Not too long ago, blogging was little more than a personal pastime — a way for people to keep running accounts of their daily lives.
Those days are long gone. More than 6 million people now publish blogs on personal or corporate websites, with another 12 million posting regularly to social networks. Today’s bloggers are all about creating value and making lasting impacts on their readers. Their top priority: providing valuable information that positively influences readers.
Bloggers are also keen to solve real life problems. Even the most “ordinary” blogs offer actionable solutions applicable to everyday life. While many bloggers start a blog with the simple intention of sharing what they know, it’s amazing how many go on to create enormous value for their readers.
Passion drives many bloggers to get started. But passion alone isn’t enough to make a blog successful. If you’re intent on starting a well-read blog, you need to sharpen these personal qualities, and then set your blog on the right track to achieve desired results.
The essential ingredients of a successful blog include:
1. Focus
Focus your blog by choosing a niche that serves as your blog’s thematic core. Your niche helps you identify your audience and cater your content to its interests and needs. If you attempt to please everyone, you’re apt to please no one. Having a strong, consistent focus is critical for building a community of like-minded readers who know what to expect from you.
You can start a blog on productivity, beauty and lifestyle design, entertainment, yoga, food or travel – but you can’t combine them all. Instead, select a single topic that you’re very familiar with or passionate about. With enough time and frequent publishing, you can convince your readers that you’re an authority in that area.
2. Passion
Successful bloggers teach what they know – and what they’re learning. In other words, bloggers need to be passionate about their niches, blogs and audience groups. If you’re passionate about what you share, it will show in your writing, and your readers will connect better.
You need to show up to write – for love, not accolades. Even if nobody but you shows up to read your words, even if you never win an award or earn a dime, you need to give it your all and love what you’re doing. Writing for passion frees you from the pressure to perform, gives you greater artistic freedom and keeps you consistent.
3. Consistency
Successful bloggers are capable of creating valuable content on a regular basis. Consistency is a function of the time and motivation you’re able to devote. If you’re consistent enough, you’ll find it easier to build a community of readers, increase web traffic and maybe make some money with your blog.
4. Reliability
Successful bloggers are like teachers: Readers absorb their posts’ lessons and implement them in their daily lives.
Emulate these “teachers” by giving only credible information. Once they know you provide consistent, reliable information every time they visit, your readers will reward you with their trust. This is what sets apart successful bloggers like John Morrow and Seth Godin from others.
5. Patience
Successful blogs result from continuous, focused efforts. Just like starting a business, blogging isn’t a one-day game that promises instant gains.
But while you might not see results immediately, you definitely need to put in your best effort every time. Remember that entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Amin Khoury are living their dreams today because they patiently grew their business empires.
The hard truth is that blogging, like every other business, has its low moments. This could be as simple as writer’s block or a more serious personal problem, like going through a divorce or other personal crisis. Every time you find yourself in a difficult situation, remember that patience is what gets you out of it – and what keeps you blogging.
