Blogging advice

Some blogging advice that first appeared in Early to Rise:

FEATURE ARTICLE

Ten Ways to Write Great Blog Posts That Get Attention
by Courtland Bovee

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million bysome counts), with thousands more being created every day. Makingyours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but hereare ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from thecrowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader's attention. It isthe first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader'sattention right away. Your title should both pique the reader'sinterest and be informative. Do not write "Business WritingAdvice"; instead, say "The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing YourBusiness Writing Worries." Longer titles have the advantage ofdescribing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a goodrange.
2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way.Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detanglingcomplex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use stronglanguage. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit eachpost to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250words, split it into two entries.
3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, andsubheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space onthe page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mentalbreaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with theinevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique putssome distance between your writing and all those distractions.
4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stayup-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Readnewspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you writea blog about business communication, subscribe to Google NewsAlerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs,podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, andbusiness reports, so you will always be well informed. Postingitems from last month or last year will lose your reader's interestfaster than you can say "Enron."
5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraidto create and state your opinions. Of course, there are somesituations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people areason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.
6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up.Know what your sources are and quote them accurately.Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the sparkthat sets it off or the wind that fans it.
7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what?Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your readersomething new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to bethe site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better havesomething worth writing about.
8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog,stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting aboutthe latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance willonly confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.
9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness yourblog's search engine potential by dousing your title and post witheffective keywords that will help interested parties find your pagein the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most importantelements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.
10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Postfrequently-at least several times per week if you want to increaseyour potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languishfor weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresherground.
Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hardwork and good writing skills. Find what makes your writingunique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Courtland L. Bovee, one of America's leading instructors in clearand effective communication, co-authors several leadingcollege-level texts with John V. Thill, a prominent communicationsconsultant and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ofGlobal Communication Strategies. Their website, BusinessCommunication Headline News, the #1 business communication site onthe web, is at http://www.businesscommunicationheadlinenews.com