Blogging Tips

So, I started this blog for a class I'm in that focuses on online literature. We have looked at some online magazines, read some books about online writing, but most of our time is spent revolving around blogs.

We have spend time reading popular blogs, writing reports on blogs, reading books about blogs and books that were originally blogs, and, in fact, creating our own blogs.

You're on mine...

So, here is 8 tips I have gleaned from all this work about how the make a "good" blog. After each tip, I have provided a link to the blog of one of my classmates that I think does a good job following that tip.

1)     Read and reference other people's blogs. One of the things unique about the blogging platform compared to say, a book, is that it is a community. If you talk about other popular blogs on yours, it strengthens that feeling of camaraderie with your readers.

             - Kickin' it in the Kitchen

2)     Reference other current events/popular culture. This provides another way to to connect with your readers. They can say, "I've seen that, too, and I thought ______ about it."

             - Global Goodies

3)     Use multimedia. Another thing unique about blogging is that it is not limited to only text. Use Pictures, links, videos. It makes your blog more enjoyable to read.

            - The Secret Lives of Dragons

4)     Choose a topic you enjoy. Kind of a "well duh"one, but if you don't like writing about it, people won't like reading about it.

             - Chickaddie's Nest

5)     Choose a topic that won't dry up. You need to be able to write posts after post for a long time. If you start a blog about "My Trip to Mexico, 2013," you'll probably only be able to write so much before you've said everything there is to say.

             - Ha-Ha-Hollywood

6)     Choose a topic that you know about, or are willing have personal experience. It's pretty obvious to readers if someone does or does not know what they are talking about. Don't make things up; we can smell the BS. Nothing is a good substitute for solid, first-hand experience.

             - Droidmods

7)     Use humor. No, you don't have to be a great comedian, but not matter your topic, there are probably places you can approach it with lightheartedness. You can be serious too, but just don't be too serious. People are (or hopefully are) reading your blog for enjoyment, so make it an enjoyable experience. 

             - Kickin' it in the Kitchen

8)     Be yourself. In the end, what will keep people reading your blog is you. There are thousands of blogs out there. You are probably not the only talking about your subject. Your voice is what will make make your blog new, unique, and worth coming back to.

              - On Becoming A Sponge