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Chapter 1: Discovering Blog Basics
Having that much freedom can be a little scary and, if you’re like me, can leave
you with an absolute blank in your mind. No problem; you can start a blog today
about one topic, and when you actually figure out what you want to write about,
change directions and go down another road. It’s a very flexible format!
Think about the following tips when you start a blog:
✓ Choose a subject that genuinely interests you. Don’t choose a topic
because you think being interested in it makes you look good or you
think that it’ll attract a lot of readers. You’re the one who has to do
the writing for the blog, and you can do that writing a lot more easily if
you’re enthusiastic about your subject. Your passion shines through to
your readers and keeps them coming back.
✓ Decide whether any topics are off limits. Bloggers who keep personal
diaries for their friends and families might decide to keep certain sub-
jects out of the public forum of the Internet. For example, do you really
want your significant other reading a frank account of last night’s make-
out session? How about your mom or your boss?
✓ Think about your potential readers. Who are they? How can you appeal
to them and get them to keep reading your blog? Do you even care about
how many readers you have? If you do, what do you want to show,
explain, or ask them?
Creating a Successful Blog
Blogs are so quick and easy to set up that you can start one without having
much of a plan in place for what you want to blog about, why you’re blogging,
or what you’re trying to accomplish. Some people thrive on this kind of wide-
open playing field, but others quickly become bored (or boring!).
To get your blog started on the right foot, think seriously about why you’re
blogging and then make a commitment to attaining your goals. Don’t get me
wrong — this isn’t a job! But, just as you wouldn’t expect good results from a
dinner prepared without paying any attention to ingredients, you can’t start
your blog without having a recipe for success.
Here’s my recipe for a good blog:
1. Preheat the oven by setting goals.
2. Measure out several cups of good writing.
3. Mix well with frequent updates.
4. Sprinkle in a lot of interaction with your readers.
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