Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
You’ve made the decision to blog. In Part 1 I gave you tips on how to get started. Now I want to help you continue. You’ve been going at this for awhile and are wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into.
I still don’t know what to write everyday.
Brainstorm. Do this in whatever way works best for you. Grab a piece of paper or a blank document file and start writing/typing away. Don’t edit your thoughts. Don’t edit your grammar, punctuation and spelling. You’re the only one who is going to read this document! Set a specific time limit and stick to it.
Once the time has passed, re-read your document. What ideas are popping out to you? Highlight those because those are the things that can be blog posts. With a little research and tweaking, it will be easy!
Read. Read the newspaper. Read books. Read other blogs and their comments. There are a ton of ideas out there every day! The subjects change constantly. Do you agree with what you’re reading, but can offer a different slant on the information? Do you disagree with it and want to explain why?
Look for variety. If you always read the same on-line news, try a different source. Did you see a comment on a blog you liked? Go check out their blog.
Participate. Social media is rife with new material! People are always sharing things that interest them. Check out the links!
I’m really not a great writer.
Don’t let that stop you! Yes, grammar, punctuation and spelling are very important if you want to be taken seriously. How do you improve those skills? By writing. If you’re worried about it, get an editor. Surely there’s someone you know who will read over your pieces and edit. If you don’t have someone like that, please ask me! I’ll help you! The more you write, the better you get.
I don’t know how a blog should look.
There are no rules, like I talked about in Part 1. When you come across a blog you like, note the things that you like and why. When you see things you don’t like, ask yourself why. Look at magazines, newspapers, print ads…anything you see throughout your day. Take the time to critique it. Why does/doesn’t it appeal to you? Do you like the colors? The font? The pictures?
Your blog, ultimately, should appeal to you. You’re the one who looks at it every day. I’ll confess that I love how my blog looks. I love just looking at it! I know that’s pathetic, but I am enormously proud of it. I want you to feel the same way about your blog!
If you wonder about your blog’s appeal, ask people you respect for their opinions. Get their feel for it. Be prepared to accept or dismiss their comments. Again, it’s your blog. Listen for the same comment coming from different people, though. That might be something you should consider changing!
Do I have the right widgets? What about buttons–do I have the right buttons?!
Widgets and buttons fill my dreams at night! I use Word Press and there are a million zillion different widgets I could use. I’ve settled on some because other users recommend them. I’ve found some on my own. I’ve switched out hundreds. It’s a never-ending adventure to find exactly the right widget to do the exact job you need done.
I’m particular about the buttons I have on my blog and want to limit them. Other bloggers have no limits. Again, this is personal preference. If you like buttons, you can find them everywhere. Bloggers offer them, blog directories offer them.
Think of your blog as ever-changing and adapting. It can always be changed and tweaked. Nothing is etched in stone!
That’s enough for today! If you have any suggestions for part 3, questions or comments, please feel free to email me!
6 Responses to “You Say You Want To Blog…Part 2”
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This is my first time to visit your blog and I actually like it. I have a knack in searching for blogs related to Tummy Tankz.
Really great ideas. I find that I’m usually stuck on what to write until I actually sit down and just do it… then the ideas start flowing.
I love this post! It really simplifies the process.
I LIKE buttons but found that they were overwhelming me because I HATE clutter so I created a set of organized pages on which to keep and display my buttons. It works much better for me than having them on my front page.
I have read both Part I and Part II now and they both helped me out a lot. I’m about to launch an e-commerce site called bornforbrilliance.com that focuses on developmental toys for preschoolers and early school age children, and I have learned that blogging is really going to help me bring traffic to my site. Still, it has been a little overwhelming to get started and your blog has really helped me get motivated and focused. I look forward to continuing to read your blog – I think it’s great!
Thank you for your kind words! I’ve got to work on Part III. I just want people to know that blogging is doable and should be fun and what you need it to be! Good luck with your blog & business!
xo Susie