I already spoke about the state of the blogosphere here. I continue with this sequel to that post with some and easy to follow blogger etiquettes. I would like to add that these are only my personal opinions based on what I have seen some prolific bloggers doing. These are from the perspective of a blogger. I would be writing more about the etiquettes one should keep in mind as a reader/commenter in a later post.
Do a spell check before you post an entry. Nothing looks worse that lousy typos!
Bottom Line: Do you want to risk losing credibility?
Its avoidable to blog like you would type an SMS. Pl b carful whn u do d ths….it mks a diff. Sounds good or shabby as hell?
Bottom Line: SMS and Blogging are not the same.
If you get a comment on your blog, you must as a rule make an effort to visit the commenter’s blog. Its basic courtesy to leave a comment on one of the posts. If none of the posts are worth commenting on, a simple thank you for visiting my blog on any post is fine. If there is a chat widget, you can leave a note there as well.
Bottom line: Reply to comments on their blog as well, or lose readers!
Encourage discussion by asking questions. This will also invite new commenters.
Bottom Line: Question or get lost out
Always assign credit to the other person from where some content has been taken. This could be a link to the other blog. Before copying content also check for the creative commons licensing policy.
Bottom Line: Give credit, be nice for someone’s original work.
If you are posting a picture on your blog, do not do it from another blog directly. It’s better to upload it to your server. You save the other blogger’s bandwidth which is still precious in some cases. Worse, it could lead to an outage on their blog.
Bottom Line: Keep bandwidth chokes to yourself
Personal blogs are nice and good fun if your mom likes to keep a tab on you. But keep a theme and stick to it. You also build a niche that way.
Bottom Line: Create a niche
Always post the blogs into categories/labels. It makes the search work better and helps people understand what your interests are.
Bottom Line: Organize!
If someone posts a differing view to yours, welcome them. They are good for you; which means the second point worked. Be careful when commenting back, no one likes a dogmatic blogger.
Bottom Line: Be accommodative!
Keep blogging frequently; no one like’s blogs which are updated once in a blue moon.
Bottom Line: No new blog posts, no new or old readers!
Replying back to commenters on your blog is also a good idea. But for them to see your reply, also encourage them to subscribe to your comments feed.
Bottom Line: Engage in a discussion!
Always write an About and Contact Page on the blog. It helps others know about you.
Bottom Line: People want to talk to a person, not a blog.
If you are using wordpress, make it a point to add an excerpt. It will also improve your search engine results. It also gives a summary of what the post is, so one does not have to go through the entire blog to realise its not what he wanted to read in the first place.
Bottom Line: Make it easy for readers to choose what needs to be read.
Its nice to have a face, add a picture of yourself so let others know you are not a donkey or a primate
Bottom Line: Get yourself a Gravatar, and upload a picture on the blog.
Wow.. that is an exhaustive cheat sheet for sure! Being in the blogosphere for over 3.5 years, I can very well co-relate each of the points you have mentioned here. Good going Vinni. Look forward to read your articles frequently from now onwards
hey! thanks! I got it figured out. Its a nice plugin! owe you one for that!
Invaluable advice, this! I noticed I commit a lot of such mistakes myself. And before I forget – awesome blog, great template, keep blogging!
Hey Vinni…very good tips…am going to take few of them rightaway…Thanks a lot!
Thanks for visiting Varsh! Am glad you liked them. this is what I keep telling my mom each day. She actually inspired this post!
She writes very well indeed…she visited my blog and left comments too..wouldn’t mind little bit of this advice for myself!
Yeah, she also plans to publish the lord and master series now. I get a lot of inspiration from her and even copy styles at times. You can’t blame me.
No I don’t blame you..to be inspired by someone as good as her is a compliment…for both of you!
@Mohan: Thanks for dropping by. I write a lot about social media since that’s my area of work along with personal musings. I have tried to grow this blog into a portfolio with blog as a separate section altogether. Keep visiting!
@Asha: Am glad, you can use some of the points I mentioned here. Everyday I make it a point to follow what I say. I hope you have also subscribed to the feeds for updates! Keep a watchout for the sequel to this post!
I was in my eager school girl avatar again lapping up each point. Loved your “Bottom Like” for each point. The reader doesn’t get lost in a jungle of words.
Very well presented
)
I really admire you for still having the yearning to learn from people really call themselves punks
You must have been a great teacher? Which school btw? I was in Delhi for over 10 years. You should also see my mom’s blog: cybernag.wordpress.com
That’s a nice and comprehensive list. Something every budding blogger should know (and follow) and at times established bloggers too.
I shall be guilty of the blue moon phase – simple can’t bring myself to write anymore. Someday hopefully…
Oh and I did like the ‘bottomline’ bit. It summarised the whole point and sort laid things out in bullet points.
Reminded me of our prof for HR
Hehe. thats also the way I teach my students in B-school. A bottom line is what one remembers. Its important to focus on that
Sigh. Guilty. So Guilty.
So wat did a lil drop of me learn ?
This was indeed a good read. Mom inspired
one can see that . why I did not visit and add your blog to my blogroll remains a mystery . Now I will visit and make sure to get educated ;D keep sharing. Best wishes
Actually she inspired me because she asked me what the best practices are, and while i was telling her, i decided to write it on my blog as well!
Was certainly a helpful blog..The bottomline bit was pretty cool and crisp!. Guess I have committed enough blunders in the past! Gotta buck up now!
so much to learn! you are soo good at this!
“let others know you are not a donkey or a primate” – hilarious :p
Hey! Where were you? I was missing you! So when are you going to start blogging again!
Hey vinni
Awesome list man! Damn helpful! And see I took one of your tips straight away. I’m commenting on a post… now u take your own advice and visit my blog
All Hail Prof. Vinni!!!!
ha ha! Nice man. as long as the blogosphere gains and builds a stronger online community, I am all game. Expect more such posts! All in the effort to evangelize indiblogger more!
Hope you got your blog registered there as well. Keep blogging!
Brilliantly said!!! Cheers
Thanks Sirji! Good to see you back on my blog after a long time! You did not participate in this month’s indiblogger of the month contest?
Being a new blogger, a complete rookie, I found this page very helpful. Good job sir.
Hi Tanmay,
I am glad that the post helped you. Do share me the link of your blog! Would love to visit it!
vinni
http://www.gooner-speak.blogspot.com
For all Arsenal fans!
Abey tu hai kya! ha ha ha !
wow.! that is a must-read post for beginners. Very nicely articulated.
Thanks a lot abhi! Hope this helps!
those were some really useful tips,specially the one about commenting on the your visitors’ blog
Thanks for sharing this post on the forum at Indiblogger, Vineet. I found myself agreeing with pretty much every point.
Thanks for dropping by PC! There is nothing to all this except experience and some common sense. What really applies in real life applies here too! If someone were to smile at you, you too would smile back wouldn’t you?