Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tips for Blogging

Blogging is a great tool for every journalist to use. The more you do it, the better you get and the better your blog is. It's a great way to showcase your writing and for potential employers to see what you've got.

There are some guidelines that I like to follow when I write a blog, and some that I don't that I probably should. Your blog becomes an online portfolio that EVERYONE can see. It won't go away if you delete it thanks to the wonderful tool of screen capturing and printing. Don't forget that your blog is probably one of the first things that comes up when someone Google's your name.

1. Keep it simple. If you write long winded, non-sensical sentences that turn into page long paragraphs, nobody will read it. People don't have a lot of time to read blogs so they usually just skim - and if it's too long it's on to the next.

2. Don't say anything you wouldn't have published. You risk your reputation if you say things that aren't professional.

3. Try and keep a style. If your blog posts are consistent in style (the one you write in normally) then potential employers can decide if they like you or not. It can be distracting if every post seems like its written by a different person.

4. Add photos and videos. If you want hits, this is a great way. People like visual stimulation so photos and videos are a great addition on any blog post (as long as it's relevant).

5. Follow other peoples' blogs and comment on them. This way people will see that you are getting engaged with them and go read what you have to say.

I'd love to know tips from other bloggers out there! I'll be adding to this list as I come up with more and get deeper into the world of blogging.

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