The phrase “Content is King!” is a resounding statement in the blogosphere which has been used probably over a million times. Yet it still remains as truth, since a blog’s value really is determined by the quality and timeliness of information it produces. For many bloggers, consistently producing posts that always captures readers’ attention is at times a very daunting task; and with 95% of bloggers in the industry failing, we begin to see really how difficult it is and how much effort is required to be successful at blogging.
I have a few techniques that I need to share with you that will help you to be 10 steps ahead of the game and secure your status as pro-blogger.
1. Be Inspired!
Inspiration comes in many ways and from many people. Truly inspired writing is what usually changes lives or really gets someone to think deeply about the subject at hand. Forget about the get rich quick stuff, that will not last. If you decide to blog seriously then you will need to take some serious steps to get where you want to be. Why write something that has been regurgitated a hundred times over? Listen to the pros, watch and learn from them rather than solely wish you could be like them. Take their experiences and use them to propel you forward.
2. Be Awesome! – Use Graphs, Graphics & Research Material
So you’ve got a big story to tell. Maybe its about social media, the latest trends in the blogosphere or just some new developments in your niche. Don’t tell the same story in the same way it is elsewhere on the net. Get actual figures from a reporting authority, create and use infographics, show trend graphs, do comparisons or anything else that makes your story insightful, informative and delivered in such a way that is not found on any other blog. Go the extra mile to give your audience extra reasons to stay and continue reading your blog.
3. Proof Read Before Publishing
This one will save you lots of embarrassment; trust me I’ve been there. I dislike reading a blog and need to be doing any form of translating to understand what the writer is trying to say. This looks really bad and shows that you don’t care enough for your audience to write a clear and concise article. Most errors are avoidable if we double check before posting. Readers will be very judgmental about you as a blogger if many grammatical and typographic errors litter your articles.
4. Make a Physical Note of All Post Ideas
Honestly, almost everywhere I go I take a notepad with me. I know we’re in the high tech age of mobile electronics but I can’t seem to live without my pen and paper. Having a notepad handy will help you to be always thinking and helps you to better record unique ideas. Throughout our days, we may see and hear things that help us to form post ideas and even offer some enlightenment. Be ready to write your notes when this happens. I’m no psychologist but I’ve noticed that my creative juices flow much better when my pen and notepad is in sight. I always have something to write about. So give it a try!
5. Work On Your Grammar & Vocabulary
I know that most of us have our own challenges at different stages where this is concerned but we need to strive to write with proper grammar and appropriate use of words. There is no excuse for not improving grammar and vocabulary. If you were able to start your blog then you should have access to Dictionary.com and the endless resources on the web. There is never a time when I’m writing a post and not use that site. There is always room for improvement and we have all resources within our reach; so use them. Poor grammar will threaten the quality of your posts and readers are less likely to share them.
6. Learn To Connect With Your Readers
Yes, you may be writing technical manuals or tutorials for your blog but that does not mean that your choice of words and demeanor should be robotic. Have a little personality, write in your natural tone and use “you” as though you are speaking directly to your readers rather than just general statements. This will do wonders for your dedicated readership. Ask questions, make suggestions and reply to your comments. Your audience should feel compelled to leave a comment and interact with others on your site.
7. Read Lots of Books
Read a few books related to your niche every month or as much as your time permits. The more you read and learn, the stronger your expertise becomes. Know your niche like you know yourself (Hopefully you’re in tune with yourself). This will set you apart from the average blogger who is just like everyone else. You will find that you quickly become the “guru” and produce content that all the scrapers and wannabes want to copy.
8. Easy To Read Formatting
If you have a 1,000 word post to write don’t write it all flowing in one huge paragraph. Include sub-headings for separating your points. Use images to ease the tension on your readers’ eyes; images are easier for the brain and more interactive which will keep your audience reading.
