Last
month I took a three-week hiatus from blogging, my longest drought since I
began blogging over six and a half years ago.
But after 2670 blog posts I needed a break. Coupled with a natural end-of-the-year slow
down, I didn’t feel compelled to post nor did I feel I had anything new to
share. But after the break, I feel refreshed
and after writing -- but not posting – some 20 soon-to-be-published posts, I feel
ready to go back to my prolific ways.
Here are suggestions for making your blog a success in the New Year.
First,
make sure you’re on a schedule. Determine how frequently you’ll post and stick
to it. You should blog at least weekly
and likely 2-3x per week. Some do it
daily. It depends on your readership,
length of posts, and other factors – including your time!
Second,
look to keep your content original and edgy, but give yourself a break and
allow for guest-posters, the running of Q&A’s, and the re-publishing of the
content of others.
Third,
if you’re going to blog, use social media to promote it. Treat the blog as if it were a book.
Fourth,
look back at your older posts and occasionally re-share them via social media. Also consider updating or expanding upon them
and use the old to create new stuff.
Here
are some general tips for effective blogging:
·
People
will click based on your headline and the lead paragraph. Make those really inviting.
·
Images
also increase chances of being read, so use one.
·
Vary
the length of your posts. They need to
be at least 350-500 words and can easily range from 600-900 words. Sometimes go longer when it’s important.
·
Use
bullet points, lists, quotes, excerpts, and charts where possible.
·
Subheads
break up the copy and help people skim.
·
Keep
the language simple and easy-flowing but the words should be relevant to the
voice you want to project and consistent with the lingo used for your genre.
·
Participate
in the conversation – invite comments and respond to your readers.
·
Invite
engagement – be controversial, raise issues, ask questions, make bold
statements, share deep observations, espouse your philosophy, and be
forthcoming on your life’s failures, fears, or challenges.
·
Stay
on message and post with brand consistency – don’t start veering far off of
what your blog is all about.
·
Consider
commenting on news of the day, polls, statistics, or findings released by trade
associations, governments, or other authoritative bodies.
·
Write
about trends, predictions, or reflections of the past.
·
Provide
useful how-to steps to resolve a problem.
·
Tell
a personal story in a way others can learn from.
·
Write
with emotion and feeling.
·
Discuss
the anniversary of a historical event – or a related holiday, honorary day, or
special moment.
·
Review
books of others.
·
Create
a hypothetical conversation.
·
Share
resources.
·
Provide
useful analysis on a contemporary issue, event, or figure.
·
Write
up the rules, lessons, or goals of something relevant.
·
Have
a bitchfest and attack something.
·
Make
a confession.
·
Issue
a dare.
·
Provide
great advice.
Conclusion
Most
importantly write with a filter. Your
blog can be about anything but should be about something your readers expect,
need or want. Be focused and determined
in your writings. A blog post should
pass through a prism, one in which you set the terms and conditions. The more dedicated and disciplined you are in
your approach, the more effective and rewarding your blogging shall be.
You
can blog with impact, if that’s your intention.
Step it up and write about not only what’s important to you but what’s
of interest to others. And if you need a
break, as I did, take one. You’ll be a
better blogger for it.
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