It seems that a new blog pops up in cyberspace on a daily basis. That’s probably because the reality of the matter is that there are dozens that actually do. This means that if you’re considering starting up your own blog, you will definitely have a lot of competition.

That’s no reason to feel intimated, though. There’s only one you and so there’s a signature style that only you can put into the mix. However, if you want to be the kind of blogger that people will check out on a consistent basis and forward along to their friends, there are some essential elements that come with creating an engaging blog post that you should keep in mind.

Here are five of them.

Be a good writer. You’re probably thinking “Duh”, but you’d be amazed how many blogs exist that has a ton of typos and random content that doesn’t sound like streams of consciousness, but rather big paragraphs of confusion. The great thing about a blog is that it doesn’t have to be AP style. In other words, it’s not a newspaper so you can definitely be more casual. But, make sure that your writing is clear, creative and intelligent. People read blogs to learn or to laugh, but not to do a lot of mental editing.

Be current. If you’re talking about last season’s Real Housewives or something that happened to you last Christmas, chances are, you’re not going to hold a lot of people’s attention. One thing about the Internet is that it feeds people’s cravings for instant gratification, especially when it comes to retrieving information. So, whether it’s celebrities, fashion, music, politics or even relationships, make sure you keep up with the latest info to merge in with your own insights and perspectives.

Be engaging. There are some bloggers that have become popular for being on a soapbox, but honestly, there are enough of those to where new ones are not really in high demand. A more intriguing blogger is someone who shares their points of view, but also looks for comments from the people who are reading their material as well. So, make sure to have a comment section that is open to your blog visitors and in your copy, ask you them a question or two at the end to get an online conversation going.

Be on “one side of the fence” or another. When it comes to just about any form of creative article writing, people are more apt to find you interesting if you have a firm stance on something rather than if you’re vacillating on an issue. If you’re starting up a blog so that you can have a platform where everyone will always like what you have to say, then you’re starting it for the wrong reasons. A blog is your personal bit of space on the World Wide Web and you have every right to speak your mind, so do it. Readers may not always like what you have to say, but you tend to gain more respect when you have a clear resolve.

Be consistent. One of the most annoying things is to go on a blog that hasn’t been updated in the past year. If you’re going to take blogging seriously, make sure you update your content on a fairly consistent basis whether that’s daily, weekly or bi-weekly. Once people get used to seeing your content on somewhat of a schedule, it’s more likely that they will follow your blog and also share it with their friends. And once you get a steady audience, no matter how small or large, consider that to be your first sign that you’re officially a successful blogger.
Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Article Myriad, your source for quality articles on a wide range of subjects.