How You Effectively Blog?

Maybe "blogging" isn’t such an elegant word. For me personally, it feels like a verbal chore, just as cereal can be wet, the skies can be foggy, and minds can be dazed. But for now, it's too late to rename this shortened word for the blog. Pervasive blogging is one of the most compelling Internet developments of the past few years. As a medium, it gives rise to many new and valuable voices and plays a vital new force in shaping ideas, political realities, trends, and even our language.

I believe a blog is simply a tool to be used by someone who has something to say. Let me tell you that a blog is a bad choice for someone who needs a megaphone to shout into cyberspace in order to get a meaningful response from Internet users. If you want attention and want it now and expect blogging to bring it to you, it will definitely be a disappointment. However, if you enjoy writing and interacting with others on topics for which you have some knowledge or experience, it's a great app to interact with people who share similar interests as you. The hype is well established.

Anyway, here's a list of blogging recommendations...

1.) Stay current.

Consistency in the message is not optional. Readers may or may not be interested in your topic, but if your message is haphazard, few people will bother remembering to come back to your blog because it will actually offer nothing to remember. That doesn't mean blogs can't jump from topic to topic. For example, a humor-focused blog has all the space in the world in terms of subject matter, but it would be silly for such a blog to turn humor on and off. In such an example, the humor aspect will be the glue of the content, the strength of the blog. The beauty of staying on point and on the topic is that, due to the nature of the Internet, you end up only finding those who are interested in your topic. (as opposed to online diaries). There are millions of them on the internet, but very few readers. If I'm wrong, email me with examples and I can show you why you're showing me a blog and not a diary.)

2.) Update your content

Create a schedule and stick to it. Don't create and deliver unrealistic expectations. Blogging takes time and effort. An occasional delay or vacation is usually understandable, but readers returning to find old, outdated content will find another blog with similar content. Every day, new blogs and RSS feeds appear. If you've worked hard to develop an audience and a community, you don't want to lose them for lack of communication.

And remember, old is not new and therefore not interesting for blogs. 2006 is not the time to go up against Enron or Vanilla Ice. Insight isn't all that important to yesterday's news.

3.) Clear language is important.

Bless the blog with a clear line of reasoning. Write without jokes, clichés, or vague logic. First-time readers need to be close to your message. They are more likely to return to blogs that positively influence them. A second reading will not be conducted if the first reading is confusing.

Feed the spiders.

Active blogs are noticed by search engines, and blog search engines are particularly sensitive to activity. If anything, search engines are smarter today than they were yesterday and are getting smarter. They are trying to bring quality and continuous improvement together; quality blogs are updated not once or twice a month, but several times a week, if not every day. I don't want to scare you, but a big spider is watching, so dance for them.

5.) RSS.

Think of RSS as magic for the blogging world, because that's the impact it has. RSS feeds are a way to get your voice heard exponentially by those who are interested. These posts are a great tool to increase the distribution and readership of your original content.

6.) Check your spelling.

Hey man, use spell check. I would — you probably wouldn't have gotten to number 6 if I hadn't. It only takes a minute and can save you from looking like a hacker.

Your blog audience will be small at first. And frankly, that's what it's supposed to be. Who are you to think that after three or four posts from your blog, half of the internet will flock to you?

If you push it while maintaining quality, the readership will come. You will link to good, relevant blogs, and they will link to you in return. While your voice may be unique, your niche probably isn't, and if your content spreads smartly across the Internet, these interested readers will respond through readership and engagement. What I guarantee is