Blogging Tips

These days, with all the online resources we have at our fingertips, anyone can start a blog. And it’s obvious, when you visit a lot of blogs, that anyone really can, if you know what I mean. There are bloggers and there are Super Bloggers. And then you have your Average Bloggers.

Being an Average Blogger isn’t really a bad thing, unless you want to make money with your blog. The Internet marketplace is a vast collection of blogs and websites, though, and there’s just no room for ‘average’. Worried about your own blogging career? Here are 10 signs that show you’re just an Average Blogger.

Are You Just an Average Blogger?

You use a free blogging platform: Using a free blogging platform like Blogger.com or WordPress.com is like setting up a cardboard box in the middle of the Mall of America and painting your business name on the side in red finger paint. Even if people do manage to find you in the middle of all the high-tech glitz and glamour that surrounds you, your blog won’t be able to stand up to even the smallest crowd. Free blogging platforms limit your bandwidth which means you’re limited in the amount of visitors your blog can handle. You’re also usually limited in your choices for monetizing your blog. Do yourself a favor, Average Blogger, and spend a little money on your own hosting.

1. You use a free theme: You can usually tell an Average Blogger by looking at their theme. They just download the first free theme they come to and start blogging. There are some really good free themes out there but you should at least customize the header so it compliments your topic.
2. You don’t use SEO: If you want to make money with your blog you’re going to have to learn about search engine optimization. Even an average blogger needs to know about things like keywords and navigation and how to use them properly to attract search engines to your blog.
3. Your content sucks: These days it’s not enough to have average content. Anyone can copy and paste and the search engines know that. That’s why the reward the highest spots on the index to the blogs that have the best content. Check your spelling and grammar and learn how to write content that inspires and engages your readers.
4. You don’t have an opt-in form: So you think you can do it without a list, huh? Good luck! There’s a reason that Super Bloggers always have at least one opt-in form on their blog and there’s a reason they’re more successful than you. You need to install an opt-in form and start generating a list of pre-qualified marketing contacts.
5. You’re not tracking your stats: You know you’re just an Average Blogger if you’re not tracking your stats. How will you know if people are even reading your blog if you don’t look? Checking your stats lets you know how many people are visiting your blog every day, where they’re coming from, what they were searching for when they arrived, and so much more. Start paying attention to your stats and learn what you need to do to improve your traffic.
6. You aren’t using social networks: Anyone who thinks their blog can stand on its own two feet, without the aid of the social networks, is an Average Blogger. These days everyone communicates via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Digg and other social sites. Find two or three sites that are relevant for your readers and start socializing. And remember to add the share buttons to your blog.
7. You have no incoming links: If you’re watching your stats you can see how people are arriving at your blog. Are any of them coming from outside links? Are other blogs linking to you? Are you creating links using bookmarking or article marketing methods? Incoming links lead traffic right to your doorstep and give you more authority with the search engines.
8. You have no internal links: Are you building up internal links on your blog? Linking one blog post to another not only helps you with search engine optimization, but it helps keep your readers on your blog longer. Take the time to start developing those links.
9. You have no comments: One of the Top 10 Signs you’re just an average blogger is the fact that you have no comments on your blog. A Super Blog engages the readers and encourages them to participate by leaving comments. Readers who comment will generally return, again and again, because they like your blog and so they can see what everyone else is saying. If you have no comments that means you’re just giving your readers average content, nothing worth commenting on.

This post was written by Sté Kerwer, the guy behind Dukeo.com. He blogs about affiliate marketing, making money online, email marketing, SEO, mindset for success, better blogging, WordPress and a lot more. To read more about Sté you can either grab his RSS feed or follow him on Twitter @dukeo.