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Blogging Etiquette for the Freelance Writer

  • November 28 2014
  • Comments Off on Blogging Etiquette for the Freelance Writer
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Starting a blog is a great way to create a presence and authority as a freelance writer, but when it’s done in the wrong way, it can crash and burn your blog before it even takes off. If you think you’re ready to hit the ground running with your upcoming blog, it’s a good idea to check yourself first. There is a code that bloggers should abide by, maintaining proper etiquette across the board of blogs. The following tips will help ensure that you take the right steps at the beginning and along the way, so that your blog is considered professional and worthy of reading.

 

Write Content that is Suitable for Your Readers

Have you ever gone to a blog that had irrelevant posts? Likely, you stumbled upon the blog while doing an Internet search, and then when you get there and decide to browse around for more content, you find posts that are of a completely different niche. This can be off-putting for a lot of readers, which is why it’s highly recommended that you choose a niche for your blog and post content that is relevant to it and your readership. Not doing so could give your site a huge bounce rate, which means you’re attracting people, but not keeping their attention.

 

Respond to Comments on Your Blog

When people post comments on your blog posts, have the courtesy to reply, especially if they’re asking you questions. You can also jump in the conversation if you find something meaningful to say. Commenting is a big part of the blogosphere, which is why you should encourage people to comment on your posts. Making comments on your own blog makes you feel real and authentic. Plus, people love it when the blogger responds because it makes them feel important.

 

Boost Your Commenting Karma by Returning the Favor

When other bloggers come to comment on your posts, you should return the love and do the same. Find a blog post you thought was interesting and then ask a question or make a comment. It’s a good idea to have an avatar and a link to your profile, so that people can click it. This should take them to your blog, where they can find similar content that they may enjoy reading. This could even help to boost your readership and increase your number of subscribers or followers.

 

Share Another Bloggers Post with Your Readers

There’s no better promotion than to have a blogger share your content with their readers. This opens the doors to a boatload of new potential subscribers. As blogger etiquette, it’s likely that when you share a blogger’s posts, he or she will do the same for you. This can be a great way to help each other gain more readerships without paying for advertising. But make sure you do it out of truly wanting to share the content and not because you’re looking for something in return. In fact, don’t even expect a share back because sometimes it may not happen. When they do share your posts, make sure to give them a big thank you.

 

Don’t Ask for Followers

If you decide to follow someone, don’t ask them to follow you back. This is a tacky tactic that you should always avoid. There’s no way you can ask without it sounding needy. Even if they do follow you back because you ask, it’s likely from feeling guilty, which won’t benefit you in any way. You want real followers. So instead, just follow and send a note about how you like their content or don’t write anything at all. Let the people you follow decide whether or not they would like to follow you back.

 

Give Props When it’s Due

When you write content that is based off of someone else’s post, give the original writer recognition. Let your readers know who inspired your post. Just make sure that the content is original and not plagiarized. Make sure to cite any sentences or phrases that you take from the other blogger. Giving props can give you kudos as a blogger and it could develop a relationship with the other blogger, who could potentially help you get more readers.

 

As a blogger, you are responsible for keeping proper etiquette flowing through the blogosphere. When you aren’t courteous or mindful of readers and other bloggers, you can hinder relationships and your status as a freelance writer.

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Cameron Mackey

Cameron is the Content Manager for the Vorongo Blog. He has spent three years in various content marketing roles. When he is not working with Vorongo he enjoys photography and hiking.

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