Today I thought I’d compile a definitive list of must follow rules for bloggers that all successful blogs follow:
I was going to stop at ten, but 11 has a much nicer ring to it, don’t you think? Plus point number 11 brings them all together nicely.
This post was inspired by a variety of comments, tweets, and blog posts of late that suggested I or other well-known blogging “experts” teach “rules” or “systems” of blogging.
The reality is that there are no rules. While ProBlogger obviously contains a lot of teaching about blogging, I’d never want to suggest that all blogs need to subscribe to a single philosophy of blogging. Rather, this blog is a place where I hope to share what I do, as well as sharing what has and hasn’t work for me (and similarly, to let guest bloggers share their own experiences).
The reason I take this approach is that of the numerous blogs that I’ve been involved with over the last nine years, no two blogs have been identical in terms of what has and hasn’t worked. There are some principles that have worked for me, but transfer those ideas to other blogs, and there are no guarantees of success.
There are also a few strategies that I personally avoid in blogging that I’ve had little or no success with; however, they’ve worked for others.
If anything, the only “rule” of blogging that I’d be brave enough to preach is: find your own way.
Most of the successful blogs that I’ve come across have something unique about them. It might be the personality or voice of the blogger, the topic, the design, the fact that they were first, that they’re funny, that they’re comprehensive and thoughtful, that they post 100 times a day, or that they post once a month… But each of them is unique somehow.
Successful bloggers tend to forge their own path. Many of them are aware of what works for others and learn by observing, but they also take what they learn, experiment with it for themselves, and let it evolve in a way that fits with them and their audience.
Great blog post, and I’m not just saying that because I have decided to break quite a few of the rules that blogging experts say that I should follow.
For example, “the rules” say that you should post something consistently. I have decided to post something when it is good and ready. Consequently, I’m having much more fun with my new blog than in previous attempts at blogging. I’m also posting things that are far more substantial than you typically see on a blog.
I have also been breaking “the rules” that you should do a lot of list posts. It’s rare that I like a list post that is greater than 10 items. In my opinion, it seems like there is some law of the universe that the value of each item on a list is inversely proportional to the number of items on the list. Sure, there are exceptions, but not many.
I also have not been making my titles particularly shocking or attention-getting, partly because I’m so sick of seeing posts titled something like “THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT CHEESEBURGERS!”
It’s quite possible that my website will be a dismal failure because I’m breaking “the rules.” If so, then so be it. I decided that my target market is ME. That is, I’m trying to write in a way that would interest ME, if I had stumbled upon my blog. I’m taking a chance on the idea that there are quite a few people in the world that have similar interests. We will see how it works.
“These go to eleven. that’s one more the ten.”
I think the last paragraph sums it up perfectly! :-)
Successful bloggers tend to forge their own path. Many of them are aware of what works for others and learn by observing, but they also take what they learn, experiment with it for themselves, and let it evolve in a way that fits with them and their audience.
The post is actually brilliant! You post your own rules. You post your own techniques. If the writer have written his 11 rules, then you will be sticking to those rules and never follow what your heart and mind tells you. Great post.
You had very good points in that trying what works for you is the best method. You could read all of the blogs and ebooks that you want but until you see what is going to work best for you it does not matter. I am understanding that for myself that you need to measure your own success blogging by attempting to try something and if it does not give you the results that you like then you should be moving onto something that does. But, take what you have learned from that experience and implement the bad into something more good for you to produce the results that you would like.
Haha. This post tricked me. When I read the title “The 11 Definitive Rules of Blogging” I’m excited to read this rules but when it opened whoala! No Rules. But still thanks for posting. Somehow, I learned something. :)) Thanks!
1000 times THIS!
I really get sick of the pompous, pretentious asses who claim to have cracked the secret code of “DOs” and “DONTs” to successful blogging.
For each of us, life is a story. And we’re all going to tell it differently. It’s time to appreciate those differences. The self-proclaimed “experts” can go eat it.
