Why are there so many blogs? Because everyone has a story. And you don’t have to be a writer to write a good blog. So what makes a blog good?
• It’s interesting
• It’s brief
• It’s consistent
A good blog talks about what matters. It’s juicy, but easy to digest. And there’s a somewhat predictable rhythm to when new posts appear. When writing your blog, here are a few more things to keep in mind.
• Be informative. Provide value.
• Be creative. And whenever possible, be entertaining.
• Be visual. Apply attributed, royalty-free imagery liberally.
• Be topical. Stay on top of what’s happening in the world.
• Be conversational. Ask questions. Pose thoughts. Provoke dialogue.
• Be honest. About who you are and where you get your ideas. If you “borrow” an idea or story, credit the source and if possible, link to it.
• Be personal. Be you. Not the meeting the pastor on Sunday you. The having a smashing time at the cocktail party you.
• Be responsive. Welcome comments and feedback and respond quickly to them.
• Be helpful. In addition to providing valuable information, share links to related insights, topic experts, etc. Facilitate connections when possible.
• Be respectful. Never insult or underestimate your audience.
• Be skim-able. Make your posts easy to read at a glance.
• Be generous. Give credit, attribute, admire. Share the stage.
• Be shareable. Make it easy to pass along your posts and blog.
Smithsonian image c/o Creative Commons