If You Like It Then You Shoulda Done A Blog On It

Lauren Peek | @treblemaker45

Anyone can be a blogger. All it takes is a computer, an internet connection, and something that you want to write about. Got an opinion? A unique experience? A relevant observation or different perspective? Pull up your computer (if you’re not on it already) and write a blog about it! An estimated 100 million people are already doing it. With free hosting sites such as Blogspot, Tumblr, and Wordpress, there is absolutely no excuse not to join the party.

Blogging has been around since the 1990s, but as more and more people get online, their number and popularity continue to increase. Blogs are usually considered to be a form of social media, as most allow readers to leave comments and interact with the blogger, building relationships through the writing.

Since almost everyone now has access to the internet and an opinion to share with the world, getting that message out has never been easier. However, since there are so many people online now, odds are that someone has the same opinion as you do on a subject. So, instead of waiting for that person to share it and gain followers, do it yourself and keep these things in mind:

1. Post often. Blogs that update every day or every other day attract readers more easily than blogs that post once a week or every few days. Since almost everyone lives with an internet connection, there isn't really a reason that blogs should not be updated very often. If you have a busy schedule, you can write ahead of time or make an outline to make writing easier later. If you only have a few sentences to post, share it anyway. It’s better than nothing.

2. Keep a running list of ideas for your blog on you at all times. You never know when inspiration might strike and you don’t want to forget.

3. Pick a voice. You have a specific way of speaking conversationally to your friends and your writing style should reflect this. When writing your blog, let your personality and voice shine through. If you’re a sarcastic person in real life, let it show in your writing. Share the same sense of humor in your writing. Speak to your audience as if they were your friends. Reading your post out loud before publishing can help accomplish this.

4. Allow comments. Some spam comments and internet trolls are unfortunately inevitable here, but you need to allow comments on your blog. People love interacting with each other or the creator (you) and comments are the best way to do this. The feedback that you get from your followers can be invaluable. They can tell you what they want to hear about and whether your writing is effective. Listening to them can help you expand your following and fine tune your style.