Top 10 Tips for Creating a Blog

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.