Five essential skills for blogging success
Six years ago T. Harv Eker held a personal development workshop in his basement for eight people. Today, Harv’s company (Peak Potentials Training) fills hotel ballrooms to capacity each time they host a training. How many of you would like to see your blog make a similar shift–from having few, infrequent readers to having thousands of avid readers?
You can make your transition in the same way Harv made his . . .
PRACTICE
Through practice you will develop and sharpen skills while making steady progress toward blogging success, whatever that looks like for you. Becoming competent in the five areas described below will support you in achieving your goals regardless of where you’re starting.
1. Writing prowess. Regardless of genre, niche, or purpose, all successful bloggers (whether success is measured by readership, acclaim, or net income) communicate clearly, articulately, and in a way that ensures that their readers get value from each post.
Resources for honing your writing craft include:
- The Copywriter’s Handbook, by Robert W. Bly
- Words that Sell, by Richard Bayan
- Copyblogger, Brian Clark’s blog
- Writing classes (at your community college or from private instructors)
- Voice coaching (if you prefer podcasting to writing your posts)
Practice, practice, practice. Until the practice becomes your practice.
~ Brad Brown
2. Design savvy. Though we’re told not to judge books by their covers, we all know that visual impressions are powerful. Successful blogs are well-designed blogs. Colors are thoughtfully used; elements are carefully arranged; white space is adequately apportioned; images are added for effect.
Resources for developing your artistic skills include:
- Art classes (at a community college, museum, or local studio)
- Books and articles about colors and color psychology
- DIY (do-it-yourself) and “makeover” TV shows
- Ad agency websites (get ideas from their creative work)
3. Programming know-how. Blogs are designed so that you don’t need to know HTML, CSS, PHP, or any other computer language. You’ll have greater flexibility, however, if
you’re able to modify the code behind your blog. Knowing code basics is equivalent to knowing how to change a flat tire or use jumper cables to start a car. Someone else can do these things for you, yet it’s easier, more efficient, and generally more economical to be self-reliant in this regard.
Resources for building your programming muscles include:
- Computer classes (community college continuing education courses are great for this)
- Books (series such as Dummies, Visual QuickStart Guides, etc.)
- Forums (learn from existing questions and answers or pose your own query)
Ask yourself the secret of your success. Listen to your answer, and practice it.
~ Richard Bach
4. Curious spirit. Blogging is ever evolving, so the best bloggers stay curious and keep
experimenting. Get started with your best ideas, then keep looking for ways to improve, innovate, or replicate, knowing that change is natural (and even fun!).
Resources for nurturing your curious spirit include:
- The blogosphere (check out the cool blogs and creativity that already abound)
- Blog conferences (Blog Business Summit, BlogHer Conference, Women Business & Blogging, Podcast & New Media Expo)
- Kids (especially those between the ages of 4 and 12 will show you what creative and curious looks like)
5. Magnetic vision. Most of us grew up being told some version of this aphorism “Work hard to get ahead.” Though successful bloggers do devote plenty of time and energy to blogging, holding a clear vision and focusing on what you want is your primary responsibility. Many people impede their progress
when they start fixating on the bumps they’re encountering rather than holding the vision of what they want in their minds. Identify your blogging goals, believe you can achieve them, envision yourself having reached them and feel joyful, elated, and proud of what you’ve done. Then, take inspired action and start making your journey from unrealized possibility to potential fulfilled.
Resources for learning how to become a magnet for the results you desire include:
- Law of Attraction, by Michael Losier
- Abraham-Hicks books, videos, workshops
- The Secret DVD (or the book)
- Dr. Michael Beckwith
Five areas on which to focus your energy. Five skill sets to refine. Five things each of us is capable of doing. Five actions that will hasten positive results. Five blogging practices that can lead you from mediocrity to mastery.
For every pass I caught in a game, I caught a thousand in practice.
~ Don Hutson
This post is part of ProBlogger, Darren Rowse’s Top 5 Group Writing Project.
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simple, neat, easy to absorb & complete.. I love your posting.. may be I can use it in my next post at my blog..
I’m in the contest too, here is my Top 5 post
Comment by Tuan Rumah — May 11, 2007 @ 11:04 am
I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks!
Comment by geoffrey philp — May 11, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Great post. Plus it is attractive to the eye and easy to read.
You gave me some good things to ponder. I came here via problogger.
Comment by Susan — May 11, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
This is a worthwhile addition to the Top Five project!
Comment by Lexi Sundell — May 11, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
I agree with you that it takes practice and the long term development of skills to become a successful blogger. Your list of essentials is impressive and very useful. Making lists of useful resources makes this article doubly useful. Well done.
Comment by Trevor — May 11, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
Favorites from Probloggers Top 5 Group Writing Project (Part 1)…
Part of participating in an event like Probloggers Top 5 - Group Writing Project is of course visiting, reading and when relevant commenting and linking to the other participants. With almost 900 entries it has taken me some time to get through them: T…
Trackback by Circular Communication — May 13, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Thanks Tuan, Geoffrey, Susan, Lexi, Trevor and Jan for your comments and link love! I enjoy Group Writing Projects for all the things I learn and because it helps me connect to new, wonderful folks who I might not have otherwise known.
Peace to each of you.
Comment by Shonnie — May 14, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Testing of tools on admin site…
Testing various tools in WordPress. Shonnie’s trackback is included in this post.
……
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Thanks for the link love Susan, Quais Waseeq Dot Com, Bengt, and Running Monkeys (I think that includes me since I’m still doing it after 19 years)! I really enjoy Group Writing Projects because you get exposed to so many great, creative, quirky, and thought-provoking ideas.
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