Blogging is one of fastest growing forms of communication. It’s easy, cheap and is a great way to develop your writing skills and get your voice heard. Blogs can take a number of forms – commentaries, diaries and fiction.
The first thing to think about is the title of your blog. This is crucial: Most viewers will decide to visit your blog based on its title. The blog title should be clear and inform the reader about the nature of its content.
Similarly, you should make your headlines interesting and informative – aim to grab the reader’s attention as soon as possible. Titles should include plenty of keywords to aid search engine optimization, and should be no longer than 10-12 words.
Theme: Be clear about the type of blog you’re writing, and what the key themes of your blog are. Most readers will be interested in a specific topic, so don’t digress into areas which aren’t relevant.
Frequency: Having stale or outdated content on your website reflects badly on your blog. The most popular blogs are updated a couple of times a day. Make sure that you post regularly and cover topics which are up-to-date and relevant.
Style: Take time to develop your own voice and write in a way that feels natural to you. This is your blog, and should reflect your personality, so don’t try to imitate someone else. Make your posts easy to understand. Remember that some idioms and acronyms won’t be understood outside the UK.
Comment: Allow people to comment on your posts, and aim to respond to them. Blogs should be a dialogue, not a one-way conversation. Having comments will make your blog look popular, and will help to build up a community of readers.
Be savvy: Avoid posting work-related items that are confidential, rude, or in any way unprofessional. It’s also risky to publicise personal information about other people - this could cause embarrassment and offence.
