I want you to think about this one for a couple seconds. What makes your blog unique? Chances are it’s not your content – cause really everything’s been written about at one point or another. This topic for example has definitely been written about before but it’s still differentthan the rest.

Now unless your name is Jason Santa Maria and you create one off layouts for every post – your blog probably has the same basic layout as every other blog just with a little bit of color here and there.

So if it’s not your content or your design that makes your blog unique – what does? Or should I say who does?

Now if you didn’t catch the hints yet -  it’s you that makes your blog unique. I’m done bolding “yous” now, except for the next one.

You should come out in your posts

All your writing, videos or podcasts should have you infused in them. It may sound cheesy but I try to put a little bit of me in to all my posts – and definitely in my about pages. Weather your blogging about dishwashers or roller coasters you literally need to take a little chunk of your heart and put it into that post. Preferably in the middle somewhere.

Another way you can come out in your posts is by using your own words. I encourage research but you really need to word things the way you speak – not the way another blogger speaks. Then expand on those topics with your own ideas and experiences – not just those of other bloggers.

These things are especially important in very saturated niches – like blogs for bloggers – so you may notice I usually refer to a past experience in my posts and try to make each post unique in it’s own way.

So not to be extremely repetitive but it really boils down to simply being different in your own way. Or at least that’s the way I see it. Now you tell me what makes your blog unique, I’m kinda curious as to what you think.

p.s. If you liked this post I think you might like an earlier post Your Niche Is Under Your Nose.

Image by mdare55

What should I blog about? What niche is gonna make me money? Can you give me an idea for a blog? They’re the questions that truly irk every time I hear them. Call me a bad person for wanting to drop kick people that come to me with these things – but to me it seems obvious that no one else can tell you what you like and what you know. Which brings me to my two main points, you should blog about either what you like or what you know. It’s how long term blogs are built.

What You Like

When you want an idea for your blog go ahead and dig deep, real deep. Figure out what you like or better yet what your passionate about. Blogging about your passion will not only come naturally to you but it’s going to be fun too.

Think about it this way – if I ask you about cars and your really passionate about cars – you could probably talk to me all day about them. You don’t even have to know everything when you start – cause you like the topic so much you’ll have no problem researching it.

I know Gary Vaynerchuk would agree with blogging your passion cause his book – Crush It – pretty much bashed it into my head.

What You Know

Maybe your not passionate about something but you be a true professional in the field? Well you have a huge opportunity. I drive over 1,000 miles a week and I drive them fast – real fast. I wouldn’t call my self passionate about driving but ohh am I good at it. I’m practically a stunt driver locked up in a suburban town – and this could make for a damn good blog. Well now that I think about it…

Sometimes blogging about what you know turns it into a passion so the only problem that I could foresee is not getting that spark turning it into a passion – eventually it might seem like a chore.

These are the questions I asked myself both when I decided to restart this blog, and now before I start all my other blogs. Do you blog about what you know, or what you like, or neither? Hows it working for you?

When I first jumped into blogging it was like diving into the frigid ocean in the middle of December. I was expecting a tough time being a complete newbie in blogging but when my balls shriveled up into my stomach really wished I looked into it first. Now that I look back on those days I really wish I knew some of these the following tips, I would be so much bigger, and richer now.

1. Don’t procrastinate.

This is huge in blogging, especially for some newer bloggers, you have to keep your schedule and stay focused and consistent. We all now that 5 hours on Twitter is procrastinating and it’s easy but hard work is what pays off in the end. So close your stats page, YouTube, Twitter and that video game running in the background and get to work on that next post.

2. Know what your talkin about.

Make sure if your blogging about cars, that you really know about cars. So do your research and write what you know. Take me for example, I’m always upfront with my readers, and take a no bullshit approach to writing about what I know. Not one person want’s to or will, for that fact, read bullshit plus it ruins your credibility which follows you everywhere.

3. Link in and out.

Don’t be afraid to link out , you won’t be sending your readers away forever. So if you have something related to the content at another blog link to it. It’s gonna add to your overall credibility and your gonna get a few grateful bloggers coming your way. Linking in has some very different benefits, you get people to read old posts and (they say) it helps with SEO. Not only do you want to get people looking at older posts but those search engine spiders as well, so link to em and show them off.

4. Write for rainy days.

Writing extra posts when you can is like having an insurance policy for your blog. Whenever you have some extra time you should write an extra post or two and save it. Keep a stash of 5 or 6  draft posts in your panel cause they really come in handy when you get pulled away from your computer for any reason. No only have I been stuck in a position like this I see it happening left and right. With these rainy day posts you’ll always keep fresh content up and stay with your posting frequency, no matter what happens.

5. Promote more than you write.

Promotion as we all know brings in tons of traffic and can build links for that PR that every one is after. Do some post by post promotion, go hit up them forums, and be a little socialite with Twitter. Personally I’ve always put 4 times more work in promotion than the actual writing, and then Gary Vaynerchuk told me through his book, Crush It, that I was spot on with my theory. You’ll be amazed at the results, promise.

There you have it, the five things I wish I knew when I first started blogging. Now its your turn, tell me with a comment (or tweet or email) what you wish you knew when you started blogging.

Post Image By: Sukanto Debnath

I’ve always been a person that learned as he went, never really asked help or got help weather it was blogging, photoshop or coding I learned on my own. I still do this, and I probably shouldn’t but whatever. I’m here to help all you newish bloggers and get you ahead with tips and tricks so here are 30 tips to make you a better blogger.

30 Tips To Better Blogging

1. Don’t procrastinate
2. Know what your talking about
3. Write for rainy days
4. Post only quality articles
5. Write readable posts
6. Don’t post too often
7. Keep a posting schedule
8. Ask questions in your posts
9. Write controversially
10. Promote more than you write
11. Use forums for traffic
12. Comment to get comments
13. Use Top Commentator lists to your advantage
14. Reply to comments
15. Work on your PR
16. Link out
17. Link in
18. Take criticism like a man
19. Don’t treat your readers like idiots
20. Don’t stare at stats all  day
21. Cloak affiliate links
22. Don’t monetize too early
23. Don’t get in it for the money (i’ve made $0 here and i don’t care)
24. Befriend your readers
25. Allow email subscriptions
26. Hold a contest
27. Sponsor a contest
28. Get mad subscribers
29. Don’t be afraid to fail
30. Start with a BANG

I could honestly keep going but those are just some of the things I have learned that I wish I knew earlier. So get ahead and learn from these tips and other bloggers, it will help you in the long run.

Image by grassvalleylarry