Tips for New Bloggers

The Internet is littered with good intentions. Energetic new bloggers plow into writing their new blog with gusto. A few months later, they give up, leaving the remnants of a promising blog to languish online, perhaps for years.

There are many reasons bloggers give up after a few months. Some simply lose interest, some run out of things to say, and some simply move on to the next activity that catches their interest.

Here is my best advice for new bloggers:

1. Lower your expectations: It is rare for a blogger to generate much interest after only a few weeks or months of writing. Unless the blogger is already famous (or infamous), or has extraordinary talent, the average blog does not get much traffic or generate comments for a while. I wouldn't even judge the success of your blog for at least a year.
2. Blog regularly to build content: Get into the habit of writing a blog post at three or more times a week. In order to build search engine authority (people searching for terms and finding your blog), it is essential for you to build up a critical mass of content. I've been blogging on this blog for three years now and on a typical day, 50 people read my blog just because they've found an old post through a search.
3. Read and comment on other blogs: To find ideas for your own blog, you most certainly will be reading other blogs. By making comments, you're not only showing fellow bloggers appreciation for what they have written, you're leaving a trail of breadcrumbs right back to your blog. If the comment feature on the blog you're commenting on does not include a URL field, just leave your blog's URL in the comment box itself.
4. Use Twitter and Facebook to share your content. Make a tiny URL with any number of URL shrinking tools and let your fans on both networks know when you've created new content. This technique is the secret weapon of many bloggers, including me, to drive traffic to a blog.
5. Be passionate! The reason many bloggers run out of content is that they are not passionate about their subject matter, or have no focus on what to write about. During the month before your new blog is launched, sit down and think of at least 50 things you could write a blog post about. Add to the list when new ideas pop into your head. Try not to limit yourself to one subject, or keep the subject broad enough that you could easily expand your scope.

My last tip is essential. It's much easier to blog when you have a supportive social media community. Here in Central Iowa, there is a group of people who gather on a regular basis to provide support for people who are new to social media (including blogging) in the community. The group meets at Panera on 6740 University Ave in Clive, Iowa on the first Friday of every month. If you show up around 8, just look for the lively throng of good-looking people! Bring some business cards!

Have you had problems starting or maintaining a blog? Throw your questions my way and I'll try to give you some advice to get you back on track.

Comments

[Megan Saulsbury]

I love this post! I recently started my own blog and although I think the content I post could be of interest to everyone, not just PR professionals, I'm having a tough time getting followers. I know it takes time, but do you have any tips you could pass along? I'd really appreciate any advice or thoughts you could share!

[Claire Celsi]

Megan, thanks for your comment. Yes, I have a few tips. One, read and comment on other blogs. After a while, send your blog buddies an email and ask to be added to their blogroll. The more blogs who link to you, the higher your traffic will eventually be. As for comments, don't just be "philosophical" or go on rants, those are hard to respond to as a reader. End each post with a question or an invitation to add input. People will start doing just that! Thanks for reading and commenting. What is your blog URL? Be sure to leave it so people (like me) can visit your blog.

[Michael Libbie]

Well said Claire, perhaps just the nudge to keep folks "in the game".

[Megan Saulsbury]

Thank you so much for those tips! Definitely easy enough and not intimidating:). My blog URL is canyonpr.blogspot.com.

Looking forward to learning more from you!

[Inger Johnson]

This is so helpful. I'm about to start blogging...about how long should a blog be would you say?

[Julianna]

I really enjoyed reading your tips for new bloggers because I have never really been interested in blogging, but because I am in a PR Writing class, my professor has required us to blog as a major part of our grade. I think the hardest part of blogging for me is just being interested in it because it't not something, like facebook, that all of my friends out interested in. BUT I have gotten a lot more used to the idea and I really see its importance and how it has become a major part of social media. I agree that commenting on other peoples blogs is important because it opens to door for communication, and really makes things more interesting

[Julia Albaugh]

These tips are so helpful. My name is Julia Albaugh, I am a Van Meter student, and I am currently in a PLN (Personal Learning Networking) class. We are working to create our own personal learning networks. We are using web tools like Blogger, Twitter, Skype, and other social networking tools to create our networks. These tips are very interesting, I didn't realize it can take years to get a good blog started.
I am also interested in public relations, and I plan on going to Simpson Collage and majoring in communications. I was wondering if you had any advise or helpful tips about getting into communications, and public relations.

[Sheryl Lopez]

You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.