress if you aren't getting comments or readers right away. Enjoy the creative outlet!