At some point, we all realize that we have no clue. We are kids that don't even know how to play. Yet then we pick up the ball, bounce it a few times, and fairly soon we are making new friends.
I’m sure we are all experts in various things- one of my strengths is writing. I’ve written media copy, magazine articles, classified ads, government grants, a book or two, technical manuals, job postings, executive presentations, lines for stand-up comedy, intensive plot for theatre, and a few strange ideas on post-it notes.
When you are an expert in a specific field, you often have a lot of extra information in your head that just comes out naturally. Being an expert also gives you plenty of leeway from readers as they will typically give you the benefit of the doubt (unless you say something that sounds absolutely bizarre!).
As a blogger though, one of the things I like the most is that it gives me a chance to write about things that I may not be an expert in. It gives me a place to write down my thoughts and express my way of thinking on subjects that touch my interests.
So to help everyone with writing- here are some of my 'Ground Rules' for blogging.
Establish trust. Using a charismatic demeanour with your audience helps establish yourself. The mood of your writing has just as much to say as the content of your writing. Blog readers want to know both the personal and the professional aspects of a blog author.
Do your research. When writing about topics take the time to check your numbers. Even if you are writing about something you know like the back of your hand, take a moment to double-check your information. The more mistakes you make on factual data the more questions will arise in your readerships trust.
Try to be logical. Before writing an article in your blog, take a moment to relax and gather your thoughts. As you finish the article, take a moment to read through it and think of “A,B,C” structure. Ask yourself if your primary points are defined, and does each point in the article flow into the next?
Try to use examples. If you are an expert in a specific field, try to use an example. My article about online communities compares them to birthday parties. You can avoid using industry jargon by describing what you do with a comparative idea.
Be your own technical editor. One of the joys of blogging is that you can hit the ‘submit’ key without a second thought. Try to avoid doing that. Instead take a moment to read through your post and read it out loud. A lot of spelling and grammatical errors will reveal themselves when read out loud.
Use a picture. We all know pictures say a thousand words. Try to find a few images that can add a visual element to your writing. This element is especially important with longer articles.
Write to your audience. Remember who is reading your article. If industry jargon works for them, use it. If a bad joke makes sense, laugh out loud. Do not write technical papers for creative minds, and don’t be impersonal when blogging (its all about being personal!)
Be social. Make friends. No one likes a bully. Think of blogging like being the new kid in a park, play nice and respect people and pretty soon you'll find you have plenty of friends.
(P.S. That photo is my son two years ago!)
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Great tips !! I try and write blogs that reflect my personality. Usually no one reads them or responds to them. What the heck is a tag cloud and how do you use it ?