Welcome to Day 7. This is the final lesson of the free blogging course.
Today I’ll share a collection of practical blogging tips to help you succeed. Read on for my top recommendations and best practices.
Be Yourself
When you start a blog, be authentic. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. The best blogs reveal the writer’s personality—readers want to connect with a real voice, not bland or generic content. Inject your personality into your posts, have fun with your writing, and be clear about why you’re blogging.
Have an About Page
Your About page is one of the most important places for readers to learn who you are. I prefer blogs that show a personal perspective instead of corporate-sounding content. Use your About page to share a photo, a short bio, and links to posts that further illustrate who you are and what you write about. Make it easy for new visitors to understand your background and your blog’s purpose.
Reply to Comments
Make an effort to reply to comments on your blog. Even a simple “thank you” matters—readers notice when the author has read and responded to their message. If someone asks a question, answer it. I often return to blogs where I’ve left a comment to see the reply. Interacting with your readers builds community and encourages return visits.
Remove or Avoid Annoying Captchas
Captchas can frustrate readers and stop them from commenting. Simple anti-spam tools that force users to decipher distorted text are often more hindrance than help. Instead, use a reliable anti-spam plugin that doesn’t make readers jump through hoops. For WordPress users, Akismet is a popular free option that reduces spam without alienating commenters.
Make It Easy to Subscribe
Make subscribing to your blog straightforward. Many sites miss opportunities by burying or breaking subscription links for email, RSS, or social profiles. Provide clear, working options for readers to follow you by email and on social media so they can easily find your content later.
Make Friends in the Blogging Community
One of the best parts of blogging is the community. Blogging can help you make meaningful connections and friendships with other writers. Reach out by commenting on blogs, engaging on social platforms, and sharing thoughtful interactions. Be genuine—build relationships naturally, just as you would offline.
Link Your Twitter Account to Your Posts
When readers share your posts on Twitter, make it easy for them to attribute the content to you. Configure your sharing buttons so your Twitter handle appears automatically when someone tweets your post. This encourages recognition and helps your content reach a wider audience. For sharing tools, Shareaholic is one example of a free plugin I’ve used and liked.
Have Fun
People start blogs for many reasons, but one constant is that the most engaging blogs are written by people who enjoy the process. Treat blogging as both a hobby and, if you choose, a business. Enjoy the journey and keep experimenting with your writing and ideas.
This concludes the free email blogging course. I hope you found this week of lessons helpful and that they support you on your blogging journey. Whenever I find useful tips or resources, I’ll share them with my readers.
Good luck and have fun blogging!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner MakingSenseofCents.com
If you didn’t enroll in this free blogging course and would like to, you can sign up by visiting the course page or entering your information in the available form on the site.