With so many blogs already out there on the Internet, you might wonder if there really is a need for one more. Practically everyone knows how to create a blog nowadays, and the range of topics is vast and virtually limitless. Even within a seemingly narrow niche, there are probably dozens of blogs with the same basic focus and approach.
So why should you start one up yourself?
Or more importantly, how to make a blog stand out of the crowd and offer something different from the many other blogs already online.
Like all forms of personal expression–which blog sites most certainly can be–there is nothing to stop you from putting your own personal spin on things…or at least there shouldn't be. What makes a blog successful is your ability to provide value to your readers and connect with them in a unique and memorable way.
Imagine if no one ever made any new music or films anymore just because “its all been done before”. No matter how saturated your niche may be, there is always room for another fresh outlook, another novel approach, or a bold new voice.
Make a Blog That Stands Out
Of course for marketing purposes, it wouldn't be a good idea to start your blog in a niche already crowded with similar blogs. We’re going to leave the decision on what a good or bad niche is to other articles, and instead focus on what will make a particular blog stand out from a crowd of competitors. Here are a few tips on how to start a blog that will stand out amongst the crowd.
Decide on an writing angle for your blog
You will need to decide how to make a blog post on a broad overall topic from which to base all your content. You can't simply write anything that comes to mind…well you can, but forget about how to blog while attracting any kind of consistent reader base. If you want to become an authority and create your blog so that people will follow it religiously, you will have to decide on a niche and come up with a consistent approach to your writing and content. This will provide your readers with something they can latch onto, and will help your blog grow into an active and vibrant platform for whatever your goals are.
Find your voice with your blog
A blog doesn't have to be merely a bulletin board, and in fact it shouldn't be. Far too many blogs serve little purpose other than to be a sounding board or a billboard, which really sells short its vast potential. Internet audiences will be attracted to someone they can put a human face to and someone they can trust, and the best way to establish that is by letting your personality shine through. Whether you adopt an informal, neighborly tone or you keep things strictly business, you will have to develop a consistent approach. And there is no better way to that than by writing in your own “voice”.
Add Interactive Elements and Multimedia to Your Blog Posts
Grab the attention of your readers by embedding YouTube videos, attractive images, podcast interviews, SlideShare presentations, Infographics and other types of multimedia to your blog posts. If you don't have your own YouTube account or podcast, keep in mind that it's ok to find content from others to embed inside your post. Use a plugin like SEOPressor or Zemanta to search for related content without leaving your WordPress dashboard. If you need help with this, here's a video from Ms. Ileane that shows you how to do this easily on a WordPress blog.
How To Embed YouTube Videos, Podcasts and other Multimedia on a WordPress Blog
Make a blog post command attention
Although you don’t want to come across as an infomercial (many blogs do), you do want to be able to attract the attention of your audience. There are many ways to do this tastefully without resorting to cheap tactics that will likely turn off the more savvy Internet audiences. A particularly effective way to do this is by coming up with a compelling title. You don’t necessarily have to come up with an overtly descriptive title unless the post calls for it.
Some of the most effective titles are short, witty phrases or even puns that allude to the content of the blog in some way. You probably wouldn't want to be too obscure, but you might be surprised at what you can get away with sometimes. If you do decide to go with a more creative title however, you have to make sure that the audience gets a payoff in the content.
Utilize the power of social media
Like most bloggers, your blog is probably only one aspect of your online persona. If you are already have an account with the popular social media services, you actually have a pretty potent marketing tool for your blog right at your fingertips. Your accounts on social media services such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn can be used for everything from discussing certain specific blog posts to announcing new ones, and they may even be used to attract more people to your blog. If you are wondering how to promote your blog on social media, both Facebook and Twitter offer affordable options for doing so effectively.
How to blog while keeping it fresh
With all the content that you will be churning out, you will inevitably come across days when there seems to be nothing to write about. Don’t fret; this happens to the best of bloggers. But you do have to come up with how to blog with a fresh, new content frequently, so try to keep updated on the latest developments in your niche.
You could even repost content from other people (with their permission and suitably credited, of course) and add on your own spin. You may also invite other bloggers to provide guest posts. These techniques will help maintain reader interest and give them something to look forward to even if you don’t feel like coming up with your own original content for a few days.
Your Blog Has Something Unique
Remember that your blog has one thing that is totally unique and that is YOU! Let your personality shine with each blog post and you will make a lasting impression on your readers and your blog will definitely stand out amongst a sea of copycat blogs.