Do you know what you’re doing when you’re blogging? Ever wonder if all that time and effort is worth it? You have things to say. Share. Express. But you’re not sure if anyone’s listening?

 

When I first started blogging, I had no idea what I was doing. I heard that blogging was The Way to develop a sturdy online presence and convert blog readers into book buyers.

 

I’ve been writing professionally since the 1980s. And yes, blogging is writing. But it’s a specific kind of writing.

 

For one thing, no one has the time or the patience to plow through the blogging equivalent of War and Peace. You only have a few seconds to grab a reader’s attention. And keep them reading.

 

So, your content can’t be just good. It has to be great. But what qualifies as great blogging content?

 

Figuring It Out

It took me a long time to figure this out. I’ve launched half a dozen blogs on all kinds of topics over the years. No matter how much time I put in perfecting a Brilliant Blog Post, every blog failed spectacularly. One right after another.

 

I eventually scrapped all of them. Except this one. (I cringe to think of some of those early blogs. Don’t tell anyone, okay?)

 

Throwing in the Towel?

I was just about ready to throw in the towel on this blog, too. It didn’t seem worth the effort. Why spend hours and hours crafting The Perfect Blog Post if no one reads it?

 

Besides. I don’t have the kind of job or schedule to be able to spend all day, every day at the keyboard.

But I’m a writer. I love books and read voraciously (383 titles in 2018). Reading and writing are who I am. What I do. So why was blogging such a drudge?

 

I was seriously considering closing down this blog ,too. I was ready to pull the plug last December. Then I took one last look. A hard look.

 

Blogging Must-Haves

And it dawned on me: I don’t know what the heck I’m doing.

Indeed. I didn’t know anything about some crucial blogging must-haves:

 

• Formatting
• Images
• Brief, succinct paragraphs
• Headings and headlines
• Niches
• Differences between print and online writing (it’s huge)

 

So, I took some courses about blogging. I also did a complete overhaul of my blog, revamping my entire site. (It’s still a work in progress. But I’m learning.)

 

Sound Familiar?

I asked some questions. Any of these sound familiar?

 

• Why is no one reading my blog?
• What constitutes “quality” content?
• Is there a reliable, affordable source for quality images?
• How can I boost my online presence without spending an arm and a leg?

 

 

I studied some blogging masters. What do they do and how do they do it? How did they get to be mega bloggers?

 

Join us on the next post for some of what I learned. See ya soon!

 

To be continued …