Blogging -- short for Jorn Barger's 1997 term 'weblogs' -- is one of many portmanteaus for web writing, logging or journalizing. Blogging has become the official news (or ranting) outlet for millions of savvy mystery writers, people who love to gab and businesses who want floods of new traffic to their main website. People have sounded off, announced retirements and even cut famous people down to size using blogs.
Because we're in complete synchronicity with everyone who believes blogging will live forever, here are 10 distinct etiquettes that readers and blog owners should adhere to for better looking articles, smarter reading and overall cleanliness across the blogosphere.
Remaining On Topic
Perhaps you'll blog about weather around Abu Dhabi. Maybe you'll proffer the readers your top 10 best songs of all time. No matter what subject you've chosen to write about, remaining on point with your main article objective will mean you've grasped the English language enough to effectively state your mindset without meandering off onto some tangent about your grandmother's wonderful cookie recipe. If you intend to keep readers around for long periods of time, remaining on topic should be the most important facet of blogging you remember. Along with keeping your keywords sporadically threaded throughout the content so your blog keeps high rankings.
Don't Be A Comment Horder
When something has been wonderfully written and it draws your immediate attention, by all means leave a comment! Those who continually troll posts and say things like 'nice post' or 'good job' aren't adding value to your conversation, and those who leave the comments aren't adding any value to their vocabulary by wasting comment space. Keep your comments on topic, succinctly written to keep dialogue moving along, and work towards making connections with blogs which truly interest you or could better your knowledge bases.
Hold The Condiments
Flashy themes and wonderfully placed social bookmark icons are good enough to spruce up your blog. Toss in popup windows, hovering sales ads or the 'pause pages' where an advertisement keeps you engaged for 10 seconds before reading the article, and you've got one hell of an unnecessary mess. Yes, we all want to make money on the side, but quit being obscenely obvious by popping windows or wasting valuable reader space with P90X ads because, quite frankly, your technology blog readers could care less about losing weight or looking sexy for their secretaries.
Copywriting Doesn't Mean 'Copy Writing'
There will never be shortages of English, Tagalog or Hindi words across the galaxy. When you have fresh ideas but little understanding of how to place them on Wordpress or Blogger, hire someone to handle that work for you. Copying literature from already posted sources isn't cool or innocent -- nor will doing so win readers any quicker. Making sure each line of verbiage belongs to your brain and nobody else's should be the proprietary interest of each blog owner. Should plagiarizing tempt you even slightly, tear down your blog and go back to flipping burgers as you simply aren't meant to write.
Stop Keyword Slamming
Another trick that cantankerous search engine babysitters will attempt to accomplish is slamming keywords or keyword phrases all over their content. In their feeble attempt at tricking professionally designed algorithms, these "search engine masters" will place keywords in places they believe will attract enough attention to grab the leading search result spot. Sorry, my misguided pirates, you'll never obtain these positions nor will you ever gain respect because Google is now wise to devious keyword plots. Keep your content clean, interlink blog posts and mention a few keywords and synonyms of these keywords and you'll rise to stardom without deviating from your intended readership growth goals.
Give Props
Simply put, never cite resources as your own. If you needed extra pieces of research for your writing piece, it's cool, everyone needs to look things up, hence the words "search 'engine." You can directly link to their content with an appreciative phrase before or after the link, or specify references at the bottom of your article -- just never forget who, what or where your resources came from because it's just good karma. In predicting content efficacy in 2020, I'm certain search engines will start showing more favor towards proper citations.
Keep A Policy of Honesty
Statements of an outlandish nature will never help your cause in obtaining authority status for your niche blog. People can usually sniff out BS pretty easily online, especially when claims are made which never can be proven. There comes the perfect time for playful candor, yet separating play from complete fallacy should be done with a thick line. Being completely honest and stating only facts you know, or can easily prove, will prevent people from considering your entire blog a ball-faced lie. How can one prove their honesty? You could simply clench your fists and punch your computer screen -- or try the conventional manner which is speaking in tones which may only be seen yet audibly understood as sincere.
Welcome Your Critics
There's nothing unhealthy about constructive criticism, nor is there anything bad about debating articles or topics written on your blog. While it may appear you're being attacked, the intelligent blogger with years of writing experience will tell you that people who open up that proverbial can of content whoop-ass simply want your content to dig deeper than you already have. Accept both positive and negative critiques on your writing style, choice of words and the whole enchilada. Greet the undereducated writer with open arms as an opportunity to teach instead of teeing off on their commentary with harsh or hateful words. The more positive you remain under fire, the faster your small fires will extinguish for good.
Don't Recant On Promises
Should your readers receive promises for being good little blog soldiers. You may entertain giving something away. You may also promise to extend the article into Parts 2-10. Don't tell your readers positive things will happen and suddenly balk on those promises. Delivering the goods you say you'll provide will not only keep your credibility high, it will continue growing your reader base through positive word of mouth. Fail to deliver on promises, and you'll probably have nothing left of your blog following.
Stop Begging For "Likes"
People will love your content and even comment on your words should they find them interesting. Putting up hapless statements of "Like Us" everywhere makes your blog seem desperate for social media love when, in fact, your content doesn't deserve the attention you're begging for. Place your normal social media sharing buttons in obvious-yet-not-overbearing areas and allow people to positively rate or negatively trash your blog as seen fit. The less desperate you sound, the more people would be inclined to like your style and want to share your goods with friends, family or colleagues.
Wrapping Up
Many blog writers, readers and social butterflies who wander by numerous blogs love reading content, comments and tips from real people who've proven they're able to solve real problems -- or at least effectively communicate about them. Once you've completely written content which helps society and given yourself completely to your cause, the content you've produced and the comments which are left will be indicative of this effort. On the flip side, once readers can productively contribute to blogs through relevant commentary, the writer and his blog can grow with their assistance.