And your answer is?
By Ana Lorenzo
A web log or blog for short can be one of the most important tools of a freelance writer’s arsenal. A blog will immediately let your readers know what piques your interest. It can also serve as a showcase for your writing style. You can direct potential clients to your blog, where they will be able to see your skills on display.
Think of a blog as your most effective form of self-advertising. A number of websites such as Blogger or WordPress will let you publish your blog for free. All you need is access to the Internet and a little technical knowledge in writing, editing, and uploading your blog.
Internet readers are notoriously fickle. To keep their attention, you need to keep your blog alive. Here are a few tips to make sure that your readers keep coming back:
Establish an online identity
Choose a niche where you are an expert and where you can contribute new content. Are you interested in food, fashion or photography? If you are then you can write blog posts that will showcase your knowledge about these topics. Freelance journalists can establish a blog dedicated to reportage on various topics.
Put your blog’s mission statement immediately below its title. This way, readers can tell at a glance exactly what your blog is about.
Update your blog constantly
If it’s possible, try to update your blog at least once a day. This will encourage your readers to make your blog a daily habit. If you don’t constantly offer new content, people won’t bother to check your blog.
If you can’t update your blog every day, then let your readers know when you do plan to update. Post the notice in a prominent position near the top of you blog so that readers will know when to expect updates.
Plenty of topics to explore
Vary the content
Scrolling down a page full of nothing but text is boring. No matter how scintillating your writing is, people will not bother to read it if that’s all there is. Vary the content of your blog by posting photos, video and audio files. If you don’t have a digital camera or video camera, try using your cellphone.
Most cellular phones are equipped with cameras that will allow you to take photos and video and upload these to your blog. While the picture and video quality may not be as good as the output from a digital camera and videocam, you can at least post different content while you save up for the more expensive gadgets.
Utilize social networking
You can use social media to actively promote your blog. You can write short teasers on Facebook and Twitter and add the link to your blog’s latest entry. You can also comment on other people’s updates and leave a link to a relevant blog entry of yours. The effective use of social media can get your blog across to a wide audience.
If you keep your blog alive, you will gradually gain readers. Eventually, you’ll be able to make a name for yourself and carve out your niche in the worldwide web.