9. Write With Solid Objectives
Why do you blog? Is it just for the sake of writing or are you trying to get your readers comment, change their lives or purchase a product. Decide what you need to achieve through your writing before you start writing. This gives you focus and direction and will result in a higher level of reader interaction.
10. Get to work!
That’s right get to work. You’d be surprised at the massive amount of bloggers who fail because they refuse to take the next step. Persistence in the right direction will lead to success. I know all the techniques listed above will take huge chunks of your time initially but its well worth it; your readers will thank you and you’ll begin to notice more bloggers linking to you and your traffic will be your proof.
Share Your Thoughts
Please share this post and leave a comment to let us know what you think; or if you would like to add a few more ideas for creating killer content. We would love to hear from you.
I really like the points you’re stating. I sure am learning some elements here. E.g. I don’t read that many niche oriented books in one month, maybe every 6 months when I can afford to buy them. I do not have a notepad on me either. Should get one maybe. I must however point out that I don’t aim to be a “problogger”, responsible maybe but not pro
.
.-= Sachin @ Web Design Mauritius´s last blog ..The secret of strong and em tags. =-.
Hey Sachin,
Thanks for being such a dedicated reader
Its really appreciated.
Aiming for the problogger status is not an absolute requirement, as long as you are accomplishing your goals for your blog then you are truly a success at what you do; which I know is very focused on serving the Mauritius community.
Thanks for the nice words Sam!
.-= Sachin @ Web Design Mauritius´s last blog ..Smashing Magazine has changed, will the trend whores also change? =-.
Sam,
your points are valid.
to add to your list ,story telling is another way of writing great blog posts..it keeps the readers riveted to the post..
.-= mk akan´s last blog ..My First 7 Guest Posts On Other Blogs =-.
Thanks for contributing!
That is an excellent way of capturing readers’ attention. I completely forgot about that one. That method adds an extra spice to certain types of articles.
Hey Sam,
As usual your direction is spot on! Lots of blogs fail because people seem to think they can throw anything up there and be done with it… Maybe the design aspect getting easier (in terms of free themes and blogging platforms) has something to do with the careless approach to content..
.-= Natalia´s last blog ..Does Your Business Have Longevity? =-.
Hey Natalia,
Thanks for reading. That’s a good point you’ve made. Many persons create a blog because it is so easy only to abandon it because they didn’t have the vision or passion from the beginning. I don’t pay much attention to this group unless they sincerely seek the knowledge, or help, to do better.
Proof Read Before Publishing – I probably spend more time on this, then writing the article itself; of course, this is also when I do the post SEO.
Make a Physical Note of All Post Ideas – Luckily? I rarely leave the house. All my idea come to me right here at the computer. My blog is always open so i just stop, draft the idea, and move on…or write it right there depending on time.
.-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Warning: 8 Posts Coming Back to Back =-.
Thanks for commenting Dennis
Lots of my inspiration comes to me while I sleep at night, so I flip the lights on and start writing
It can be annoying at times especially when I’m really tired but I guess that’s the price to pay for it. Its worth it!
As long as you don’t dream the idea, then dream that you wrote it down; you’ll be pissed in the morning.
.-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Web Income Experiments DotCom Wins Hands-Down! =-.
Excellent set of recommendations, thanks! One minor addition would be to maintain a personal writing style that engages the reader – far too many blogs these days seems as though they are written like textbooks.
.-= Martin@SEO Articles´s last blog ..Long Tail Keywords and Traffic Generation =-.
Hey Martin, thanks for reading
That’s a great point. That technique will make writing much easier for the blogger and also attract a lot more dedicated readers.
I also want to share my thought here. Well most of blogger write on their blog about killer content, but here come two point one is “do you want to write for search engine” or do you want to write of social media”, because if you want to get rank on search engine then your article title and content should be tricky by integrating keywords, I myself notice it that if I write content for search engine then I get traffic from that article within 24 hours. The next is killer content for social media, for get traffic from social media your blog should have nice design and title should be very catchy and unique. I notice that the story come to the front page for digg or mixx are very unique. So this is my though.
