Are you new to blogging? Perhaps you need some help getting started or a few helpful reminders for those long time bloggers. First off, there are no set rules for blogging. Blogging is all about experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t. There are different strategies and approaches to blogging and you need to find what works best for you to become a successful blogger. Here are some helpful hints for better blogging practices.
The Do’s & Don’ts of Blogging:
1. Do include a share button on your blog for your readers. There are many social share plugins available for bloggers to utilize. Every blog post should have this option. And DO publish your blogs on social media to help share your blog with others.
2. Don’t sell your products or service. Your blog can have a call to action approach such as inviting them to share your post or find you on social media. Keep your blog conversational and friendly as if you were having a face-to-face meeting.
3. Do write with your audience in mind but always write for yourself! Who is your target audience? Find out what types of topics your audience likes to read.
4. Don’t write novels. Keep your blogs short. You can incorporate images, lists, graphics, or quotes into your blog to break things up. It is best to have your paragraphs short. Your paragraphs should stay under 3 or 4 sentences. Also, make sure you have white space for your readers. This will give their eyes a short break.
5. Do create content that is beneficial and meaningful to your audience. Your blog should act as a resource for readers.
6. Don’t spam your readers. Don’t include pop-ups for a subscription to your blog. Give readers the option to subscribe if you want. There is nothing more annoying than bombarding readers with pop-ups.
7. Do post regularly. If you can’t post daily, make a goal to post once a week. The more consistent you are with posting, the more likely you will build followers on your blog. Your audience will come to expect posts by a certain time.
8. Don’t use a passive voice. This is a tough one. If you can’t completely avoid it, try to limit the number of times you write in a passive voice. It takes practice. Instead try to use words that are more persuasive and descriptive.
9. Do create attention-grabbing headlines. An awesome headline will make readers want to click and read your post. Create headlines that are short and clear so readers have an idea what your post is about.
10. Don’t linkbait your audience with headlines just to gain more traffic to your blog.
11. Do reply to every comment on your blog posts. This includes those with negativity or criticism.
12. Don’t create a cluttered design for your blog. Keep the layout simple and well-organized so that it instead focuses on the content and does not distract readers. You don’t want to make your blog difficult to read, so consider fonts and colors that are legible.
13. Do connect with other bloggers. You can do this by commenting on their blog posts or even sharing their blogs. Find bloggers on social media that are writing about similar topics or within the same industry.
14. Don’t publish your rough draft. When you’ve finished writing your blog, go back and check for any spelling or grammar errors. Proofreading your blog is easy to do with online grammar checkers and spelling tools. GrammarCheck is a free and easy to use tool.
15. Do tell stories. Stories are the perfect way to convey how relatable and personable you are. It shows you are human and not a robot. It helps build trust, too.
16. Don’t be unprofessional. While it is important to show your personality and create openness with your readers, remember to never criticize, judge others, or use profanity in your blog. This also applies when you comment or reply to others on your blog posts.
Lastly…
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your blog. Blogging takes time to build an audience and traffic. You shouldn’t be discouraged when you don’t gain a following overnight. Remember to find your voice and have fun.
