3) Tips for successful blogging

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1. Where do I start?

Before you begin blogging, take the time to immerse yourself in the culture and community.  I recommend starting at Brazen Careerist.  Read blogs, subscribe to your favorite ones, and leave comments.  Once you start getting the hang of it, you can start your own blog and blog about about anything and everything.  Get yourself in the habit of blogging consistently.  Once you get the feel for it, you can start thinking about creating your niche and area of expertise.

2. Keep it short

We all have an extremely short attention span.  We don’t surf through the internet anymore, we fly through it.  Your post should be between 600-700 words.  This forces you to strip away anything that is not core to your post and that does not add value.

3. Do something fresh

Don’t write about the same old boring stuff; don’t just write a recap of the news.  Find a new, controversial topic and add a spin to it.  I highly recommend that you write a new “How to” about a topic that you have an expertise in.  If the “How to” for that topic already exists, give a fresh take on it!

4. Personalize it!

I understand that you might be hesitant to write about your personal feeling or inner most thoughts.  Well, get over it!  Readers love to read about the blogger and what makes the author human.  You can write about your fears, hardships, or failures.  Just remember that you are always building your personal brand.  If you write about how you failed, write what you learned from it and how you are now a stronger person.  The most effective way to give your blog its own voice is to give it your voice.  Put your personality into words because people will not only come back for the content, but they will come back for you.

5. Establish a community

Think about who you’re tailoring your blog post for.  If you’re targeting undergraduates, then speak directly to them.  If you’re targeting professionals who are tired of their work and are looking for some advice to make their lives better, then speak directly to them.  Know your target and write for them.  Establishing a community greatly helps your blogs visibility because people will start commenting on your posts and sharing it with their friends.

6. Get an editor

An editor is crucial for having a high quality blog.  You may think that you have written a golden post, but your editor tells you the truth about what’s wrong with your posts and how you can make it better.  Your editor does not have to be a professional writer; he or she can be someone who is your target audience.  If your editor enjoys reading your post, then your readers will.

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