Special offer

My Christmas Gift to Sideline Active Rain wanna be Bloggers: 5 Principles to Creating an Effective Blog Post

Reblogger Gwynn Carpenter
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin)

 

Helping others write effective blog posts is my Christmas gift to all those hundreds or thousands of Active Rain members still sitting on the sidelines just waiting .... wait no more!

I followed a path to get to Brad Andersohn aka "ActiveBrad" great post written 4 years ago....that path started with Debe Maxwell current post:

2011 December Blogging Challenge - A Little Help From a Friend (for Newbies)

So open your gift before Christmas and join the celebrating we all do when we share our thoughts with others!

Original content by Brad Andersohn Non-Licensed

 


Before you post on your Blog, here's five principles that may help you get more views, readers and comments, and (no promises), featured on Active Rain!

First off, put some thought and effort into your posts.  There are so many things you can write about IE: your business, events, personal experiences, travel, technology, other members, the Market etc.

If you invest a small amount of time "thinking" about your post and your readers, their perceptions and what you are trying to get across, the better your posts will be. 

Don't knock yourself out, and remember, you'll never know what kind of response you'll get until you just "Go For It!"  This is how you will learn, grow, and improve your Blogging Skills.


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  1.  This is very important!  Look at it like the HEADLINES of your newspaper, or like the subject line of your email,  it will determine if your readers are going to open it and read it or not.  Coming up with a good title, is often times over-looked and under-estimated.  Put some time into creating a title that "GRABS" the readers attention, but is also on course with your subject!  If readers like your title, they will at least breeze through your post. 

  2.  Make sure you DON'T create posts that are 1000 or more words, all clumped together on one page!  Very few will read it!  Your post needs to be pleasing to the eye, and easy to read!  Follow this rule of thumb (in my humble opinion),  never have more than 3-5 lines of text before you have a paragraph break.  I know this isn't what we learned in our grammar school English class, but for Blogging, it 's acceptable.

  3.  It's unlikely that you'll get any value from your posts that are only 25 words or less.  You need to be able to engage your readers without teasing them in a short post, or boring them with a long one.  You'll find your way, it does take time.  Understand that other readers, viewers and members can tell a lot about you by your posts.  Your intelligence, your intentions, and your personality.  I would also use the spell-check on AR, we all make typos, but there's a tool here to help you minimize them in your posts. 

  4.  This is essential in creating a good post and more importantly, creating returning viewers.  This is more important than points, comments, or any other compulsive things that may cause you to Blog on Active Rain.  Content must look, feel, and flow smoothly, but also take your readers to a final ultimatum.  They'll either just read it, or read it and comment.  Ultimately, you want them to also subscribe to your Blog and add you as an associate!!   


  5.  These are items to help enhance the view and attract-ability to your post.  Photos and graphics tend to set a mood and often times can engage a reader even more.  BE CAREFUL, you don't want to over do it here.  Also the size of your photos and graphics should be proportionate to your text and content.  Use Links to other members, topic related materials, and any other useful articles or websites to increase your "Exchange In Value" on your post.  Same with bolding, underlining and italicizing text, important, but use in moderation. 

              ********************************************************************************

TIP:  Make your profile page your "BEST POST OF ALL!"  When someone reads one of your post for the first time, often they will go to your profile page to read and learn a little more about you.  I suggest making it like a website!  Detailed information, links, testimonies, useful bookmarks, and photos or multimedia.  You want to have "stickiness" on your profile, just as you would your web-page.  Make it better than a webpage.

In closing, Blog safely, wisely, and often, but more importantly, BE REAL, follow your instincts and intuitions, and maximize your potential and possibilities here!  :-))

All Content Copyright Protected © 2007       

 

 

          

 

Tutorials | Training | Mobile | Widgets


"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"


ActiveRain HELP Browser Toolbar


Posted by

**************************************************************************

Home and Hearth Realty, Inc.

**************************************************************************

 

Gwynn Teal Carpenter ... the Realtor with an Austin Attitude - laid back with professional results!

Making real estate fun and exciting in Austin, Texas and the surrounding area. Home and Hearth Realty helps you find your way in the real estate maze. We talk with you in a relaxed informal manner and guide you through the process whether you are selling your home or purchasing one. We work for you, and explain everything in terms you can understand.

Check out my real estate philosophy - www.homeandhearthrealty.com

Austin Board of Realtors and San Antonio Board of Realtors

Questions about real estate, Austin Texas, relocation or anything else will be gladly answered if you shoot me an email to: 

gwynn@homeandhearthrealty.com

Tamara Schuster
Naperville Glen Ellyn Lisle Plainfield Wheaton Illinois - Naperville, IL
Realtor Broker - Naperville

This article is very informing and these tips are so helpful to share.  I will pass it along to to others who are just starting blogging.

Thank you

Dec 11, 2011 03:32 AM
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

Very good tips, word count is really important. You don't want one so long that no one is going to sit there and read it but not so small that it really doesnt get an effective point across.

Dec 11, 2011 03:33 AM
Gwynn Carpenter
Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin) - Austin, TX
: Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191

Tamara:  So you are into 're-gifting" how cool!  Thanks for helping me pass out the Christmas gifts.

Bud and Beth:  I hesitate to read long winded post....is that how a person is in real life?  Can't get a word in edgewise as they are always talking??

Dec 11, 2011 03:36 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Gwnn, Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips, and I am glad you posted it into our Newbies Group too. Want to encourage more New Members to get going with their blogging.

Dec 17, 2011 02:48 PM
Gwynn Carpenter
Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin) - Austin, TX
: Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191

Jerry:  It was such a well written post that I thought all members (especially newbies) could benefit from hearing these tips again.

Dec 18, 2011 10:32 AM