by Karla Perry

Created on: December 18, 2009   Last Updated: December 19, 2009

Having your own blog site is as popular today as having a facebook page.  However, not all blogs are equal.  People use them in a myriad of ways.  It is just as popular to use it as a personal cyber journal as it is to use it as a professional tool of your trade.  Maintaining a blog of either caliber can be easy provided you learn the following tips. 

Most people intend for other people to read what they write on their blog. To clarify, a blog is the name of the website on which you write your post rather than the name of each individual post made to it.  The name is derived from the words “web log” for which such a site was once named before it was popularly dubbed a “blog.”

It is of first importance to write posts regularly or else your readers will not read regularly and your work will not gain a readership.  It is important to either get into a regular schedule of posting to your blog at least once a week or to write multiple posts and set them to post periodically.

When posting to a blog, it is possible to select the date the blog will post rather than having it post immediately.  This is a good tool to use when you know you will be busy or out of town and unable to maintain the blog.  Maybe you are not someone who can regularly write posts each week and would find it more beneficial to write several posts and have them post at scheduled dates.  Google blogspot provides a tool where one can e-mail the post in to the blog.  This may also be helpful in maintaining your site.  

Just the same, a serious blogger has more responsibility in maintaining a blog than writing posts.  As one accumulates a readership, one also accumulates comments to the posts. Depending on the content of the comments received, you may need to answer these comments and interact with the readership.  A series of comments giving kudos to the article or the writer can warrant a simple broad thank you to all readers.  However, the comments may have questions or be challenging to your post and may need special attention. 

Remember to always be respectful and kind to those leaving comments.  You are putting your writing out there to the public and it is sure to be analyzed and criticized. This is good for the writer to experience and learn to overcome with respect to the readership rather than animosity towards one'ss critics.

Moreover, it is blogging etiquette to visit the blogs of those commenting and leave them a comment.  This helps create camaraderie between the writers and readers and helps build the readership.  Also it allows you to not only be concerned with your own readership, but giving back to the blogging community to learn from others as you would have them learn from you.  

In summary, the most basic responsibility of maintaining a blog is to write post regularly, respond to comments accordingly, and visit other blogs to enjoy their writing while leaving them comments.  Soon you will find you have not only a readership, but an on-line community of friends who share your interest and learn from you and you in turn learn from them.  

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