Part 3 of my personal blogging tips. You can find the other parts of this series here:
1. Don’t assume your readers understand your abbreviations and acronyms. Explain them at least once in the post if you are going to use them.(ie MLM = Multi-Level Marketing). I have been guilty of this myself. I usually abbreviate books of the bible for verses I quote. I will no longer do that. Someone unfamiliar with the bible may have no idea what I’m referencing. Providing the explanation allows them an opportunity to look into it further. Attaching a link to an abbreviation would be great too and then explanation is not needed.
2. Allow your readers to share your content (especially on Facebook and Twitter). I just visited a blog with fantastic articles but there was no way to view any article as an individual page so in order to share what I’d found, I’d have to just share the entire site. Pass. You want your articles to be shared!
3. Interact with your readers by allowing comments. I still don’t really get this on so many blogs I visit. Why the limitation on being engaged with your readers? Are they only wanting to preach to us and so don’t want to hear our POV (POV = point of view)? Afraid folks will disagree? Anyone know why some do this?
4. Make the purpose of your blog distinct from the get-go. Can your readers tell? Is it just a bunch of stuff mish-mashed together or do you have a general idea for what your blog is all about and are you able to convey that to the reader as soon as they land on your home page?
5. Don’t hide your affiliation with companies. I just un-liked a blog fan page for this today. I don’t like the way it feels dishonest. I click a link that appears as though it is part of the bloggers site, only to find it takes me to a spammy site or one that is obviously one the blogger is being paid to direct you to. Just tell us! I want to know. Don’t dupe me into thinking it’s your content when it’s not. * It is now required by law to share your affiliations!
6. Do NOT steal photos or content from a blogger. You can and should be prosecuted for theft. This should go w/o saying but I actually saw another blogger this week say that she thought we should all be allowed to take anything we want if it is published online. Seriously? Eek. Looking for a lawsuit! At the very least, ASK if you can borrow part of the content, give proper credit, and link to them. Plagiarism online is still plagiarism.
What advice would you give other bloggers? If I’m doing something that drives you nuts, let me know. I will take it under advisement 🙂
Blessings,
You May Also Enjoy:
Blogging Tips
Blogging Tips – html codes and free photos for blogs Part 2
Don’t Be A Content Thief On Pinterest
Why I Joined The Contest For the Top 25 Faith Blogs
I can’t think of anything to add, but I appreciate your list. I know I have made (and will likely continue to make) blogging faux pas, but I pray they are received with grace, and that what I share touches someone, somewhere, for His glory.
Definitely 🙂
Thanks for the tips! The photo thing is the one I have wondered about. I get most of my photos from a free stock photo site, but occasionally I get from other sources. I always try to give the right credit, but I don’t know if I’ve always done that right. Especially for photos of celebrities (I try to get them off free photo share sites too) or products. I don’t do ads or affiliates or anything like that, so I don’t have to worry about that!
I don’t really know what the legal rules are but I’ve just never touched a photo from anyone’s site because I’m too afraid of being sued. Plus, it feels like theft. Would I be okay if someone lifted one of my photos? Nope so 🙂 Oh have you checked out pixosphere? FREE photos and they automatically put a small copyright on the bottom so the photographer gets the credit. That is where I get my photos from. Also family friendly. The photo above is from there.
This whole series has been so helpful to me! Thank you so much…I’m headed back to my blog to do some re-designing this next week. You covered sooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to try out your advice about the html signature here, we’ll see if I get it right…
MyBluePeacock
LOVE your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so glad you like it! Your hyperlink worked 🙂 Good job! 🙂 There are very few sites where your html won’t work. And there are some big bloggers who will tell you not to leave the link in your signature but most of my traffic comes from my doing this. Can’t wait to see your changes 🙂
Great post – I went back and read the series and got a lot of good stuff! I’m really glad you stopped by my blog and left a comment because your blog is moving to my favorites list!
I loved this post. I so agree with everything you have said here. For me I’m not so much into comment verification. I know lots of bloggers use it to prevent spam…but for me I just feel that it gives my readers more work to simply just leave a comment. If a particular comment rubs me the wrong way I delete.
Thanks for coming by.
I have to set it up this way Tami after someone said something repulsive to a woman who has been sexually abused. It very much differs for each site but the contents of this site are too sensitive and the women who come here don’t need to be further abused by some troll. Also, I don’t make anyone verify their comments. I hate comment verification. 🙂 I just have to approve the comment.
Do you use Creative Common licensing?
No, I was looking at that. do you?