7 Ways to Build a Better Blog [List]

Writers who want to get their message out to readers have never had more options about how to do that. On one hand, there are traditional print books and e-books, sales of which have actually gone up over the past year. On the far other end of the written-word spectrum, there is Tweeting, which allows a writer to share his most profound thoughts in 140 characters or less. Somewhere in the middle of this spectrum is blogging, the personal website built of chronological posts that has graduated from fringe geek idea to mainstream acceptance in only a few short years.

If you already have a blog, you know that it takes more than a few posts a month to get your blog noticed and read in the overcrowded blogosphere.

Here are seven simple ways that you can take your blog from decent to dazzling.

1. Post regularly.

Many bloggers aim to post at least once a week, but life often gets in the way, especially for those who blog part-time. Although posting often is crucial for a dynamic blog, don’t let the need for speed get in the way of the equally important need for careful editing and rich meta tags and hyperlinks. Post as often as you can do it well, and not more. Remember, however, if more than two weeks go by without a peep, you may lose readers.

2. Encourage commenting.

Some new bloggers, afraid of the notorious trolls that can saturate your blog with profanity, inanity, and ads for knockoff goods, opt for turning off commenting altogether. But despite the risks, an active commenting community is a crucial part of a successful blog. A blog is a two-way conversation; allow your readers to participate through commenting and emails. Encourage comments by ending a blog post on a question, or soliciting advice. You don’t need to respond to every comment, but taking the time to answer thoughtful questions and correct mistakes pointing out by readers can be an important way to build an enduring bond between you and your readers.

3. The best blogs are small blogs.

This doesn’t mean small in terms of number of readers, and certainly not in terms of influence. The best blogs are small in scope, covering a narrowly defined topic in a deep and meaningful way. Don’t just blog about your life, blog about your house-redecoration project. Don’t just blog about fashion, report on your research and experiences buying ideal engagement rings. The more narrow your focus, the more likely you are to find a niche of readers who will be interested in exactly that thing, and the less you will be forced to compete with an overcrowded field filled with generic blogs.

4. Know your topic.

The best way to be recognized as an expert in your field is to be an expert in your field. And that doesn’t just mean having a background or some experience; follow other blogs and news sources relating to your topic so that you are always well-informed about recent developments in your area of interest. That way, you will be able to up-to-date and relevant to your readers. This kind of ongoing education will help you with number 3 above, blogging in a very specific topic, without running out of things to say. The more you invest yourself in your topic, the more you will have to share on it.

5. Customize your design.

Although the generic templates that blogging hosts like Blogger and WordPress provide are adequate for a beginning blogger, if you really want to build a better blog, there is no better way to telegraph your professionalism to readers than by designing a unique, customized design. You can do this yourself by altering a template design using the tools provided to you by the blogging host, or hire a professional to design a simple, clean blog design that is relevant to your blogging style and topic.

6. Lose the subtitle.

Most blogging hosts provide free web hosting when you use your unique blog name in conjunction with their domain name; i.e. myblog.blogspot.com. That’s fine for a beginner, but to show a new sign of professionalism, find out if your domain name is available without the subtitle. You will pay a small fee for this hosting service, but it will be worth it for the added professionalism and ease of memory this step will provide. Make sure that your original web address redirects to your new one, so you don’t lose any loyal readers.

7. Use widgets

Use widgets – not just popular ones like a blogroll and archives, but new and useful ones that pertain to your blog. For example, how about adding a handy recipe calculator to your cooking blog? Or a scrolling real-time newsfeed to your politics blog? Or a 3D diamond visualizing tool to your blog about cut loose diamonds? Fun, unique and interactive widgets can elevate your blog from a mere list of posts to a truly fun and functional website.

(Image Source)

Guest article written by Houston jewelry store – Whiteflash.com.

Technorati Tags: blog building, blogging, design, tools, widgets, wordpress