Four Not-So-Popular Rules for Effective Blogging
Creating a successful blog is not an easy task and if you’re new to blogging, odds are you’ve already read thousands (okay, maybe hundreds) of articles about tips for effective blogging, rules you should follow to be an effective blogger, how to be a popular pro-blogger and other similar things.
Instead of repeating the things you already know, we’re going to highlight some of the not-so-popular tips which every blogger should follow in order to be successful in the blogging world. But here is some advice – don’t just read these tips. Take the plunge and execute them.
Readership is More Important Than Content
You’ve no doubt heard that “content is king.” Create unique content and readers will start coming. This is only a partial truth (at least for me), especially, when there are millions of other blogs hosting similar content. Don’t wait for perfect content to get readers. Start promoting it once you’ve 3-4 foundation posts on your blog. Build readership first once you’ve created a workable blog and then create content on the basis of their feedback. Remember that your content is worthless if you are not ready to promote it because nobody will ever read it.
Don’t Do Everything On Your Own
Blogging is a full-time job which requires creativity, patience, hard work, consistency, etc. Unless you’re an alien, you can’t do everything on your own including the writing, the marketing, the monetizing, and the design. Outsource work if possible like developing content (only when you don’t have time), commenting on other blogs, bookmarking your stuff etc. This way you can dedicate yourself to only the creative aspects of blogging.
Multiple Blogs Vs a Single Blog
Every blogger has to answer this question. The answer depends on your objective, the goals you want to accomplish, and the kind of person you are. If you are blogging just for earning money then don’t stop after your first blog. Launch a wide range of blogs catering to various niches and outsource work to experts (remember point two).
Earning a decent amount from a single blog is a very tough job but it is not difficult if you combine the earnings of all of your small blogs. On the other hand, if you are blogging just for fun or for helping others or if you are a kind of person who wants perfection in everything then a single blog is an ideal option for you.
Visual Appearance IS Important
How much time a visitor is going to spend on your blog depends not only on the content you have but also on the visual design and usability of your blog. The visual design of your blog heavily influences the decision of your readers and creates an impression about you in their minds. Your design will play a major role in portraying your online identity.
Want to add more not so popular rules for effective blogging? Have a different take on the points? Perfect. Feel free to share your opinions, knowledge and anything else in the comments below.
photo credit: DanBrady
David Smith works for a conversion rate optimization company, Invesp, and manages the
blog about conversion rate optimization website conversionrate.net.
Great post, and yes I wish I was an alien so I could do all the things that need doing on a daily basis!
Great post, David.
I really side with “Don’t Do Everything Yourself”
Steve Jobs said that one of the most important things an entrepreneur can do is “be a great talent scout.”
Stretching yourself thin to cover all your bases simply can’t compete with building a team of people bringing their own expertise to a specific niche.
I too like the “Don’t Do Everything Yourself” idea. Even if you can’t pay someone to help you out because you can’t afford it and the Google searches you’ve done can’t provide any advice always rememmber to get in contact with one of the bloggers that you like. If you don’t know what to do it’s much easier to ask a seasoned professional than it is to struggle on your own. Try teaming up with other bloggers in your niche too.