1. Don’t Go Off Topic

I don’t care if that’s what you’re thinking about at the moment, you can’t suddenly starting writing about cars, or posting music videos, if your blog is about How to Blog and SEO. You confuse your readers, and distract potential subscribers, because you aren’t giving them what they expected. Doing this can have a very drastic effect on your readers, even people who are fans of your site. And just because people liked it once, doesn’t give you license to do it again. Just stay to your niche, and target readers who want what you’re giving. If you jump around too much it’s very hard to get, and keep, a consistent reader base.

2. Don’t Ramble

I realize you’re struggling with what to write, but if you don’t have enough ideas to write about, don’t try and make up for it by talking a lot. Less words is always better! Bloggers want it short, quick, and too the point. So don’t get distracted with minor points, and stick to your topic.

3. Don’t Rant

Forget about John Chow, ok and Carlocab, ok and lot’s of other popular bloggers as well. Just because some people have had success ranting doesn’t mean you can. It’s very difficult to make people care about your rants, because you need to be somebody first. Very few people rant their way to success. But when you have success, then you’re allowed to rant though I wouldn’t recommend it… A post is supposed to be an informative article like a newspaper article. Decide before you create your blog if you’re going to make it into a ranting blog, or a information sharing blog, and then stick to it. Don’t try and mix the two.

4. Don’t Bring your Issues Into It

I’m sorry you’re really struggling with something, or annoyed with somebody, but to be perfectly honest, We Don’t Care. I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I’ve got my own life to live. That sounds harsh but if you want to keep your readers, then just follow my advice. If you want to Rant or Complain, then make a political opinion blog, or a personal journal blog. And then say whatever you want, but don’t bring your life struggles into an information blog, because people just get turned off.

5. Don’t Settle for Small Unoriginal Posts

If you’ve got nothing to say, then don’t waste our and your time trying to say it. Stop trying to write, and go figure out an idea, and then come back and write it. If your post is under 300 words or if it doesn’t state any new thing new or original, then it’s probably not worth posting. Be strict with what you post, you will see results.

6. Don’t Pitch Old News

If you’re writing a post that has already been made popular by some one else, then don’t try and jump on the success band wagon. Not only will you probably fall on your face, but you look dumb trying to sell somebody else’s idea. You’ll lost all your credibility, and people will not want to read your site.

I’m assembled these ideas into a Bullet List post for you to follow. Print it out and make a sticky note, and put it next to your computer or something. They will keep you from making your bad day even worse, by losing your visitors from your blog.

1. Stay to your Niche

2. Stay to your Post Topic

3. Keep your head

4. Don’t let feelings shape your posting

5. Don’t waste the Readers time with uninformed Posts

6. Don’t try to sell Old Information

How To Blog With Passion and Power: Site Sketch 101- Nick Cardot is a personal friend and an amazingly talented blogger. His blog Sitesketch 101 is becoming one of the most authoritative site for information on how to blog.

Robin Good’s How to Blog Guide- Robin Good is a great marketer, blogger, and all around internet entrepreneur. This page is definitely one of the authority documents on how to blog.

Steve Pavlina’s How To Make Money On Your Blog- Steve Pavlina is a productivity guru, and life coach who is also a great blogger. His approach to blogging is very much focused on providing amazing content.

Write to Done- Write to Done is authored by Leo Babauta a genuine internet Cinderella story of blogging and life transformation. Write to done is focused on the lessons learned from developing some of the internets most successful blogs

Seth’s Blog: How to get traffic for your blog- Seth Godin is one of Internets premiere marketers this guide on how to get traffic to your blog is an essential read as you learn ho to blog.

How to Build a High-Traffic Blog Without Killing Yourself- From the author of The Four Hour Workweek Tim Ferris has hacks and shortcuts for all kinds of things including blogging. if your serious about blogging you need to check out this site.

Copyblogger- This blog is mostly focused on the writing aspects of blogging. Now matter how effective of a wordsmith you are we can all you some copy tips.

Blog Tips to Help You Make Money Blogging- Darren Rowse is one of the Rockstars of the blogging world he is Definitely a great place to start to learn blogging.

Remarkablogger- Michael Martine explains how to make money with your blog.

There will always be those days when you’ve just got nothing. You think but nothings coming to you, and you sit their scratching your head thinking, “what can I post?” First of all don’t get frustrated, that’s just a part of blogging life, those days will come. The off internet life often can upset us, or take our minds away from blogging, that’s not uncommon. But you can’t just leave your blog for a month while you recover from losing your girlfriend. The question is, how can you get inspiration to write again, even when you aren’t in the mood.

Remember, a poorly written post is worse then not posting at all.

1. Make a List Post

Find some topic that people in your niche want to hear about, and create a list on it. Bloggers love lists, and honestly they can be the easiest posts you do. If your readers like them and they don’t take to long, then it’s a win win.

