Just like dating, there are rules we must follow when blogging in order to establish the foundation for a solid relationship. At Active Website, we work with Active Enterprise Network Members to ensure they’re getting the most out of their blogging experience. Most people go on a first date with certain expectations – the same is true for blog readers. By focusing on a few simple rules, Network Members can reach their followers in a way that will fill the needs of both parties – hopefully creating a lasting union. This post focuses on guidelines to follow when blogging as they relate to dating. For more information on how to write an effective blog, check out this week’s Active Community video presentation as well.

1. Only date one person at a time.

While there are definitely two schools of thought here, there is no denying that playing the field can lead to complications and get you in trouble. We need to remember this for our blogs as well. Your blog article should be narrowed and focused on one idea. People have short attention spans and won’t take the time to read a multi-page blog. If you focus on one topic, you’ll be able to go into more detail without losing their interest. For example, instead of focusing on the broad term real estate technology, go into detail on one specific aspect of it. It should be more about quality, not quantity. Read tip No. 5 for other ways to approach this.

2. First impressions are important.

When going on a date, people typically want to put their best foot forward. The same should be true for your blog. Research states that you only have 30 seconds to make a good impression. After that, people have already generated an opinion of you. So how do we create a good first impression? You reel them in with an intriguing title. The title is the first thing readers see, so you need to grab their attention right away. If you don’t, you’ll get stuck with the bill when your date sneaks out the back door before dinner was even served.

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3. Dress Appropriately.

Adding to tip No. 2, remember that your look says a lot about you. Your blog’s image has a lot of impact when it comes to engaging your reader. People don’t spend a lot of time reading through blogs, so you don’t want to muddy it up with a lot of text. Instead, find ways to break it up. Include section headers, graphs, images and pulled quotes to guide your readers through the blog. People are very visually oriented, so if you don’t have something to keep their attention, their minds will start to wander. And if they’re not engaged, they won’t bother reading your blog from start to finish.

4. Good Communication is Important.

Not only does your look say a lot about you, but what you say does too (shocking, I know). You want to find ways to communicate effectively, otherwise there is no point in blogging in the first place. You need to understand that this is a great avenue for establishing a voice. By creating unique content, including links and utilizing your top keywords, you’re going to become more desirable to search engines – setting the stage for a second date.

5. Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to focus on only one topic per blog post. Just as you wouldn’t spill your entire life story on a first date, the same holds true for your blog. Instead, take your time and tell your story over a series of blog posts. This gives readers a reason to come back for more, which leads us into our last and final tip.

6. Be Patient and Don’t Rush the Relationship.

Asking someone to marry you on the first date or picking baby names over dinner is a sure fire way to end the night alone. You need to be patient and nurture the relationship before you jump into things. For your blog, don’t expect to gain a huge following right way. It’s more important that you have quality followers than quantity. Instead, use the time to find ways to market yourself to the people who are most likely to benefit from what you have to say. You’ll have much more of an impact if you take your time. Not to mention, research says that the more time you take to build a quality relationship, the more likely your chances of staying together.

Related Posts:

Active Community: How to Write an Effective Blog

The Importance of Telling a Story

By Amanda Stephan

blog.activewebsite.com