8 Steps to Create an Awesome Blog

So now you are all set to spread your word to the world with your own personal blog. Blogging has stormed the internet with its diversity, people blog how to buy train tickets in Aruba to operating instructions for a lawnmower. The goal is to make your audience revisit your blog space to keep your space alive, that’s the only way traffic will increase and you will be read more often with a sacred reputation. That is to say, you have to keep a tidy, frequently updated, well-researched, and diverse blog space. Having a high-traffic blog is a cornerstone of almost any online business like a SASS company, a membership site, or an online consulting business.

There are numerous blog spots online but the difference between a high traffic blog spot and a low traffic one is clear as to the approach the blogger uses to enhance the direction of his work. A high traffic spot will have the advantage of presentation, research, creativity, and sequential logic embedded in the blogs.  Whereas a low-traffic blog spot tends to hide from the eyes of the users owing to its lack of ingenuity. There are a number of ways to grow your traffic to your blog. Nowadays the reader has become at pace with the growing number of diverse and versatile pieces of writing that he/she can easily spot the difference between a blog worth their time.
So let’s get down to how to become a blogging expert or how to write a blog. I have broken down the segments into broader aspects that will let you find your smoking gun within by following these steps. These techniques are time-tested and used by seasoned bloggers.

So here’s the deal:

1. You are unique and so are your words
2. Segment your audience to develop a directed approach
3. Identify your niche
4. Make a draft and outline your subject matter
5. Titles matter
6. Research is Key
7. Read like a book thief
8. Proofreading

You are unique and so are your words

Your audience needs to access your true colors through your words. So it is extremely important that you develop your own unique style while in the business of blogging. What can help in this regard is the use of a content calendar. It may sound tedious to some to keep track of your posts but in reality, it really helps the blogger streamline his ideas and plan ahead accordingly. Sometimes it happens that a blogger may end up having a bloggers bloc, which is very common, so the way around is to go through your content calendar that in turn might help you get back on track.

Attracting the attention of your audience is where the better blogger stands out from the crowd, and a better blogger will always have a way with words, graphics, content, presentation, and the frequency of his posts. So even though there are millions of bloggers and their posts swarming the internet, there is always this distinction that can make you increase your traffic at a higher rate it will all depend on how you can create engaging content. For example, a food blogger along with his delicious recipe sends out a life hacking tip for one of the ingredients used, which will make the reader be more interested in the next post automatically.

Here I would like to compare two different worlds of blogging in which the blogger has identified themselves as unique as possible, the political and scientific blogs. Studies have shown that the bloggers in these categories tend to attack the norms of listed scientific research, creating their unique style of addressing the core of the problem. Walejko and Ksiazek in their article published in the journal of journalism studies explain the way scientific and political bloggers work their way to display their uniqueness. This study analyzes the sources of 41 science bloggers that discussed two different topics, global warming, and intelligent design, between 2004 and 2007. The 3576 sources in these 300 posts are hand-coded by type of website. Results indicate that science bloggers often link to blogs and the online articles of traditional news media, similar to political bloggers writing about the same topics. Science bloggers also link heavily to academic and non-profit sources, differing from political bloggers in this study as well as previous research. In conclusion, science bloggers writing about science topics rely on conventional blog linking practices while expanding those voices which get heard online, adding complexity to online science news.

Segment your audience to develop a directed approach

Blogging as compared to other writing gigs has more of a segmented approach. You blog for those who have an inclination towards what diversity you have in your approach to communicate rather than following a script, making it a directed idea. What is recommended here is to synchronize with the reader, which will enable you to be subjective in your posts.

Looking at a bloggers inclination, who wants to write about or for women who need assistance with regard to family planning and are the neglected sector of the society, will help him better understand his blog subject if he can narrow it down to who will be the prime audience and who can benefit from his blogs. The writer can segment his audience by creating a family tree that needs to be addressed it is just like creating a content marketing strategy.

The idea here is to create a place where the focused group can maintain a relationship with the blogger. Now when the reader will get a vibe that this blog has been specifically written keeping in mind the reader, will automatically attract their curiosity.