.-= chandan@work at home blog´s last blog ..7 Best Work At Home Marketplace For Freelancer =-.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Chandan
Having the write balance in writing is something all bloggers should try to achieve. As you mentioned, writing for search engines can attract lots of traffic there but then the quality of information may be compromised. The goal of my blog is to offer assistance and educate, so I will write in a format that is easily understood by my readers and not solely for search engine traffic. It all depends on a blogger’s goals and what he/she wants for their community. But I say; write for your readers.
this is a great post i think proof before posting is a very good for bloggers especially the new bloggers . Keep up the good work
.-= ron´s last blog ..The power of planning ! =-.
Thanks for reading Ron.
Yeah, new bloggers really should triple check their work to reduce errors but also should not get too complacent as their skills improve.
I put this same content and detail in one of my previous post so i know where you are coming from . Its like you know me or something .
.-= ron´s last blog ..The power of planning ! =-.
#4 if good. Given the type of blogging we do, we try to go to the community we are blogging about and take pictures. Our best blog entries have slideshows in them.
.-= Colleen@Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog ..North Richland Washington Homes For Sale and Real Estate =-.
That’s excellent Colleen
Right there you have found what your readers want, which seems to be real examples and photos of homes. Keep it up!
Hey Robyn,
Great tips bro. I always try to proof reading before publishing a post.
“Be Awesome! – Use Graphs, Graphics & Research Material” Grreat point..
Thanks for sharing this great tips !
.-= Dev | Technshare´s last blog ..What is your number one traffic tip? =-.
Hey Dev,
Thanks for reading
Always remember to bring a journal or a dry erase board WITH you EVERYWHERE you go! I am often sitting in math class and get random ideas for articles (that’s what i do i math class
). Because I have a journal, I can record them and write content, later on, that reflects my ideas exactly.
Hey Joe,
Thanks for commenting
That’s the same with me. I get ideas even when I’m in meetings with clients.
I will also say keep paragraphs short, if possible. Short paragraphs encourage concise writing practices, then use bullet-ed lists, subheadings, or simpler paragraphs to organize your content, it makes reading appealing.
Hey thanks for taking the time to comment
That will definitely make blog posts easier to read and understand.
Very good points there! The “Work On Your Grammar & Vocabulary” part fits on me, and i will not stop learning to write better, love it Robyn!
.-= Kimi´s last blog ..W3C validation and SEO? =-.
Thanks for reading Kimi.
We all have that problem and have to keep working to get better.
Great points mentioned in this post. Proof read before publishing : Many bloggers seems to forget this basic point and well it is quite actually embarrassing. Also jotting down post ideas is a good habit. The one point that I can’t keep up to is reading books since most of the time I tend to be very busy with my day job or blogging. I think I should take out some time for it too, since this can also be really helpful.
.-= Shiva@Web Magazine´s last blog ..Huge List of RSS Feed Directories =-.
Hey Shiva,
Thanks for stopping by.
Its really important to continuously improve our skills and knowledge through doing some extra reading. Schedule an hour per day or a couple hours on weekends to read. It does wonders for inspiring writers to push the limits with their work and to also come up with new and unique content.
Mind mapping is a great tool to find inspiration and get out all the ideas in your head. Afterward you can step back and see the big picture.
You can then go through each of the branches and ask “will my reader like this? Is it unique?”. Don’t be afraid to throw away ideas if they don’t fit your blog.
.-= Murlu´s last blog ..Time Management For Successful Bloggers =-.
Hey Murlu,
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Mind mapping would be a very unique way of approaching blog content creation. I’ve never tried that although I’m such a visual type of learner. Deciding what should be included in the blog posts by asking yourself what readers will like is a definite prerequisite for creating content readers will love.
Thanks for sharing Murlu.