Published by Bert Meert on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 |
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When I started thinking about blogging - long before I wrote my first article - I was looking for a way to hold myself accountable for delivering good quality posts. The only way I could do this, was by creating a set of rules that would prevent me from losing my focus. Even though there are tons of websites out there, who provide rules for you, I wanted my own set of guidelines. Ideas that resonate with me, can evolve and help me to improve my blogging skills.
Clarity. Write from a state of confidence. Ask yourself what you want your article to mean for your readers. Don't fall into the trap of trying to sound professional and not helping anybody in the process. Write when focused, relaxed and free from all distractions.
Write from the heart. Search for your own voice. It's perfectly fine to be inspired by other people's work, but whatever you publish, it must be written from that unique little place inside yourself. Deliver authentic and original content. Share who you are, not who you think you should be. Chase the truth.
Be of service. Don't share your thoughts, simply for the sake of sharing them. Ask yourself if there is value in the act of sharing your ideas.
Don't waste people's time. Strive to deliver consistent value. Don't force people to plough through heaps of information they don't need, in order to find little nuggets of gold. Be grateful for your reader's attention. Find the essence and stick to your niche.
Feel it. Write articles that resonate with your deepest thoughts and desires. Spend a lot of time with the subject. Get to know yourself, other people, the world. Then report back on your findings.
Be proud. Appreciate yourself for taking you to the level you've reached so far. Cherish your early work. Blogging is learning and teaching at the same time. Keep writing, even when you think you're not good enough.
Be patient. It can take months or even years to grow closer to your audience. Don't expect changes to come overnight. Even when nobody is listening, continue to share your vision. Don't just sit there and wait. Explore the net. Meet new people. Connect. Tune in on other people's ideas and ongoing conversations, because you will always need others to take you to the next level.
Differentiate. Take a new approach every time you write a new article. Try different styles, different perspectives, use different tones. Only change allows growth. Only change can teach you what works and what doesn't.
And last, but certainly not least, enjoy it!
