“But I’m not a writer”
Many people, including myself, have said this at some time. However, it is a mistake to hold a negative opinion of your writing skills. Everyone has the capacity to become a competent writer. Good writing doesn’t require expert knowledge; the best writing is often simple and clear. If you can gradually improve your writing skills it will definitely help your blog; furthermore, you will find the writing aspect of blogging become less intimidating and more enjoyable.
1. See Writing as a Skill to be developed.
A blogger needs many skills: design, seo, good relationships with other bloggers e.t.c; but, of all the skills, writing is the most important. For most blogs, it is writing that will determine the long-term success of your blog. Because of the importance of writing, it is worth spending a little time trying to improve your writing skills.
For example, I was never confident in how to use a comma; therefore, I spent an hour looking at the rules for using commas. It is true that good punctuation is not essential to a blog – after all many A list bloggers are not exactly professors of English. However, if you become more confident in using things like apostrophes and commas it is likely you will enjoy writing more. If you learn the basics of writing, it means you can spend less time worrying about your English – leaving more time to write good quality posts.
2. Choose the Right Topics
To make an impact on the web you need to be able to offer something different and unique. With so many blogs around, it is important to be able to avoid rehashing similar material that is floating around the net. The best thing to do is choose a topic that you share a genuine passion for. If you choose topics that you hope will be profitable, you may struggle for inspiration to write.
For example, I researched keywords on google and wordtracker and came up with a site that I thought would be a real winner for making money – “UK Remortgage Quotes”. It probably is a very high paying keyword, but the problem is that there is really a limit to the number of articles you can write on this (rather boring) key phrase. I soon lost interest in the site, and it now gets an average of about 1 visitor per week – (which is probably what it deserves, and no its not my mum).
- This site (net writing), by contrast, is proving much easier to write; this is because I can draw on my own experiences of writing for my other blogs. It is also important to become associated with a certain niche; it helps build an identity to your blog.
3. Write for the Benefit of your Readers
The blogs that attract me to subscribe are those who regularly offer something useful / interesting / funny. If your articles are focused on offering something to your readers, this is much better than writing for yourself or search engines. It is a mistake to try and write for search engines, they are too sophisticated. (Although, it worth considering helpful keywords from time to time). Writing for the benefit of your own ego, is also one of the easiest ways to put off readers.
(Like did I tell you the time when I WON a Writing Contest!!!!)
4. Write in a Professional Style.
It is a mistake to feel that you are “only writing for a Blog” If you view your blog like a magazine it will help maintain a certain standard. Also, as a blogger you can open many future potential avenues of work. For example, in a recent post at ProBlogger, Darren shared how a blog post had been used in a magazine. See: Finding offline work
Therefore, avoid delving into too much personal detail. At the same time, it can be helpful to embellish your articles with relevant personal experiences.
- In summary don’t bother your readers with your cat’s digestion problems. But, do share ideas that worked (and ideas that didn’t)
5. Gain Inspiration from Others
To become a good writer, don’t feel you have to be self-sufficient. Your writing will improve if you spend some time reading accomplished writers. If you can appreciate the good writing qualities of others, it will definitely help you develop as a writer. This does not mean you will seek to imitate others; this will never work. Each writer needs to develop his own style and personality, however, you can learn through others by a process of synthesis and osmosis. Gradually you will develop your writing.
- If you are looking for some “linkbait” material I would suggest going into your bookstore. It is a good chance to find some interesting material, that is not already done to death on the internet.
See Also:
This post is Part of Pro Blogger’s Top 5 Group Writing Project
If you enjoy writing and are looking to grow your blog, I would definitely recommend participating in this project.
53 comments ↓
Saw your entry in the problogger’s project. These are very good tips for bloggers.
ww-success.com
Nice post, I myself use blog media as tool to teach me writing
Like the rules for using commas, yup I figured it myself after read many blog.
thank you
Those are certainly great tips for improving writing for those who weren’t born to write. A good review is also useful for good writers.
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
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Writing is a important asset to have and often under rated. Writing is not as easy as it might look.
What I do is I have a piece of paper and when ever I’m free (like when I’m traveling) I write. Writing on a regular basis really help a lot.
Other advice is to read a lot, and not only blogs and on variety of subjects.
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
I truly agree with you. Not everyone is a good writer. Still, this must not stop you from expressing yourself. After all, expressing ones thoughts and feelings is one of the uses of blogging.
Also I would also like to say that I agree with Richard when he said that writing can be improved.
One must take not that it is our own voice that spices up our blog, not the way we write.
This set of tips are a great read! Especially for those people who are planning to join the growing blogosphere.
Thanks for your post.
