photo source:
http://mydelineatedlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/advice-from-caterpillar.html
"Hi _______-- basically, the blogging thing is pretty simple-- any blogging website can walk you through the technical stuff. So let me concentrate on the harder stuff: the content.
The biggest challenge is making your blog content and keeping up with writing. You really have to enjoy writing as more than just a hobby to get into blogging-- it should be a passion! :)
Otherwise you'll be another of those millions that started out strong and petered off into nothing after a month.
So, here's what I've learned so far, tips that I could give you:
Before you start your blog, browse blogs and see what style and content type will work for you. Are you going to be mostly text based? Photo based? A mix? Will you be personal? Business? What will the tone and "voice" of the blog be like? Who is the audience? Is this kind of a journal for you and your friends (as my personal blog is) or is this an extension of a personal brand (i.e. "Kevin's Hot Rod Car Spot: Learn how to restore cars with Kev!"-- or whatever!)?
Decide what you're going with: blogger/ WordPress, etc. Make sure the format is something you can keep up with pretty much weekly.
I would suggest writing several entries in Microsoft Word first and having them "ready" to go before making the blog. At least outline them. This way, while you're promoting the blog, formatting it, and syncing it online with different things like Facebook, twitter, etc, you don't have to *also* come up with tons of content.
Include photos. Just make sure you're not stealing. If you use photos off the web, give credits!!! Don't get your blog shut down before you even start :)
In general, the more specific you are, the bigger audience (seems counter-intuitive, but that's the way the internet works).
A blog called "Living in the UK" or something is probably going to have 1 follower: your wife or GF.
A blog about your passion- if it's gardening, woodworking, birding, or whatever-- and the more specific the better- will have a built in audience of passionate followers.
So "Vegetable Gardening in Kent" is better, and "Heirloom Tomato Fans of Kent unite!" is even better! (I don't know if you can even grow Heirloom tomatoes in the UK, it's just an example! :)
In general, when writing a blog, you should follow the same rules you would use in writing for school. You can be informal, but your blog should not be a breathless stream of consciousness ramble that would not be out of place in a teenager's spiral bound notebook.
Honestly, and this may sound harsh, but it's some of the best advice I ever got, is NO ONE CARES. :). Show rather than tell. "I am soooo mad! Marks and Spencers SUXXXX!!! " is boring-- explain the circumstances, or better yet, write a scathing advice column about how customer service should really be done.
Blogs that actually get read usually have either very funny, very well written stories about something people like to read about (travel, dating, food, etc) OR advice in a clear, well written way (10 ways to conquer knitting in the round/ 5 tips on home canning, etc)
Here's some great blogs I love that you can browse for inspiration:
- http://splendorinthelemongrass.com/
- http://www.thesartorialist.com/ (gorgeous photo blog!)
- http://moviestarmakeover.com/blog/ (my mother's blog-- a mix of business and personal, since she's an image consultant)
- http://expatedna.com/
Professional blog-- done very well:
- http://blog.freshdesk.com/
Well, good luck!
Let me know if this helps, hope it does!"
