17 Short and Simple Rules for the New Blogger

1. Always tell the truth: Your credibility is your greatest asset in the blogosphere.
2. Post fast: If you've got something to say, get it out there. Now
3. Post often: Always be on the lookout for something to write about.
4. If you may a mistake, fix it fast.
5. Don't be afraid to apologize if you get it wrong.
6. Write like a human: Be yourself. Authenticity is everything.
7. Keep it short: If your post is more than 150 words, consider breaking it into two posts.
8. Keep it interesting.
9. Link often: Readers love links. So do search engines.
10. Write interesting headlines that say exactly what your post is about: If your headline is boring, why will a subscriber bother to click on it to read the post. A good, clear headline also makes it easier for search engines to promote your work.
11. Choose your URL wisely and never change it: You'll lose links as well as readers.
12. Make it easy to subscribe: Use a Feedburner or similar free service to add an easy subscription button to your blog.
13. Make it easy to recommend your blog: Add direct links to social bookmarking sites. Feedburner can do this for you.
14. Customize the look of your blog as much as your skills will allow.
15. Learn basic HTML so you can apply Rule 12 more often: It's easier than it looks. Take a three-hour beginner class, or buy a cheap computer tutorial, and you'll learn all you really need to know to make your blog sharp.
16. Encourage participation from your audience: Turn on your blog's comments and let your readers have their say. Ask for help with a problem. That often gets the conversation going.
17. Treat everyone well: Be courteous, even with others are not.

Rusty Cawley writes about the tips, tricks, tools and techniques of Web 2.0 for bloggers, podcasters and other participants in social media. Get his free presentation: "10 Easy Steps to Launching Your Weblog." Visit www.BraveNewWeb.Info.