What does it take to be a successful blogger?

by Sandy Cosser

There are an awful lot of blogs currently residing in cyberspace, and more are added every day. It takes a certain amount of courage to create a blog of your own. First, you have to have something to say. Second, you have to be reasonably sure that other people will want to hear it. Third, you need to be confident in your ability to present your ideas in a coherent and entertaining manner. Fourth, you need to be able to handle criticism and rejection without stooping to name calling and puerile retorts.

Many things contribute to the success of a blog, not least of which are long hours and hard work. When asked what they think the most important trait of a successful blog is, professional bloggers (who seldom agree on the colour of the sky) are unanimous in their reply â€" passion.

Passion will carry you through the initial stages of your blog, when you’re still trying to build an online presence and attract readers. It’ll sustain you years down the line, when motivation and fresh content are hard to come by. It’ll even, to a degree, mask dodgy grammar and a barely average writing ability. The fantastic thing about passion is that you can’t hide it; it’s self-evident and highly infectious. Your passion ignites passion in others; it stimulates interest and spreads like wildfire, which is exactly what you want.

Following hot on passion’s heels is an intense desire to communicate. No one starts a blog and then hopes that it’ll pass unnoticed. Successful bloggers build communities of similar-minded people around them. They interact and comment on other niche posts and invite people to express their opinions via comments and emails. Building relationships is the cornerstone of blogging, which at its core, is what communication is all about.

A questioning mind also plays a pivotal role in the success of your blog. Good blogs aren’t merely opinion pieces or virtual soap-boxes for their writers. Your opinion counts, but only if your reasoning is sound. Successful bloggers research their topics to provide content that has value for their readers. They don’t spout theories cobbled together from half-truths and hearsay. They often learn things that alter their perceptions or refine their thinking in the process. Their desire to communicate means that they can’t wait to share what they have learnt with their online community, and hopefully enlighten others. They are as willing to learn as they are to teach, and welcome divergent views.

The technical aspects to blogging, the template you use, the site design, the plug-ins you choose (if you choose any at all) are never mentioned when considering the success of a blog. Of course the way your blog looks and feels are important, but they are not nearly as important as the character with which you infuse your blog. When it comes to blogging, personality counts for more than looks.