The Basics
- Brevity rules. Can you say it briefly?
- Start at the main point, then work the story up. (Make the main point in the first paragraph.)
- Use small words. You don’t have to impress people. You have to be clear.
- Analogies help people understand things better.
- So do stories.
- You don’t have to write complete sentences, even though your teacher taught you to do that. But treat it sparingly. Like this. Like a condiment.
- Keep paragraphs small, if possible. We balk at large blocks of text.
- Make your point from the reader’s side of the fence. Who is your audience?
- Depending on how you write, go back and see if you can cut out more. Reduce. Reduce. Reduce.
- Use the word you’re thinking about, not a fancier, or more polite word.
- Concepts and the Bigger Picture
- Set up series of posts, even if you don’t call them a series. Make a post that brings up follow-on points from a previous post, and link back to that post to reinforce the original content.
- Get your inspiration from reading. #1 source for my ideas comes from other blogs not in my space. Not sure what to read that’s NOT in your space?
- Think strategically, if this is for business or a cause. Ask yourself what you want your reader to do next. Try to write from that point of view.
- Theme-wise, writing very helpful things that people can use is way better than writing thoughtful things that make people think and just walk away. You can have thoughtful but not helpful, but you’re striving for helpful and thoughtful in the same piece.
- Never write the me-too blog. Look to be ahead of the wave and feeding backwards, not behind the wave and eating someone’s wake.
- Look for ways to think forward, but that tie to your business interests. When I write about the future, I’m also inviting someone to make that future with me.
- Mix it up. Keep an editorial calendar and note what kinds of posts you’ve written lately. Thought posts? Lists? Interviews? Make sure you’re mixing up the type of post you’ve written lately.
- Consider the occasional dip into Google Trends to write a story that might draw new audience to your conversation. Don’t do this all the time, because the gimmick can wear off quick. Again, think condiments, not meals.
- If you don’t have anything interesting to blog, skip a day. Don’t skip many days.
- And never never never (raise your hand and repeat this with me) “I” (state your name) “solemnly swear never never never never ever to post another ‘I’m sorry I haven’t blogged lately’ posts ever again. Ever.”
- Consider your audience but write from your passion.
- Don’t mince words. If it’s a “pissing match,” it’s not a disagreement.
- Ask questions. Blogs are conversations starting and flowing. Ask. Questions.
- Link to people. If you write about Mr XYZ, link to Mr XYZ
- It’s not all about your blog. Get out and comment on other people’s blogs. Often.
- Leave a few ideas unfinished. Ask for input. It always improves a piece. Blogs are great for that.
- Make sure your blog’s URL is everywhere: in your email signature, in Facebook, in Flickr, in Twitter, in every outpost you can think about.
- Always know why you’re doing what you’re doing. Question yourself often. Look for ways to improve the game.
- Comment back to the people who have left comments.
- Follow those people’s links sometimes and go explore their blog.
- Look for ways to empower the community you inspire.
- If you haven’t found your community yet, keep looking, searching, and connecting.
- Learn about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM). It’s no longer okay not to know even the most basic things.
- Find great Creative Commons photos and use them for your post (with attribution).
- Deconstruct what your favorite writers do, and try it your own way.
- Occasionally, try something completely different.
- Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid of not being interesting enough.
- Write as if someone believes in you, because someone does.