Thank you for posting.
Hi Darren,
You said,
“If anything, the only “rule” of blogging that I’d be brave enough to preach is: find your own way.”
I violently agree now.
After spending like a month reading blogs after blogs trying to find a guided path for my own blog, I too can’t find 2 identical blogs in terms of presentation and character. Got really confuzed and frustrated until I saw this post. Thanks, this is the best advice for me.
Tricky, I was looking for 11 rules! :) So all the 11 rules boil down to only one rule: :” find your own way” :)
Yep, no rule is the rule. There are numerous ways to success online. Only the sky is the limit.
These 11 rules are a great way to find out what a good profitable strategy might be since people list things like “learn how to play basketball” and “finally discover how to make a gourmet pizza.
I would have to agree that it is best to find your own way.
Still i don’t have made any rule to my blogging. And i hope it will continue…
Yes, I believe blogging is just what anyone feels about XYZ subject and then suggest and review and guidance for the people who are are searching for opinions.
nice one! totally agree. the more i try and do what i’m told the more i arse up my blog…
Good point. I get so frustrated at reading the same old points repeated again and again across the blogging blogs.
Some of the messages are so tired – yes yes, find a voice, yada yada build a mailing list… whatever.
My favourite is the old “it takes time to build a successful blog”. Really? Mine hit a regular 5,000 daily unique visitors after just a week.
There really are no rules.
Hahaha… I was about to write that there was something missing at the start of your post, or something wrong with my browser.
So refreshing.
Love it !!!
The main rule: there is no rules!
Whole Internet is based on this!
Not sure if you were going to write a post about the 10 rules of successful blogging but then didn’t have the time or this is how you meant to do it from the outset. Don’t know if I like it or not. I do agree, however, that there are no rules per se but that there is a general framework that leads to success. But, yes, creating a unique identity and niche by forging your own path is true.
I guess what you are really saying is be authentic and then build on it and keep learning. I get the message loud and clear.
I guess what you are really saying is be authentic and then build on it and keep learning. I get the message loud and clear.
I agree that we have to find our way to blogging success. It’s true that there are no fix rules or right way to do blogging but some tips and tricks do work across many blogs. Any one agree with me?
thank God this wasn’t another top 10 list… cause those suck ;)
Unique way to craft a post man. Just awesome :-). I agree with you, when you say Successful Bloggers carve their own way out.
After seeing the 11 definitive rules to blogging, my first reaction was laughing :D
Nice post. There are two things that are true: first, Find your own way, and second, Successful bloggers tend to forge their own path.
This is very true! No two blogs are alike and different things work better on certain sites and niches. The things I’ve really come to understand is that you need to be yourself and be honest with your readers because you will never get anywhere without being viewed as credible. Making your readers feel like they are part of a community and have a voice will also help!
Excellent advice.
A bit like life, I guess. We all need to decide what works for each of us, because we are not all the same. There really isn’t any “one size fits all”, not in clothing, not in life and not in blogging either.
I find the answer for me is to read as much information as I can and then pick out what appeals or suits my current agenda best – as a strategy this seems to be going fairly well for now!
I clicked the link from Twitter expecting to find a post that I might want to share with a new blogger I’m working with in my company. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I’ll definitely be sharing it! Mahalo (thanks) for a smile this morning.
I always thought there were twelve. :-)
Nailed it!
Yea man, you’re totally right about this. There isn’t just one way. I think too many people (certainly me at one point), spend too much time trying to get answers instead of just shipping, observing and calibrating along the way!
I particularly align with what you said about bloggers forging their own path.
THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE! As long as you’re cranking out super unique stuff, with your own voice and you genuinely give a crap about your readers! Something Problogger does with grace.
I like the tenacity of this post, man!
Ryan
I agree that making rules becomes too limiting. When I first started my blog I used other popular blogs as a role model. Now that I am more comfortable, I will add my own unique way to it.
