10 Tips for Blogging
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
As hard as it is for me to believe it, tomorrow marks 14 years since I started blogging. It really doesn't seem that long when I think about it. I've definitely tweaked what I'm doing over the years, streamlining it so it's been a more manageable process for me. But it's basically still the same blog I started out with.
I thought I'd share a little today about my thoughts on blogging and a few tips for those who are either interested in starting up a blog or want some ideas for doing things differently. I do think blogging is a great activity. It's a wonderful way to build up a writing community that will support and encourage you. It's a nice way to share information with others. You can use your blogging as a writing warmup. And, from a purely promo standpoint, the updated content and visitors to your site will help with your website's search engine optimization (SEO) and help readers discover your books.
Use your own name as your domain name. It will help build your SEO for your books.
Make it easy for your posts to be shared on at least one platform. There are lots of free plug-ins that can help with that. Your readers have a lot more reach than you do on your own.
Be sure to identify yourself somewhere on your blog. It's amazing how many blogs I visit where I have trouble finding a writer's full name, much less a way to contact them.
Like everything, setting the bar low can help maintain a blog habit. It's great to set out on blogging with ambition. I used to blog daily. The problem with that, though, is that sometimes life throws you curveballs. Or maybe you want to spend your writing time working on your books, instead. Now I aim for an article a week plus my Sunday link roundup. It makes blogging a lot more manageable.
When you take breaks, let everyone know when you plan on returning. We all take blog breaks. I take one in the summer and one at the end of December. I also take off for a few scattered holidays. It helps maintain consistency if you let your blog readers know when you're planning on returning.
It doesn't really matter who you blog for. Everyone tends to worry about whether they should have a reader-oriented blog or a writing-oriented blog. Do what comes naturally. If you have blog visitors, you're reaping a benefit either way.
Keep an editorial calendar. This has become increasingly important to me the longer I blog. My calendar is really just a list I keep of what I'm blogging about each week. I make careful note on the calendar of any guests I'm hosting, too. It helps me not repeat the same topic too often and helps me plan my future posts (giving me a place to list post ideas before I forget them).
Respond to your comments. It's always nice to respond to the folks who drop by. Plus, it's another way of building community and exchanging ideas and resources.
Visit others' blogs. Just like responding to comments, this is a great way to make friends online, support others, network, and share ideas and resources with other writers.
End your post with a question. This a great way to not only increase engagement on your blog, but it's also very helpful to learn how other writers approach the same issues.
What blogging tips do you have? Do you know how long you've been blogging?
Tips from 14 Years of Blogging:
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