Blog – Top Ten Blogging Tips For Writers

If you’re undecided about a blog, here’s a tip: start your blog today. I’ve never yet met a writer who regretted blogging, but every writer I’ve nagged into blogging has said: “I wish I’d started blogging years ago.”

1. Choose a Topic and Goal for Your Blog

What will you blog about? You can blog about anything you choose, but when you’re assessing a topic, ask yourself what the primary goal for the blog will be. Sometimes the goal comes first. For example, if you intend using the blog as a writing portfolio, then that will be the blog’s only goal.

Start another blog if you want to blog about something else.

2. Stick to the Topic and Remember Your Goal

Once your blog gets readers, they’ll be annoyed to discover that your blog about dog health has suddenly morphed into a blog about low carb diets. Once you choose a topic for your blog, stick to it.

Tip: expect to make several false starts before you settle on a blog topic you love, define goals which get you excited, and develop a blogging routine.

3. Be Positive at All Times

Writers tend to complain about the writing life. Please don’t do it on your blog — do it in your (paper) diary.

4. Create an “About” Page With a Bio

Your readers want to know who you are. Tell them.

5. Be Consistent: Choose a Schedule and Stick to It

Will you blog once or several times a day, a couple of times a week, or?

Stick to a schedule; your readers will appreciate it.

6. Content Comes First, then Promotion

Once you’ve written ten posts, promote your blog, but keep adding content too.

7. Set Blogging Goals to Match Your Writing Goals

A blog can help you to achieve your writing goals. After you’ve been blogging for three months, assess where you want to go in your writing, and make a blogging plan.

For example, let’s say you want to be published in Magazine X. Announce this goal on your blog. Report on queries you’ve sent to the magazine. Yes, the editor will read your blog post, and then your query. Sneaky, eh? (Note: this only works if your blog is about your writing, so if your blog isn’t, start a new “my writing” blog.)

8. Realize That Your Entire Blog Is a “Writing Sample”

This means: spell check and proofread, but don’t be obsessive about it.

9. Review Your Goals Every Six Months

Your goals will change as you blog. Set new goals often.

10. Leverage Your Blog: It’s a Business Asset

What do I mean by “leverage”? You can leverage any blog in many ways. For example:

* Write a book based on your blog entries;

* Get more clients via your blog (as your blog gets indexed in the search engines you’ll get more traffic);

* Make money on your blog in various ways — yes, your blog can bring you in an income if you choose;

* Sell your blog for a fast blast of cash. You can even create “niche” blogs on popular topics for the sole purpose of selling them.