Pot to Kettle: Finding Your Blogging Mojo
October
4
2008
Twice in as many days I’ve been asked for advice on how to start blogging. I came up with a great idea on the spot the first time and shamelessly used it again the second — all of which somehow reminded me that I too have a blog! That I’ve been neglecting!
I’ll probably write this up into something a little formal later on and maybe do something useful, but in the meantime I present Jay Goldman’s Patented Blog Writing Mojo Finder:
- Decide on your blog topic. Maybe you’re an expert at running companies or managing projects. Perhaps you have a penchant for fashion or dig the latest indie music releases from left-handed UK-based musicians.
- Make a list of 100 topics that people need to know about your topic. If you can’t get to 100, refactor your list by taking a bigger topic and breaking it into smaller ones. Series of posts are a great way to keep readers coming back.
- Take a look through your list, group related topics together into categories. Now you have the categories for your new blog and 100 days worth of content!
- Grab a free account at Wordpress.com and get started. No excuses.
- Set aside an hour a day for your new blog. I suggest you make it part of your routine — grab your morning coffee and sit right down or relax after dinner with a drink and your laptop. Spend the first half of your hour writing the next post on your list (no skipping!), then spend thirty minutes commenting on other people’s blogs to get your name out there.
See? Simple really. Total blog domination in five easy steps. Now if only I practiced it myself 
What’s your blogging secret? Do you have a routine?
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Wow, those are really good tips. I will definitely follow them
A modification of the first step: Pick a topic you think you know something about and/or have opinions on. Then start writing. Through the process of writing you will suss out that knowledge and/or opinions. Good blogs should show an evolution of thought / conversation over time as people continually expand on topics.
And I’m not sure about the 5th point. Too often people get blogging burn-out because it starts to become a chore they have to do. If you have something to write about that day, then write. If not, then don’t force it.
And (and?) I’m not convinced you need to spend a set amount of time commenting for the pure self-marketing perspective. People see through that. Again, if you have something to add to the conversation then comment other wise keep the ‘Me too!’ away. Comment trolling is pretty transparent these days.
Blogging, unless you are trying to do it professionally, is not something that could or should be forced.
Finally, step 6 should be ‘Have fun’.
I agree with Adam’s points — I should have specified that I’ve been asked for advice twice from people who would be blogging professionally rather than just for fun. Also, comment trolling is definitely a bad thing, but spending time each day reading other blogs and participating is well worthwhile and will build your readership.
Great tips Jay, especially #5. I think anyone who blogs and has a day job(s) knows what a challenge it is to find time to write. Reading the morning paper was once part of my daily routine but since cancelling my subscription I’m now firing up my netbook and while my coffee brews I check my newsfeeds, sites and other blogs. If I’m lucky i’ll post to my blog right away, or at least have some notes for input to a post i’ll make that evening.