This month our ActiveRain challenge is being hosted by Jeff Dowler, CRS and Brian England, titled "The ActiveRain Members Guide to Blogging Success - Do's and Don'ts". For this challenge they are asking us to share what members can do to improve their blogging and results, and what to avoid doing.
For the first part of their challenge my two suggestions and advice is very simple. First, simply blog about what you know. If ActiveRain members do this they will not only get the coveted gold stars (featured posts), but also several views & clicks, many followers without begging members to follow you, as well as an endless source of blog topics.
I am a Loan Originator, so I blogged about Mortgage Programs, and the Mortgage Process for many years, until 
compliance restrictions were put in place by the Lender I originate loans for in the last few years. This has made it difficult for me to do what I blogged about for many years here on ActiveRain. But most of the gold stars and views I have received, as well as most of the members who follow me, which are many, were because I blogged about what I know best, and do everyday. For me it was about Mortgage Programs, and the Mortgage Process. When we blog about what we know the rest just comes naturally, and we are never short on material to blog about.
I have been on ActiveRain from almost the very beginning, and every successful 
blogger on ActiveRain during that time has followed this simple advice I have just suggested. Whether they did it intentionally or unintentionally, everyone of them are or were successful on this site, because they share what they knew and did best. When we do this, it provides valuable information for others, and when others find value in what we write they will follow us, and so will the gold stars as well.
The second suggestion I would make for blogging success is to blog about 
the community we live in, and what is going on there. Such as blogs about why your community is a place others should consider living in, and what makes it special. Also blog about the events going on in your community. When you blog about your community make sure the name of the community is in the title, so it is easy for others to find your blogs about it. I have always been amazed about how many people who read my blogs about Middletown, CT, are not only from out of the state, but also how many live in Middletown, CT.
These are two very simple suggests, but if followed will earn you the coveted gold stars, several views & clicks, many followers, as well as an endless blog topics. My second blog for this challenge will be on what not to do. The things I consider big NO NO's.
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