There are 2 plugins that I would recommend:

Akismet

The Akismet plugin should already be installed, to activate it follow the link in the plugin description.

This plugin checks comments against the Akismet web service to see if they look like spam or not. Anything marked as spam gets placed in the Spam folder accessible from the Dashboard.

WP-Ban

This plugin is for the more advanced user.

I would recommend using WP-Ban in conjunction with Akismet, when an IP number has sent you several pieces of spam then banning that IP number (and sometimes IP range) will reduce the amount of spam coming in. Some caution should be used with this plugin as banning your own IP number will prevent you from accessing your own site. A useful resource for those using this plugin can be found at www.ipaddresslocation.org where you can find information out about IP addresses and ranges.

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.