Idiot's Guide to Blogging

4 More Tips on Creating Quality Content

Last week I wrote What Every Blogger Should Know About Quality Content, and How to Create It, in which I explained what quality content is and why it's important, and then I shared ten tips on how to create it. (My article is doing quite well on BlogEngage, by the way. If you enjoyed reading it, please take a moment to vote.)

Since then, I've received a few requests for even more tips on quality writing. And so, I've got four more to share:

If you have a niche blog, stay on topic.

People read niche blogs to learn about their niche topic of choice. In other words, if your blog is about pets, don't go off on a tangent and write about weather (unless, of course, it does have something to do with pets).

Off-topic blogging can not only turn your audience off to your blog, but your random posts could be nearly worthless from an SEO perspective. If none of the keywords in your article match those of your overall blog, the chances of your off-topic article being found in search engines will be significantly lower. If you want to write about something completely different, consider starting a new blog specifically for that topic.

Know who you're writing for.

How well do you know your audience? The better you understand your readers, the easier it will be to write for them in a way that they can understand.

Get to know your audience by responding to their comments, reading their blogs, and asking them questions. You may even want to communicate with some of your readers via email and IM, or other services like Twitter.

Leave room for conversation.

Sometimes it's a good thing to not cover everything there is to know about a specific topic. If you say everything there is to say, it can be very difficult for people to comment, and still add something of value to the post.

Leave some room for others to share their opinions, experiences, and ideas. Ask questions. Just give your readers a chance to add to the conversation.

Choose the right keywords.

This is a common problem among bloggers- choosing the wrong keywords. Not everyone is an SEO expert, and that's perfectly fine, but it's good to know the basics if your goal is to create a successful blog.

Most of the time, searchers will find your blog not through key words, but through key phrases. Choosing a few short phrases to include in your posts and headlines will be much more effective than singular words. For example, more people find IGTB by searching for "blogging guide" or "guide to blogging" than they do with "blogging" alone.

As I mentioned in my previous article, all blogs and bloggers are different, and have different methods for creating quality content. Don't be afraid to try new things, and learn what works best for you.

Do you have any tips to add?

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Poll: How Much Money Do You Make From Your Blog?

As many of us are aware, most bloggers do not make much money from their blogs on a daily basis, at least, not enough to make blogging their career.

But I'm curious about you, my readers- about how much do you make from your blog(s) each day? (A rough estimate is fine, because a steady income is uncommon for blog owners.)

And some follow-up questions:

• How do you monetize your blog?
• Do you have your own domain?
• How long have you had that blog?

**This poll may not show up in all feed readers. If this is the case, please visit ITGB to cast your vote. Thanks!

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Blog Success Tip: Keep a Separate Journal

Last week a friend asked me, "What do you think is the most important part of your blogging routine?"

And after much consideration, I came to my conclusion- keeping a notebook, or journal. It has helped me in so many ways- organizing my thoughts and ideas, setting goals, tracking my progress, and so much more. My personal key to success lies not in the writing itself, but instead, in the planning of my blog.

You may want to try it, too:

Jot down your ideas.

How many times have you gotten a great idea for a post, but were away from your computer, and then forgot it? This happened to me almost every day, until I started carrying my notebook around in my purse. Now I'm able to write down my ideas soon after I get them, and then later when I have time to blog, I can choose from my best ideas and start writing.

Set goals.

When I set goals for myself, they're often easier to achieve if I put them in writing. They become more meaningful to me if I can see them on paper, and I can read them regularly to remind myself of what I'm trying to accomplish.

Track your progress.

This is my favorite part of keeping my blog journal. I enjoy reading earlier entries and realizing how far I've come with IGTB. I, like many bloggers, tend to keep focused on the "here and now" and often forget how much my blog has improved as a whole. It's a great reminder of how hard work and dedication pays off, especially on those days when inspiration is a little more difficult to come by.

Express your thoughts and feelings.

Many bloggers go through periods of love and hate for their blogs, and it's good to express that somehow. Journaling does it for me. I've experienced many ups and downs, and there were some times when I was tempted to give up blogging all together. Expressing my feelings in this way usually eases my frustration, and helps me to realize that I really do love blogging, and what unpleasant feelings I have at the time will pass.

I highly recommend keeping a blog journal, at least to keep track of your ideas and successes. It can be in an actual notebook, or it can be a private blog online. I prefer using a notebook myself, because I like the physical act of writing, but do what works best for you. Every blogger is different.

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