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How to Start (and KEEP) a Blog

50 Responses (Add) | Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 at 12:21am

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It happens to the best of us. We start a blog with every intention of keeping it up, and then things get in the way and we forget it. Maybe you don’t know what to write. Maybe you just don’t have time… many things come into play. Here are some excellent tips to help you get started, and stay focused.

  • Decide what it’s about If you’re writing for a particular audience, write what that audience wants to read. If you’re trying to reach out to D&D fans, don’t start writing about the Civil War. Only write about D&D and related topics. If you’re going for a more general audience, research what you’re going to update about and see if it’s already been blogged to death. Everyone blogs about politics, so stay away from it, unless your story is less than 12 hours old.
  • Don’t be concerned about comments. Just because someone doesn’t comment on an entry, that doesn’t mean people aren’t reading it, it most likely means they didn’t have anything to say about it. I’ve read tons of articles and blogs that I’ve never commented on, because I felt everything that needed to be said had been said in the entry itself, or was already in the comments. This doesn’t mean completely ignore comments – if no one ever comments on your blog, that almost certainly means no one is reading. I prefer to have comments disabled on my LJ, so I don’t have to worry about it. Instead, I let my readers comment me by email.
  • Let readers know when you’re gone. If you’re going on vacation and won’t be updating for a while, let your readers know. They may think that you’ve abandoned the blog and didn’t update about it, and remove you from their RSS subscriptions. This will decrease the number of readers of your blog.
  • Make sure you like your blog If you don’t like the way your blog looks, or your URL, change it. If you think there’s something wrong with it, there probably is. I’ve gone through this myself, and I changed the look of my previous journals countless times before I became completely happy with it. However, you may just think other people don’t like your look, so you need to get opinions. If you change the look of your blog, people may stop reading due to lack of familiarity.
  • Get a life Instead of worrying about what your next update will be about – get out and do something. If you just sit on the computer all day and tweak with your blog, it’s going to be a very boring read. I’ve learned that the less time you spend worrying about your blog, the more content you’ll have to write about. But make sure it’s interesting, because quantity does not equal quality.

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50 Comments

Allon’s Weblog

February 29th, 2008
at 2:17pm

How to Start, (and KEEP) a Blog

OpsanBlog

February 21st, 2008
at 3:26pm

Some sage advice. The short version (that which immediately resonated with me): Decide what it’s about Let readers know when you’re gone Make sure you like your blog Blogging? Be sure to read (and my thanks to) Chris Pirillo for “How to get (and keep) a blog”.

C'est gratuit

February 26th, 2008
at 6:07am

intention of keeping it up, and then things get in the way and we forget it. Maybe you don’t know what to write. Maybe you just don’t have time… many things come into play. Here are some excellent tips to help you get started, and stay focused.read next

Windows Vista Torrent

February 20th, 2008
at 9:00am

Tech InterviewsHow to Start (and KEEP) a BlogMaking an Investment in Yourself for Business How Not to Send an Email Mac Media Software (and Saving Money) Boot Camp vs VMware or Parallels Parallels or VMware Open Source Media Player Alternatives

Dale at Tech Talk for Families

February 20th, 2008
at 1:35am

And if you’re desperate for a topic to write about, google your topic & see what you’ve been missing.

scorpio

February 20th, 2008
at 3:17am

Hey Chris are you a pipe smoker – just a test

Mike

February 20th, 2008
at 4:58am

Wow, Chris, if you do a Google search on “pirillo”, you’re the top link, and that’s only to be expected. But if you do a Google search on “chris”, then — guess what — you’re the top hit for that, too.

At least with Google rankings like that no one will have a problem _finding- this blog. :-)

Roshan Patel

February 20th, 2008
at 8:19am

For other opinions of your blog(s), I recommend that you gegister with a service known as “LinkReferral”, http://www.linkreferral.com. Choose the free version, and others will look at your site, and review it. I’ve also enjoyed reviewing others’ websites too!

Shay

February 20th, 2008
at 9:10am

Wow, that’s pretty interesting! These tips have really helped me.

Kyle

February 20th, 2008
at 12:18pm

I really love it when you do these lists, you should start a website with all the lists you get!
Chris your like the Oprah of the tech nerds! ;p

Jeremy

February 20th, 2008
at 2:33pm

How much new content do you think someone needs to post in the beginning? What are some directories I need to list my blog in?

ynaggo

February 20th, 2008
at 2:57pm

Thanks this will help my blogging alot!

Scamslayer

February 20th, 2008
at 4:53pm

This is helpful. I’ve actually had some problems with my blog, and this will help me out!

Thanks Chris!

jbow2008

February 20th, 2008
at 5:18pm

i find it very hard personally to stay interested in typing a blog

illmatic291

February 21st, 2008
at 1:50am

does he have a life? no? oh ok

warlockdemon18

February 21st, 2008
at 2:26am

stfu

u dont like it why u watching it

Dildo

February 20th, 2008
at 9:57pm

I just found your blog after my friends and I sat around on IRC making fun of your awful youtube video. You should keep your day job, assuming you act less like a tool at it.

RobinJ1990

February 21st, 2008
at 5:35am

THIS GUY NEEDS A LIFE SERIOUSLY CRISS GET 1 BRO you need it so bad i know you make money off of youtube for doing this i dunno but man get a fuckin life you fucking virgin geek seriously. get 1 anyone comments to this

1 ALL DAY I SEE 100′S of fuckin retarted videos notice hes always in a fuckin chatroom

2 why keep making fucking videos on U-tube i understand that what you do but come on man all the fucking time

summ it up

COSTALTY ADDS BLOGGS ABOUT NON IMPORETENT SHIT shut the fuck up criss

artfungames

February 21st, 2008
at 6:47am

RobinJ1990 he doing his job.

