Tips for New Bloggers: How To Build and Maintain Momentum On A New Blog

User-friendly blogging platforms have made it easier than ever to start your own blog. Platforms such as Blogger, WordPress, and Movable Type have streamlined the process to where you can have your own blog within minutes. But while creating your personal blog can be a breeze, the real challenge lies in maintaining and growing your blog.

Here are some simple guidelines to keep in mind so you won’t burn out as a new blogger:

Write what you know and love

This may seem common sense, but bloggers who post content that they’re familiar with are much more likely to succeed than those who try to write outside their comfort zone. If you love punk rock, blog about it—don’t try to post content on the contemporary classical music scene. Above all write what feels comfortable and natural to you. Don’t worry if your topic is niche—some of the most [easyazon-link asin=”B004LP2GUM”]popular blogs went viral[/easyazon-link] because of their individuality. If you can’t think of a distinct topic, just write about relevant topics that interest you. Over time you’ll notice a theme naturally develop through your posting history.

Tag your content

One of the easiest ways to increase traffic on a new blog is to tag your posts to attract your desired readership. If you’re blogging about a tasty ragu pasta recipe you want to share, assign general tags like “food” “pasta” and “recipes” to the post as well as more descriptive tags like “tasty” or “delicious.” These tags give readers on the blogging platform looking for a new pasta recipe a much greater chance at finding your post. They also allow you to conveniently categorize your content for your own reference. Alternately, if you’re looking for inspiration, search for tags that interest you so you can connect to bloggers with similar interests.

Keep it short and sweet

You might notice that popular blogs are loaded with content, but that content is delivered in bite-sized posts that try to share as much information as possible in a small space. There’s no secret about this method: the shorter and meatier your post is, the more likely it is that readers will return to your blog to get their quick dose of your writing. Platforms like Tumblr make these brief posts much easier, encouraging you to share a quick video or a brief inspirational quote. Most readers won’t spare the time to read more than a few sentences, so be smart about what you post.

This is a guest post by Susan Wells. Susan is from free insurance quotes, she writes on topics including health/car/life insurance, mortgage, real estate.