10 things I have learned from blogging

Well, I am half way through the month long challenge of blogging every day!!!  YIPPIE!!!
It's been a challenge for me this year, as I feel way busier now than I was last May when I first completed the challenge.

However, as I learned in my favorite blog post by the Blogathon coach, Michelle Rafter, it is better to have a short and sweet 250-350 word post, with bullet points for user friendliness.

So, I am taking her advice.  It's important to listen to your coach.  You will always improve.

So without further ado, here are 10 things I have learned from the Blogathon.

1) Links to other posts in your blog are important!  They keep readers hanging out longer on your blog.

2) Images can drive a ton of traffic to your blog.  Use them ALWAYS!!!  WE live in a browsing culture and  a strong image can be the deciding factor whether someone is going to stop and read, or cruise right by.

3) Find your niche and stick to it. I definitely struggle with this one.  It's hard to be a creative writer and do this.  Discipline is the key.

4) There are a LOT of writers out there.  If you visit other people's blogs and leave comments, then they will do the same.  I guarantee it!

5) You can schedule your posts to go live in the future, which really helps if you need to go on vacation, or take a few days off in a row.

6) Writing at the last minute is not good.   Setting a schedule is important and following through with it is not easy, but nothing that comes easy is worth much anyway.  Try hard to stay focused on posting at the same time every day.

7) Posting at the same time every day will increase your hits. Readers can count on you to publish consistently and that alone can establish accountability with an audience.

8) Look at your most popular posts and determine what makes them so popular.  Then write more like them.  And make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

9) Be more conversational.  It's way more fun and exciting to read a post that feels like the writer wrote it with you (the reader) in mind.  Posts that sound preachy will be left to the sleeping congregation.  Write with more PIZZOW!

10) Creativity is a gift. Even though it's not always appropriate, telling your story and interpretation of things can help a reader relate to the subject at hand, and moreso to you.  Build a relationship with the reader.   Compassion goes far.