What Makes a Successful Blog
There has been a great deal written about how to create a successful blog. Here and here and even whole blogs written on the subject, but what really makes a successful blog?
- Is it crawling your way into the Technorati Top 100 and becoming an A-Lister?
- Is it making money from your blog and becoming a professional blogger?
- Is it having thousands of loyal readers who keep coming back time and time again?
While all of these things could be classed as a making a successful blog it depends on how you measure your success or who is measuring your success. Quite simply, if you are happy with your blog, it is a success and you shouldn’t let anyone tell you any different. Set yourself realistic achievable goals and work towards them. When you reach them, set the next. If you don’t reach them concentrate on your successes and learn from your failures. If it doesn’t work, try something new, but above all keep trying.
I know that, that is a simplistic view but so many people give up blogging after just a short time. I believe that part of this is due to the fact that in the early days of a blog the blogger is talking to themselves and nobody seems to be listening. It is quite easy to become disillusioned and think you have failed when nobody visits. Of course, maybe they weren’t cut out to be bloggers.
So, my first tip for creating a successful blog is perseverance and a good measure of patience. Not many blogs become popular overnight. Yes there are the exceptions but they usually have some other angle that boosts their popularity. For instance how many popular bloggers command an audience because of who they work for or for the project that they contribute to – quite a few I bet. A readership takes time to build, so you better be in it for the long run.
Once you start to get a few readers, you’ll want to keep them, so you need to write the best content you can. This is much easier if you know and like the subject you are writing about. I know this sounds obvious, but I have read blogs where the writer appears to know nothing about the subject. I think the key here is that you need to write with authority and build a good reputation with your readers. You can only do this if you know what you are writing about.
Be yourself and write sincerely. There are successful fictional blogs but you need to be good and know the subject extremely well. What I am trying to say here is don’t adopt a false persona and create a fictional being who writes your blog unless you are a very good writer and can pull it off. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. If you are yourself, you will sound sincere and that will come through in your writing.
How often you post is always one of those questions that will get different answers depending on who you talk to and depends on what you are writing about. It also depends on how much time you want to commit. Some subjects need to be posted about several times a day, news sites for instance, where others may be fine twice a week. I think you need to work this out for yourself but I visit my favourite blogs once a day. I’m always disappointed if there isn’t a new post so once a day seems a good idea.
For me, that the most important aspects of creating a successful blog. Perseverance, posting good, sincere content and posted often enough to keep your readers interested.
I have only touched on a fraction of what could be said about creating a successful blog and there has been masses written on the subject. I would suggest you take a look at the blogs I linked to earlier if you want some more.
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February 8th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Great post Ainslie.
Back on September 2, 2006 my site was listed as a successful blog which was a nice surprise… and I see you even mention the official successful blog site in your post.
Keep up the good work. You already know I like your blog
February 9th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
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