This time I thought that I’d devote my blog to blogging. That’s not as strange as it sounds, because I’ve been doing it for quite some time now and over this period I’ve come to realise what differentiates a good blog from a poor one.
So here is my ‘Bloggers Guide to Blogging!’
First of all, what is a blog? Well it’s short for ‘web log’, a kind of online diary or discussion piece. A platform for your thoughts where you can share information, opinions and views, and if it is used and managed in the right way it can also serve to keep your main website fresh or with appropriate links it can be used to encourage new and repeat visitor numbers to your website. At AsOne Design we encourage clients to incorporate regular blogs or news items into their site for these very reasons.
If you are going to do it though, do it properly. That means regularly and with discipline. You could get someone else to write it on your behalf, but ideally if it is ‘your blog’ then it should contain your own thoughts and your own words. So make the time. Not only to write the blog, but to consider its content.
Content is critical
Let’s go back to the heading at the top of this article: ‘It’s called blogging … not blagging!’ What I mean by that is that your content should always be accurate, credible, believable and above all interesting and useful for the reader. You’ll present yourself as being far more serious and business-like if you voice your own firmly held opinions. And if it is a genuine thought-provoking theme then it will undoubtedly improve the readers’ opinion of both yourself and your business, and raise your credibility and estimation among the audience.
Here then is my list of blog-rules that should help you establish and build-up your blog readership.
- Keep the topics varied and interesting.
- Keep each blog as a single topic. Don’t try to say too much.
- Avoid rants. Don’t be abusive or sarcastic. Remember that anyone, anywhere in the world, could be reading it and you don’t want to damage the reputation of either yourself or that of your business.
- Try to reflect your own personality. Readers will warm to someone who has opinions and is not afraid to air them, just as they will to someone whose views can be appreciated and respected.
- Don’t be afraid to be passionate or emotional. But stay controlled.
- Think carefully about your themes. Make them interesting and topical. Don’t begin a series that you can’t continue.
- Write about things you know and can be authoritative about. Even everyday basics that you take for granted maybe new and inspirational for someone else.
- Don’t be afraid to ‘big-up’ your business by writing about services, case studies and testimonials. If you can include, links, pictures and videos so much the better.
- Get inspiration from current stories in the media, especially if they relate to your business – for instance you could write about contentious legislation, market statistics or any other topical and relevant news event.
- Use your own experiences and circumstances to make articles interesting, readable and personal.
- Be mindful of what it costs. By that I mean how much time will you have to commit to producing a regular and on-going series of blog posts?
- And finally, don’t stop! The most successful blogs are those that appear regularly so that they build-up a loyal and consistent readership.
I hope that my thoughts and experiences have triggered some ideas of your own and that they will inspire you to begin life as a blogger. If you are interested to know about how you can use your blog to further increase business through your blog content, keep an eye on our blog posts through innovation club.