I am a blogger from China, and my rule is only one: keep your domain owned more years, keep your webhosting active more years. And then it is simple.
So many bloggers stop his blog just only because of domain lost, or webhosting suspended.
#3 was my favorite…just say’n. Great Post!!
I have broken so many rules and have found a great difference in my blogging after I have done so. I strongly believe that blogging should come on its own and very spontaneously. When you try to put constraints, that’s is like killing your creativity. Let your thoughts fly till the sky.
Cheers for that Darren.
Jane.
And this is why you are the @problogger
Yes, #11 is great to me too but others are also interesting :-)
Great post! I read it and laughed aloud. The great ones really do forge their own path and I’m happy to say I’m attempting to do it my way!
Brilliant. Nice move. It tricked me too. I thought this could be the blog post that really help me out in starting out blogging. For a moment I was wondering if there’s a problem with my browser… I even tried to highlight the area to see if I could uncover something. You’re right. There’s just no right way/rules.
As someone who just launched her blog two months ago, this is the reminder I needed. Make my own rules and if I don’t love it, don’t do it!
Thanks for the advice – its a very useful article. We’re looking to build our blog and need to find a focus. This has helped us realise we can be unique and useful in such a niche market.
Yeah,I am agree with author. Without unique thought we can live in blogging world. Always need some unique idea for blog.
Hi! Do you think that these rules are helpfull also for corporate blogs? I am curious about your opinion! Thanks a lot
Love this post, especially your comment: “Successful bloggers tend to forge their own path. Many of them are aware of what works for others and learn by observing, but they also take what they learn, experiment with it for themselves, and let it evolve in a way that fits with them and their audience.”
Since I’m just re-branding my business and have a completely new blog starting up, I find that speaking in my own voice will be the most liberating and exciting part of it all.
Another great post! Well done Darren. I’ve just launched my PR blog over at http://www.cleverpr.info and I have tried to implement most of the things I have read here at ProBlogger.
I’ll certainly be coming back for more!
When I first started I often wondered who I was suppose to sound or be like and at the end of the day, just being myself worked best. I could careless who likes or dislikes my blog. I love sharing what I know to my readers no matter how big or small they are. They find something of value in what I write and that’s all that matters to me. Be hones, have a voice and keep it real!
Definitely agree with you. :)
Everyone has a different goal and a different path that would be suitable for them to reach that goal. Thus, it doesn’t always work to just follow what everyone is doing.
Break the rules, and stand out.
Cheers,
Allen
Ha Ha. You got me Darren. I have read so may ebooks, blogging blogs until I got information overload and almost stopped blogging. Life is a journey, where we venture in new interests, we trip over now and again, until we find what our life’s journey is all about.
I have found this is what blogging is all about:
* Follow your gut instincts
* Test your blogs by checking Google Analytics
* See what blogs get the most hits
* Adjust your blogging strategies to keep or increase your traffic flow.
The blogging blogs are great for getting strategic ideas, but don’t follow them to the letter. They’re only suggestions. Write your blogs, test, test, test and check your traffic stats.
Above all, Patience is a virtue.
love this post!
there are tons of ways to be successful and what works for my blog, is not guaranteed to work for anyone else.
fact of the matter is, if you put yourself out there and blog because you have a passion for something then you will find success. monetarily or otherwise. success is not always measured in $$’s
brandon
Classic. This put a smile on my face.
Point well made and wonderfully simply.
Cheers for sharing
Barney
good post. everyone is unique and there really are no rules. some sites thrive an others fail, but I believe that as long as the owner is passionate about their blog, they are bound to succeed.
Thanks for that bit of information. When I came to this site I thought that I was going to learn what I was doing wrong and what I needed to do right. Instead, it was a breath of fresh air reading this post that basically told me to just be me and to allow my blog to be mine. I am grateful for your experience and your wisdom in that you encourage us to learn from you, but not to attempt to be a copy of you. Thank you for inspiring individualism, which is what we need for each of our blogs to be what we intend for them to be.
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