Good, Better, Best Blogging Practices

Five years after starting blogging I can say that I still enjoy what I do. And that is a good thing because I’ve written more than 10,000 articles during that time across more blogs than I can count.

I’ve owned or managed more than a dozen blogs over the years, have sold some off and I still write for a client who owns two blogs.  Very rarely have I experienced “writer’s block” as I attribute that phenomenon more to fatigue than anything else.

There seems to always be a topic or two circulating in my head, an idea I’ve gotten from people I meet or blogs I have visited, perhaps yours!

Blogging is certainly much more sophisticated than it was when it became a hot commodity during the 1990s. Back then, people were using their blogs as online journals, sharing what is on their minds and dispensing advice. Those blogs are still around although Facebook and Twitter have pulled in a lot of that “personal stuff” to one central platform.

Can I envision the day when I’ll stop blogging? Not a chance, unless I’m scooped up by the communications team of a red-hot automaker and get to write for them (with big bucks too!) For now, I’m satisfied with continuing with what I’m already doing although I frequently change my approach to mix things up.

Today, I want to focus on ways you can approach your blogging, offering three levels of writing. You can choose one or use all three; your approach depends on what you want your blog to be and how it is perceived by others.

Good -- A good blog is any site that is interesting, informative and engaging. You write because you have something to say and you love interacting with your readers. Most of what you write is based on your personal experience and perspective; your readers value what you share because they like you and/or value your wisdom.

Better — One step up is a better blog, one with a strong following and actively engaged in linking out to and referencing similar blogs. You’ve accepted quality, related guest posts, have contributed your writing to other blogs and are known and respected as a leader in your niche.

Best — The best blog is not only good and better, but it is a category leader in its niche. In other words, it is a niche-defining blog much along the lines Mashable is for technology and Autoblog is for car enthusiasts. You write high quality articles, adhere to the AP Stylebook and you interview and cite leaders in your niche from top executives on down. Your blog is the one industry leaders turn to find out what consumers are thinking about their products.  You not only write about the news, but you make the news!

Your blog can encompass all three practices depending 0n your mood and planning. Because you own and manage your site, you are the one who sets course, charting out its destiny accordingly.

What is nice to know is that you have options available to you, allowing you to take your blog to levels not seen or imagined when you first started blogging. And through it all you’ll grow as a writer and perhaps an industry thought leader, securing your place of importance in your niche.

August 2010 Guest Recap & Props!

Over the past several months, Matt’s Musings has welcomed a number of contributors who have offered their unique perspectives on a number of subjects including writing, marketing, SEO and business. I like to think that these contributors have added value to my personal blog and am grateful for what I have been able to publish thus far.

Just in case you missed who contributed what during August 2010, I am offering to you the following recap of the month’s guest posts:

Using YouTube Videos To Pick The Right Domain Names — Duncan Heath, in the first of two articles he contributed in August, offers how YouTube can help you find a domain name that will instantly attract visitors. Capitalize on the video phenom to get your new website off to a fantastic start.

Being Creative Under Pressure — Creativity and pressure don’t work so well together, right? Well, pressure is a fact of life and Sonia Mansfield shows us how to keep the creative juices flowing no matter how crazy things can get.

Let Your Negotiating Skills Turn Your Into A Money Maker Outsourcer – Lior Levin explains how letting others handle some of your tasks can be beneficial, even a source of revenue. You can’t and shouldn’t do everything yourself.

Top 7 Timesaving Tips For Entrepreneurs — Entrepreneurs have a lot on their plate which means that making good use of their time is essential to their success. James Adams shares seven tips we can all use to make good use of our time.

Is Blogging Good For The Mind, Body, And Soul? — Lior Levin returns, this time sharing his personal journey into blogging. Read how an introvert loses his solitude to become a blogging extrovert.

3 Things Not To Say To An SEO Client — Duncan Heath returns and gives us sound advice on how to deal with clients for all things SEO. Lose the gobbledygook and speak a language your customers can understand. They’ll be grateful and you’ll come across professional.

How Any Business Can Benefit From SEO — Kara Taylor explains how beneficial SEO is to large and small companies alike. Certainly, small businesses have financial constraints, but they need to optimize their sites in order to be competitive.

If you’re interested in contributing an original article to Matt’s Musings, please click on the contact link to find my email address and send your inquiry my way. Please check the site’s archives [site:matthewkeegan.com] to make sure that you aren’t repeating something published here over the past six months. All contributions are passed through Copyscape before publishing; I reserve the right to edit as needed.