Writing Original content for your blog is important nowadays. You can’t rehash the same old stuff from other blogs. This is a guest post by Tim Handorf, who writes on the topics of online colleges and is sharing with us today Tips On How to Write Original Blogs.
Part of maintaining a successful blog means writing fresh, original content on a regular basis. Just think about the blogs you follow regularly, and ask yourself why you follow that particular blog rather than other blogs of the same genre.
Chances are the reason you follow certain blogs is because something about the blogger’s unique style of writing appeals to you — it stands out from the crowd.
So why is it that many blogs you see these days only copy the ideas of another blogger?
One of the worst offenses in the blogging world is bloggers who make a regular habit of linking back to another blog, regurgitating what someone else’s blog already said, and calling it a day.
In my experience, blogs that claim to report on celebrity life are the worst culprits when it comes to copycat blogging.
While it is at times useful to re-route readers to a well-written point by another blogger, this should be the exception and not the rule.
Here we will explore some tips for writing original blog posts:
• Recognize When a Certain Topic is Overdone
When you are throwing around a blog idea in your head, do a little Google search and see how much has already been written about the topic.
If you see endless blogs exploring that same topic, choose a different idea or find a new slant on your original idea. For instance, if you manage a food blog and wanted to write about how to make a certain food and find that tons of blogs have done the same thing, consider writing the article on how to plate and present the dinner you were considering making, or maybe how you modified the recipe to your liking.
• If You Do Link to & Comment on Another Blog, Don’t Rehash
Nobody needs a play-by-play of a blog that’s already been written. Be sure to add your original thoughts about the blog you are linking to, or expound on how you have personally put the advice of the other blogger to good use.
• Choose Topics That Are Specific To You, & Your Expertise
The more you blog about your own personal experiences, the less you take the risk of sounding just like somebody else.
For instance, if you write a blog on the topic of personal finance, you could share how you personally got out of debt, quirky habits you put into practice to spend less money, the dynamics of how you and your spouse handle money, etc.
Remember: No one else lives in your shoes but you, and your readers want to hear how real individuals become successful in different aspects of life, and how they can apply that advice to themselves.
• Spend Time Writing Blogs
Unless you happen to be very lucky, good ideas don’t just come quickly out of thin air. If you begin to see that you are spending a mere 15-20 minutes on blogs and not putting any real effort into them, then you need to re-evaluate your blog strategy.
When you give yourself too little time to blog, you end up with the temptation to steal another blogger’s idea for a quick post on your own blog.
• Make A List
It’s a good idea for you to carry a notebook around with you when you are out and about so you can jot down blog ideas as they come to you and not forget about them. In fact, when you are about to write a blog, it is a good idea to write or type out a list of original angles you can take on old, worn-out ideas before you start blogging.
• Recruit Guest Posters
Some days the well of blog ideas will simply run dry. That’s why it’s important to build contacts and relationships with fellow bloggers (or expert friends) who can send a fresh guest post to you every now and then. Just be aware that guest posting is a two-way street; if you ask for someone to send you a blog, be prepared to write blogs for them when they need help.
The Bottom Line
Nobody wants to read blogs on topics that have already been written about a thousand times. Find a way to come up with more original content and stay away from the bad habit of linking to other people’s blogs only to write about same thing they did.
Share your comments on the importance of writing original blog content by writing on the great comment form below.
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Hmmm… really interesting thoughts. And I agre, ideas are very difficult to think of specially if you’re staring at your PC monitor on a Saturday because the news are the same and becomes saturated so you’re left with the choice of making yourelf a gallon of coffee for inspiration
That’s why to spend some of your time reading a daily newspaper and watching television is a must. With it, you can get a new informations everyday and get updated.
I really like the idea of googling blog posting.
Carrying a notebook is a splendid idea. A lot of ideas come in mind when you are out somewhere and its good that you can write them down.
Thanks.
I think plagiarism is one of the lowest things you can do online. Of course it happens all the time and many do not even realize it is happening. As others have mentioned it gets hard when you write on popular topics that keep getting regurgitated!
Article writing comes easy to some people and not so easy to others. They may be tempted to copy from someone else and hope that no one finds out. Unfortunately or fortunately, with today’s programs for checking originality, it is hard to do that.
Hey Tim, I think your MOST important tip you gave their: Spend time writing posts.
I think this is probably the number one reason why bloggers never really come forward with new content and especially quality ones. They tend to just hover around at other blogs and write about the same thing as there.
Although this is about quite normal at when you start out blogging it’s important to build your own unique style that will let your actulaly stand out from the croud – that will eventually let others backlin to your blog or site.
Indeed, with thousands of blogs posted or even millions everyday, it can be tricky though to not post the same thing again.
Remember WIIFM? It’s marketing jargon for What’s In It For Me? That’s what you should be keeping in mind. Your reader will read your post looking for what’s in it for them.
I think the best way to avoid Plagiarism is to write about something that you know, and if you dont know nothing about the topic it is best to research and study the topic.
I think plagiarism won’t be a problem at all if, right from the start, you have clean intentions. There is probably a one in a million chance that your style of writing and your choice of words will be similar to somebody else’s. So as long as you write down your own thoughts and utilize your own ideas and words, that won’t be a problem, The issue starts when you read other people’s work and then attempt to merely rephrase or reword them.