This week’s Listography is asking us to share our top 5 tips for bloggers, so here’s mine.
Write for yourself, and not for anyone else
Don’t start thinking about what you ‘should’ be writing, what people are going to think, or write controversial topics just to create more visits to your blog.
If you’re writing about something you feel passionate about, or a subject you feel familiar and comfortable with, the words will flow easier.
I know I always write best when it’s coming from the heart.
Join Twitter
Twitter is GREAT for bloggers. I did have Twitter before I started blogging, but was one of those who had never tweeted and didn’t even know what I was supposed to be doing on there.
Then I started a blog, so for want of something to follow as opposed to the odd random celebrity, I decided to follow a few people with blogs themselves so I had something to read and do on there.
This opened up a whole new world on Twitter and introduced me to the massive blogosphere out there that until then, I had absolutely no idea existed.
People with interesting blogs, as well as a whole new audience for your writing, to name but a few perks.
You can also follow writing peeps who tweet how to improve your writing, and exercises etc.
Now you can hardly drag me off Twitter!
Visit other blogs and comment
Let people know that you are out ‘there.’ Don’t just randomly comment if you have nothing to say, but if you see a post you can identify with, or can add a witty comment or something to, do it.
People like to see comments, it shows that people are reading your blog and enjoying what they have read.
Who knows, they might even visit yours in return…. 
Try and reply to people leaving comments on your blog
OK, I know it’s not possible to reply to EVERYONE, especially if there are a lot of comments.
However, it creates more of a sense of conversation and friendliness if you reply to people who have taken time out to comment.
Far better than just ignoring all the comments. That’ll just create a sense of tumbleweed blowing across the screen to the commenter, and they’ll feel like they’re talking to themselves in cyberspace – try and make them feel welcome.
Spell check, people!
Yes, I’m sorry. I’m one of those people with a stick up their bum when it comes to spelling. There is nothing that is going to turn me off your blog more than a badly written post littered with spelling mistakes.
I’m likely to read about 2 lines and click off your site and go find someone with a blog that is nicely written.
I know not everyone finds spelling easy, but in the age of spell check, it’s been made a lot easier. A well written blog is far more likely to be seen in a positive light and attract more people than one with grammatical errors and shoddy spelling.
So, that’s my Top 5 tips for bloggers. To see more tips, visit http://katetakes5.blogspot.com/ to see what other bloggers think.
We sort of share number one I think. Number 4 I can learn from as after a bad experience with Disqus I have neglected this a bit. Great tips.
Thanks! It’s good to read other people’s tips as well and learn new things, so I’ll be heading over to all the other posts soon to see what others have to say…
I do agree with you about spelling. I was put off following someone on Twitter because her profile was misspelled (or is it misspellt?!). The importance of replying to comments is also a useful tip, but the problem is Blogger makes no provision for that.
Oh good, not just me who appreciates good spelling!
I just think it looks so sloppy and doesn’t give a good impression. You could be making the best point ever, but nobody is going to notice if the spelling is poor……
Some great tips here, especially about commenting on others blogs.
With wordpress, is there anyway to know if someones replied to your comment without subscribing to all of the comments?
As far as I am aware, you have to subscribe to the comments to see any replies. If I’m wrong though and there is a way, please feel free to correct me.
Oooh yes, spelling & grammar. Very important (although I have to admit my blog is very much written the way I speak & think rather than in a journalistic way – but it should be grammatically correct!).
I was like you with twitter pre-blogging. I do need to get more out of it though – even a once a day look at it takes too much time at the moment. All my plans and no time to do it in.
Thanks for this post, feel I need all the help I can get!
I was once given “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” by a colleague for Christmas- tip received loud and clear!!
I’ve not read that yet, but I should as I’m sure I’d love it and be nodding along in agreement as I read!
Love number on especially.
And on number 5…
I muss read my posts ouy lowd.
I muss read my posts out loud
I must read my posts out loud…before I publish them.
All good advice. My sister is forever email saying ‘you have a typo here’ , or ‘provincialism is spelled with a c not an s’ etc etc. I definitely need to try harder on that one!
I agree with commenting! I try to comment on every blog I visit.
You are absolutely right about commenting, but it’s soooo (sic! – not a spelling mistake!) hard to find the time, sometimes. When I first started blogging and contributed to Silent Sunday, I would spend three hours on a Sunday commenting on every post. My wife thought I’d totally lost the plot and it actually caused rows. She’d become a Blog Widow!
Good tips… I think interaction is the key
Yep bad spelling is big turn off, the occasional mistake is find but consistent issues is just painful
Your tumbleweed analogy reminds me of something I’ve read before about the blogs of people who ignore comments being like roach motels: comments go in but they never come out.
I’m with you on Number 5, but more so with some of the bigger blogs where the blogger is supposed to be an expert on something. It just looks so bad if there are typos and obvious grammatical stuff-ups. It takes away from what they’re saying somewhat.
These are really great tips!! I love the one about Twitter. I signed up, ignored it then decided to get involved and blog life changed forever as a result!!