Edward Khoo is a full time blogger from Malaysia. You can follow him on twitter at @squall768

The phenomenon of blogs has caught on, in case you hadn’t noticed. In just a few years, bloggers went from the unknown, unread, poor cousins of mainstream media to a powerful force that help shape everything from political policies to better eating habits.

However, keeping your blog fresh takes dedication, drive and hard work. It’s something you should do regularly and think about often as you drive around town. Here are some tips to keep you motivated, writing and posting. After all, your blog is important. It’s your little piece of the W3 landscape so take ownership and use it to spread your message.

1. Create a blog on a topic about which you have a passion or genuine interest.
It’s much easier writing about topics that actually interest you. So, if you’re interested in politics on a global scale, create a political blog that covers topics of interest to like-minded readers.

Writing about a topic that interests you is not a work. It feeds your natural, innate curiosity. You learn more as you teach others what you’ve learned.

2. Set aside a time each day to write your posts.
Schedule an hour a day (or more if you really want the world to read what you have to say) and stick to the schedule. Instead of turning on the TV after dinner, write a 500-word post for tomorrow.

If you opt to write when the spirit moves you, it may never move you and you may never post. There are thousands of dusty old blogs out there with posts that are five years old. Nobody is going to read that.

3. Visit blogs on the same topic as your blog.
You can’t copyright an idea. You can’t own an idea. So, visit blogs that cover topics similar to your own.

Now, you can’t (and shouldn’t) rip off content from other bloggers. That’s just bad form. But you will find topics you hadn’t thought of. Spin these articles to make them your own. Rewrite them from a different point of view. Reference other blogs and even link to them when the topic is related.

Blogging is a big part of web connectivity. Use it to discover people who share your interests, whatever they may be.

4. Take your blog seriously.
Think of it as a job – one wherein you’re the boss. No editor. You’re the editor. Post at least twice a week. Three times weekly is even better and daily is the best. Visitors to your blog will stop coming by if they see the same content each time they visit.

This ties back to point number one. If you have an interest or expertise about which you’re passionate, posting daily won’t be a chore. It’ll be fun. As you learn more about your topic, you’ll enjoy spreading the news.

5. Google the topic of your blog.
There are always new trends, new opinions, new concepts and new ideas available on the W3. Google keywords related to the topicality of your blog for new ideas and new topics about which to write.

6. Provide helpful information.
Even though it’s your blog – your digital real estate, your blog isn’t about you. It’s about your readers. Provide helpful information in your posts and you’ll soon start to build a following.

7. Keep your gadgets and widgets fresh.
There will be days when you just don’t have time to write a lengthy post on your passion for ceramics. However, you can post tips daily in your widget column. (See the miniblog on top of Adesblog? That’s what I am talking about!) Update these posts with quick tips. They’re only a few words and the tips you provide in your widget column will keep readers coming back. Continue reading →