I really enjoy blogging. And over the last year as I’ve started to intentionally blog, I’ve learned a lot. So last night when a friend asked me a question about my hosting site, I thought I’d pass along my wisdom {I use that term very lightly} on becoming a blogger

1. Pick a good hosting site – I originally started with Blogger, but moved over to WordPress at the beginning of 2009. I’ve loved WP. The layout is easy, leaving comments/pingbacks are easy. The only draw back compared to Blogger, it’s not as easy to find “cute” templates. Maybe I’m not looking in the right spots, but I’ve never had much luck finding cute, free, page themes.

2. Pick a topic – I can’t say much about this, since I’ve realized I don’t have just one topic. But, if you start with a topic {baking, savings, mothering, etc}, stick with it. Explore the topic and get creative.

3. Be creative – Blogging is just like any other creative outlet, you can have good posts and bad posts. But when you’re creative and unique, those are the ones that are the best. Just be yourself and people will enjoy it.

4. Blog. A lot – If you blog it, they will come. It’s true. Once I really started blogging {several times a week}, my readership shot up. People will read if you write. Especially if you’re creative.

5. Tweet – Unsure of Twitter? Think it’s just another Facebook? Think again. Twitter is an amazing resource for bloggers. It hooks you up with other bloggers, it links you with an entire blogging world facebook just doesn’t offer. And just like writing a post, if you tweet it, they will come.

6. Use pictures – Pictures are worth a thousand words. And if you use the right picture with the post it’s like adding peanut butter to chocolate. You just made things that much sweeter.

7. Be personal – Add a picture of yourself. Write an “About Me” page. Be personal when you write, allowing your readers to know the real you. You don’t have to be detailed and overly open, but give your readers an idea of who you are so they can feel like they know you.

8. Read other blogs – Follow bloggers who are similar to you. Follow bloggers who make you laugh. Follow bloggers you enjoy. You’ll learn a lot about them, but you’ll also learn a lot about blogging.

9. Leave comments – I can’t stress this enough – people like comments. Plain and simple. And a lot of people will start reading your blog just because you left them a comment. I don’t always do the greatest job of leaving comments, because sometimes life gets too busy and I don’t get to read as many blogs. But when I do, I always comment. So when in doubt, leave a comment. If for no other reason than to make that bloggers day.

10. Enjoy it – I once had a friend say “I want to blog, I just don’t like writing”. It made me laugh, because blogging shouldn’t be one more than you have to do, it should be something you want to do. Write because you enjoy it, not because you think you need to.

What are some tips you have for blogging? Anything “big” that you’ve learned since starting?

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