Creating a Successful Blog

Blogs are so quickly set up and easily updated thats its very easy to start one and start writing and lose sight of the long term plan: what will I blog about? Why am I blogging? What on earth am I trying to accomplish with this thing anyways?  Some people love having this creative space, but a lot of writers find themselves becoming either bored, or boring.



If you want to have a long-lasting blog, and audience, you need to get started on the right foot.  Take some time and think about why you are blogging, and then make your goal and commit to working on your blog.  Just like fitness, health, or any other project, a blog can never progress without a commitment.  While professional blogger have turned this into a job, it doesn't need to be!  But you can never get anywhere without a plan.  In her must-read "Blogging for Dummies", Susannah Gardner set out using a recipe for a good blog:

"...Here's my recipe for a good blog:
1. Preheat the over by setting goals
2. Measure out several cups of good writing
3. Mix well with frequent updates
4. Sprinkle in lots of interaction with your readers..."

One way to get great ideas for success is to obverse blogs that have become successful.  Find a blog you are interested in and keep track of it: notice how often the blog gets updated, the style of writing, and which posts get the most engaging comments.  If a post makes you want to comment, think about what it was that drew you in.  Watching some professional bloggers be successful can give you ideas on how to run your blog