Considering that Mark Briggs‘ book is about journalism for the next generation, it’s no surprise that one of the first fundamentals he discusses is about blogging. (It is also no surprise that one of the main assignments for this course is to maintain a blog.) I have created blogs in the past, but I always had difficultly maintaining them for any significant period of time.
And writing in them regularly.
According to Briggs, this is a big mistake, and the reason that I never earned a following.
Blogs have changed journalism, and will continue to do so over time. They offer the opportunity to create a real community and have conversations with readers, as opposed to simply spouting out information. (As a Communication student with a PR concentration, I am well-versed in the importance of two-way communication.) But while starting a blog is simple, creating a good blog that people want to follow is not.
- Getting started
There are many foolproof blogging platforms, two of the most commonly used being Blogger and WordPress. Within a few seconds, users are able to name their blogs, choose attractive themes, and start posting. This, however, is where things can get a little more complicated.
- Getting people to read your blog
First, find a good niche, and stick with it. Trying to be “the authority” on a broad topic will cause readers to become disinterested. Develop a personality and carry it through. Blogs allow journalists to actually write in a unique voice.
Use specific headlines and summarize information. Write briefly. The idea is to inform the reader; not bore them.
Link to other information.
Post regularly (preferably once per day). This is the beauty of the blog; posts don’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) overly long, but there does need to be a lot of them.
For more information about crafting a standout blog, check out some articles from social media guru Darren Rowse. He offers techniques varying from how to work ideas into posts to garnering two-way conversation.
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