As a beginner blogger, it can be down right frightening. But in reality, the hardest part about starting a blog is just that-starting it! I wont say keeping your personal blog updated with valuable content and always giving the best to your readers is easy, but once you get it started, it will start to roll like a snow ball. In fact you might have so many posts that you want to write, you’ll wonder what to do first.
But there are some steps that you should keep as a rule of thumb when writing a new post, whether you are a beginner or a veteran. In fact there are 6 of them…..
1. Be Yourself
Sounds simple right? But often times, bloggers try to be someone else. They think that somehow they aren’t good enough to be “just themselves” to have others follow them and succeed, when that should always be the number one rule of blogging. No one wants to follow someone who is fake. People like uniqueness and like what is REAL. They want to feel like they are connecting to another human being with interests, hobbies, family life, etc. No matter what you think of yourself, if you don’t speak (or write) in your own unique voice, people will catch on. In being yourself and liking yourself, you will be much more at ease, have more fun, which in turn will attract more people to you as long as you are warm and friendly.
2. Give to Your Readers
It’s all about giving. When you give something of value to your readers they will keep coming back for more. People first start out looking for answers, so always put yourself in the shoes of those who will read your post. Think “how will this help someone? How can I help others by what I’m writing now, find what they are looking for and how will they be able to apply it into their business, life, etc.” Think about the questions that went through your mind when you started out. Have answers ready for them and they will be a ‘regular’ to your blog.
3. Stories are Always Good
Who doesn’t like a good story? This is kind of going along the lines of “Being Yourself” and it’s what makes your readers connect with you. By telling stories, you become real and readers know you are for real. With stories, you can relay your struggles, your mistakes and your success, which others will be able to relate to and want to join you for having traveled the road yourself. Since you got past the difficulties, acquired the knowledge and are now sharing what you have to offer, people will see you as leader and someone of value who can help them. Even if you are a beginner and you feel that you don’t have a story to tell yet that pertains to business or internet marketing, think about something you’ve accomplished or overcame in your life that would be of help to others. It means more than you think to your readers.
4. Be Entertaining
No you don’t have to have the skills of a novelist or be Jimmy Fallon, but you want to be less dry than a sociology textbook. This also is along the lines of being yourself. We all goof off with our friends and try to find the humor in ordinary things and laugh at ourselves. When telling stories, they don’t have to always be of great struggle or hardship. Tell some of the funny things you went through in your business or life and give your readers a laugh. I think everyone can come up with a story about themselves that others will find amusing. They will love to come and read what you have to say, because not only will you give useful help, but you will make them feel good as well. That’s a gold mine right there. They will know that you’re not all about business, and that you have a fun side too. Don’t you love to be around fun people?
5. Get to the Point
This is more for those who have been blogging for a while who might have a tendency to keep going on and on and on. Don’t take it the wrong way. Stories are not only good but necessary. You also don’t want to fire hose someone with information. As one friend told me one time “give them meat and potatoes”…the stuff they’re really looking for to satisfy the hunger. With blogging, it’s best to break things up with one particular subject being the focus of your post. For instance, when there is so much I want to say and I get into a writing frenzy, I’ll suddenly stop and think “wait this isn’t 1 post…this should be 2, maybe 3 posts.” I try covering too much. So when I’m writing and I feel a new idea creeping into the post that I’m writing, when it should really be on it’s own, I copy and paste it into a new one and save as a draft to come back to later-because I want to finish my first one. Be sure to break up the key statements within your posts with paragraphs and always, always, always proof read. It will be easier to read and your followers will love and respect you for it.
6. Consistency
And of course to see results in anything you must be consistent. You don’t have to spend hours upon end at the computer each night, but if you don’t develop some kind of pattern people will start to wonder where you went and then move on to something else. Being consistent doesn’t mean writing a post every day. You will put in alot of time in the beginning to your blog, but to have a consistently healthy blog, it is recommended you update it about 2-3 times a week. That’s about, give or take, 2 1/2 hours a week. Doesn’t sound too bad does it? I know the struggles of blogging when working full time, so decide when you want to work those 2 1/2 hours. Maybe you’ll find that after supper on weekdays is the ideal time for you. Maybe in the early morning before you go to work. Maybe you’ll want to get it all done on the weekends in one fell swoop. Whenever you want to work-just as long as you are following these 6 steps.
Keep these 6 steps in mind when writing for your blog. This will start you on the right track so keep at it. You’ll get there!
Thank you for visiting! I appreciate you all and value all comments! I would also appreciate it if you could please help me spread this around by sharing it on all your social media sites such as twitter, facebook, etc. Thanks everyone!
