Top 10 Articles For…….
16. Jul, 2010 
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This article introduces a series of posts that I am going to do on a weekly basis starting next week.
I have only been blogging for 7 months and while I am very far from being an expert, I have been amazed at how much information I have been able to acquire to help me to set up The Top 10 Blog and improve my blogging experience. I was talking to my good Twitter friend @clementyeung who I have had the pleasure of meeting in person, and he suggested that it would be helpful to pass on the best of what I have learned. The outcome of that thought is this series of articles which will be a compilation of the best resources that I have found that helped me and that hopefully will become a source of reference for others.
The first article will be Top 10 Articles For New Bloggers as it makes sense to start at the beginning, this will be a compilation of the best articles to help you to plan and execute the basics of setting up a new blog. Others that I plan will cover areas such as Twitter and other social media, Writing, WordPress,Themes and others that will no doubt develop as I go along. My aim is to make this a regular weekly feature on the blog.
Now I don’t want to just rest on the laurels of the hard work that other bloggers have done so I thought I would start with a list of my own, The Top 10 lessons I have learnt as a novice blogger.
1. Just get stuck in!
I must have spent 7 months trying to decide what to blog about before I actually got going, how I wish I had got on with it sooner. So many questions when you have decided to take the plunge the first one being what to blog about? I sort of drifted into Top 10′s with no clear plan of how to develop but as my experience and confidence have increased it has taken on a life all of it’s own. I never imagined for instance that Twitter would be such fun and such an inspiration and that it would take me off in a new direction. Even now with this series of articles I am starting a new challenge so it is evolving all the time. So the first lesson is plan by all means but don’t plan for so long that you never actually achieve anything. Just get on with it and see where you go.
2. Twitter
I am, as they say, no spring chicken and I thought Twitter was for young people with nothing better to do, I was wrong. I really enjoy interacting with people from all around the world on Twitter and there is no doubt that it is a very effective way to promote what you are doing. So get involved if you aren’t already.
3. Be yourself
This follows on in a way from number 2. When I started to blog and Tweet I did so as ‘The Top 10 Blog’. I soon found that others respond to you much more if you show them that you are a real person, even if that means making a fool of yourself occasionally. There are some wonderful people out there and when they realise that you are not a “bot’ (what an awful expression) and not trying to ram a product down their throat, they will respond to you warmly.
4. Interact
Really important this one! Again when I started I would be a passive observer of what others were doing, I would watch the Twitter stream and not dare to do anything in case I made a fool of myself. I would read great blog posts and not leave a comment. I now know that everyone, including me loves to get feedback or be recommended to others. The more you put out there you more you get back, as long as you are genuine, so read blog posts, if you like what you read, or even if you don’t, then leave a comment and Tweet about it. If you like a Tweet or a link then RT it. It’s marvellous when other people do that for you so do it for them.
5. Be patient
At first it can be really frustrating blogging and Tweeting. Why is nobody looking at my blog? Why has nobody Retweeted my wonderful Tweet? Nobody loves me! Nobody cares! Be consistent in interacting with other people, relax, have fun, give something to others and if you are patient it will happen.
6.Make connections and value them
I have met some marvellous, giving people through Twitter and getting to know them has allowed me to connect with many others. There are too many too name individually here but you will find them all on my Top Twitter People list. I value these people so much and I go out of my way to make sure I keep in touch with them and take an interest in what they are doing, follow this list and you won’t go far wrong. Special mention to some of the originals @Peri37, @SuuperG and @MasisMore three early friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin. (Mostly thin)
7. Content & Presentation
Simple really, try to have good quality content and good, neat presentation.Try to be consistent with you way the posts look. Only you can be the judge of whether I got that right!
8. Don’t be shy
Let the world know how good you are. Tweet about what you do, have a presence on Facebook. Stumble, Digg and Delicous your own stuff and other peoples.
9. Read and learn
I have quickly come to understand that it is vital to keep reading what other people are putting out there. There is a seemingly never ending supply of good quality information so keep reading and keep on improving your knowledge. For example I know nothing about code but by reading and watching what others do I am beginning to understand how to use the HTML tab on WordPress. Don’t be afraid to try simple things but remember don’t save until you are sure as you can always ‘Undo” and also remember…..
10. Don’t try to be too clever
I nearly learnt this lesson the hard way when I deleted nearly all of my posts by trying to do something that I really didn’t understand. Thank goodness I found that Restore facility. Take your time and don’t run before you can walk.
So there you have the benefit of my (limited) blogging wisdom. Please share your thoughts on what I have said and let me have your comments.
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