A blog is an important tool in a writer’s bag of tricks. Your
blog is an easy way to communicate, and hopefully interact, with readers. Every
blogger becomes a self-published writer and with a few exceptions gets to
choose subject matter and overall theme.
First thing to do is come up with a catchy heading, one that
is not misleading as to the content of your blog post and is still going to
pique a reader’s interest. The post title should be relevant to the subject or
readers will feel swindled and not so anxious to return, relevant but catchy.
Under the title box and in the body of your post you should post a brief
subheading or, at the very least, an opening sentence that encompasses the
subject of the blog post.
Use graphics to break up the monotony of words on the page.
Use short paragraphs and sentences to make it easier for your readers no matter
what they use to read your blog with (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.).
Encourage interaction with your audience by permitting blog comments and
possibly tossing out a question in your blog; without compromising security of
your blog site make it as easy as possible for readers to comment (avoid
captchas or signing in to an account). Every blog has its own style so these
are just general guidelines.
Blog as often as possible, three times weekly to every day is
a good way to attract web search engines. Allow folks to sign up for and follow
your blog so that each post will automatically show up in the personal email
boxes. If you are promoting a book or other product be sure to include buy
links.
There are a few ways to promote your name and bring folks to
your blog. Find blogs with similar interests as yours (same audience) and comment
on their blogs (always keep it friendly and non-confrontational), sing in with
a service (such as Google) so that anyone clicking on your name is brought to
your blog and/or profile. Allow readers to post your blog on social media
channels using “share” buttons. Alopicsways put tags onto your blog so search
engines can find it easier.
Writing
Exercise: Make a list
of three to five THEMES you have the expertise to write about (i.e.: books,
recipes, hobbies, sports). For each theme make a list of three to five sub-topics.
For each sub-topic make a list of categories. [an example: Theme=Food;
Sub-topic=Recipes; Categories=holiday menu, hors d’ouvres, children’s finger
foods]
Writing
Prompt: From your list of blog themes, search the internet
(Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc) for like-minded blogs. (*make note of blogs which
accept guest bloggers)
Challenge
Assignment: Find a blogsite and set up a blog (Blogspot and Wordpress
are among sites that offer free blog options) Write your first few posts and
schedule each
