| Perhaps "blogging" isn't such a graceful word. For | | | | out-dated content are going to find another blog |
| me, personally, it sounds like a worded drudgery | | | | with similar content. New blogs and RSS feeds are |
| the way cereals can be soggy, skies can be | | | | popping up on a daily basis. If you have worked |
| foggy, and the way minds can be groggy. But for | | | | hard to develop an audience and a community |
| now, it's too late to rename this shortened word | | | | you don't want to lose them due to lack of |
| for web-logging. Widespread blogging is | | | | communication. |
| nevertheless one of the most engaging Internet | | | | And remember, what's old is not new and, for |
| developments of the past few years. As a | | | | blogs, thusly not interesting. 2006 isn't the time to |
| medium it gives rise to many new and worthy | | | | rail against Enron or Vanilla Ice. Insight doesn't |
| voices and plays a new and vital force in shaping | | | | matter much to yesterday's news. |
| opinions, political realities, trends, and even our | | | | 3.) Clear Language Counts. |
| language. | | | | Blessed is the blog with a clear line of logic. Write |
| I believe that a blog is simply a tool to use for | | | | without inside jokes, clique-y catchphrases or |
| someone who's got something to say. Let me be | | | | ambiguous logic. First time readers need to be |
| clear in saying that a blog is a poor choice for | | | | close to your message. They are more likely to |
| someone who needs a megaphone to scream out | | | | return to blogs that strike them positively. If the |
| to cyberspace in order to elicit a meaningful | | | | first read is confusing there will not be a second |
| response from Internet users. If you want | | | | read. |
| attention and want it now and expect blogging to | | | | 4.) Feed the Spiders. |
| bring it to you, then this will surely be a | | | | Search engines take notice of active blogs and |
| disappointment. However, if you like to write and | | | | blog search engines are especially sensitive to |
| engage others on subjects of which you have | | | | activity. If nothing else, search engines are |
| some command or experience, then it's a | | | | smarter today than they were yesterday and are |
| wonderful application with which you can interact | | | | only getting smarter. In constantly improving they |
| with people who share similar interests as you. | | | | are seeking to aggregate quality; quality blogs are |
| The hype is well founded. | | | | updated several times a week, if not daily, as |
| Anyway, here's a list of blogging tips... | | | | opposed to once or twice a month. I don't mean |
| 1.) Be topical. | | | | to scare you but a big spider is watching, so |
| Cohesiveness in message is not optional. Readers | | | | dance for them. |
| may or may not be interested in your topic, but if | | | | 5.) RSS. |
| your message is haphazard that few will bother | | | | Think of RSS like a magic to blogging world, |
| remembering to return to your blog because it | | | | because that's the effect it's had. RSS feeds are |
| essentially would offer nothing to remember. This | | | | a way to exponentially sound your voice to the |
| doesn't mean blogs can't jump from subject to | | | | interested. These feeds are a great means to |
| subject. For instance, a blog with a humorous | | | | increase the distribution and readership of your |
| focus has all the leeway in the world for subject | | | | original content. |
| matter, but it would be foolish for such a blog to | | | | 6.) Spell check. |
| turn the humor on and off. In such an example, | | | | Hey man, use the spell-check. I do - if I didn't you |
| the aspect of humor would be content's glue, the | | | | probably wouldn't have made it to #6. It only |
| strength of the blog. The beauty of staying on | | | | takes a minute and can save you from looking |
| point and on topic is that eventually, due to the | | | | like a hack. |
| nature of the Internet, you will find those | | | | Your weblog audiences will be small at first. And, |
| interested solely in your topic. (as opposed to | | | | frankly, that's the way it should be. Who are you |
| online diaries. There are millions of them on the | | | | to think that half the internet will flock to you |
| internet, few have any readers. Email me with | | | | after three or four posts of your blog, anyway? |
| examples if I'm wrong and I'll be able to show you | | | | If you tough it out while maintaining quality, |
| why you're showing me a blog and not a diary.) | | | | readership will materialize. You will link to good, |
| 2.) Refresh your content | | | | relevant blogs and, in turn, they will to you. While |
| Create a schedule and stick to it. Realizing that | | | | your voice may be unique, your niche likely isn't |
| blogging requires time and effort, don't create | | | | and if your content is emitted smartly to the |
| unrealistic expectations and be unable to deliver. | | | | Internet those relevant readers will respond |
| An occasional lapse or holiday is generally | | | | through readership and interaction. That I |
| understood but readers returning to find stale, | | | | guarantee. |