Attention Beginning Bloggers: Before You Blog, Read This!

Whether you are a blogging pro or online novice, you can follow a few easy tips to help your blog reach readers online. Follow these five easy tips to successful blogging!

Blog Step 1: Have Something Unique and Important to Say
Sure, you may think it is the most interesting thing in the world to write about your amazing paperclip collection, but first make sure you have some important things to say. Why? Well, popular websites like Wikipedia already have general information about any given subject. Why should someone search for your obscure blog when they can find out the same information quickly through a simple Wiki or Google search? Project your voice and unique perspective in your blog. Make it interesting and care about what you have to say.

Blog Step 2: Grammar and Spelling
I admit that sometimes I have a tendency to run a blog off without really checking my grammar or spelling. Months later, when I am getting ready to show off some of my muy excelente writing skills, I realize that I have published an article chock full of little errors. Do not rely on your Spell Check to catch every mistake. Spell Check cannot tell you if you have used "there" instead of "their" or "they're", and there are millions of online articles out there (not "their") that have tons of silly errors. Just recently I read a professional article talking about J.S. Bach's "tree" genius. No offense, but I had no idea that Bach had an Arbor Day affinity.

Blog Step 3: Use Online Tools to Help You
A few great online tools are Google's Ad Word, Keyword Density, Tag Crowd, and Word Count. Google's Ad Word let's you know what terms are being searched now. In other words, while you may want to use the term "giant prehistoric lizard-like creatures" in your title, you may find that more people are searching for "dinosaurs". The keyword density tool allows you to see what percentage of your article has certain terms. (Just a hint, you want to keep terms at no more than 5% density to avoid being considered "spam".) Tag Crowd, currently my favorite tool, analyzes your article and gives you a visual word cloud of key terms. Word Count does just that - it counts words in your article.

Blog Step 4: Get Your Blog Out There!
You can publish your online articles with a dizzying number of websites from Blogger to Word Press to paying sites like Associated Content. Find one that works with what you want to accomplish, then learn how to use the blog to your advantage. Be sure to blog often to gain subscribers who will eagerly check your website for new information.

Blog Step 5: Tell the World!
After you have begun your blog and have maintained it steadily for a period of time, use e-mail, social networking sites, Twitter, forums, and e-groups to tell everyone about your awesome blog! Happy writing!