2. Check your Feed Reader

This is when a Feed Reader comes in handy, as opposed to using email subscriptions, you can go through all the posts very quickly. If you are at all serious about blogging you should be subscribed to at least 30 similar blogs, and reading them as consistently as you can. This is essential for several reasons but right now I’ll only go into one. It’s a great way to stimulate ideas. See what the other bloggers in your niche have been writing about, this should give you some ideas.

3. Check the top pages of Digg and Google Trends

there are lots of sites that can tell you what’s popular now. check out a few of them, and see which ones you could write about. Now don’t just be a copy cat writer, but if it’s the big thing in your niche, you should probably cover it.

4. Check all the most Popular Blogs in your Niche

In case you aren’t subscribed to them, check the popular bloggers. Most of these guys post every day and so I’m sure they’ve been where you have been. If you read their homepage and nothing clicks, try reading through the archives a little. I’m sure you’ll find an idea eventually.

5. Try emailing your Blogger friends

Again I’m sure they’ve been in the same place, see what sparked an idea for them.

6. Think of something you or another blogger did that you really liked

Maybe a Poll, or review, or series of posts, whatever it was, try and remember one you really enjoyed. Now don’t copy it, but sit down and try and think of a way you could twist it to make it original. If it was successful then your idea can probably succeed as well.

7. Do a Picture or Video post

Pictures say a thousand words, and videos are okay to copy from youtube. So find a youtube video related to your niche and post it, then write a few words below it. This way you can still post and give information, and get another 24 hours to brainstorm.

8. If possible Deal with the issue bugging you

This will rarely be an option, but if it’s an issue you can deal with, stop blogging and fix the issue, and then come back and write. If it’s something you can do, then get that done first.

9. Look at your Past Posts

Especially your most recent ones. See if any of them can be made into a part two, or even into a series. If you analyzed something, maybe you can start that into a weekly tradition or something at your blog.

10. Come up with a potential Word or Phrase

Say you want to write about making money blogging. Type into Google lists about making money blogging. If that doesn’t come up with anything change the wording around a little. Check out other lists on the subject, and see if you get inspired with anything.

11. Have a list of Potential Ideas

Don’t wait until the day of to write your post, plan ahead! Start a list of post ideas now, so that when the time comes you can look through a list and pick your topic.

The question we all must face is this – “Is it worth showing the article to my limited group of readers, or should I try and market it on a very popular blog where it can be seen by more eyes?” In the long run, it probably seems like it would be better guest posting it, because you’ll achieve a lot more traffic, get a link, and some publicity.

If you decide to post it on your site, there really wouldn’t be that much of a difference. Many of the bloggers reading this aren’t popular enough to get an article on the top page of Digg, or to get smashed by StumbleUpon. So the question still is, is it worth posting it on your site, when it could get your site seen by so many new readers elsewhere.

The key is balance. Split it 50/50. So send some guest posts, and the others you post on your blog. Look at it like this, if you’re not posting good content on your site, then you’ll lose your readership at your site. But if you don’t continue to market your site, then it won’t continue to grow. If you DO decide to guest post it, and then get traffic to your site, but have no great content to offer them once they get there, you’ll STILL lose readers.

Now you may disagree with me on this, being on either side. But I think you need to do at least some of your great ideas as guest posts, because the chance to write on a site like Problogger, or even a smaller one like TheNetFool, is too good to pass up. However, you have to be very careful with this, because you don’t want to deprive your readers of a quality article without good reason. So here are some tips for great guest posting.

1. Read this post.
Guidelines for Guest Posting

2. Pick the top blogs, and send the article to them.
If they reject it, you can always send it to another one, though you may want to consider rewriting the parts they didn’t like.

3. Don’t get discouraged if they reject your post.
Every blogger is different, just like every blog is different. So everybody will write differently than others. You may have written a good article, but his style may just be different.

4. Read some of the blog’s posts before you send your post.
Match the style of the writer, without destroying your identity. You want to appeal to his readers, so you want to be somewhat similar. But you also want them to like your site, and if your style is totally different, they may not like that. Make sure you are you, without being to unlike the admin. But remember, he wants guest posts because he wants a different perspective, and some freshness, so don’t change who you are, be unique but smart.

5. Try to develop a relationship first.
It doesn’t have to be big but if you can have talked or emailed before this, it helps break the ice some. It’s always nice if your first interaction is you wanting something from him. I realize this isn’t always possible, but when it is, it will certainly help your chances of being accepted.

6. Try to link to the article in a blog post from your site.
Soon! Not only is this like a little thank you to the blog owner, you can refer your readers onto the blog post, so that they don’t miss out on the article.

7. Read up on other people’s emails that got them accepted.
Here are a few examples from Carlocab, and howtomakemyblog.

8. Focus on the email as much as you do on the post.
A majority of guest posts get rejected based on the email, and the posts don’t even get read. You think Problogger or John Chow have the time to read every guest post that gets sent to them? They read the email and figure out if the guy is worth their time, and then if they like the email, they read the post. Without a good email, your post won’t even get read.

I hope these tips are helpful for you. Make sure to subscribe to my RSS feed, so that you can get updates on how successful it is.