32 Tips for a Super Blog

Originally Published at Harmony Internet

Got something to say, or want to add a personal touch to your corporate image? Why not consider a blog - here are 32 handy tips to get you started, or improve an existing blog.

Writing Style

  1. Consider your audience, are they your customers, B2B clients?
  2. Write to be helpful, it’s more likely to be shared and has an overall good feel.
  3. Be brief. People scan blog posts for what they need.
  4. Keep to the point, a ramble isn’t helpful, if you have off-topic thoughts, see #15.
  5. Use short paragraphs. 10 words max a sentence, 4 sentences a paragraph, screens decrease attention span and increase eye strain.
  6. Stories and analogies are good to aid understanding. Empathy.
  7. Don’t over think. This is a blog not a thesis.

Content

  1. Don’t be afraid to fail. Some of your posts will nosedive into obscurity.
  2. Read other blogs and be inspired. 50 blog post ideas
  3. Follow on from other posts (that you or others make) and link between them.
  4. Respond to industry information and changes, they will be hot topics at the time.
  5. Link to other sites, blogs and your sources. It shows you have evidence and its excellent SEO.
  6. Try watching trends Google Trends
  7. Never post “Sorry I haven’t blogged, I’ll try harder” or similar. Never.
  8. Make a scratch pad or blog, where you can jot down unfinished ideas.
  9. Don’t post unless you have value to add. Too many posts are unhelpful and are more likely to do #8.
  10. Use customers as case studies, if you can, tie it in with testimonials.
  11. Meet your company guidelines. Don’t post something that will cause trouble internally or with competitors etc.
  12. Try different content types: lists, interviews, discussions, questions, critiques, guest posts. Mix it up.
  13. Have a recurring theme, say, special offer Tuesday, client of the week.
  14. Use photography, your company, or creative commons photos. Always gain permission.

Organise

  1. Schedule your posts. Once a day is amazing, every 2-3 is ideal.
  2. Put links on your blog to your site, other social network profiles, affiliates.
  3. Link to similar or other interesting blogs.
  4. Tag posts, content, theme, authors.
  5. Always keep in mind the goal of the blog.
  6. Consider the 80/20 rule of headlines. (On average 8/10 will read a headline, only 2/10 will read the article)

Interact

  1. If someone comments, comment back.
  2. Explore their blog, comment on their post.
  3. Comment on other blogs, and people will visit yours.
  4. Announce your best posts on your news, Twitter, etc.
  5. Export as RSS on your site, or with feedburner.com
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K.Davies 2009