Here am I giving out new tips to newbie bloggers, and I’m fairly new to blogging myself. The best way I have found to learn anything new is no more straightforward than to research it. I’ve also learnt that blogging is about finding your own voice. Don’t rush it, it may take a while, but it’s worth investing the time, because when you get it right, you will see your followers grow, and that’s important. I’ve spent a fair bit of time reading a lot of other blogs and have found some great nuggets of information so I thought what better way than to share them with you.
Now that we’re specialising in WordPress, I am talking to a lot of clients about blogging, and although many of them have heard about it, they are still well – unsure. So here’s what I have found out:
1. Have a Point to your Blog.
Many people can easily start to ramble on about themselves and lose the whole point of why anyone would want to read their blog. Just remember people will only want to read and engage if there is something interesting to say.
2. Keep it Interesting.
If the topic you are writing seems a bit boring, and you think maybe uninteresting, find an angle for it. Imagine how that product or article would possibly come across in a TV series, or in a conversation. Has something funny happened to it or them? Find an interesting story to tell to keep your readers engaged.
3. Find a Captivating Headline.
Think about when you read the newspaper. You will be drawn to a headline that captures your imagination. The whole point about capturing readers is hooking them in in the first place. Create a headline like a newspaper headline and you’ll be surprised at the results.
4. Create Good Content.
This is really important. Now that blogging is becoming very popular there is a lot of competition out there. Ensure that your content stands out from the crowd. If necessary, take a bit more time to research and get it right. Like I said, don’t rush it. It’s better to have one really good blog a month than half-hearted attempts every week. Keep your focus and keep to your plan.
5. Keep your Blog to one Topic.
It’s easy to make the mistake of starting with one topic and then digressing and ending up 3 or 4 topics later, completely off track. This will really frustrate the reader then they will soon move on. Keep it simple and to the point and don’t try to overcomplicate it. If it helps, sit down and write simple headlines – Start/Intro, Middle/topical content, and End/summary and overview.
These are just a few tips for starters. Once you get going, and get flowing you will find it easy. Persevere and you will see the results, and let me know how you get on. Maybe include blogging as part of your New Year resolution. Feel free to email me and let me know how you’ve got on.
Sponsors of WordCamp UK Manchester 2010
Hi Alison
These are good principles to follow when writing a blog. Every business ought to consider having a blog as part of their website. I have recently posted an article on my blog at http://www.rolandmillward.com about that very subject.
Blog posts help create interest and a reason to visit a website that otherwise may be fairly static in content.
Keep up the good work of writing these posts.
Roland