How to Develop an Effective Blogging Strategy
If someone was to ask you, "Where do you see yourself a few short years from now, and what is your strategy for getting there?", how would you answer?
Believe it or not, there are a lot of bloggers out there who are constantly pushing content without a specific goal (or end) in mind. Or, more commonly, they have a goal but have not taken the right actions to reach it- either because they don't know how, or they've yet to develop a strategy that fits their needs.
Finding the right blogging strategy isn't always a simple task (in fact, it is one of the more complicated problems a blogger will encounter), but with some planning and helpful tips along the way, you can find what is right for you.
This should help guide you through the process:
Determine the main goal(s) you wish to achieve with your blog.
Think about your blog a couple years down the road- what would you like to accomplish? Maybe you would like to develop your website into a community. Or perhaps you'd like to make blogging a career. Goals will vary with the blogger because, as we all know, everyone is different.
Be realistic about your goals. Aim for the attainable, yet far enough out of reach to be inspiring.
You may even want to break down your long-term goals into multiple short-term goals that are easier to handle.
Decide how you are going to meet these goals.
What are the necessary steps you need to take?
For example, some bloggers may have decided they would like a large audience that actively participates in conversation. Some options they may consider are joining a specific social network, submitting articles to various news sites, or guest blogging in order to promote their own blogs.
Put those plans into action.
What good is an idea if you don't use it to your advantage? Once you have decided what is important to you and how to attain your goals, it's time to carry out your plans. Go join that community or affiliate program, or write that new e-book you've been thinking about.
Watch the other blogs in your niche.
It's important for most blog owners to stay up to date with what's happening in the blogging world, and more specifically, within their niche. By reading other blogs, they can catch up on the latest news, learn about new products, observe trends, etc. There is a lot of valuable information out there, so find it and put it to use.
Dare to be different.
Does your blog stand out from the others in your niche? Content differentiation has a huge hand in attracting attention.
What do you first notice when viewing a blog? The most common answer to this question is 'the template'. An original design that matches your content and personality is crucial to developing a blog that stands out from the others. Not everyone has the knowledge to create an original template from scratch, but there are thousands of free templates available for bloggers to download and customize if they choose, or they could hire a designer.
What content is being covered by others and what isn't? What current knowledge can you expand on? Find less popular (yet interesting) topics in your niche and write about them.
You may even want to add a more personal touch to your blog by speaking in a first-person point of view or writing from experience. This helps the audience to feel a little more 'in touch' with the author and encourages interaction.
Differentiating (or 'branding') yourself and your blog should be one of your biggest concerns as a blogger, no matter what subject you choose to pursue. By doing so, you open another door of opportunity that may lead you to your goals, and in some cases, more. The possibilities are endless, so dream, make plans, and act accordingly.
(This post is part of the 'Get Organized!' series.)
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Hi Raivyn
This is a very informative post on developing a plan for your site.A lot of bloggers start off without any plan for the future growth of their blog at all.
They see others doing it,and just jump in like a fad or something of that nature having no idea what lies ahead.Branding one's self I believe is the most important part of acheiving success with your site.
I wish you all the best
Steven
Posted by: steven wilson | January 25, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Great post man you bring up a lot of very good points. It will be hard for me to follow people in my niche simply because I don't think there is anyone in it.
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Posted by: Collin - Feed Flare | January 27, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Raivyn,
This is a very timely post for me. It makes little sense to keep blogging without an intended strategy. I've also questioned whether my blog look fits my personality. I'm guessing it doesn't. Most importantly I enjoyed your thoughts on differentiation. I think I'll go stumble this excellent article. Thank you.
Tom
Posted by: Tom Volkar / Delightful Work | February 16, 2008 at 09:52 AM