5 Rules for Blog Posting

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5 Rules for Blog Posting

Author: TJ Philpott

Blog posting serves two very important roles insofar as it is not only expected to attract new site visitors but also keep them continually returning. All popular blogs have one thing in common and that is they keep the blog reader happy with fresh and frequent updates. This may seem like trying to be on the 'top of your game' 24/7 but there really is a way to handily keep your blog entries interesting and fresh! Nobody said having a successful blog was easy but it is also not as overwhelming as it may seem. Here are 5 simple rules to follow to maintain a steady stream of popular posts to your blog. Keep it Short and Sweet Unless you have got a blockbuster post chock full of so much information that the post needs to be article length or longer keep your post short. Most popular posts are of 300 words or less. The blog reader by nature is like a hummingbird in that they want to quickly drift in read what you got to say they dart off. By keeping your post short they will be able to accomplish this and you also won't have to labor over a 500 plus word post. Learn to say more with fewer words! Supply Content That 'Serves' What I mean here is that your content needs to appeal to the reader for some reason or the other. Your content can be of useful information or perhaps something insightful or thought provoking. Even the use of humor is a good idea since everybody ( I hope) enjoys a good laugh! The point is you always want your reader coming away with something after they have read one of your posts. Visual Aids The use of pictures of graphics helps to break up the page somewhat allowing eyes a little less strain. Continuous reading of tightly packed words puts a tremendous strain on the eyes. By 'inserting' a picture or possibly even a short video that may help get your point across you are 'killing two birds with one stone.' Guest Blogger If you experience an occasional brain freeze fear not. You can always 'enlist' the aid of a guest blogger who will lend a new perspective to your site. This will also be a fresh experience for your readers and we all know they love fresh! Down the road you can return the favor and fill in at their site. Use Links If you happen across interesting content on another blog do not be afraid to link to it by referring your readers to the material over there. Your readers will appreciate it as will the site owner of the blog you have referred them to. In the future that blogger could very well return the favor bringing you a new stream of traffic. Your blog posting is a key factor in attracting both the new blog reader while maintaining the loyalty of the old ones. Site visitors want content that is of interest to them and they want it often. Most of the popular blogs have realized this and are able to appease their followers with frequent blog entries that serve readers in some way. Whether your post are thought provoking, useful, humorous, or maybe even shocking it doesn't matter. You just want to be sure they serve some sort of purpose and that your readers know they won't have to wait long for a new post. By combining the 5 rules above with just a little effort you should be able to easily maintain a steady flow of content to keep your blog alive and flourishing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/5-rules-for-blog-posting-1465577.html

About the Author:
TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
To learn how to get the most out of your Blog Posting and to also get a free guide that teaches valuable niche research techniques visit: http://blogbrawn.com/

Adding Sizzle to Your Blog Entries

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Adding Sizzle to Your Blog Entries

Author: TJ Philpott

Blog entries not only attract new readers but they also keep them coming back. A popular blog is normally judged to be so by the number of subscribers it has and you can thank the content of the site for that. The blog reader is initially attracted to the site because the theme of the content is something that holds an interest for them. The ability to 'spice up' the content is what brings them back. Therefore no matter how mundane the 'chore' of blog posting may seem to you it is important to maintain a certain 'appeal' to retain your readers. The key here will be to engage the blog reader right away in order to encourage them to read through the entire post. Although your 'opening' is somewhat critical to keep the readers' interest there is still no substitute for quality throughout the body of the content. Let's review 5 different 'angles' you can approach your blog posting with to help immediately captivate or involve your audience. Direct Questions at Them By directly asking your reader a question you can immediately 'involved' them in what it is you are talking about. This method of 'talking to them' as opposed to 'talking at them' has a stimulating reaction that further encourages their 'participation' in your post. Your delivery is on a more personal level which tends to more readily engage the reader. Use a Folksy Comparison The use of a short story or anecdote to help establish your point tends to engage people more fully in what it is you are saying. When used at the beginning of your post this can be very effective at maintaining their attention throughout the balance of your entry. Paint a Mental Image Painting an image for your reader helps to draw upon their sense of imagination thereby drawing them deeper the 'conversation' of your post. In essence you are flipping a switch to stimulate them thereby increasing their involvement. Analogies This approach is widely use and very successful since it has the ability to appeal to many different people on different levels. Analogies are especially effective for making a point that may be otherwise difficult to make. We are creating a 'common ground' where it is easier for many to relate to how a particular point may affect them personally. Shock Nothing gets someone's attention better then to shock them with facts, statistics, or deductive assumptions. Here we are using an emotion to capture the attention of the reader. The shock value of our delivery has more impact when the reader can relate to what it is being said to them. Your blog entries are what fuel the growth, strength, and popularity of your blog. Subscribers are initially attracted to the 'theme' of the content but often return because of the way in which it was delivered. A popular blog recognizes the need to deliver its content in a way that can captivate the blog reader. By doing so the reader is further compelled to complete the entire entry. By adopting some of the suggestions we reviewed above you will be able to add a little 'sizzle' to your blog posting. By doing so you will be keeping your readers informed, entertained and most importantly…loyal!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/adding-sizzle-to-your-blog-entries-1469823.html

About the Author:
TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
Learn more about posting effective Blog Entries and also get a free guide that teaches valuable niche research techniques by visiting: http://blogbrawn.com/