– By: Akhil Shahani, 2008-03-15<\/p>\n
As an entrepreneur who has seen his share of success, you probably have a wealth of wisdom founded on practical experience. If you\u2019ve wanted to share your thoughts with others with similar interests, but didn\u2019t have the time or inclination to author a bestselling book, writing a blog is just the thing for you. Indeed, most CEOs are taking to it in a big way. Why not join the gang?<\/p>\n
The most important criterion while writing a blog is to do it with passion. The second is to ensure that the content is of high quality. Also remember that getting and holding the readers\u2019 attention immediately is particularly important in blogging. Why? Because there are millions of blogs out there on the internet and there has to be a good reason for someone to stop at your site and stay. Here are some of them:<\/p>\n
o Write on a subject that\u2019s close to your heart \u2013 For a businessperson that could be technology, employee motivation, business ethics or something else. This topic will be your theme and the more passionate you are about it, the better your writing will be. People read blogs because they are interested in the personal opinions of people like themselves, and therefore, cold, clinical writing won\u2019t hold water. <\/p>\n
o Be conversational \u2013 Writing a blog is not the same as crafting an academic treatise, so complex, elaborate text is out. Imagine you are talking to a group of friends. Write in a friendly way \u2013 do not talk down to them and keep up a conversational tone at all times. That way, you\u2019ll encourage your readers to write back, and that is the true measure of your blog\u2019s success. <\/p>\n
o Credit your sources \u2013 Never use someone else\u2019s content without giving them due credit. Always acknowledge your sources and link to them; use quotation marks when you write something that is not in your own words and if you want to post a few paragraphs from another site, please ask for permission first. This is not just basic courtesy but will also ensure that you stay out of potential trouble for copyright violation. <\/p>\n
o Think before you post \u2013 Content is king in a blog. So write thoughtfully and knowledgeably on your chosen subject. Do not rant and rave and make your readers run for cover! Another important point to remember is to stick to your topic; do not digress too much from your intended purpose. You will quickly lose readers if you do.<\/p>\n
o Link to interesting stories \u2013 If you talk about something interesting that you found online, provide a link to it. Nothing is more annoying to a reader than having to search for a way to get to something on the Net. Be sure to link to articles, books, products, other sites and anything else you mention in your blog. <\/p>\n
o Respond to comments \u2013 Always, always remember to respond to readers\u2019 comments. Nothing drives away a reader faster than not having his or her comment answered. It also implies that you are a serious blogger and care about what your readers think.<\/p>\n
o Write concisely \u2013 Give the maximum amount of information using the optimum number of words. An introduction of 250-300 words is usually adequate. Clear, concise writing laced with appropriate humor is sure to win you a big fan following.<\/p>\n
o Use catchy titles \u2013 The headline should draw the reader in. When writing a blog, take care to use descriptive phrases that reveal the purpose of the article. A reader typically decides whether to continue reading the post or not, by looking at the title of the blog entry. Tell as much of the story as you can in the headline.<\/p>\n
o Post regularly \u2013 You need to write frequently and regularly to keep your blog fresh and in your readers\u2019 minds. The blogs that attract the most readers are the ones with constant and consistent updates.<\/p>\n
o Write effectively \u2013 Use bulleted points to draw attention. Insert sub headings and keep the sentences and headlines short and to the point. Use the “inverse pyramid” structure – mention the core ideas first and fill in the details in later paragraphs. The first two sentences should be enough for the readers to decide if they want to continue reading. <\/p>\n
o Edit your post \u2013 Review your content before posting. Proof-read for typos and glaring grammatical errors. This is also a good time to take an objective look at your writing to ensure that you don\u2019t have something offensive or incorrect in it. <\/p>\n
The Web has a way of changing things as we know them. Now, you can have thousands of people read what you have to say on any topic. So, find that passion of yours and start blogging \u2013 who knows where it may lead? To a published book, perhaps!<\/p>\n
Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out Smart Entrepreneur<\/a> . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" – By: Akhil Shahani, 2008-03-15 As an entrepreneur who has seen his share of success, you probably have a wealth of wisdom founded on practical experience. If you\u2019ve wanted to share your thoughts with others with similar interests, but didn\u2019t have the time or inclination to author a bestselling book, writing a blog is just … <\/p>\n