Blogging for Profit - Part 3

Yesterday, we talked about starting a blog and writing on it --two no-brainers if you ever want to make money blogging! Today I want to talk about what to write about and how to make your blog more visitor friendly. Both things are very important if you want to establish a steady and ever-growing stream of regular visitors.

1. Be yourself. When you first begin blogging, it might seem daunting to come up with anything to say. My biggest piece of advice when you first start out is to be yourself. Share from your own personal experiences and wisdom. Think about what unique perspective you have to bring to the table; do not try to be someone else or to copy someone else's blogging. Be you!

2. Learn from others, but don't copy their ideas. Going hand-in-hand with being yourself, do not start a blog and just mimic or parrot other people's blogging ideas. You won't ever get very far if you never do anything original.

If you want to be a better blogger, I highly recommend you spend time hanging around well-known blogs with large readerships. Observe what they are doing right and what is working for them. Then, figure out how you might implement their ideas in your own unique way on your blog. However, as I said above, do not just copy their ideas on your blog.

It is imperative that you set yourself apart, so don't be afraid to try original things and find your own voice and niche. It takes perseverance and will likely mean you try and fail on occasion (I've certainly been there, done that, got the T-shirt!), but you can't succeed if you don't starting by trying.

[And here I must insert a piece of advice to newbie bloggers: Please, PLEASE, PLEASE do not make the mistake of filling up your empty blog by copying and pasting blog posts into your blog from other blogs. You should never, under any circumstance, copy and paste a full blog post into your blog without written permission from the author. Blog posts are copyrighted and copying and pasting them into your blog--even when citing the source--can be infringing on copyright rules.

If you find a post from another blog that is especially helpful to you, you are more than welcome to copy and paste a paragraph or so into your blog, making it clear that you are quoting another blogger, and then encourage your readers--with a direct link--to go and read the rest of the blog post on the original author's blog.]

3. Use variety. Variety is the spice of a blog. If you always post the same length of post in the same way on the same topics, it can get dull very quickly. A few ideas:

-Write longer posts and shorter posts and freely intermingle the two on your blog.
-Post pictures at least a few times per week.
-Try adding in video or audio every now and then.
-Post about your view of a particular current event.
-Share a quick tip.
-Ask a question of your readers (wait until you have more than a handful to do this, though, otherwise it will look a little lonely if there aren't any comments!).
-Answer a question from a reader in a post rather than in the comments section.
-Share a funny story about something your child did or said.

Also, don't be afraid to stand up on your soap box every now and then. Most of the best bloggers are those who are not afraid to speak up and speak out on subjects they are passionate about. And do join in some of the blogging-themed days (such as Frugal Friday or Works-For-Me Wednesday) on occasion, too. You'll usually get a nice amount of traffic as a result, plus it gives you just another idea to blog about!

4. Use short paragraphs and always leave spaces between paragraphs. I can't tell you how many times I've come across a blog which was fairly well-written but a bear to actually read because of these monstrous paragraphs followed by monstrous paragraphs. Make your blog easy to read by breaking up paragraphs after every 4-7 sentences or less and always have a space between paragraphs.

5. Proof-read your posts before and after publishing them. Need I say more? Read over your post at least once before hitting the publish button, then read over it again after you hit the publish button. Don't know how to spell a word? Look it up on Dictionary.com. Sloppiness in blogging will detract from your blog and will greatly hamper your blog's ability for growth.

6. Write your blogging ideas down. If you come up with a blogging idea as you're going about your everyday life, write it down at once. You may think you'll remember it later, but if you're anything like me, there's a good chance you might not.

I have a place in my planner where I write down my blogging ideas. I never get to all of them, but the ever-growing list serves to remind me of things I am hoping to write about and when I sit down to blog, I usually have a waiting reservoir of post ideas to cull from.

I've just barely scratched the surface on the subjects of being a better blogger and coming up with creative blog fodder. What do you think makes a great blog? Why do you visit the blogs you do? What makes you continue to return to a blog or add it to your feedreader? Tell us in the comments section so we can all be enlightened!

Comments

[Crystal]

I think a good blog does come from the heart and is original. I like to visit blogs that seem natural and make you feel like you are personally meeting someone and seeing how they do. I also love seeing deals people get. SO FUN!! I just started a blog today, and am really going to enjoy sharing it with my family and friends so they can keep updated. Also enjoying posting deals.

