Blogging is like music you need to play several instruments at the same time, and to get a good sound, you must play them with harmony and coherence.
You're the person in charge of the orchestra - the director and your unique style reflects it in the final piece
This year I've learned numerous topics, but as the theme of today is restricted to 10 points, I'll sum up all of them in one single phrase: BE-YOURSELF
Let's see them individually:
# 1 - Blogging
The core of the instrument for bloggers is their writing. Articles should be scannable, appealing, transmitting emotions and with great doses of copywriting, if your niche deserves it. Brainstorming should be a constant for bloggers, using any method to obtain better ideas for your writing.
Really when you write an article that hasn't any break, subhead, "air", or color, you are losing the battle to get the attention of the reader. It's a good idea to separate your posts in chunks and "dig your teeth" individually, like I'm doing right now with these 10 points: b-e-y-o-u-r-s-e-l-f.
# 2 - Expect the unexpected
I've learned this is motto when I was a kid and match perfect to bloggers. You never know when you'll receive a brand new proposal, email, achieve a success or failure in your blog-journey.
You'd be prepared mentally, even physically to "support" different schedules and routines, more if your readers are international from assorted countries.
# 3 - Your personality...
... is vital and it's the key for your writing-voice.
With millions and millions of blogs popping up per day - you'd make yourself this sincere question: why readers should stick, read, bookmak and share your articles?
The answer must be: you! If you can transfer your mind, life and DNA to your blog, you're hitting a milestone in most of your posts, because nobody will repeat that recipe with such special ingredients.
# 4 - Oxygenate your blog
From time to time everybody needs new fresh airs, new post ideas.
You're be able to add oxygen (sparking even more your blog) changing layouts, adding new sections, doing interviews, open guest posting on your blog and looking directly guest writers outside like into MyBlogGuest. In that way, you'll have updated and new standpoints which your readers - will love to!
# 5 - Unique - Unbeatable headlines
No matter the niche of your blog, you've few seconds to catch the attention of the reader.
Why will you waste this precious time with an insipid title? You spent hours writing your gem and barely only few minutes in a sizzling headline.
Apart of the important SEO factor of adding key-phrases in them, take notice that your humans' readers are totally visual.
Those words should give the curiosity to explore further the post, consequently bringing power to your blog with more people really enjoying your articles!
# 6 - Random frequencies in posting
It's a common error and you'd avoid whenever it's possible. Do you conceive a newspaper or a TV channel publishing / broadcasting randomly? It sounds odd, right?
Well bloggers are the same, and they should have solid long term blogging strategies. One of them is being coherent in your timing to post, giving to your readers security and an idea when you'll be live again.
# 7 - Social networking
Incredibly, I still find bloggers that are asking, why their social media efforts fail.
If you look up a bit you see the reason why they don't receive comments, retweets, shares at Facebook, votes or whatever social engaging form you can conceive. The answer is simple, they don't do anything of the mentioned before!
Karma-reciprocation law is the name of the game and you'd do it honestly and giving much more that you'd expect receiving.
Remember we're humans - not bots - and treat others as you wish to be treated.
# 8 - E-learning
We're in a digital era that was unthinkable a few years ago without the massive-appearing of the internet. But this can has benefits and headaches too. Overloading of information, days that never are enough, and yes, learning via web constantly!
Bloggers must improve their knowledge about all type of tech-stuff - like or not - new software tools, upgrades, new sites to explore and e-manuals to read and the list can be endless. So the hard truth is: if you want your blog really jump to a new level, be prepared to learn more SEO, internet marketing, copywriting, social media marketing and so on.
How? Reading, trying and experimenting which suits best to you and to your blog.
# 9 - Light up your blog
I guess, you want more readers to your blog? Am I wrong? Nope, I supposed that - well I've learned that you'd expand new horizons engaging in social communities namely Blog Engage, MMO Social Network, Blokube, SERPd, and many more.
And what about repurposing your old post into e-books or documents in sites like Scribd or SlideShare?
Other options could be posting recycled articles or brand new ones, to communities like Hubpages or Squidoo.
The blogosphere is huge and all the time is appearing new sites to explore. Just relax and study which of them worth your time!
# 10 - Favorites
It's great to save articles for later readings on your favorite-browser, but I recommend extending this concept further to social bookmaking / news sites for most of your posts that you consider worth-sharing; sites like Amplify, StumbleUpon, Delicious, Digg, etc.
Which is the advantage? You can reach more people, then possible extra traffic for your articles - gaining new audience. And last but not least, really it's fundamental- you'll meet other bloggers bringing new relationships!
Alright, thanking to Tia, I've shared 10 ideas I've learned about blogging till now.
As you know, bloggers love receiving comments and engaging with readers, so why don't you share with us in comments your remarkable blogging-experiences of this year?
About the 10 Things I Learned Series
From Tia: This is a guest blogging series on BizChickBlogs on 10 Things Learned in 2010. I've invited a handful of people to submit guest posts on this topic, and I would love to have more! If you have something you can write about, whether it be about what you learned about social media, having a blog network, taking time off, investing in premium plugins, starting another blog, closing a blog, whatever - contact me and let me know or read the guest blogging guidelines and send your guest post that way. Everyone is invited. Thanks!
10 Thoughts I Learned This Year that Will Help Your Blog is a post from: BizChickBlogs