Business blogging tips and news for professional bloggers

You have to read Robyn Tippins's tips for highly effective blogging (inspired by Darren Rowse's group writing project).  I just want to comment a bit on Robyn's tips here.  (Disclaimer: For a jabbermouth like me, "a bit" often means a bit more than a bit.)  And I hope you'll join this conversation and help others learn how to be more effective in their blogging.

I'll just start from the top of Robyn's post and go down, picking out things I want to highlight and expand on.  The order here may differ a bit from Robyn's order.

1. Get up early and blog early - So true, Robyn.  Something happens and two people blog about it.  Guess who links to whom?  Exactly - the early blogger gets the link worm.  Now links aren't the reason you should blog - but just know that the quicker you are out of the blocks, the more recognition you will get as an early blogger.

2. Read a boatload of feeds - I have to agree - Read as many feeds as you can handle given your work schedule.  I read a few hundred blog posts each morning using NewsGator Online.  Some other great online feedreaders include Bloglines, Rojo and News Alloy.  The more you read, the more you know, and the more you know, the better your blog will be.

3. Subscribe to the little guys (and gals) - Look for new blogs that fall under your blog category and subscribe liberally to their feeds.  You can always unsubscribe later if desired.  It's so often the "long tail" of less popular blogs and blog posts that contains the best reporting and analysis.

4. Try "series blogging" and prepublishing some posts - I'm awful at this, but I've resolved to get better.  Always have a few posts scheduled to go up in the near future, in case you end up missing a day or two of blogging.  The best type of content to pre-publish is timeless content - stuff that won't go out of style easily.  This will also free up more time for the newsy-type posts.  Ann Michael mentioned the other day in a comment here at BusinessBlogWire that she intends to follow personal goals for publishing both types of posts.

5. If you've got the gadgets for it, do some mobile blogging - You go, Robyn!  I wish I had the right type of gizmo to do this.  At the least, with a digital camera and a laptop you can cover a lot of things on the road.  There are even free services like Odeo that let you call a toll-free number and record an audiopost which you can then stick in your blog.

6. Network (that's a verb, not a noun) - Yup.  Amen amen amen.  Conversation is so important now that tools like blogs have made publishing and communication so much easier.  Get out there and meet and greet and get to know people in meaningful ways on the Web.  I predict that if you work hard on improving your ability to converse meaningfully on the Web using all sorts of effective tools like blogs and podcasts, you will have much more success with any online venture you have.

7. Fabuloso Content - This would be number one if I were going in order of importance instead of by the order I find things to discuss at Robyn's post.  If your content is great, people will not only return to it again and again, but they will bring their friends along as well.

8. Passion - Great point, Robyn.  It's so easy to get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of it all.  This very post I'm writing reflects a more wordy, flowing tone than you might see elsewhere on my blog, and that's in part because I'm doing it to remind myself that a huge part of blogging is talking, and I'm a talkative guy (with apologies to you).  I believe in the power of brevity and even terseness at times, but I also admire those who share their thoughts as they come to mind.  I think that demonstrates that you're willing to listen and learn from others.  Say what you want to say, and then stop talking and listen to what others have to say in response.  And relish the conversation and do it with verve!

So let me know what you think of these ideas, and thanks to Robyn and Darren for the inspiration!