Your Friend,
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- How to Keep Your Blog Updated Consistently
- Reflections (and Review) of The Unified Tribe: How It Brought Me Traffic
1. June 2010 at 5:51 am
Fantastic points you made Emily!
Thanks for sharing! I will definitely refer back to this every once in a while, to remind myself what successful bloggers like yourself are doing.
Being yourself is the biggest key I can think of… Being consistent, I didn't really think of that. lol. I probably should use that one more often.
Let me know how I can support you!
Keep rockin!
~Omar
1. June 2010 at 7:05 pm
Omar my friend! Thank you so much! One of the things I added was to always be of help to others-which you have always been to me
Thank you so much for the support and help Omar!
24. May 2010 at 8:30 am
Wow, I think you hit all the right points with this post! Number 1 is important and makes a blog successful. People are tired of looking at the same thing over and over, so being yourself is the difference people are looking for.
.-= Faizal Nisar´s last blog ..Get Yourself To Take Action =-.
1. June 2010 at 11:59 am
That's right Faizal. Always be yourself and have fun!
15. May 2010 at 5:35 am
Emily –
Great tips! You have kept it concise and to-the-point with these 6 steps and I love it.
Blogging can be seriously overwhelming, especially for a newbie.
Thanks for sharing!
~Andie Petoskey
15. May 2010 at 4:41 am
Good sound advice in a list format. I like lists, they are easier to follow and keep things organized. Nice touch with the entertaining section. Keeping a variety of topics helps too.
.-= David Porter´s last blog ..Passion Starts in the Heart! =-.
15. May 2010 at 2:46 pm
Thank you David
Yes, a variety of topics too as there is always something to talk about! 
I like lists too 
15. May 2010 at 4:27 am
You're most welcome Oliver, Christine, Ejaz, Louis, Vera and Andie!
I'm glad to you all liked the tidbit on being entertaining. You got to be able to laugh at yourself. It helps you get through life 
Stay in touch and let's keep the fun going!
15. May 2010 at 1:23 am
Hi Emily,
The tip I liked most is including funny stories. I’m not bad at this skill in my ordinary life but I haven’t tried it much on my blog. I’ll definitely use the tip on my posts. Thank you very much!
14. May 2010 at 10:12 am
Hey Emily,
You’re so right about number 2. A blog would become a ghost town if you don’t give, give, and give some more to your loyal readers..
This is what it’s all about.
thanks for this post,
have a great weekend,
Hector Cuevas
.-= Hector Cuevas´s last blog ..Top 3 Headline Writing Tips To Get More Eyeballs To Your Blog =-.
14. May 2010 at 12:22 am
Emily, this is great content. It's an effective and clear road map to great blogging. I will certainly keep these tips in mind.
13. May 2010 at 12:27 pm
Hi Emily
Found you on The Unified Tribe!
I really enjoyed reading these 6 steps.Incredible value and definetly worth keeping in mind.
Much appreciated.
13. May 2010 at 10:08 am
Great suggestions, Emily! I love the suggestion for being entertaining…
Thanks for the tidbits–
All the best,
Christine
13. May 2010 at 7:29 am
Hi Emily,
thanks for this great post. You're offering good advice in easy-to-follow steps. A wealth of information. Keep up your great work.
Take care
Oliver
13. May 2010 at 2:37 am
Thanks Emily! I am working on starting my blog and am looking for any good information I can find, it is always good to hear advice from a "real" person about how to start a blog, rather than how they made $12,000,000 last week! Although, one day that would be nice!
15. May 2010 at 4:22 am
You're welcome Dan! I'm glad this helped you! I agree. It is frustrating when you hear stories about how someone made a million dollars but they never really go into the "nitty gritties" on how they did it. Congratulations on starting your blog!
I'm always ready to help 
12. May 2010 at 11:52 pm
Hey Emily,
Step#5 is super important when blogging. Readers want to get in, get value, maybe comment, and get out knowing it was time well spent.
Thanks for sharing this info, I’m sure it will help a lot of people
have a great one,
Hector Cuevas
.-= Hector Cuevas´s last blog ..5 Ways To Improve Conversion Rates On Your Blog =-.
12. May 2010 at 9:27 pm
Great tips for a newbie thank you very much Emily! It's what I have been learning about blogging so everything you say here just gives me more clarity. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of the dos and don't and I do know what you mean by other ideas creeping in.
12. May 2010 at 10:20 pm
Your most welcome Sharon! Sometimes we over analyze when starting a blog but once we get these steps down, it comes much smoother