Top 5 Blogging Abuses

Everyone has a blog. A relative few have good blogs. Even less have relevant blogs. It is often difficult to find a few good blogs that you look forward to reading in the morning. Even more difficult is to be the author of a blog which others flock towards. However all good blog writers follow a few tried and true rules, while avoiding the pitfalls of the blogsphere. Here are a few obvious abuses that we the blogger impose upon our unwitting readers. Feel free to add to this list.

1. No Mission (Echo Camber, “Me too blog” )

Be Anything. What is the purpose of your blog? Informative? Opinionated?  If you desire your blog to be appealing you must provide an original conversation, plot point, or insight. In other words have a mission or an objective for your blog. Don’t simply regurgitate information you found elsewhere, add your own personal touch, opinion, or insight. Give your reading audiences the opportunity to hear what YOU have to say about a given topic. Even if it is a dissenting voice heard above the din of the prevailing mob. Don’t be brash or wax loquacious. Be simple, straightforward, and never forget to provide a real world application to your insight.

2. No Vision (Headless Chicken)

Be Consistent. What do you hope your blog accomplishes? Are you offering a professional opinion regarding industry trends and thereby hoping to establish yourself as the markets lead thinker? Or are you simply enjoying your own thoughts and venting regarding a given topic? Either of these paths are fine, but should be made clear from the beginning. A lack of clear direction set by you will leave your audiences bewildered as to why they are even reading. Where are you going with all your typing. Where do you want your reader to end up at?

3. No Voice (Schizophrenia)

Be schizophrenic. Majority of people view a blog as only a small portion of their online prescience rather then a declarative statement of their integrity. Do you decide to create a personal or professional blog? The difference is between meeting and making friends in passing at a coffee shop or a establishing clients in your high rise penthouse/office. If your intention is to create short, interesting conversations and micro-niches to further prevailing market thought then a broad based topic with a conversational tone for your blog may be best for you. However if you are attempting to create business opportunities, and stimulate career growth then a very specific professional blog demeanor and introspective, intelligent voice may be more becoming. I would advocate a delicate blend of the two. You are your work. Especially for new media or web series creators. You are part rock star, part entrepreneur. Your funky fresh, and yet reliable. Reflect that.

4. No Community (It Takes A Village, But It Starts With The Idiot)

Be Genuine. Blogs are created by you, but they are primarily fueled by your community. Introduce your true self, not a concocted faux-celebrity self to your online audiences. People can sense a disingenuous egomaniac a mile away. Don’t be that dude. Foster friendships into long term personal or business relationships. The only way this will happen is if you actively engage (“flirt”) with your audience. Often we cut from a brief honeymoon introduction of pleasantries and straight to the bottom line right away. Take your time. Woo your audience. Flirting never hurt anybody.

5. Poor Format (Remember Tetris?)

Be Engaging. Blogs tend to be one pigeon holed into a structured format.  Long essays, top ten, interviews, and other methods. However always remember and appreciate your audiences experience of your subject and your treatment of the topic. No one wants to always read novels, or articles, or even quotes at all times. Mix it up. Some methods are best used for some topics. I personally prefer small edible articles which are informative or insightful with a dash of wit or sarcasm. Don’t give me sole opinion give me some information, and let me make my decision to interact with you. Make it easy on the eyes, not overwhelming with a full block of text.

Conclusion

Now that you are aware of typical blogging abuses you may be able to avoid them in the future. I am sure that there are many more that I have missed, and if I have please feel free to fill me in! Remember we are all attempting to grow personally and professionally, don’t be discouraged with your inital results. Rather continue to persevere, and your blog will prosper!