Once upon a time.. Okay that might be the way to start a fairy tale but not necessarily how to start a blog but then again... If you really want to make a punch in the blogosphere start your blog with something that tells people who you are. I don't mean that you need to tell us how tall you are and the like but write in such as way that we get to see a piece of you. That is what captures a reader.
If you are a humorous person and you don't really read much of Lord Byron etc. than don't try to write that way. It will come off fake and forced and no one will want to read anymore. Be natural and be yourself. This is the beauty of blogging; no one is watching over your shoulder or standing in the corner tapping their shoe for you to hurry up (tell your kids to go play somewhere else!) so write what you feel, what you know, what you want to know etc. Go ahead, now start a blog!
If you need help in the actual and physical starting of a blog you might want to check with a blog hosting service. Mandarin Design has a bunch of examples of other people's blogs that you can view to get examples of what others have done with their blogs. They suggest Google's Blogger.com. Corporate Blogging.info lists the points that would be handy for businesses to consider when starting their own blog. Go to their website to read the full version, I have just listed the steps below.
- Start using RSS for news, jobs or press releases.
- Thoroughly study what a blog is.
- Be specific with the purpose of your blog.
- Ask yourself, do you really need a blog?
- Ask yourself, do we have the resources?
- Co-ordinate with other communication channels.
- Who's the blogger?
- Make a decision on all aspects, features of blogs.
- Choose which tool to use.
- Create a blogging policy.
- Make sure the blogger(s) know blogging.
- Launch quietly.
- Start doing subtle PR.
- Success or failure? Decide on the future of your blog.
Look at what web content guru Gerry McGovern has to say about businesses and blogging:
Advantages
- The consumer and citizen become better informed about your company and this is good for the long-term health of our society and economy
- Blogs have the potential to help the organization develop stronger relationships and brand loyalty as they interact with the 'human face' of the blogs.
- Blogs, in an intranet environment, can be an excellent way of sharing knowledge.
- Blogs can be a positive way for getting immediate feedback and keeping your finger on the pulse, as your readers react to certain postings, suggest story ideas etc.
- Blogs can build the profile of the writer, showcasing the organization as having talent and expertise
The disadvantages of blogs for businesses:
- Most people don't have much interesting to say or are unable to write down their ideas in a compelling and clear manner
- I have often found that the people who have most time to write have the least to say and those with the most to say have the least amount of time!
- Blogs are easy to start and hard to maintain. Blogs might be cheap but expensive in the amount of time they eat up. Blogs then don't get updated, thus damaging rather than enhancing the reputation of the organization.
- Organizations are not democracies. The Web makes many organizations look like disorganizations, with multiple tones and opinions. Consumers like the businesses they work with to be somewhat coherent.
These points, although they are written for businesses, can also apply to anyone else considering starting a blog. Do you have the time to keep it up? Do you have something to say? Consider these things before you begin blogging.