If you have time, why don’t you drop by my post:
http://mobileko.blogspot.com/2007/05/snatch-top-5-tips-on-how-to-be.html
It’s also an entry for the problogger top 5- group writing project. ^^ Goodluck to us all!
Nice tips!
[...] Top 5 Tips Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger. [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
Nice tips Richard. I visit this site often.
[...] Top 5 tips writing for blogs (if you write poorly no one will understand what you’re attempting to say) [...]
[...] Top 5 Tips For Writing Blogs - I personally need to work on 4. I need to work on 2. I need to work on 1. And, after rereading those last three sentence, I guess I need to work on 3 as well. [...]
Nice tips thanks. I agree about writing for your readers. Search engines might be ‘too sophisticated’ to write for, but I’d say the main problem of writing for search engines is that your material will come out like mince. Readers will only come back to writing that is worth reading.
Joanna
[...] Top 5 Tips Writing for Blogs, I bookmark it as special guide for me, learn to write is main reason why i’m blogging [...]
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[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
Lists of Top 5 Priorities on Bloggers’ Minds Today…
Here are the top five priorities on Bloggers minds today – motivated by Darren Rowse's brain spike over at Problogger. Any topics here that would turn an ordinary day into an adventure for you? Become Blog Worthy by Sarakastic The T…
Fantastic tips, although I think I will struggle with tip 3. The more professional I try to become the less professional I get. Oh well must be in the genetics or something.
Goodluck with your site
Ian
[...] Top 5 Tips for Writing Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
Great tips, good luck in the contest.
Thanks for the fine tips for writers — and for the reminder for those of us who’d like to keep growing brain cells for better writing. You model it well here:-) Great post.
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[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] I just picked some random posts whose title sounded interesting and found these ones, all well worth reading: Top 5 Ways To Identify a Bad Listener Five ways Shiatsu has changed my life Five Hard Truths of Freelance Writing 5 Top Ways to Use a VA Building a Blog Community Why I like Problogger’s group projects Five Travel Blogs You Gotta Read Top 5 Tips Writing for Blogs Top 5 WordPress Plugins That Help Increase Comments Top 5 Blogs That Explain How We Think… Top 5 WordPress Tips Five Blogs to Watch 5 Lessons Learned From Pitching VCs 5 Must Have Wordpress Plugins Top 5 Steps for Choosing a Blog Theme Five Ways to Make Money Scrapbooking Back To The Future – The Top 5 Old School Ways – That Still Work – To Get a Job Top 5 Joys Of Using Linkedin: “B.L.O.G.S.” Top 5 Reasons To Move From Free Hosting [...]
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Great tips!
GL HOFFMAN http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
Very nice! I am the writer of “Top 5 things to do in Istanbul” This was my first group activity, but i liked it very much.
http://meeting-continents.blogspot.com/2007/05/top-5-things-to-do-in-istanbul.html
Have you ever been to Istanbul which links east to west, and west to east like a weblink. Istanbul played such a critical role in the world politics and culture throughout the history.
Now i have a dream i would like to share with you and Darren Rowse. All the Probloggers should meet at Istanbul and join the 29th edition of the Eurasia Marathon on Sunday 28th of October, 2007.
Let’s meet where the continents meet : As the Istanbul Eurasia Marathon starts from the Anatolian side while taking the runners to the most beautiful spots of town, signing its name under a touristic attraction as well. The Bosphorus is one of the most beautiful spots on the world and as you run through it, history of the centuries run with you on the streets.
I joined the 28th Intercontinental Istanbul EurAsia Marathon on 5th of November, 2006 together with my friends, Joe and Suat San. We enjoyed the wonderful Bosphorus, and beautiful streets of Istanbul on a cold but sunny Sunday morning. The slogan for last year’s marathon was “let’s run for a non-smoking world”.
this was my blog post for last year’s marathon:
http://meeting-continents.blogspot.com/2006/12/intercontinental-eurasia-marathon.html
I would be happy to invite you to the 29th Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, the only marathon to run between two continents – Europe and Asia. Istanbul is one of the oldest settlements on the world. What about participating in the 29th EurAsia Marathon in 2007 which takes place in the most beautiful places of a wonderful city that has been the capital of three empires ?
You may find details about the marathon here:
http://www.istanbulmarathon.org/english/main.asp
Please let me know if you are interested.
Have a nice day!
Mert
[...] 5 Tips – Writing for Blogs by Richard Pettinger [...]
Great list. As a struggling writer I need to hear tips like these. Thanks for the help.
Great Top 5, Richard! It’s funny, in the past writing was always like pulling teeth. I good write good papers on request, but I never felt inspired to write for myself–which I think is key. There is something about blogging that makes me like to write. Your site will help me learn to write better, thanks. I’m subscribed.
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