Blogging should be fun. In fact, if blogging doesn’t give you considerable enjoyment then you should consider hanging up your blogging shoes. I got into blogging a few years ago but only started considering myself to be a blogger after I migrated GTS Blog to WordPress in 2009. Initially, I started blogging to improve the ranking of our website (www.gts-translation.com) in the search engines. But lately I am having so much fun with blogging that it has taken on a life of its own for me. So here are some of my own tips that will help you improve your blogging skills, grow your readership and most importantly–have fun with blogging!
- Write about anything you want to. Your baby started walking? You discovered the joys of Thai cuisine? Something pissed you off? Blog about it if that’s what you feel like doing. I am not saying that you should turn your blog into the memoirs of a raving maniac, but don’t feel constricted by what you perceive to be your blog’s ‘airspace.’ If you will limit yourself to blogging about one specific topic only, you may get bored with it fast.
- Always be thinking about your next blog post. One of the biggest problems that bloggers face is writer’s block. I have spoken with many bloggers who say that they have a hard time writing new posts. So always be thinking of your next blog post: when you read the newspaper, talk with a colleague or customer, watch TV and so forth. Every blog post starts with an idea and that idea can come to you at any minute in your day.
- Blog about your job. If you spend several hours a day working somewhere, then you are probably very knowledgable about your profession/vocation. Share your insights. What may appear to be mundane to you may be very valuable to your readers.
- Write those ideas down. Even if you have a half-baked idea for a future blog post, even if the idea seems to be dumb initially, write it down or better yet create a new draft in your blogging tool. When you come back to it later on you will be able to pick up and further develop your ideas.
- Promote your blog posts in social media and in your own network of contacts. Be proud of your blog! Tell the whole world about it. Link it up on social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Delicious, Twitter, Stumbleupon. Tell your friends and colleagues about it.
- Install a Tweetmeme button. For me, there is nothing more fun than watching how many times my posts are retweeted by readers. It is definitely a sign of how much people like a certain post. It will give you a feel for what your readers like to read most so you can continue to provide them with content they enjoy reading.
- Think BIG! If you want your blog to go places then start dreaming about the bigtime. One of the greatest things about the blogosphere is that it puts you on the same footing as a reporter on the New York Times and Washington Post. Conduct your own interviews with people in your industry, comment on industry developments, the sky is the limit. People will eventually catch on that you are an important voice and start tuning in to your posts.
- Explore new plugins and themes. If you blog in WordPress like I do, or if you use another tool like Blogger or Joomla, there are thousands of free plugins you can use to spruce up your blog. Check what other blogs are using and don’t be afraid to explore new plugins and themes. It is as easy to remove a plugin as it is to install it.
- Monitor your traffic. I installed a neat plugin on my blog called Google Analyticator. It’s fun to monitor the traffic to your blog and see which blog posts draw the most traffic, what content your readers like best, where your readers are coming from, etc. Monitoring the analytics will also allow you to focus better on the how to grow your blog’s readership.
- Engage with your readers. Getting comments on your blog is great fun, especially when you succeed in making your blog a ‘water cooler’ for certain topics.
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