Top Blog Tips

Today I was late for my train and I had a few minutes to spare.  In common with many people at Victoria station I headed for the magazines.  Web Designer had an article on blogging that gave their top tips.  You can't find them on their website only the magazine (does anyone else find that funny - okay forget the commercial reasons all you accountants).  Anyway here they are:

Don't waffle

Get to the point as visitors don't have time to read long posts.  Also, use simple language that does not confuse readers.

Write good titles

Develop that art of headline writing.  Just as with newspapers readers first scan the title before reading the article.

Comments

Try to respond to comments.  Interaction helps keep the blog interesting.

Be yourself

Blogs are all about the personal touch and the human voice.  Avoid third person corporate speak and develop a personal voice that is true to yourself.

Sounds easy enough, only problem is that Mark Frauenfelder of BoingBoing adds:

"There is only one requirement - you have to be interesting.  Everything else is secondary."

And if all else fails make sure you have a good picture....

Philip Woodgate

Comments

[David Terrar]

All good advice. The titles thing is particularly important. As well as grabbing the reader's attention, it is also that heading/permalink text that search engines read to pick keywords for presenting in searches - and you want your blog to be found easily.

[Dennis Howlett]

i'd add one more thing in for those engaged in semi-corporate stuff - be authoritative. Builders' bums springs to mind - know what I mean Philip?