We can’t all be writers. As you very well know, some of us are good at writing and some of us are… not so good. But just because you are not a natural writer does not mean you can’t be a good blogger. While blogging and writing have a lot in common they also have some very important differences. These differences can allow even someone with only little writing talent to be very successful as a blogger. Here are some tips for those of you who do not have a passion for writing, but do want to be a great blogger:
1. Blogging is conversational
One of the first things you need to remind yourself when you are tempted to treat blogging just like any other sort of writing is that blogging is different. This is not like creating a report for your boss or even an essay for college. Instead, blogging is more conversational. If you can speak well and communicate well with others then you will probably make a good blogger. All you have to do is take what you say and write it down. Because of the more casual style that blogging has you do not have to be so concerned or get caught up in the grammar and format of your posts. Instead you can concentrate on the writing itself. The content and length of the posts are also up to you, which is a great relief to many of us! There are so many different types of blogs out there that you can decide for yourself works best for you. Some people lean towards guides and how tos, some tell stories and some people just have imaginary conversations with their readers (like I do). You can choose what makes the most sense to you and what works best for your writing style, which makes it a lot easier to blog then it was to write your thesis!
2. Blogging is short and sweet
Another thing that is great about blogging as opposed to writing is the fact that you get to choose the length of your blog posts. Depending on what platform you blog on you can even do micro blogging, which are only a few hundred characters in length. Typically, however, you will want to write around five hundred words for a decent sized blog post. You can write more and break it up into smaller blog post sections to give your readers more updates and give yourself more incentive to write. Beyond just keeping your blog posts short you should also break blog posts up into sections with headers. Headers help readers to keep track of what they are reading and break down something complex into something easy. Your paragraph lengths should remain short as well because long hunks of text tend to intimidate readers. Think about not only what you write but what it looks like to readers and how easy it is for them to read. Most readers are in a big hurry and would rather just scan the article anyway, so making that possible is advantageous to you.
3. Lists are great
As I said, most readers do not have a lot of extra time on their hands to read your blog. That is why list posts work so well. Not only do readers love them because they are easy for them to scan and read only the points that pertain to them, but they also love list formatted posts because it is easy for them to see how long the post will be before they ever get into it. For example if you have a post that has eight points then you have a pretty good idea that it will be on the short side where a post with twenty five points or more will usually be longer. Lists are also great for you as a non-writer. Because of the already choppy nature of lists, it does not really matter if your writing flows. Lists also help you to stay on topic, even when you have to do something else between points. You can think of it this way if it is easier for you: who can’t write a hundred words or so for one idea? Take each point as a separate post and it will come together much faster than you ever imagined it could. Coming up with ideas is often the hardest part about writing, so creating a list and thinking it all through ahead of time should enable you to write a quick blog post that is full of quality content.
4. Images are good
It does not all have to be about text. Blogging can be about more than just writing. Adding a visual element to your blog is a great way to make it more attractive to readers. A great image is, as they say, worth a thousand words. If you can find a great image to go along with your blog post then you and your readers will be better off. You can find great images online that are free to download and use on your site at places like freedigitalphotos.com. Those sites often have professional stock photography, cartoons, and even amateur images that you can use without fearing copyright infringement. If you chose to include an image on your blog post then please make sure it fits with the content. There is nothing more aggravating to a reader then to click on an image that has nothing at all to do with the post’s content. Your image should stand out. If you can find a picture that is colorful, strange, funny or cool in some way then you will be better off. Remember that people are usually very visual so adding images to your site is a smart move.
5. Multimedia is possible
Beyond just pictures you can add lots of different elements to your blog. Blogging is about more than just text on a screen. It is about connecting and sharing with others. If you really are passionate about sharing your interests and knowledge with others then multimedia might be a good way for you to go. Video blogging and the like are very popular ways for non-writers to get engaged in the blogging world. You can use technology that you probably already have. Most laptops nowadays come with built in web cameras and microphones. All it takes is a little effort and you can create your every own video blog post. If you do not want your face plastered up on your site then you can just do a screen capture of something you are showing online or even have a friend or relative speak for you. You can also take videos from places like YouTube if video blogging on your own is not up your alley. Music clips and infographics are another couple of ways you can add multimedia to your blog. If you are creative and have a good point to make an infographic is a great way to show that off. Infographics also do very well on social media platforms like Pinterest where the image is king.
These are just a few ideas that people who do not like to write can use to become great bloggers. Remember that bogging is more than writing. It is an interactive experience where you are sharing your knowledge and passions with other people. You can do this in a variety of ways. The thing you need to focus on is what communicates your message most effectively to your audience. Another thing to keep in mind is that the more you write the easier it gets. Just because you hated wiring when you are in school does not mean you can’t become a lover of writing now. When you have a passion for something and the freedom to pursue it you might be surprised at how much your attitude changes.
About the Author:
This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of www.liveinnanny.com. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: – jdebra84 @ gmail.com.
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