Another example is the way marketing has evolved with the art of blogging. Web 2.0 is the new generation of interactive user space where new strategies have dramatically changed the science of marketing and a streamlined path for the target audience. Tanuja Singh explains:

“The emergence, proliferation, and ubiquity of the Internet have not only transformed businesses but also altered the relationship between businesses and the customer. Recent advances in technology have helped to migrate this relationship to an interactive level where technology contributes to brand building by creating and sustaining a long-term relationship with the customer. Media fragmentation and customer indifference to traditional marketing tools are forcing marketers to seek new opportunities so the marketing message not only captures customers’ attention but also tries to engage them with the company. ”

What the writer here wants to say is the marketing tools used by the new era of blogging technology have transformed the relationship between the customer and the marketer. Now that the platform of blogging has set up an opportunity for the marketer to promote his products to the whole world at once, the customer at the same time has access to numerous marketers, making his search for the product relatively easy and reliable.

Identify your niche

Blogging is a recursive process; it stays with your post but blossoms with every new addition to the list. For that matter, you want to become a successful blogger who has a direct correlation with how often you update your blog space. If your blogging is about how you feel about a particular issue or you are an expert in some area and want the netizens to flourish from your advice, you need to plan ahead as to what will be your direction through your blogging experience. Readers want to read someone who gives out a reality-based approach rather than a random blabber.

Identifying your niche and sticking to it has numerous benefits apart from caging the general topic blogger inside of you. Niche blogging has a song to it. While a blogger plans a blog title to adhere to his expertise, not only he is able to keep on track, at the same time constant research and time spent on that specific topic enlightens the brain to a point that people actually start to delve into the bloggers’ expertise. The content calendar in this regard can be an excellent resource to help keep the blogger on track.

Niche also relates to how the reader sees you as an asset on that subject. Compiling blogs on a directed topic will keep the reader come for more instead a change in the topic might lead the reader to think that the blogger is simply trying to write his mind instead of focusing on the subject he wrote about first. It goes that if the blogger has published a great post on the world of sports and has caused an uproar in the blogging arena, the reader will expect another post on the sports subject as they will relate sports and bloggers. If for instance, the next post is on the subject of journalism, it can trigger a negative impact on the reader and he might not revisit the blog space.

An example here is worth mentioning, Lyndsy and her husband Bjork are now one of the top trending food bloggers in the industry, before being a school teacher and now a full-time food blogger, she has taken her skill to the next level. The idea came from taking mouth-watering pictures of food and then transforming her kitchen into a blog space resource.

Amateur bloggers can learn from this example and think ahead. The more specific you are about what you write will eventually make you a distinguished blogger of your time and subject. But when it comes to making money off your blog there is a rather closed group of subjects that can really make you achieve that dream. People and big companies started off on specific niche topics and then make them their emblem. It’s the traffic that will make readers be more attracted to a subject matter. That is to say, blog readers tend to get attracted to specific lifestyle and health-related topics, at the same time money related topics also get their space in the monetized blog world.

Make a draft and outline your subject matter

It is always a good idea to create a mold before you start pouring in all the material to it. It often happens that if the mold is perfect your subject content can create the precise filling for it. A brainstorming session with a pen and paper is going to be your first aid when you get scratched by a bloggers bloc or think that you could have added more power to your work. It is highly recommended that you use any spare time you get to sit down and brainstorm ideas, titles, and subject matter for the ultimate blog post. One of the ways is to write down random titles, mix and match them, and then select the best out of the lot.

Reading and understanding the English language has been my passion for the past twenty-eight years. So what I have learned in those years is that in terms of creating a better piece of a blog post for that matter, which seems like a daunting task, can be easily overcome if you break it down into manageable structures and sections. You must have heard the saying, divide and conquer, and guess what; it perfectly fits in writing tasks too. You should categorize the piece into different sections and try to fit them in the standard form, that is, the beginning, the main body, and the conclusion. When you recreate these parts into their prescribed positions, they will automatically start to make sense and offer a flowing read.

I also advise cross-connection diagrams, where single-word ideas can be connected to the elaborated body text, which will eventually help you better understand where to place the parts which best fit your post.

