Blogging III

It's better to write about things you feel than about things you know about.
~ L P. Hartley

The blogging world is made up of some do’s and don’t’s. There are things you can do to ensure you have a good blog and there are some things that will be a no-no to your readers and have them clicking for something else to read. I’ve probably done one or more of these on the list, so don’t fret if you do too. They’re just a quick guideline.

Here are some do’s:
1. First and foremost, be yourself. Allow your reader to be a voyeur into your world and get to know your personality through your voice.

2. FOCUS. Having something to focus on, like for me it is writing, poetry and quotes. Yours may be photography, every day mommy, or cooking. Just remain focused and your reader will keep coming back to taste what you’re offering.

3. LINKS. It is advisable to post links to either other blogs, other posts of yours or informative links within a post. Your reader will feel more connected to you and find your blog of interest. I hear it helps with the search engines too.

4. Images. Sometimes a reader needs to be visually in touch with you. Photos can be one way you connect your blog post, through an image, to reach your reader. This is brain stimulation for the reader.

5. Be responsive. I get few comments, but when I do, I respond to each person. Many have become close friends over the years and not commenting may have driven them away. Comment to your reader!

6. Promote! It is advisable to promote yourself in any way you can, via facebook, twitter, or other avenues. Promoting your blog is your ticket to readership! They won’t read if they don’t visibly know you exist.

Now onto some don’t do ideas:

1. Don’t overdo it! When you’re new to blogging, you have a tendency to want to blog every day, every hour if possible. Set a reachable goal and pace yourself.

2. Don’t bore your reader! If you have a photo blog, don’t ramble on about last nights dinner. This will not always go over well with your readers. Allow your blog to evolve over time and when you know your trusty followers well enough, then give them something new to nibble on.

3. Don’t make grammar mistakes! This is one I believe I’ve made a few times on my blog, but I usually catch it before it goes to the reading public. I’m not perfect, but my readers of a writing blog, expect more from me! Be more for your reader. Go above and beyond in bringing them all that they expect in your blog.

4. Don’t make your post one long paragraph! Break it up with some ‘white space’ for the reader. Make it aesthetically appealing. Just as you need a break, so does your reader when he/she is reading. Long paragraphs equal boring posts on the blogger scale.

5. Don't limit WC. WC stands for word count in the writing world. Writing longer posts, with breaks in the paragraphs, makes your reader feel they’ve gotten hold of some juicy stuff, and comfortably too, I might add.  I’ve tried limiting my posts to 500 words, but more times than not, I go well over that and I think my blog posts are all the better for it. Remember, more words means meatier juicier blog posts. (keep in mind #2 on the don’t list)

6. Do NOT be negative! Unless you have a blog about Gripes of a Mom, being negative gives off many negative vibes as I’ve learned the hard way on this one. Be positive and inspirational. This is what readers want and being a bummer in the readers world will surely get you less reads and have them surfing for a more inspirational blog.

So there you have it. A nice little list to help guide you in the blogging community. Write on folks, but most of all, Write RIGHT!

Discovered

If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
St. Clement of Alexandra
***

Did you ever wonder what all those followers who are following you are for? For me it is a part of being discovered. They come, they like what they see, they follow. I, in turn, see them, and follow them. It is like a writers tag team of followers.

Being discovered is all a fun part of this writing biz. We network on facebook, we tweet on twitter, we find like minded people on Linked In, and it all boils down to being a discovered person amid other people doing the search and recovery.

Some people search out inspiration, some people search for skills of a craft, some even search out any knowledge base they can find, and they find it in a fellow blogger. We’re all a part of a writing community. We bloggers are a Social Network all our own as we stand, sometimes lead, oftentimes follow, more times than not, we find what it is we’re looking for within the pages of a friendly blogger.

I like to seek out writers and writing blogs that are going to move me forward in my craft. They give me ideas on how I can better my words and structure them to make my writing blog more efficient for the next person coming along who might find what they are looking for. I also seek out to support a fellow writer.

I love it when I come in here to post a blog only to find that like a rock out of thousands of rocks, I’ve been discovered by new blood, and that a new follower is on my list. I try to read all their blogs, try to comment, I try to be the all to the end all of a day, but in the end. I read and write.

Little by little I’m being discovered, hair by hair, people are finding the strand of hope they’re looking for within my blog. Inch by inch I get that much closer to knowing that there are people out there with like minds who share the same interests as me.

When I first began my blog, I had no vision of where I wanted it to go, or the types of people that I’d meet. After five years of consistently blogging day in and day out (give or take a few days) I have met some of the most wonderful people. I could NEVER have met such grand folk in person. This is the best way to meet genuine, caring, loving, God fearing personal people!

Some have taken the f2k free writing course, some have joined Writers Village University and have become my personal friends. This is what blogging is all about, unearthing of friendship you’d never find elsewhere on the planet. Over 10,000 hits, over 80 followers; this discovered gal is on cloud nine! Help me, in discovering you, and our future, together!