The Essential Code for Aspiring Bloggers

Trust me I don’t want to bore you. I know the best part about being a blogger is the practice being very casual whether you are blogging for the intent of making money or not. I do know though that blogging can get carried away and make the practice of blogging look corrupted, tarnished, or the thought of blogging being dead.

Dear current bloggers or bloggers that have already aspired to be one, use your ability, power, and voice to relate to these words and thoughts.

I asked the people liking us on Facebook earlier this week about this post being published to get any input added before so many others would add input.

David Risley has wrote a code of ethics for bloggers, but I’m going to take a different approach.

The approach here will center around the true definition of a blogger and having that definition not be corrupted by “bloggers”. We want anyone aspiring to be a blogger to know a few core values that make blogging fun, sometimes a profession, and respected.

These are going to be to the point as I could elaborate on some all day. The point is to get the point and the message.

• Stay true to your voice and passion. Many can strain away from this, especially when they see other the opportunity to make money. The money might come in the short term, but you’ll be “broke” for the long term.
• Offer transparency / authenticity. Think of blogging as a journal that others will want to read because they know your talents or skills related to whatever you’re blogging about.
• Experiment and have fun. Blogging is not meant to be tiresome even though you might get writer’s block. Just be careful not to get too carried away with your experimentation. No one likes a messy lab.
• Give your community a feel for your voice and style. Are you the one that says it how it is? Are you that calm writer? Or do you write deep, thorough posts?
• Be responsible for your creations. Tim O’Reilly called for a blogger code of conduct where we must be responsible “for your own words and the comments you allow on your blog”. You have the power to accept or decline.
• Connect with the community. If people know you don’t respond to any or some of the comments make them aware of that. But, make an effort to connect with people similar to your content along with people supporting you.
• Always improving and learning. The blogosphere is immense but only the good who improve and learn over time will stand out.
• Get the basics. This will include how to have a good designed blog, quality vs quantity, commenting that’s not spam, and getting a gravatar.
• Know what lies ahead. Many existing bloggers are bloggers no more because they were unaware of what they were getting themselves into. Especially if you plan on being a professional blogger.
• Visit ProBlogger, CopyBlogger, and Blogussion. These are essential places that offer a different focus and perspective for bloggers and content creators. I had to include us!

What Would You Add?

A blog is in many ways a continuing conversation.

I surely did not cover everything. The above “code” is developed overtime by and for bloggers so join the efforts to make blogging awesome in the times to come for any aspiring bloggers.

Photo by Jo Naylor