Do As I Say, Not As I Do...

Here's another post inspired by a Swap-Bot project . . . 10 Blog Tips. Very simple -- we were supposed to send 10 blog tips to our partners, as well as any additional information, resources, etc that we wanted. As I was writing my tips, I just kept thinking of that old saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." I know what I should be doing as far as my blogging is concerned, I'm just not very good at managing my time. So, what I've decided to do is post my tips here, and report back every so often as to how I'm doing at following my own advice.

My Top 10 Blog Tips:

1. The best tip anyone can give you about blogging and creating a successful blog is to be you.

2. Determine your purpose. Blogs are used to filter information, organize businesses, share family news, establish professional reputations, foment social change, and muse about the meaning of life. Knowing what you hope to accomplish with your blog will allow you to begin in a more focused way.

3. Post often / regularly -- sure, daily posting is ideal, but it is not required. However, you should really try to post at least once a week. Use scheduled posting, if necessary. More important than how often you post, though, is to always post something worth reading.

4. Good writing is essential -- and remember to use your spell checker before posting! Tell a story with your writing, but don't write a novel. Write for a reason, not just to be writing, and write about something you LOVE.

5. Also essential is a good photo / graphic to text ratio in posts -- photos and graphics help break up the text to make your blog easier to read, and they also serve to capture readers' attention.

6. Use a clean crisp layout -- do NOT use a lot of flash ads / applications, music, etc that take a long time to load! Don't over-crowd your sidebars or your posts. Use simple colors and fonts. Make sure your text is easy to read -- yellow may be your favorite color, but it is a very difficult text color to read.

7. Include links to other sites / blogs, and keep your links up-to-date. Check any links you post in your sidebars / header / footer from time to time to make sure they are still active.

8. Interact with your readers -- encourage them to comment and to come back to your blog in the future! And remember to respond to the comments posted on your blog.

9. Comment on others' blogs -- but keep your comments meaningful to the posts you're commenting on. Include your blog link in your signature for your comment....this will encourage others to check out your blog.

10. Use tags on your posts -- this will help organize your posts and help readers find any related posts you may have previously written.

Bonus tip: Have fun!

There are only two things that work to build an audience on your blog:

1. Create Content Worth Reading
2. Create Content Worth Linking To

If you have a blogspot (blogger) blog, here are some Google gadgets you can add to your blog....just don't get carried away, especially with the flash ones!

Here's a great article, "10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging".

Blogging tips, tricks, tools, & resources:
WebLens.org
TricksForNewBloggers.blogspot.com
DailyBlogTips.com
ProBlogger.net

Lastly, if you don't click on any other link in this note, please take time to check this one out: TopTenBlogTips.com

That's all for now . . . I'll be back tomorrow with an update on my Found Journal, as well as some crafting and gift updates.