We just came across this post So You Want to Be a Blogging Star on NYTimes.com, which serves as an excellent primer on how to write and keep a successful blog.
Here at BlogBurst central we look at blogs all day, of course, and these points are spot on:
- Don’t do it to get rich (but blog passionately and rewards will follow)
- Blog about your passions, and in your own voice
- Fit blogging into your daily schedule
- Join the community
- Plug yourself
The best thing about the suggestions above are that they’re geared toward fitting your blog into your life and building it slowly over time. We see scores of blogs that are well written and fit a niche, but which don’t last more than a couple of months. The truth is, it’s hard to sustain an extracurricular activity like a blog, especially when blogs don’t make you money unless / until they get popular (which usually takes a long time).
If you have other recommendations for blogbuilding, leave them in the comments below!
Have fun, blogging shouldn’t be a chore. It should be somewhere for you to be creative, maybe let off a bit of steam, share your thoughts and ideas on particular subjects that you’re interested in.
Try to build a relationship with your readers. If they leave a comment respond to it and take the time to visit their site.
There’s probably a lot more, but that’ all I can think of at the moment.
Keep on top of web technology too - there are new web applications popping up all the time that can help you improve your site and make it more interactive, and as many of them are open source they’re free to use too.
I can relate to the “blog passionately and rewards will follow” statement. Some of the most unexpected (and good for my writing career!) events have occurred since I started blogging, never would have dreamed that so much good would come from just making the time to blog about the subjects that interest me.
The number of splogs around is annoying, but they never last. A good solid blog, I think, will always do well.
The most important aspect to being successful,(one does not always consider success as monetary.)
Is have passion for what you are trying to convey. Be patient, be just as thrilled with 100 hits as one with 1 million, if what you are trying to say is worthy, then reaching even one… is success.
Sincerely,
Heidi-Ann Kennedy
Scientific Frontline
I must agree wholeheartedly on blogging with passion. I started out blogging for myself, and continue to do so, and was fortunate enough to be picked up by Disney to blog for them. Yes, rewards do follow!
I confess that I didn’t spend much time on a name. Joy’s Journal sounded good to me; and when I started a blog on Live Journal, I went with Joy’s Live Journal; and I have an old blog that’s never been updated floating around with the name of one of my books. It must have seemed a good idea at the time…
Too bad i didnt come across this blog before. Great stuff you got here. Thanks.
Blog about your passions, and in your own voice
Could not agree more. The only thing keeping me alive with my blog !
I agree with all points. If you don’t love it (your blog topic or writing) you will not last online.
When I think too much about what I want to write it doesn’t come out as good as if I think of something within minutes…my thoughts are spontaneous and I write about what I feel will excite me as well as any readers interested in the subject. My main focus is Real Estate related as that is my business but if you look at any of my posts you’ll also see a variety mix of things from happy to sad,serious,industry related..stupid personal stuff and of course an occaisonal rant here and there. I try to keep my blogs as transparent as I can.
Don’t write expecting the consumer to send you a check…I get my checks from reacting to their inquiries and then if they do business with me ….thats how I make money blogging. the rest is more theraputic and fun to do.
As you said its difficult to continue blogging unless you have passion for it. Blogs go down early when they find they cannot make money from the blog. If you have a free blog on blogger or similar services then you should wait for the money to come to you. But you have a domain and the hosting is paid then you work hard.
I haven’t earn anything from my blog so far. I had adsense but removed it after template change. Still waiting for the blog to have some real readers. I hope this service helps.
I write blogs to express my views. I feel very good when I write write something on which I have an opinion. The best thing about blogging is that one gets to know other people and their views. Blogging is an enriching experience.
Do people really blog for money? Amazing! I just blog because I love blogging and sharing my little experiences of the day. There definitely needs to be a passion for it. Otherwise, forget it. One other piece of advice to bloggers: blog on a consistent basis, at least a couple times a week. MaryAnn
You have to be enthusiastic . If you start a blog simply as an ego trip it won’t be long before your posts are boring .
Writing a daily blog is a grind that requires enthusiasm, self-discipline and the ability to keep it fresh and readable . Attempting this very quickly gives you an insight into how difficult the journalist’s job can be !
The insights are so scary in the way that they relate to me I felt like I was reading my blogging biography
Blog should represent your mind. Blogging should be release of individuals thoughts.
stay with what you love and you’ll be the best blogger you can be. write in your own style and GET THE WORD out about your blog. tell EVERYONE and make friends with other bloggers. learn from other and you’ll do fine !!!!
Make sure your content and your advertising (if you use advertising) don’t conflict. And choose tasteful advertising that supports your passion, not just anybody who will give you a buck.
Do whatever you want to do with a passion & originality. Don’t try & emulate others to evolve your style…you’ll lose it pretty soon. I think the USP of being a good blogger is to build a personal style, be regular & be gracious enough to acknowledge & return compliments/comments. Building relationships always makes life better!!