subject: 25 Indispensable Blog Tips [print this page] Blogs are no longer solely the domain of people who want to get a message into cyberspace. Blogs are increasingly used as tools for sites to increase revenue through boosting search engine optimisation. Indeed, most SEO specialists will advise companies on the web to include a blog on their site to increase link building potential and allow for continuous introduction of news content something that search engines require in a good site these days. In short, blogs are now a major part of website optimisation. So, having asserted that a great many sites are including blogs on their pages for commercial benefit, are we saying that there's a marked increase of poor quality text on the web? Well yes. You don't need to spend too long browsing the web to find yourself reading a blog and wondering how anyone could have thought the text worthy of inclusion. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of 25 blog tips to help you avoid falling into the trap of bad blogging and get your site onto those all-important search engine results pages.
1. Logo
Get a logo. This is useful for readers to recognise your blog and will encourage them to return.
2. Blog Profile
Add a profile to your blog. Put a face and a personality to the name if you want to build a more personal relationship with readers.
3. Use Comments
Don't ignore comments. Show that you're involved enough to care what people think by responding to comments sensibly and often. Show that you appreciate the feedback.
4. Be Consistent
Choose a tone and be consistent. Decide at the outset what tone you want your blog to have. Choose an appropriate one that suits the target audience and the product or service you're promoting. Remain consistent because readers will expect it and get suspicious if you don't.
5. Write Properly
Follow the conventions of grammar and punctuation if you want to make a good impression. Not doing so can be fatal.
6. Use Headings
Use headings where it's appropriate to do so. Try to make them interesting with a view to holding people's attention.
7. Keep it Simple
One post, one topic. Trying to cover too many things in one blog post can be confusing. Given the form, it's appropriate to stick to one topic per post, and not to get sidetracked.
8. Short Paragraphs
Keep the paragraphs short. Long paragraphs tend to put readers off. If a piece is long then put it into smaller paragraphs to make them more appealing.
9. Organise
Categorise posts to make them easy for users to find.
10. Tag
Tag posts for the best results.
11. Be Unique
Don't use a default layout. Using a default layout sends an instant message to readers that you don't care enough about your blog to put effort into the way it looks. You'll repel visitors before they read the first word!
12. Get Good Advice
Employ a designer to make it look great and sound convincing, and a search engine optimisation company to help you get the most out of blog potential.
13. Make it Special
If you do something unique then readers are likely to remember you and come back for more.
14. Speed is Important
Get a fast host as readers don't like waiting a long time for pages to load.
15. Purchase Your Own Domain
Hosting your blog outside your main site runs contrary to advice from SEO specialists. Having your own domain will tell readers that it's a serious blog and probably worthy of attention.
16. Moderate Comments
Readers don't like to look at a lot of spam or trolls. Use blog software that makes it easy to moderate comments and don't be lazy about doing it.
17. Employ URLS
Find the setting for this on your blog software and activate it.
18. Update Regularly
Keep to a schedule so that interested readers aren't disenfranchised.
19. Link to Your Own Blog
Any free SEO analysis would tell you that this is good practice.
20. Bookmark
Make bookmarking your blog easy to do. This will encourage ease of access via Facebook and other popular sites.
21. Network
Join a network like technorati.com to improve exposure.
22. Make Use of Snippets
These re-usable pieces of source code can assist you.
23. Stay Up to Date
Update blog software often to take advantage of developments and stay fresh.
24. Back up
Be sure to back up your database. Do this often to avoid losing your material.
25. Remember The Content
Our final point is crucial. Don't forget that your blog has to be readable!
