Blogging is all about building: building friendships, building links, building content, building readership. It’s not for the fainthearted and it should only be taken up by those who have a passion for the topic they wish to write about. Without drive there is no real purpose in getting started. Blogging is a massive undertaking. It’s important to start out on the right foot and to not expect things to come quickly. If you’re blogging for quick monetary gain, you might just want to go out and buy a lottery ticket instead. So how does one build a blog?
Building Friendships:
You should already know of a few bloggers in the field you’re looking to blog about. Their blogs might be part of your daily internet dosage. You might be subscribed to their blogs. Whatever is the case it is time to stop lurking and start commenting. Email the blog owner and tell them how much you liked/loathed a particular article. Offer to write a guest post for their blog. Make yourself available and useful and above all be polite and respectful in all your dealings. Don’t harass!
Friendships are not always about the other bloggers in your niche either. If you’re a sport blog endeavor to make friends with the people in your sport from referees to coaches to athletes, etc. It’s easier with book blogs as you can find ways to contact publishers and authors directly. Be a little creative and be honest. Don’t give up!
Building Links:
Start by asking those bloggers with whom you made friends for links. Give them something worthwhile to share with their readers. More permanently, would they be willing to give you a link on their site for one of yours? This is called link exchanging and your link is usually filed under blogroll or a similar heading. Additionally, search for more blogs discussing your field and offer the same deal. Link exchanges are a useful way to share readership and increasing your ranking in search engines. Big blogs need links just as much as new small blogs. It doesn’t hurt to ask – the worst they can say is no thank you.
Building Content:
There’s no point to build links and friendships if you don’t have good strong content. If you’re stuck for ideas consider writing an opposing view point, making a list, explaining terms, offering opinions on news related to your field, look for people to interview or profile, create a guide, share what you like/dislike, confirm/discredit rumors etc. Take a look around you – everything is copy – or available to you to write about. Be open to ideas and they will come.
Building Readership:
The holy grail in blogging is establishing a strong (and growing) readership. How does one do this? By writing engaging content, sure, but also by making yourself available that’s how. You’re not writing down to your readers – you’re opening dialogue with your readers. Make every reader feel special. Respond to comments and emails! Be accessible; start a Twitter account! Be friendly and be yourself. If you’re a snarky person or a shy person use your qualities to the best of your advantage. Don’t try to be funny if you’re not naturally. Don’t try to write thought provoking posts if you’re more inclined to be light and jovial. Readers respond to sincerity.
These tips are just some of the many things you can do to build a better blog. What would you add?
Today’s blog post was written by Keira. Her blog about romance novels, Love Romance Passion, is for readers by readers. Check it out whether or not you’re a fan of the genre!
Photo Credits: madnzany
Originally posted 2009-04-11 10:11:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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