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A few weeks ago I asked you to ask me questions, and a few of you did.
Miel Abielle asked, “Since you have been blogging for so long, what are your top pieces of advice for a new blogger?”
I’m so glad you asked this, as this was something I’ve been wanting to address, but didn’t feel like I had a forum for it. I’ve talked about it before (see Blog Faux Pas and Post I Avoid), but there is still more to say.
I think the most important thing I could tell a starting blogger is to EDIT. Long posts tend to be skipped. Posts with typos and unnecessary details will be, too. Except for an occasional bulleted post, your post should deal with ONE event or topic. As Jenna in 13 Going on 30 would say, we don’t need a play-by-play of your life.
A common mistake beginning bloggers make is to not post regularly, and when they do, spend time apologizing for their erratic blogging. Evaluate how often you can blog…and stick to it. If you mess up? Don’t dwell on it. Move on. When you begin a post with, “Boy, I can’t believe I forgot I had a blog these last 2 weeks!” or the like, you’re tipping off to potential readers that you aren’t in it for the long haul, and they’ll find another blogger to follow.
It might sound trite, but be yourself. We all make fools of ourselves regularly, don’t try to hide it! If you are struggling with something, share it (or at least as much as would be appropriate in a public forum).
But, that said, don’t use your blog to vent. Never speak poorly about someone else. As far as your blog readers should be able to tell, you’re the only sinner you know (though we obviously know that this is not true!).
If you refer to a previous post, link to it (like I’m doing above). That helps readers to know what you’re talking about, and to read more if they’re interested. (Bonus: it may even drive search engine traffic to your blog.)
And I can’t believe I *still* have to say this, but do NOT have music automatically playing on your site. Chances are your readers do not have the same taste in music as you do, so don’t assault/scare/frustrate them. Most of the times when I come across a blog with music, I close the window immediately, without even evaluating the content. It could have been my new favorite blog, but we’d never know.
That’s the main points I’d share with a new blogger. Do you have anything more to add? I know I’m not an expert, but I’ve learned a lot the hard way. Do you have any questions?
Photo by lapideo
“We all make fools of ourselves regularly, don’t try to hide it!” I love that! A point I would add about being yourself–let the blog be totally YOU and do not write what you *think* others want to read. Be real, be you, and don’t do things that are *not you* in order to try and attract readers. If I never get another comment on my blog, I can be satisfied knowing I was true to myself!
About music, I never turn my speakers on unless I am intentionally listening to something. So most of the time I am not even aware folks have music on their blogs. But it is a good point to consider, and I suppose not even knowing how to add that to my blog works in my favor. ;o)
I think these are great tips. As a newer blogger (I still consider myself a newbie) I am constantly needing reminders on how to make my blog better!
“As far as your blog readers should be able to tell, you’re the only sinner you know”… that was so well put. I don’t think I’ve seen that point written any better than you just did.
EXCELLENT post.
I agree with most of this. I think my posts are longer than yours but that’s because the blog is really for myself. THat’s how it started and that’s how I want to keep it. I write up posts that will help me to remember the books I’m reading. I throw in personal facts to remind me how I related to the books. But that’s me.
As for linking back to posts to allow people to understand what you are talking about – YES! Yesterday I actually spent the time going to someone’s archives and trying to find the post that would tell me more about what they were talking about!!! It was such a curious subject that I was really interested in hearing more of the background story. A link is so nice and so helpful!
I violate MANY of your tips :( Oh well, what can you do? :P
Great tips. Music on a site drives me CRAZY!
Yep. The automatically playing music will want me to spend a half a second on a blog.
oops. linked to the old dead blog. also a bloggy faux too I imagine.
Cheryl: I used to never have speakers on, so it didn’t bug me. Then I started listening to music on my computer, and the blog’s music would make me jump!
Jennifer: Thanks. =)
Carrie: I definitely don’t limit people to the length of post I write…I KNOW mine are short.
Angelica: Ha!
Tulpen: I spent several weeks this past spring linking my comments to my site…only there was a typo.
Yay! This is exactly what I needed to read as I venture back into blogging! The music thing… HATE it! lol
The photo thing drives me bonkers!! I only follow one blog that has music because I really like it but I cannot even stand to read most that do. Great tips!
Meant to say music thing. Sorry, it’s been a LONG day.
I really, really, really need to work on not making such long posts.
Then again, the blogs I love have long posts, sometimes. I guess a healthy variety and non-long-windedness are good things. :)
And as a photographer I’d like to add one more “if you use photos from the internet, please, by all means, give proper credit to the photographer.” Ronnica – you are awesome at this and I love that!
Rachel: Thanks…I haven’t always been but realized that’s what I’d want someone to do with my work!
This is GREAT! I’ll be sure to pass it along to a newby blogger in my circle (she hasn’t even gone public yet, but I know she SOO wants to.) ;)