Titles matter

In the world of blogging, whether you are into scientific or general natured scripts, the way you adhere to the title of your post may become the shining light of your blog. Building your reputation as a blogger takes time but once that status is achieved your regulars will revisit your space as a habit. Before that happens you need to create that sense of belonging to the reader and of course how easy it is to find your blog from among the crowd. For that, there have been in-depth studies performed, and what was the conclusion? The title of your blog matters. Using frequently researched words, updating your content and the crux of the post as your tagline will conform to increased traffic for your blog.

The way to workaround is to develop a heading as catchy as possible with the keywords that match the body of your blog. For instance, some travel blogger wants to recreate the image of the place they visited with the perfect colors and on top wants the readers to know that there has been an addition when you type the word Zanzibar. So what they can do is add Zanzibar to the title and connect it with the best experience they had while vacationing there:

‘Ecstasy with ethereal beaches in Zanzibar; Best vacation getaway’

Here not only the blogger has used their destination as the center point, at the same time has added words that will create a sense of satisfaction for the reader before he even opens the post. Allowing and directing the person looking up for Zanzibar to get the gist of the place in one line. You can practice with the most frequently searched keywords from the Google directory and structure your headings around them.

Beauty, health, and lifestyle blog titles can have direct names of the human physiology in them to widen their chances of being a hit with the Google search engine. A fitness expert this way can specify the muscle cluster which will benefit from a targeted exercise. The goal is to summarize your blog in a single statement and gold plate with the most frequently looked-up words. With the passage of time, a blogger can be having revelations with respect to blog ideas and even the titles; in that case, you should make sure that you jot down whatever comes to mind, whether they are on sticky notes or the content calendar while you are going to create a blog. This helps you get back to these random ideas in the future and create the ultimate title for your next blog. this intrigue will help you increase blog traffic.

Research is Key

The first precursor to a well-articulated blog is research. It may sound cliché but a study has shown that a blog having a well-defined script gets more hits than just a simple story. Having said that, research as it stands for means the association has been done with respect to scholarly/scientific content, not just Wikipedia, which I can assure you, cannot be affiliated with authentic scientific material.

It is simple logic, that when thoroughly researched lines are developed, they will flow in unison with the rest of the content and summarily harmonizes with your story if it consists of one.  Your audience wishes to divulge the magical experiences a blogger has been through. Not only learning new stuff, at the same time gets educated in the concerned subject matter.  So my money will always be with a blog that satisfies my appetite, not in terms of being unique, also be enlightening with well-researched facts and figures, if any.

Google alerts are one of the best ways to categorize your research. Not only it alerts you about anything new going on in the area specified, at the same time alert you to create notes on your next blog post. You can set search terms and the frequency of alerts.

What I usually do is bookmark every interesting post which I would be able to use as my weapon. The alerts enable me to bookmark anything that is relevant to my work. Along with these alerts what you can do is refer to your content calendar that contains all your previous work titles and lets you push ideas. The keywords set in these alerts are marked as hits in the Google algorithm, which constantly monitors the web for matches, returning values, and providing notifications for the user. These notifications can then be set as research material for future posts, you can not only use these alerts to create new ideas for your relevant posts and gather critical information utilizing their content. Now, remember, citable research material is oftentimes monetized so look for free articles that are relevant to your content. Another thing to keep in mind is that research material is updated very frequently so the researcher needs to be at peace with the updated content. Don’t use a material that is older than six months when it comes to scientific theories and iteratively developing fields. If your blog post requires formerly proven material then authentic books about that subject can be of help.

Read like a book thief

Now how do we set ourselves apart from the group? How do you gain more insight into a subject matter? How do you make sure that the way information has been connected makes sense? All these questions can be answered with one simple answer. Read. No matter what area of general topics you have chosen as your blog, or you want to address any problem or anomaly in this world, the best way will be to become a subject matter expert. And how do you achieve that; by becoming a world-class reader. Let me explain that with an example. A food blogger can become more efficient in making his point across if he/she can give explanations about how and why they are using the ingredients in their food, at the same time give life hacks to using utensils and foodstuff for maximum output. This can only be achieved if that blogger spends time studying and reading about ingredients and the products used for the creation f these awesome foods.

