So You Think You Can Blog

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

BLOG noun ˈblȯg, ˈbläg
a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer

Is this really what blogs are today? Yes and no. Some do choose to share their inner thoughts and feelings for their own personal expression, whether others read it or not. For others, blogging has become more than just a hobby. They share deals, reviews, recipes, how-to’s, and more. Based on what I’ve learned over the past year and a half, these are a few things that can set you apart in an ever-growing blogosphere:

• Provide useful and interesting content.
• Proofread your posts and make sure they are free of typos.
• Use your picture to personalize your site and make sure all your contact information is easy to find.
• Have a clean, well-designed layout with clear navigation and easy-to-read colors.
• Be honest in your writing and keep consistant in your ‘voice’.
• Find a small network for support and don’t spread yourself too thin.
• Have fun – if you’re not, it’s okay to take a break.

Ones that choose to monetize their blog may even be able to grow enough to generate a substantial income. That is not always a given, though, and amounts can vary widely.

First, you may want to get an idea of your reach and demographics of your audience. It would be wise to research a program for web traffic analysis so you know who visiting your site, when, and what they are interested in reading more of. At first it may be hard to translate those numbers to specific actions you can take but don’t be overwhelmed. Slowly you will find what will work for you and what won’t.

There are many options to get your site better known and introduced to a wider audience. You can do most SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on your own with a few useful plug-ins. Other blogs, such as a search engine marketing blog or those that write about related tech issues, can be great for useful tips and FAQ resources. If you want to really ‘level up’ other forms of marketing automation can be considered. I’m not at that point so I can’t elaborate more.

If you want to make money with your blog, you need to treat it a a business. That means a lot of hard work and time. Those that just want ‘free stuff’ but provide no real value will quickly fail. If that’s not your priority, then you’ll get out of it what you put in. Happy blogging!