Are you doing this on your blog?

This week, we will conclude our series on blogs. I have to say that I learned a lot at the Design Bloggers Conference that I attended last month and I am very happy to have this opportunity to share it with all of you. I’ll spend this last article focusing more on the basics of blogging, sharing some of the most valuable advice I got from the various presenters at the conference. So here’s my short list (well, maybe not that short):

Do not apologize for your absence on the blog. We all have a tendency to feel bad when we’ve committed to blogging and then fall off the train, so to speak. Just pick up right where you left off and skip the apologies. Your readers want content, not apologies.

Be aware of what is above “the fold”. Make sure the content people see first grabs their attention. Don’t make your readers have to scroll down to get to the heart of your content. You want to prevent your blog from reading like that book that starts out slow and is hard to understand. Grab their attention from the start.

Images are everything! Give your readers lots of visual appeal and sprinkle them with your own comments or suggestions. Make sure your images are of professional quality and post them well on your blog.

Speaking of images, always be sure to give credit where credit is due. Post source, designer and photographer if available. Too often people post without giving proper credit and this can very quickly break the relationships you have worked so hard to create within the blogging world.

Always keep in mind that when you blog, you are also marketing your business. Make sure, as I mentioned before, that your blog aligns with your brand and speaks from the same voice.

Leverage your posts on other social media platforms. Be sure to use the power of Facebook and Twitter to spread your posts.

Comment and repost. Nothing helps build your relationships online more than commenting and sharing other blog posts that impress you. In the blogging world, that’s the best compliment you can give someone.

Blog “must haves” include:

An “about me” section that briefly describes you and your business.

A “contact me” option so people can connect with you directly

A “registration” box so people can subscribe to your blog posts.

That is all! I hope this series on blogs has been useful to you. I’m starting to get my feet wet blogging, so these tips from the conference really helped me get my bearings and realize that, like many things, it’s us that overcomplicates the process. Just keep your blog simple, consistent, and speak from a place of passion. That’s really all there is to it!

Action steps:

Start blogging! Don’t keep saying “someday”, just do your research and get started. Go back and read the latest ezines I’ve dedicated to blogging and, more importantly, implement those action steps. They will guide you step by step on how to get started. Blogging is really about finding your passion and then sharing it with others. Let your personality shine through and don’t focus on impressing others or “doing it right.” Blogging can be really relaxing and fun if you don’t overcomplicate the process. In terms of the process, remember KISS: keep it short and simple. Let the images inspire you and talk about how those images inspire you. Share your passion and the conversation will continue. Good luck!