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10 Tips for Bloggers

Copyright 2005 Sharon Housley

Tips for creating a blog.
There are no hard and fast rules on how to blog. Having
said that, bloggers will likely increase their exposure by
following some simple blog guidelines.

1.) Stay on topic.
Opinions are generally accepted but the content of the
items in the blog should all relate to a general theme.
Unless you have an uncanny knack for wit, humor or
cynicism, the majority of your readers will be interested
in the content that relates to a specific defined theme or
loosely defined area of interest. Most readers won't care
that you eat Cheerios for breakfast. They may, however, be
interested in the fact that vinegar takes out stains and
that toilet paper rolls make great wreaths. Define a topic
and stick to it. This will ensure that you create a loyal
following of interested readers.

2.) Stay informative.
If you are attempting to create the impression that you are
knowledgeable about a specific industry or sector, be sure
that you stay current on news. If you are endorsing a
product or voicing an opinion, be sure to check your facts;
your reputation is at stake. If you are offering an
opinion, be sure to qualify your post, making it clear that
the content is intended as an editorial.

3.) Old news is not news.
While blogging every day can be a drain, it is important
that the information presented is current and accurate,
writing an article or blurb about something that happened 6
months ago, will not be of interest to many. Telling your
audience that Martha Stewart was convicted and will be
going to prison, after her sentence is completed will make
people question the value of your columns.

4.) Adhere to a schedule.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Realizing that blogging
requires time and effort, don't create unrealistic
expectations and be unable to deliver. An occasional lapse
or holiday is generally understood but readers returning to
find stale, out-dated content are going to find another
blog with similar content. New blogs and RSS feeds are
popping up on a daily basis. If you have worked hard to
develop an audience and a community you don't want to lose
them due to lack of communication.

5.) Clarity and simplicity.
Keep your posts and blog entries clear and easy to
understand. Remember, the web is global and expressions,
idioms and acronyms don't always translate. Sometimes a
little explanation goes a long way.

6.) Keyword-rich.
If the goal of your blog is to increase your visibility,
include related keywords in the title of the blog. Use the
title as a headline to attract interest. Each item post
should have a title that will attract attention but still
be relevant to the post. The title should be no longer than
10-12 words.

7.) Quantity matters.
In order to attract the attention of search engines, you
will need to develop content and substance. A headline or
simple sentence is not going to generate the interest of
readers or help with search engine ranking. Be sure to
archive old blog posts to develop a large portal of
similarly-themed content.

8.) Frequency.
If your blog content is updated frequently, search engines
will tend to spider the pages at regular intervals.

9.) Spell checking and proof-reading.
It only takes a few extra moments and can save you from
having to make embarrassing explanations. Remember that
whatever you publish on the Internet can be found and
archived. Think carefully about what you post before doing
so.

10.) RSS.
RSS will increase your blog's reach. It is important that
you include your blog's content in an RSS feed to increase
readership and distribution.

Most weblog audiences are small, but with time and regular
updates audiences grow. Bloggers may never have more than a
few hundred readers, but the people who return to regularly
are generally interested in what you have to say.

------------------------------

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll
http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing
and publishing RSS feeds and NotePage
http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software.

More articles by Sharon Housley - http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Sharon-Housley-146/

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