Now that’s settled. The more you read the more aggressive you can become in the way of your expression. Having a grip on the language you want to write in will greatly impact your creativity and how well you gratify your work. Reading not only enhances your literary spectrum, at the same time lets you in on all sorts of opinions and ideas floating around.

There are hundreds and millions of books available online. You don’t even need to visit your nearest book store, just Google what you have in mind and allow it to match your needs. I also recommend referenced or non0-referenced material from ‘Google Scholar’. It displays the most recent material from scientific journals and from authorized books. References from these pages will significantly enhance the core of the blog. So saying that a strong core leads to a healthy body fits here perfectly.

Secure Your Blog

Now that we have decided on our niche, writing style, blog’s aesthetics, it is time we also give due attention to its security. It seems ridiculous as to why someone would hack a newly set up blog that is yet to finalize its marketing strategies and obtain its authority. This is where most bloggers fall wrong. I have heard way too many people say – “Why would someone hack a small blog like mine?” To be honest, this is quite an expected and inescapable question. 

Even though we may want to believe that we are safe, the numbers prove otherwise. According to these hacking statistics put together by Astra Security – “Over 40% attacks target small and medium-sized businesses”. Finding newly set up sites that are also vulnerable is like striking a goldmine. With all gain and no loss! And hackers do leverage this opportunity fully. They use these websites to host spam, obscene or illegal content, or to sell banned commodities. They can also use your website to host a larger hacking campaign or as one of the many software in that campaign. 

Most common vulnerabilities arise from the ill-maintenance of the blog and have serious ramifications. This is the reason why top web design services advise that you should practice security parallel when running an off the blog or any other website. One way to do this is by getting premium security software. Besides, hardening your blog security and configuring correct settings also enhance your website security.

Proofreading

Editing and proofreading benefit the writing of even the most skillful communicators, yet professional editors and proofreaders are not always available. Even when such assistance exists, first doing some editing and proofreading yourself is advisable. Providing a polished piece demonstrates competence and lets the reader see you as a blogger who genuinely paid attention to what you prepared for them. Also, the less editing that others do the less likelihood there is of introducing errors or distorting the meaning.

Editing your own work; different approaches can be effective. Choose whatever works for you or suits the current piece. Realize, though, that thorough editing usually entails reviewing the writing multiple times, including at least once from beginning to end.

Finalizing your script is for sure one of the most critical steps in creating a master blog. One thing that has come out of the vanity of proofreading is called a ‘critical friend’. A critical friend is a person with who you are not only acquainted but at the same time can be trusted intellectually. You know that person will tell the good things from bad about you in the most casual way. A critical friend can be of great help in terms of proofreading your script and can advise on how to enhance your material if need be.

It is the most vital step in turning your post free from any grammatical, punctual, or phrasing errors. Using grammar checking tools can be a good choice at this point. Remember to read once, one again, and finally to make sure that the entire post is perfect to your eyes will be for all your readers. As I mentioned earlier about the critical friend, the important thing here is to never allow your casual hand to take the lead and the reader at the same time feels that you, his mentor have done his homework before producing this awesome post. Your content calendar platform can greatly help in this part by recording your checklist and letting you know if something has been left before finally publishing your post.

Proofreading as it is called has been recognized as a form of art, where the proofreader gives the final touches to your work and makes it presentable to your readers. So its importance can never be brushed aside. It is also very necessary to go for reviews before opting for any website development company because reviews give you a good idea of how the company is doing among the consumers. It is critical that either you or someone you trust performs this task, as it can very well be the thing that gets you ahead in your dream of becoming a blog master.

Your Turn

Blogging is a great way of presenting your unique self to the world. Choose your niche carefully to engage your audience in a positive manner. Be clear in your mind about who you are writing for and what you are writing about. Construct engaging titles with a hook to intrigue your reader.

Thoroughly research the topic you are writing about by reading books, this increases your knowledge and sharpens your thought process. And finally, always remember to proofread your piece.

I wish you the best of luck with your first post.

---

Jennifer Alena is known as a blogger in the e-commerce field. Her expertise is writing a creative & suspense creator for their websites and blogs. Recently she’s joined as a Creative content manager at Italiarail Coupon Code