5 Ways to Become a Better Blogger

Last week, I was having a lively discussion about blogging with a fellow scribe. The takeaway from the conversation was this: Thanks to Tumblr, Medium, and even the crusty Geocities platform from back in the day, anyone can have a blog. You want to talk about your unhealthy affinity for siamese cats, make a blog. Have a proclivity to discuss random stupid stuff? Make a blog. You know that secret collection of re-enactment clothing for the wars from Middle Earth you have buried in that closet with the fake wall? Yes, even you can make a blog. There is something for everyone in this world, but making that "something" interesting is another thing entirely. On that note, we bring you this week's #5Things: 5 Ways to Become a Better Blogger. 1. Practice. As with any journalist in print publication, the average flack in a cube, or your random blogger, write for yourself. Do you love to write? Do it. The art of building a great blog (like the PRNewserverse here) requires a constant drive to develop content. Yes, we're talkin' about practice. How are you ever going to get better about writing with confidence and a certain panache unless you do it on a regular basis? Once a month, twice weekly, or even daily -- whatever it takes, if you love to write, you really should find ways to do that because your ability to sift through headlines and find something to blog about will come about easier to you. Athletes play. PR pros PR. Writers write. Oh, what a wonderful world. 2. Passion. This reminds me of the aphorism, "Do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." I'm a self-admitted content whore because I love to do both -- read and write. Blogging allows me (and the millions of others like me) to have our digital cake and eat it too. If you don't like to read, write or do a bit of research, you might want to don't like to write should reconsider this hobby/profession/responsiblity: don't get into blogging just because your boss insists that your firm/client have a greater editorial presence. If you prefer to review copy, find someone on staff who loves to write; the blog will turn out much better in the long run. 3. Post! No blog works unless you give people a reason to come back. Without a consistent calendar filled with your musings (as well as those of other people), you may as well put that stuff on MySpace. There's a name for an "every once in a while" digital presence: FourSquare. Blogging, however, requires your full-time attention. When folks decide to bookmark, follow, friend, or even like what you provide, you have a responsibility to provide more of the same on a consistent basis -- not just "whenever I'm free during lunch hour." 4. Purpose. Jacks of all trades don't always make for the best blogs. Why? One day, you are writing about public relations. You go home, watch something on Food Network, and the next day, share a recipe about a Broiled Double-Thick Lamb Rib Chops With Slicked-Up Store-Bought Mint Jelly Sauce. Delicious as that may be, it's not quite related to the topic at hand. You don't have to narrow your focus, but it's best to stick within the general vicinity of the thing in question. For example, I will never blog about the rich nuances within the official IRS code. Your blog's purpose should be clear, visible, and valuable -- it's the reason people visit your blog in the first place. 5. Perspicacity. It's a fancy way of saying intelligence. Do you have some? Show it off! This doesn't necessarily mean reaching for the thesauraus: think about all those celebrated PR and social leaders out there. Do you know why they have so many followers and acolytes? They aren't stingy with what they know; they are happy to take out what they have learned in the industry and take all readers for a spin. For contrast, consider that one tool in the agency who has some good media contacts but never cares to share an email. You will never learn anything from that person, and he/she probably won't throw any solids in your direction either. The point is that this is not the person to emulate in your blogging life. Now that you have some ideas, get to the point of building your own audience. We offer lists about blogs to bookmark from time-to-time. Maybe yours will be next.

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5 Ways to Become a Better Blogger

Shawn Paul Wood

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Shawn Paul Wood