blogging.wurk.net

Everyone seems to be putting together top ten lists of tips, rules, advice, pointers, and commandments for running a good blog. Here’s a slightly different take on it. 100 quick tips straight off the top of my head…

1. Be original.

2. Stick to your topic or niche if your blog has a topic or niche.

3. Credit your sources.

4. Vary your post length.

5. Forget about frequency, think about regularity.

6. Be quick.

7. Keep your comments open.

8. And reply to them fast.

9. Use a spellchecker.

10. Your audience determines your blog’s language and tone of voice.

11. Let people subscribe via RSS.

12. Don’t blog tired. Like driving, you might crash.

13. Don’t drink and blog, either.

14. Blogging naked is OK, though.

15. Don’t use 20 words when you can use 10.

16. Short sentences are easier to read and understand.

17. Try not to cover more than one topic in each post.

18. Link to people you read.

19. And comment on their blogs, too.

20. Watch your grammar.

21. Don’t build any more keyword-soaked spam blogs. You’re fucking the industry.

22. And kill the ones you already have.

23. Remember there are millions of blogs just like yours. You need to stand out.

24. Quality beats quantity.

25. Honesty counts for more than you think.

26. Spend as much time networking as you do blogging.

27. Success ain’t gonna happen overnight.

28. You probably won’t get rich in the next 12 months, either.

29. You don’t need to be a web designer.

30. You can blog for free. But real credibility will probably take a paid account.

31. Give guest bloggers the reins occasionally.

32. Get a laptop and blog from the kitchen, the garden, or in bed.

33. Read your post through before you press the publish button.

34. Choose your advertising/affiliate programs carefully.

35. Don’t stop experimenting with ad placements.

36. Read other blogs in your niche. Religiously.

37. You have a responsibility to your readers.

38. Occasionally make your readers mad. It will create some quality content for you.

39. Don’t be afraid of a little controversy, too.

40. Have conversations in your comments.

41. Use IM software so you can continue them offline.

42. Tell people about yourself in an ‘about’ page.

43. Be contactable.

44. Carry a notebook and pen around with you.

45. Sell your blog like you’d sell a tangible product.

46. Put a link to your blog in your email signatures.

47. And link to your blog in any forum signatures you use, too.

48. You never know when slashdot will get you.

49. Subscribe to newsfeeds/email alerts for your niche.

50. Competitions are a great way to draw people to your blog.

51. Ask for opinions on your content, design, strategy.

52. Write a business plan.

53. And stick to it.

54. Write as if you are speaking to your audience, not writing to them.

55. Don’t use jargon, unless you’re writing a technical blog.

56. Big words don’t really impress anyone.

57. Short paragraphs improve readability.

58. Try not to clutter your blog unnecessarily.

59. Make some extra cash with some blog-branded gear, like t-shirts.

60. Your blog should appeal both to new readers, and the old faithful - it’s a fine balance.

61. Keep an eye on your stats.

62. Don’t spread yourself too thinly over too many blogs.

63. If you’re going away, let your readers know when you’ll be back.

64. Or, write a bunch of posts before you go and set them to go live while you’re away.

65. Take the whole thing seriously.

66. Breaking the $1-a-day Adsense target seems like the toughest task in the world.

67. Just wait until you’re gunning for $100-a-day. Or $1000.

68. Don’t quit your day job to go pro, unless you’re already matching your salary through blogging.

69. Like I said, naked blogging is OK.

70. Blogging can get addictive.

71. Keep a long, long list of post ideas handy for times when you just can’t think of anything to write.

72. Use a 3rd party feed stats service to check how many people subscribe to your blog.

73. Traffic takes time to build up.

74. Be proactive. Don’t just sit there and wait for things to happen - they won’t.

75. Drink coffee.

76. Find out what makes the really successful blogs really successful.

77. Stay focused. Why are you blogging in the first place?

78. Give loyal readers a preview of any big pieces you plan to post.

79. Ask your readers what they might want to read.

80. Keep it real.

81. Much of your traffic will come from search engines. Write your posts with this in mind.

82. Don’t flog a dead horse.

83. And don’t sell out by taking bungs.

84. Remember, it’s your blog and you control it.

85. Check whether your company has a policy about blogging.

86. The law applies to blogs, too.

87. Be consistent.

88. If you’re monetizing your blog, don’t offer full content in a feed.

89. Beware of people stealing your content.

90. Beware of people stealing your design, too.

91. When you write each post, think about the probability of your readers linking to it.

92. A couple of high-earning blogs are better than 20 low-earners.

93. Get the balance right between time spent blogging, and money earned blogging.

94. It’s hell when the Adsense site goes down.

95. Don’t forget that there are still millions of people in the world who don’t know what a blog is.

96. Your most successful blog will always be the one with the niche topic you’re most interested in.

97. Blogging isn’t a 9-5 job.

98. Make sure you read everyone else’s tips and advice - it’s all good stuff.

98. Oh, and make sure you subscribe to our feed. ;o)

100. And finally, please don’t forget that you have a life in the real world, too.

Actually, I could go on, and on. And on. My point? Blogging is still a brand new industry. Sure, there are plenty of self-claimed people offering good advice, and in general, most of them really do know what they’re talking about. But right now, we’re at the stage where you can still make your own rules and still do things your way. So, yep, do read what other people have got to say, but make your own decisions on who to listen to. And take the others with the proverbial pinch of salt.

It’s all about experimenting and finding out what works best for you.