10 Tips For Blogs Part 1

There are upwards of 75 million blogs all fighting for readers online, with thousands more being created every day. So making yours stand out above the rest may seem like a huge task. But don't be discouraged, here are 5 tips to making yours stand out from the rest.

• Make each title stand and grab attention.
  

        Titles are the first thing someone sees and it needs to get your reader's attention right away. Your title should both peak the reader's interest and be informative. Do not write "Business Writing Advice"; instead say "The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries." Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

• Speak out.
  

        Writing too timidly is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read your blog.

• Use short and clear sentences.
  

        A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also be sure to use strong language. Keep paragraphs to just a few sentences each and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot shorten your topic down to 250 words, split your thoughts it into two entries.

• Keep up on current events.
  

        No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date, so your readers won't have to. Read newspapers and scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field. Such keywords would include "blogs", "podcasting", "instant messaging", "business letters", "memos", and "business reports", so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader's interest faster than you can say "Enron".

• Be accurate.
  

        If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

  Stay tuned tomorrow for the next 5 tips...