The Side Note

Starting a blog of your own can be intimidating. It’s a World Wide Web out there and people get lost in it every day. The best thing you can possibly do before starting your blog is to read other people’s/companies’ blogs. Just take a few weeks, find blogs that interest you, and leave comments. Before you know it you’ll feel like you speak the secret language of the blog.

Okay, there is no secret language of blogging, but it’s normal to feel like there is one. But rather than get into any philosophical rambling, how about I just give you a list of some do’s and don’ts.

Things To Do

1.    Use analogies to promote understanding and interest. One time, I told a story about me telling a story and it proved a point.
2.    Read other blogs.
3.    Read other blogs.
4.    Read other blogs.
5.    Work on series of posts without labeling them. Chris Brogan (link below) brings up this point. For instance, today will conclude our series on blogging, but we never actually introduced the series.
6.    Use relevant photos whenever possible to promote visual interest.

Cute. But not relevant.

7.    Write as an authority. In some way, you are.
8.    Since you are an authority, you should also be confident. It’s okay if people disagree with you.
9.    Hope that people disagree with you. Nothing stimulates good blogging and commenting like an opposing opinion.
10.  Consider your target. Who are you writing your blog for? Who is your niche market? (See our first and second posts).

Things To Avoid

1.    Engaging in malicious attacks on anyone or anything. It’s a small Web we live in.
2.    Pretending to be something you’re not. Your readers will know you’re lying.
3.    Using bloggers-block as an excuse. Read the news; something will reveal itself as relevant.
4.    Regurgitating another post or article. Put your own spin on it then credit your source.
5.    Writing in the heat of the moment and posting immediately. Give yourself some time to cool off then revisit your post (See #1).
6.    Underestimating the proofing process. You’d be amazed how putting a “hte” in your post (instead of “the”) can undermine your know-how.
7.    Being a machine. People don’t connect with machines. Use your human voice.
8.    Ignoring your commenters.
9.    Second-guessing yourself.
10.  Believing every rule you read about blogging. These days, blogging is part business/part art. Take every “rule” with a grain of salt.

Check out these links for even more tips, tricks and things to keep in mind:
What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists
40 Ways to Deliver Killer Blog Content
Things To Avoid In Business Blogging

Last month, WIRED magazine’s Paul Boutin wrote an article espousing the death of the blog. This proved to be an interesting and eye opening read for an agency that was preparing to launch a blog of our own.

Boutin stated, “Impersonal is correct: Scroll down Technorati’s list of the top 100 blogs and you’ll find personal sites have been shoved aside by professional ones. Most are essentially online magazines… A stand-alone commentator can’t keep up with a team of pro writers cranking out up to 30 posts a day.”

Will the blog machine destroy us all?

Boutin makes solid points concerning the evolution of blogging from enthusiastic self-expression to the tainted professional blogs that can be found today. I have to agree that the magic of the blog disappears when it becomes a launch pad for corporate agenda and soft selling, much like anything on this earth loses its charm when it realizes its power.

But are Boutin’s points valid enough to warrant the closing of virtual doors for individuals and companies who cannot compete with blog machines? I have my own ideas about this but am interested in your take. Take a look at the article, “Twitter, Flickr, Facebook Make Blogs Look So 2004”  and check back here this afternoon for my take on it.