How to start a blog
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Tips for maintaining an active blog
- Post often. Every day, or more if possible. Users will check back more frequently the more often the blog is updated. The more frequently users visit, the more likely they are to join in and participate. You probably won't get much participation at first, but it will come eventually.
- Blogs are hugely important for improving the frequency your web site will turn up on search engines like Google. The more posts you have, the more keywords you are feeding search engines which increases the likelihood your post will be offered as a result.
- The quality of your posts is important. The better your post, the more likely another web site will link to it. Your post will rank higher on search results the more incoming links exist for it.
- Include a prominent link to the RSS feed near the top of your blog. Most people don't actually visit the blog page to check for new updates. Instead, they subscribe to RSS feeds to alert them when a new post is made.
- Consider creating a Twitter account for your blog. You can automatically feed your posts to Twitter using services like Twitter Feed. Some people use Twitter instead of RSS to be updated on new posts.
- Embed pictures and videos in your blog posts whenever a possible. You want to avoid your blog turning into a wall of text, and embedding relevant pictures and videos will greatly help in spicing it up.
- Use links to other sites liberally in your posts. Other web sites and blogs may return the favor in the future. Linking to sources of information contained in your blog post also increases your credibility.
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adriel hampton commented
2012-01-16 08:00:43 -0800
Michael, we’ve since added an RSS feed link and icon on all blog page types. So just start blogging and you’ll automatically have a feed in your right-hand sidebar for that page.
Michael Kahlow commented
2012-01-16 07:51:38 -0800
You suggest including a “prominent link to the RSS feed…” How is this set up & added to the blog?
