Scoops’ Top Ten Ways to Distinguish Your Blog

Scoops Here. I see so many blogs out there with their many top ten lists, so I have decided to put together one of my own. Social medialites out there love blogs, who wouldn’t, but they have a hard time thinking about what to write about and more importantly how to get the most impact from it.

So here it is…I know you are all waiting with bated breath…Scoops top ten ways to make your blog stand out.

1. Make an identity for yourself.

This is the first and in my opinion the most important part of establishing yourself and making your blog interesting. You do not have to find anything as cool as Scoops Kristin—you know I had to do it—but make sure to show your personality so it is easier for people to relate to you faster.

2. Tag! Keyword! Categorize!

So you researched and slaved away at making a primo blog post and then you post it, but with no categories or tags! That’s bananas! The best way for people to get to know what you are about and what they are read about on your blog is by looking at your tag cloud. So if you are wondering what first impression you are giving social medialites out there just look at what you are tagging, and make sure it represents what you where hopping to be as a blogger. If not, adjust! Using keywords and categories also make finding you amongst the noise more likely. I personally love the chance when I get to tag “ninja”—relevant?, not so much, but it absolutely shows my interests and personality.

3. Build a Community.

Don’t be shy! Get yourself out there! Great blogging skills will not always get you a strong fan base. Let’s face it, there are millions of blogs out there trying to generate buzz. The best way to build a community is to communicate with other bloggers. In most cases, mi casa su casa and many generous bloggers will offer to share their fan base with you by giving you a mention.

4. Blog Flair.

You don’t have to be an uber creative person to have a great blog. However, straight text will never do it for the social medialites who bleed for artwork and interactive pieces. Give your blogs posts some pizzazz with relevant pictures, artwork and videos, nothing too hard to find through Google images and YouTube. Images are cool but make sure you give your flair the respect it is due because posting copyrighted images without permission does not always go over well and will hurt your credibility.

5. Ninja-worthy quickness will set you apart from the rest.

There is nothing worse than a great blog that goes weeks between posts. It is critical to make sure that the blog is updated frequently, daily or twice a day is preferable. Furthermore, staying current is where people will appreciate your work. Staying up to date on the on current buzz, news and trends and getting it up on your blog in a rapid manner will make a big difference. The best compliment you can receive is being the first source for someone’s news or being at the top of their bookmarks.

6. Stay Relevant Bloggers!

Going beyond what I said before about staying current on news and trends, it is even more important to be outward focused to show thought leadership. Most blogs gravitate towards discussing daily topics, however the most revered bloggers make their own news. So do your research and have a fresh topic that can distinguish yourself and most of all gain you credibility.

7. You must give to receive…

Although a friendly bunch, social medialites can differentiate between a thought leader and a social media imitator. It is great to get ideas and showoff the work of fellow bloggers, but constantly using other’s posts without any new content raises red flags among your readers which can often result in diminished reliability. On the other hand, pushing posts without contributing to comments on others just means you don’t play well in the proverbial social media sandbox. It is important to maintain a balance when posting.

8. Your opinion matters.

Just as bad as not nurturing your blog on a frequent basis is to offer up a post with no opinion. Blogging was not intended to become an extension of your current local newspaper.  The news is worthy of highlighting, however it is your opinion on the story that social medialites are looking to obtain. New insight may not always be appreciated, but respected, and you would be surprised with how your angle matters.

9. Give props!

To have a great blog you are a listener just as much as you are a writer. In the quest to have a revered and insightful blog, you will stumble upon some fantastic blogs of your own. Make sure to give the author the credit he or she is due. Who knows you may just find a new fan or two along the way.

10. Be a problem solver.

A great way to grab attention with your blog is to become someone’s hero. Many search blogs to find answers to their burning questions. Whether you know how to fix a blue screen of death or are able to counsel a company on how to turn public opinion around after a major blunder, use your strengths to help others out. This approach spotlights your expertise and gives your blog chops.