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9 Tips for Blogging Success
January 28, 2008

If you've been reading this blog for the past year, you know I've been an advocate for blogging on your own web site.  It's a good way to add content to your site on a weekly basis, it provides information, and it keeps you in front of your audience.   Getting started is easy, but maintaining it is the difficult task...until it becomes a habit you feel you have to do. Think of it as coffee.

To become a seasoned blogger on your own web site, here are 9 tips for your blogging success:

1. Decide what you want your blog to be about.   Keep in mind that once you start writing about it, you'll have to stay on top of it.  If you write about fashion or the latest tax tips, you need to read everything you can to ensure your readers have the most up-to-date information.  Keep it fun, too, so it's something that's enjoyable and not a chore.  (Think of it this way:  drinking a mocha latte' is fun; starting a restrictive diet isn't.  Pick a habit you want to live with each week.)
2. Post once a week at the absolute minimum.  Unless you're on vacation or sick, your readers depend on you each week to update them with your topic.
3. Keep your blogs short.  No dissertations or theses necessary.  Less than 300 words optimally, but 400 works if it's engaging. 
4. Spread the word about your blog.  Invite people to respond, advertise it on your web site, buy adwords to promote it if necessary.  Become the expert in your field.
5. Remember your readers want information.  I love to write about humorous family matters, lessons learned in life, etc., but I don't think it's the type of information that small businesses need. Keep your blog relevant to the site and your business.
6. Develop your own style.  There are millions of blogs and there are audiences for all of them (well, maybe that's an exaggeration).  Develop your own writing style and enjoy what you're writing about.  Above all,  engage, encourage and educated.
7. Get help via guest writers.  If you're running short of ideas, or you're burned out from running a business, invite others to be guest bloggers on your site.  A business acquaintance asked if I'd write a blog on her store's site.  I'm flattered.  Ask others who you think are a good fit to write for your blog occasionally. (If you're promoting small business advice, you can always link to mine.)
8. Let your personality shine through - be your brand.  Your store is your brand, your web site is your brand, your employees are your brand. Your blog should reflect it too.  Martha perfected the art of personal branding...bring that oomph to your web site's blog.
9. Don't be overly promotional.  If there's one thing I hate, it's been sold to.  Not many people want to read a blog that's nothing but a sales pitch.  You can write it, just don't expect it to be well read (and don't say I didn't warn you). 

And above all, remember the 3 E's:  engage, encourage and educate.   Happy, successful blogging.

Side note:  Send me a link to your blog once you have it up and running.  I'd love to profile it on this site.

Posted by Suze Bragg on January 28, 2008 | Comments (3)