My first real post to this blog was just over a month ago, and from that moment on there has definitely been a lot that I have had to learn about blogging.  The following may not be earth shattering tips, and they may not help make your new blog the next big thing, but they are just a few things that I have learned along the way.  This post is more a reminder to me to keep these things in mind while I write than it is anything else.  If you can find some sort of useful information in it, great, if not, that is ok, because I would've written it any way.  Take a look at ten things I've learned in my first month of blogging.

1. Being a good blog writer also means being a good blog reader.

A big part of blogging is surfing the internet and reading what other people are talking about. Whether you are looking for inspiration, or taking a break from writing your next post that will make it to the front page of digg, reading blogs will help you write a better post

2. Blog because you enjoy it, not to have lots of traffic and ad revenue.

The main purpose of your blog shouldn't be to make money or receive traffic. Blogging is something I do because I enjoy it, I also enjoy web design, and writing. I'm doing something that I enjoy doing already, any additional attention I may receive is just a bonus

3. Blogging makes you respect other bloggers more.

There are a ton of bad blogs out there, but on the other hand there are many people who have done it right. When you see the work that goes into writing a good post or maintaining a blog, it makes you respect those that have done it right more.

4. If you see a good post on another blog, share it. 

Since reading is a big part of writing a blog, you are bound to come across something that you wish you would have written your self. If you think a post is that good, why not share it with your readers, I'm sure they would appreciate you sharing a quality read.

5. Don't be afraid to take a break, no point forcing out a bad post. 

If the creative juices aren't flowing, don't be afraid to take a break. There is an old saying that says "it's' better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt," and that rings just as true in blogging. I've taken the past week or so off from posting, because I've been trying to find my voice, and I think that is something I should find on my own, not by spewing bad posts all over the place

6. Don't be discouraged by the lack of comments.

Even the sites that get 130,000 visits a day and are updated by professional bloggers don't get that many comments.  If there are 20 comments on a blog with 130,000 visits, that is still less than .001% of the visitors leaving comments, translate that into your traffic. 

7. If you want to be successful, be committed. 

Blogging is tough work that requires a commitment to writing quality posts. Don't expect to just pound on your keyboard and have a well written, relevant, and quality post, magically appear on your blog. If you want something good, work for something good.

8. Be involved in the blogging community.

Going back to the reading other blogs and sharing good posts tips, it is important to be active on other blogs. If you see a good post, comment on it, trackback to an article you write about. If you develop a strong network, more traffic will be driven to your blog through links.

9. Do something else, besides blogging, on the internet sometimes.

If all you ever do is get online, write your posts, and leave, you are going to get burnt out really quick. It's hard to stay focused on one task all the time, and it is important to find something else to do on the internet so that you brain stays awake. Find a game to waste some time, listen to music, or watch some videos, just do something different.

10. It's alright to rehash an old idea, just do it in moderation.

If you are thinking about writing a post, but find that someone else has already done it, it's ok to talk about it again as long as you have a fresh perspective to share. Don't share information that is already out there, but if you do have something new to add into the mix, feel free to share it.

Hopefully there's something in this list that will help you when you go to write your next post, and if you have any tips that you might have learned along the way, share them with me in the comments.

Posted under: Blogging, Blogs