Friday, January 21, 2011

5 Steps to Writing an Effective Blog Post

  1. You need a catchy title for your blog post and it shouldn't be too long.  This is also a good rule for emails.  Plus, it is equally annoying when reading a blog to have an untitled post as it is to get an email without a subject.
  2. There is such a thing as a post that is too short and a post that is too long.  Too short would be one of those one-liners.  Really?  What was the point of the post?  Give at least a good paragraph.  There is such a thing as too long, also.  To me, if you have to scroll the length of the screen more than twice and the post is all words, then your post is too long.
  3. When you mention a website, a post, and other things such as that, please link to it.  Preferably, make the link open in a new window, so you can see the link and keep your place in the post.
  4. Explain! Explain! Explain!  Don't assume everyone knows what you are talking about.  If needed put definitions in your post (a post is an entry in a blog; it is similar to a journal entry, but on the internet).
  5. Break up the monotony with pictures.  It gets boring to look at words the whole way through the blog.

4 comments:

  1. Good suggestions. I have to work with my 8th graders to get them to move beyond the one line (status update) posts.

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  2. Five excellent points, Jessica! I especially agree with #1. I love a catchy blog title . . . and I hate getting emails without subject lines. :-)

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  3. I agree with you about the lengths of posts. I hate when an entry seems to go on and on, without any clear purpose.

    Do you know how to make the link open in a new tab or page? I haven't figured out that one yet.

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  4. On blogger, I don't think there is a way to make the link open in a new window. I know wikispaces and other sites have it. Maybe blogs don't, but I wish they did.

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