[Jen]

I usually read blogs because they are entertaining or I learn something from them. I have one where I learn spiritually, this one where I learn how to save money, one that just tickles my funny-bone almost everytime I visit it. Then, I read some just to catch up with friends who live far away.

[Emily Sims]

I'm enjoying reading this series! I find I gravitate back again and again to the blogs of people i have things in common with. Or whose stories are interesting to me for one reason or another... possibly because I don't know much about it, or possibly because I can relate to it.

[lizzyjane]

I just started my first blog, www.lizzylanguage@blogspot.com, and I think the blogs that attract me are the ones that incorporate several different ideas. I like being able to go through a whole spectrum - serious thoughts to lighthearted - all in one page.

[Brandi]

I love a blog with loads of pictures! And you're right about the paragraph thing...if they all run together, I won't even read it! Giveaways and contests are always a sure bet to get traffic to your site.

Thanks for all the great tips...enjoying this series!

Brandi

[Kasey]

I like blogs that teach me something and have information that I can really use- this blog is awesome because I always learn something every time I come here (thanks, Crystal!!). I also enjoy blogs that inspire me to be better. Sometimes it's just reading about someone else's life experiences that help me see another take on an issue in such a way that I feel inspired to do something in my life differently.

I recently started a blog because I feel like I have so many ideas that I want to share, and it's a great outlet for me to get them out there where other people can (hopefully) appreciate and benefit from them.

Thanks for this great series to help us fledgling bloggers!

[Amy Deal]

Blogging has become my mental therapy. It's much less expensive than shopping:)

[Debra]

I love 2 types of blogs.....practical and heartwarming! Practical (saving money, mom advice) and Heartwarming (combining faith, family & fun)

I am just 3 weeks into blogging and I am learning so much. Thanks

http://afrugalfriend.blogspot.com

[Karen]

Thanks for this great post! I'm a new blogger, and I've really enjoyed this series! It's been so helpful!

[Debbie M]

A good blog is written by someone who has a lot to say. If there is a topic you think about a lot, on which you have a lot of opinions, and concerning which you are perhaps a bit of a weirdo, that is the right topic for you. (Unless the topic or weirdo-ness is illegal or dangerous; ideally your blog helps make the world a better place.)

It might be the case that one can make more money on a topic of great general interest, but then you will also have a lot of competition. I'd say that with blogs it's even more important than with a regular job to really love your topic. I'd rather read an enthusiastic blog on a topic I'd normally have very little interest in than just another same-old same-old blog on a topic of great interest to me.

It doesn't matter if you give direct advice or just talk about your own life; both strategies can be awesome.

I definitely learn about new blogs by clicking a link from somewhere else such as the Festival of Frugality, Works for Me Wednesday, or guest blogs. And I definitely find it easier to read things online if the paragraphs are relatively short!

[Traci]

I have two blogs, one personal and one for my kids. The one that's read most? The one for my kids!! In their blog I talk about life as if it's coming from their point of view. I seriously have people stopping me to tell me something funny from the blog. (And great pictures help too!)

[Danielle]

Thanks for the helpful tips. I started a blog today from your help but how do you get all this side bar stuff going on, the ads, coupons, recommended links?

[Jennifer]

Thank you SO much for these postings. I am a SAHM who does some freelance writings, and I have wanted to make a difference in the lives of others by writing my triumphs and struggles of daily life as a wife, mom and Christian.

I just started my blog (strivingmom.com ... b/c I want to strive to do the best I can for God's glory) today, and I appreciate the encouragement. I do not want to do it for money, but I want to do it to encourage other ladies in their walk of life. Thank you so much for giving advice on how to start! :)

[Toni]

From a rather new blogger, this was very helpful! Thanks so much!

[Rachael]

Great tips Crystal...thank you!

[Rachel]

love this series!!!!!!

[Iva]

I am a loyal blog reader to blogs that 1) get updated frequently, 2) are enjoyable to read and 3) pertain to my life at the time.

For example, two years ago, I was homeschooling my two kids therefore, I was really interested in homeschooling blogs.

My blog reading needs change from time to time and so do the blogs in my reader. Just because I might read a blog for a couple of months and comment frequently and suddenly stop reading/commenting, does not mean that I'm rejecting the blog (or the blog author). Understand that your reader's needs change and it doesn't necessarily mean that you should attempt to appease them by changing YOUR blog (style, voice, etc).

[Cara]

I am curious at to where you find different pictures to post on your site. Can any one help me? I appreciate your time.