Deb Ng’s Live and Let Live Guide to Blogging

by Deborah Ng

Officially I tell the world I’ve been blogging for three years, since the birth of FWJ. The truth is, I’ve probably been doing it since 2000, only most of us didn’t call it blogging then.  I wrote a weekly or daily opinion piece for a couple of online portals and people commented and a small community ensued. I did this for a couple of businesses and also my own website, which at that time was only visited by family and friends. It was a hobby then and I had no clue it would lead to bigger and better things.

But I digress…

I’ve been writing and interacting online for more than 8 years and I learned a few things about myself and others in the process.  I’d like to share them with you today.

1. “Come down off your podium” -The most important bit of blogging advice came to me from my friend Liz Strauss when I attended her session at BlogWorldExpo last year. She said to “come down off your podium”. Very few writers and bloggers nowadays are truly experts. To sit up on a high horse and lecture people with “my way or the highway” speeches is a turn off. I like to share my knowledge and give you a chance to share yours. Instead of my standing on a lecturn pontificating, we learn together. I’ll never tell you I’m an expert on a topic but I’m always happy to share what I know.

2. You get more flies with honey than vinegar - If I have a second important bit of blogging advice it’s to be nice. Make no mistake, this blog would not be here if not for you. Oh sure, we still have a couple of thousand people visiting for the leads, but the truth is many of you come for the water cooler-like atmosphere. Why then would I respond in anger or delete the important opinions of my community members, even if they don’t agree with me? No, an abusive comment won’t make the cut but I will always be respectful to the regulars and newbies alike. Without you, there would be no me and I never forget it.  I did a little angry blogging back in my amateur days and all that got me was…well….nothing. No traffic, no revenue, no community. Thankfully I grew out of that phase.

3.  Your Blog is a Reflection of Who You Are - There are so many times I want to fly off the handle at people who disagree with me, take my words out of context, or write unfair things about me or this community. You don’t come here to read that though. If you wanted to read the insane ramblings of an angry blowhard, well I know of at least one blog to send you. I am not that person though. In the real world, I’m a productive member of my community, a person who helps out where I can, and enjoys the company of friends- just like online. My blog is a reflection of me and I won’t use the anonymity of the Internet as an excuse for rude behavior – or being someone I’m not.

4. Linkbait and Controversy only brings in short term traffic - I used to try for the shock value when blogging and then sit back and watch traffic flow. Two things generally happened:

• The traffic was very short lived
• People saw me as someone whose only claim to fame was stirring the pot

To bring in the good, regular traffic bloggers need to write good, sticky content. Content people can use and continue to use in days, months, even years to come. Do you really want to hear an annoying diatribe about another blogger or did you come here to learn about freelance writing and discuss these things with others? I’m thinking the latter.

5. I get by with a little help from my friends. I have a long list of people to thank for being who I am today. It’s one of the reasons I like to offer up some link love on the weekend. To me, blogging is a collective effort. I learn by reading other blogs. My topics and inspiration comes from those around me: the members of this community and some terrific bloggers and writers. I always link back to my inspiration so you can get a turn on too.

Though I was going to make this a five-pointer I think it’s important to remember in the blogosphere not everyone will agree. Disagreement isn’t a reason for a personal attack nor is it a reason to get one’s dander up. I’d even go as far as to say this isn’t the real world. I have a family and a life outside of blogging, they’re more important than what other people, who I don’t even know, think about me. Live and let live for a more enjoyable blogging experience. Come to the sunny side,  I promise, you’ll like it better here.

What have you learned about blogging that you’d like to share?

Image via stock.xchnge