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3 Blogging Tips

Posted by rileycentral • 10/31/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: backlinks, blogging, blogging tips, income, inspiration, traffic, writing

I started blogging with my own domain December of 2006. Since then I've learned 3 things that really helped my traffic, backlinks, and income. I'm really excited about being part of this community after a long hiatus. I have a discussion widget in my sidebar, Damien at the Speed of Life, and I'm looking forward to doing my part through sharing and asking.

The first tip is: "Know what it is you have to say."
I suggest picking something you are passionate about. My friends irl know that I am passionate about too many things, but most people have 1-3 things they truly live for. Make your blog about those things.

The second: "Know that what you have to say is more important than your blogging platform." In other words, there are blogs on the free Wordpress and the free Google Blog services as well as other that do well despite the limitations of their platforms. If you have good things to say that people want to read, it matters little to them where your blog lives. Having said all that, a Wordpress self-hosted blog is the most versatile and dynamic in my opinion.

The third tip I offer here is: Don't force your writing. Use the times when you are holed up with inspiration (for me these are often sick days or weekends) and write FUTURE TIME STAMPED posts in a big bunch. Then you can watch that inspiration to reveal itself on your blog day after day rather than trying to force inspiration day after day. This one tip revolutionized my traffic, comments, income, and backlinks more than any other strategy when I started using it.

I hope you will be encouraged and find parallels to your blogging in this post. What's your feedback on these three tips?

User Comments

10/31/08

buddhaofhollywood

If a tree falls in the forest...
What is a good post if there is nobody to read it?
I found out that selling is as, if not more important than the product.
I don't blog for the money but it would be nice if I could do what I love and get paid.
Don't you agree?

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Buddha - I feel silly here a stressed out public school teacher/blogger telling Buddha to just let it flow
  
  But in essence, the river in that same forest is flowing whether people hear it or not. Your blog is cool and it's gonna go far. Thanks for letting me work with you on a few things and for agreeing to help me out with your guest blog upcoming on my "Postcards from the Funny Farm" blog.
10/31/08

punkies07

i totally agree!

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Cool! Thank you.
10/31/08

blackzero85

I do agree too...

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Thanks blackzero!
11/01/08

timethief

The three tips rileycentral offers are IMO reallygood ones. And the fourth tip that buddha gives is also a good one. Content is king but you need to market to secure traffic.

[reply]
11/01/08

balidreamhome

nice tips! thanks for sharing :-)

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Thanks Bal
11/01/08

sogoh

good ideas....

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Thank you So!
11/01/08

MadMadMargo

Great advice, thank you!

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Thanks M!
11/01/08

Sonnenblumen

We're fairly new to blogging and sometimes struggle to find time to pull content together. Most 'tipsters' highlight content as key to driving traffic. My question is does the content format have any influence on traffic etc, ie which is more effective, text, or text+pics, or video?

Also subject matter + frequency of updates must also influence traffic growth? Our blog is work related, so we'd be aspiring to do weekly updates, whereas a site for 'lonely hearts' might demand daily updates?

[reply]
1. 11/01/08
  
  rileycentral
  
  Short text or no text, even with a picture, all the time can appear to Google as well as to readers as a splog. If you have a photoblog that might be different. Same with video, not sure about that.
  
  For me, I see photos and videos as secondary to writing about THOUGHTS. For me they are the things that have the best chance at bringing people back. You might consider writing down the thoughts you have throughout the day and then when you have a few hours, blogging them all. Then, if video or pictures complement those thoughts, by all means use them. Bots (that assign ratings) look at characters and word counts not thoughts. Readers on the other hand produce your traffic numbers and they look at thoughts not characters and word counts.
  
  Hope that helps. I'm a simple blogger unlike some around here. so let's see what other people can say about your question.
11/02/08

bebekoh

Nice tips! i like it. very simple and straight to the point

[reply]
1. 1/27/09
  
  rileycentral
  
  Thank you. That's what I was hoping.
11/02/08

choiocampo

I just remember a favorite slogan of a famous blogger.
"Finding your Niche will make you Rich"

[reply]
1. 11/02/08
  
  ModelElaine
  
  I respectfully disagree
2. 1/27/09
  
  rileycentral
  
  It sure makes it easier for you readers to get behind you when you have a niche. Making money online is more than just that tho.
11/17/08

newbiesblogger

nice, "Know what it is you have to say."

[reply]
1. 1/27/09
  
  rileycentral
  
  Oh yes. One I believe in 100%
1/25/09

AndiBob

Freedom is a state of mind.Fame is the enemy of freedom

[reply]
1/25/09

inbusiness

Thank you Riley - will keep these in mind!

[reply]
1. 1/27/09
  
  rileycentral
  
  You bet!
1/26/09

PinoyXfat

your tips make sense.

[reply]
1/26/09

Takumi86

very cool tips, simple but straight to the point

[reply]
1/27/09

rileycentral

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your support of my article. If there is any way I can help you, please let me know.

[reply]
1/27/09

vijayanths

rileycentral, I'm just a part time blogger, not a professional.

I think all the 3 tips are good. If you write on things you are passionate about,the content will be automatically good.( content is the king tip comes automatically)

I think pictures and videos add charm to your blogs.

[reply]
1. 1/31/09
  
  rileycentral
  
  Very true. I heard a great blogger say that pictures add the element of a front living room to your blog.