There are two types of bloggers, those who simply blog for themselves or as a way to share photos and events with friends and family, and those who desire to reach a larger audience, connect with a community of bloggers, and maybe even become popular and make some money.
Creating Good Blog Content
One of the first steps a new blogger can take toward success is to pick a topic she is passionate about. It's best to choose one focused topic, and a topic that the blogger may have some experience with. Current popular blogs focus on topics ranging from current events to celebrity gossip, from photography to parenthood.
Blogging Consistently
Although blogging experts disagree on whether to post daily, or even multiple times each day, everyone agrees to in order to have a successful blog a blogger needs to post consistently. This can mean daily, every-other-day, three times each week, or regularly on certain days of the week. If readers return to a blog regularly and don't find new content, they are unlikely to stick around for the long haul.
Blog Layout and Design
If a blog is not visually appealing, sometimes excellent content will overcome this, but often it is the other way around. A blog that is not visually appealing can go as far as to drive away readers, even when the posts are well-written. Some of the most important factors in blog layout and design are the header, the background color, the text font, color, and size, and the sidebar.
Most blogging experts argue against using white text against a black or dark background, but there are successful blogs that do this. There is an almost universal dislike of music on a blog, and the sidebar should be uncluttered and user-friendly. It's also a good idea to create sidebar features, such as most popular posts, a blogroll, or a collection of posts and article about a particular topic.
The Blogging Community
The best way to get readers is to read and comment on other blogs. Visit blogs based on similar topics and post thoughtful, provocative, or humorous comments. Always be respectful and comment on as many blogs as possible. Link to other blogs and sign up blogging networks and community blogging sites. Join forums based on similar topics and participate actively.
Make Money Blogging
Some bloggers will choose to monetize and others will not. The ability to monetize a blog can range from simply covering the cost of blogging to making a decent income. Very few bloggers get rich from blogging, but there are bloggers who have been able to quit their day jobs. In addition to monetizing a blog, there are a variety of ways to get paid to write online.
Taking steps to monetize blog includes placing ads on a blog (Google Ads or sponsored ads), joining an affiliate program, selling and e-book, selling items through Cafe Press or Etsy, or taking donations. A plan for monetizing a blog depends heavily on what type of blog is being monetized. A blog that offers information on how to do something, whether that's crafting or photography or cake decorating is more likely to be able to sell and e-book on that product. A blog that offers a regular service to the reader, such as a newsletter, e-zine, or podcast is more likely to receive donations.
The key to building a better blog is to conduct research, check out online blogging resources, read books about layout and design, read and analyze similar blogs, and get feedback from the blogging community. Successful blogging does not happen overnight and is usually the product of persistence, patience, and practice.
Sandra Raymond - Sandra Raymond is a writer, teacher, and new mom living in Flagstaff, Arizona. She has an MA in Literature and a Doctorate in Education ...
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