If you've just entered the world of blogging or if you've
been blogging for a short time and find that things are not working out as you
expected, it will be worth your while to spend some time understanding the
common mistakes that bloggers make, mistakes that make it hard to enjoy what
should be an enjoyable, satisfying experience: Blogging!
The four most common new blogger mistakes are:
- · Having unrealistic expectations
- · Losing focus
- · Plagiarizing
- · Ignoring the reader
Find a focus for your blog . . . a focus that reflects what
you know, what interests you and what you enjoy talking and writing about. No
topics are out of bounds: politics, religion, science, sexual orientations,
comedy, exercise, diet, diseases, etc., etc..
Take the time to read dozens of different blogs: note the
colors, graphics and layouts to get an idea of what appeals to you. Also note
that some bloggers are long-winded and others are brief and to the point . . .
others are just chatty and entertaining and have no particular point to make .
. . this too is a personal style you get to choose.
You need a host for your blog, some are free, some charge a
small amount per month for their service, some are simple to use and some require
more technical knowledge, some have more features than others; choose
carefully, once you've established your blog and have a few regular readers you
may not want to change your address (your URL).
You may or may not want to use your real name on your blog,
this depends on many factors, not the least of which is your stance on
controversial issues and how publicly you want to be identified with your
opinions.
Unrealistic expectations! If you come to blogging expecting
instant results: a large readership and many complimentary comments, you may be
disappointed. There are tens of thousands of blogs online vying for the same
audience. Patience and tenacity are essential on your part. If you write well,
find a unique niche to fill, have appealing titles for your posts and
tirelessly promote your blog the readership and comments (some of which will be
complimentary) will come.
Losing focus! When you started your blog you had a
particular reason for doing so; it might have been to express your views on a topic
or it might have been to just communicate with a close circle of friends about
your daily activities. Readers will come to your blog for the first time and
either be interested in your subject matter or not, will either like your style
or not and, if they like your subject and style they may comment and then come
back later. Once you've established a topic and tone for your blog you're free
to change it but to do so you're basically starting all over.
Be aware that you can have more than one blog, each one
devoted to a particular topic and each one, if you choose, under a different
identity.
Plagiarizing! There are some great bloggers out there and as
you surf through blogs you might find one who said something really well,
something that resonated with you and something you want to put in your blog.
DON'T just copy and paste someone's words in your blog without giving them
credit, making it look to the world like the words are yours. If you write it,
write it in your own words and write it better, adding your own thoughts and
feelings and then be gracious, mention where you got the idea and provide a
link.
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