In my last blog I bemoaned the fact that a lot of communication is bland – opinions hidden under a cloak of meekness. In this blog, I want to look at the impact that has on, well, blogs.
Blogging gives us the opportunity to let our individual voices be heard. It enables us to let the world know who we are; what, if you like, our personal brand is all about.
Yet, often as bloggers, we don’t find our own voice. Instead we paraphrase other people’s ideas or tread a neutral line that avoids any risk of controversy.
Personally, I’m all for people stirring up the status quo now and then, particularly if it’s done in an intelligent way that invites debate. Because sharing ideas, thoughts, opinions and viewpoints brings greater understanding and can be powerful learning tool.
Whether or not I share a blogger’s viewpoint doesn’t really matter. The result is the same – an emotional reaction, which hopefully, results in thinking and learning.
I love blogs. I love writing them and I love reading other peoples. They’re a fantastic way to share your voice with the world. So, here are my top seven tips for writing great blogs:
- Find your own voice and take pride in it.
- At the same time, recognise that your blog reflects your brand.
- Build credibility for your ideas with some well-considered evidence.
- Keep it short and sharp. (Admittedly, not my strongest point.)
- Be witty if you can but be careful who you laugh at – laughing at yourself is usually safest.
- Invite feedback and comments.
- Don’t expect everyone to agree with you – or even hope for it. If everyone agrees, you’ve probably said nothing.
So, with due consideration to tip 6, I'd love to know what you think of these seven tips and whether you've others you'd add.