collaborative post
How do we define blogging success?
Is it about the amount of money you can earn? Is it about the number of readers you can gather? Is it about making a difference to the lives of others? The answer to each of these three questions is yes! And there may be other ways of defining success that we haven’t suggested.
But if you want to gather readers to your blog, and if you want to use it as a money-earner, there are a few do’s and don’ts you need to adhere to. Consider the following.
Blogging Do’s
Do write good content. It’s simple really! If you don’t write good content, people aren’t going to spend very long reading your blog. It’s about appealing to your audience, so whatever the raison d’etre behind your blog, ensure you write posts that engage and entertain the reader. Follow these tips on creating great content for your blog, and then consider the other points in this article.
Do post regularly. You don’t have to write every single day, but at least write enough so your regular readers know you still exist! Come up with a schedule that suits you, and stick to it, writing regularly and consistently to connect with your audience. If you find you don’t have time to write often, you can still find guest bloggers to write for you, but ensure they have a mandate to follow if you go down this route. You don’t want to pay somebody for content that doesn’t suit your blog, after all.
Do promote your blog posts. It can take a while to gather readers for your blog, but that is where a little bit of marketing comes in. You can use your various social media networks for this, sharing your blog posts on everything from Facebook to LinkedIn, providing a link back to your website, and encouraging your friends and followers to pass on your posts to their networks. You might also connect with other bloggers, perhaps guest writing for them on the proviso that they will give a shout out to your blog. Use these and other marketing ideas for your blog to spread the word.
Do write positive posts. Not many readers come to a blog wanting to feel angry or sad after reading something. As a general rule of thumb, they want to read something that will entertain, inspire, and make them feel happy. Take a look at our positive examples, and while you may take a different tack with the content you produce, at least try to write something that will leave your audience wanting to come back for more, and not something that will scar them for life!
Do brush up on your spelling and grammar. Your content may be wonderful, but if it is littered with spelling and grammatical mistakes, you may frustrate your reader. Consider a night class or an online course to brush up on your writing skills if needed, or if it’s simply your proofreading and editing that lets you down, use Grammarly to spot any errors, as this will ensure your content is fit for publishing.
Blogging Don’ts
Don’t include your home contact details. It doesn’t matter if you are using your blog as a business or not; never include your home contact details. This includes your address and home phone number. You need to safeguard your security and privacy, as well as that of your family. Limit your contact details to an email address or feedback form, and use a virtual mail and address service if you feel the need to include an address on your blog for business purposes.
Don’t plagiarize from other bloggers. It’s fine to steal the occasional idea from another blogger, especially when you are short on inspiration, but never copy something word for word. Your reputation will be ruined if others discover your naughty little secret, and you may face the cost of legal action. It’s also about respect – you wouldn’t want anybody replicating your posts without your permission – so do the right thing, and write your own content, even if your themes are borrowed from somebody else.
Don’t steal photos. And the same rules from above apply here! Most images on the internet are copyrighted, so never assume you can take them without permission. There are plenty of websites that contain free stock photos, so use these or your personal photographs if you want to prettify your blog posts.
We hope these do’s and don’ts helped you. Let us know what you think, and if you have any other ideas to share with our readers, then be sure to let us know.
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