How To Become A Successful Blogger: The Checklist
I recently wrote about how to become a successful intern since I was interned for about 2 years at a Bay Area tech company. But, since I’ve grown into the workforce, I’ve seen my blogging decline. I thought it was going to be the opposite, but I’m getting back into shape and motivating myself to continue blogging.
I will give this my best shot, but these are characteristics that I currently working towards since they seem to be prominent in most successful bloggers. This will serve as a checklist for me…I’ll revisit this to check on my progress.
How To Become A Successful Blogger
- Think PASSION, not numbers
- Some bloggers start off or eventually participate in the popularity/number contest–AKA your technorati rank
- Numbers and Ranks are a distraction, instead write about your passion
- Blogs written with passion are much more powerful, resourceful, and interesting
- Join the CONVERSATION
- Shel Israel, author of Naked Conversations, said we should join the conversation by listening FIRST–excellent advice!
- Listen to what others have to say, start writing your own thoughts, comment on other blogs, and invite them to talk with you
- Be a good listener and a good contributor
- Exhibit THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- Keep your posts unique and resourceful
- Add value to what has already been said and introduce new ideas and questions
- Make your posts thought provoking, not just a summary of what’s going on
- Create TRUST
- Shel Israel said blogging should be like:
- “Two neighbors leaning on a fence talking about their interests”
- Create trust by creating an informal and open global conversation
- Invite others to agree and disagree with you
- Shel Israel said blogging should be like:
- Enable comments
- Comments are an important feature of blogs, enable them and help keep the conversation going
- Positive and negative feedback are both good, don’t worry
- The best thoughts, perhaps some you did not think of, come from comments
- Become the starting and ending point for all conversations
- You want the conversation to start and end with you
- First, keep up to date with global trends, news, and innovations and provide your honest opinions
- Be enthusiastic and raise eyebrows
- Network with other bloggers
- Build relationships, do not just sit back and hope things will happen
- Venture out in the blogosphere, meet new people, and build friendships
- Commend bloggers for a job well done and help them become thought leaders as well
Despite being a personal list, these rules apply to all (even corporate bloggers). This is an on-going list that I will continue to update with YOUR COMMENTS!