Day 2 – Write a List; Check it Twice

by kirkeberg on September 1, 2009

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Here we are. Day 2. 31 Days to Build TTR into a Better Blog -

The “wriTe a lisT posT”

This post is a wish list for once and future blogs. I have thought often about this question -

What do I wish I woulda/coulda/shoulda known when I started blogging?

Planning

Head in the clouds would have been a good way to describe how I began this whole endeavor. I thought, put a blog up, start writing, and watch the money roll in. If I were starting again, it would have been possible to avoid some fits and starts had I taken the time and planned out what I really wantted to accopmplsh by blogging. Take a look at the first post in this series. It is very important to know what your purpose is and to be able to say it (and live it) in a concise manner.

If you have ever seen the old “Our Gang” comedies on cable TV (yes the ones with Spanky, Alfalfa, and Darla), you witnessed how I started doing this. My attitude was like theirs – “Let’s go out in the barn and put on a show.”

Time

I wish I would have known, or at least planned for the time it takes to write a blog. It probably doesn’t take some as long as it takes me to write. Of course, I am trying to maintain three blogs; most of my time, though is spent on this one, which is new, and This Old Brain Dot Net. If you are just starting out blogging, know that it will take you some time. I think I have begun to hit a stride and realize that there are so many things to write about that I could do this forever and never run out.

Help

I wish I had known of all the help that is available, much of it free, for anyone wanting to do this. Here are a few. Many of them do want your business; if you find a service that you can use, please support other bloggers.

SEO

Nicholas Prudhon - A free course in learning the ins and outs of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Another great way to begin to master SEO is to have the write theme, oone that does most of the work for you, and has great support. I use the Thesis Theme (Wow, that’s amazing for a blog named Thesis Theme Revue, eh?). I recommend it highly.

Writing

Write to Done is Mary Jaksch’s blog. I rely on here posts as a tutor for ways to write, sometimes as an inspiration as to what to write about, and just for examples of good, elegant, clear writing.
Brian Clark of Copyblogger has numerous free resources if you are looking for ways to write copy. Before I began to read Copyblogger, I didn’t have a clue what copywriting was. You will have to take a look yourself.

Problogging

Darren Rowse, who is the inspiration of my writing this series is the Owner/Writer of Problogger. There is nowhere on the web to find the information gathered there written by Darren and a gathering of guest posters.
Of late I have discovered David Risley, another professional blogger who has numerous ideas and is willing to share. A recent post I found on his blog is based on a good question for anyone entering blogging with the idea of doing this writing professionally — Should You Pursue Problogging?
Another recent discovery (or maybe rediscovery) is Liz Strauss. I wasn’t sure if this would be the right category for Liz or if she should be under the writing heading. She has fresh ideas about blogging, blogging as business, and writes in a consice and entertaining style. Her blog is Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Social Media and Affiliate Marketing

Chris Brogan has a powerful grasp on everything that is going on in what sometimes seems like a Social Media Circus. He’s at ChrisBrogan.Com
If information about affiliate marketing is your need, and you want someone who calls it like she sees it, even when you may not want to hear it, check out SugarRae; as she says it, Never Mess With a Woman Who Can Pull Rank

Ride Occam’s Razor

If you are going to blog, you have to blog consistently. Using the principle of Occam’s Razor – Blog as consistently as you can, but no more than that.

It is probably important that you blog daily at first to build up an audience.
If you are doing that, write short concise posts.
If posts are too long, break them up into two or more.
On the other hand, write to your audience. If you are writing to a scientific audience, longer posts may be allowed.
Don’t underestimate the ignorance of your audience.
- Before you click off here, what I mean is that your audience doesn’t know what you know.
- Jargon can be a real turnoff.
- If you use an acronym, let them know what it means.
- AND, I am speaking for myself here. I don’t like to feel stupid when I am reading.