KrnSidez

February 20th, 2008
at 11:57pm

i love using lockergnome. the only problem is that i dont like updating. i only update when i have a good idea. i usually post about once a week. http://lockergnome.com/krnsidez

~~~~Google

ChrisPirilloisafag

February 21st, 2008
at 7:16am

This guy must beats off while hes video & live Viewer’s watches his useless and gay videos… The guy is just another computer married fag on the net…. Your shit is gay man seriously get yout retarded ass a real life. All mac fags loves to kiss his this nerds ass and support his gay videos……

ChrisPirilloisafag

February 21st, 2008
at 7:16am

To All You Mac User Fags. Macs are the most shittiest computers ever made that is why you see law enforcements and all fedral business using windows. PC & Windows kicks macs in the ass.. That is why you all you gay mac users have so many problems with mac computers as they are shit and that is why you guys come to this retarded lame fuck to help you out because macs tech support is the shittest tech support ever….

rhtrv1

February 21st, 2008
at 7:41am

i dont think so, my uncle works for the Police Department and they only use Mac Pros. Also in the main department in California, they use Macs,so I think I would know a BIT more than you would

tigrous4ever

February 21st, 2008
at 8:04am

lol cool screensaver the dogs =D

RobinJ1990

February 21st, 2008
at 8:45am

LMAO!!!!!!!! Nice one buds and your right about macs they do sux you can’t even play good games like RE4 gearz of war shit like that i download torrents of one of the bestest games

RobinJ1990

February 21st, 2008
at 8:45am

cause i always see him posting you fuckin faggot thats why i didn’t even watch it just to comment and say its sucks like you asshole

silvercondouloboy06

February 21st, 2008
at 9:28am

o-O Mac OS X is MUCH better than Windows. OS X is UNIX based, Windows is NT based. UNIX is proven to be more efficient than NT, therefore, Mac OS X is better.

keim1220

February 21st, 2008
at 10:49am

1. Learn how to spell
2.Chris has a wife that is probably 20,000 hotter than yours if you even have one.
3.He usually only makes 5 videos a day, not hundreds.

artfungames

February 21st, 2008
at 10:52am

ChrisPirilloisafag he not doing anything bad. he just helping people. He picked this life and he really good at it.

Also was i not supost to respawn to people like
ChrisPirilloisafag? if not than oops.

Ion

February 21st, 2008
at 3:59am

It’s not hard to start a blog… but after 3 months the things get harder…

RobinJ1990

February 21st, 2008
at 11:44am

1 When i type fast sorry i can’t spell 2 5 a day are you fukin kidding me 5 a god dam day omg man i thought he makes 1 like every week man what the fuck no i don’t have a wife im 17 my pro only says 40 to view flagged shit yeahh i went over the limit

well im call criss and say have wanna fuck sometime cause you see to like him fuck off faggot

keim1220

February 21st, 2008
at 12:12pm

It’s Chris and your last sentence dosent make scence.

Max

February 21st, 2008
at 7:58am

Chris I don’t think that this is the right video…

OzarkMark

February 21st, 2008
at 10:40am

I find it difficult to blog on a daily basis. Especially to have a theme blog. I have too many ideas running through my head to consolidate into one area, but I do not relegate enough time to do it well. I know this is something I must change *upstairs*. After reading this, it has inspired me to do better.

I envy you in a small way because you make technology, blogging and streaming look easy. I am anxious to see the roll out of Lockergnome 2.0 and what changes are coming down the line.

Back to my blogging, I am going to try and make an effort to write something worthwhile. I see blogging as a way to transfer my life experience to those who may lack information in a certain area. I feel it also leaves me with a sense of continuity and immortality. When I die, even though I will be gone, what I have written will live on as long as the digital domain deems my bits and bytes worthwhile of being stored.

I wish blogging was around when my parents and grandparents were alive. As a child I loved to listen to my parents tell stories of their hardships during the depression and of my grandparents life in a now long gone country near the Ukraine and of coming to the new land of opportunity called America.

It would be a window into my heritage and of their life over a century ago, which is now lost in time, never to be known by anyone. As I have no children, everything that I am and have experienced will cease with my passing except for what I write in these comments and blogs. It is truly a unique time to be alive.

Chris Clemons

February 21st, 2008
at 8:11pm

I totally appreciate this! I’m trying to consistently work my blog into my schedule. Thanks for the help!

max1018

February 22nd, 2008
at 8:43am

I wouldn’t waste your time responding. People like ChrisPirilloisafag don’t have any more brain cells than mucus. They would only try and respond in some half-assed attempt at “insulting” you.

Oh, and don’t try and prove me wrong or something ChrisPirilloisafag. Nobody really cares.

max1018

February 22nd, 2008
at 8:46am

Common case of jealousy I suppose. RobinJ1900 is just jealous that he doesn’t have the kind of community that Chris has. Or a life.

And he surely doesn’t think he can get friends by talking like an idiot. Also interesting to note that he is subscribed to Chris’s channel, even though he supposedly hates him.

max1018

February 22nd, 2008
at 8:48am

They both have their ups and down. For me OS X is just what I need, after using Windows for most of my life so far. Let people choose what is better, in their opinion.

max1018

February 22nd, 2008
at 8:50am

I can’t play Gears of War?

1. Bootcamp.
2. Windows XP/Vista.
3. Gears of War.

Just as along as you have a Mac with a dedicated video card, not an integrated Intel one, then you should be able to play just fine.

RobinJ1990

February 22nd, 2008
at 10:54am

Shut the fuck up faggot Max1018 go suck crisses dick i am not jellious FAGGOT! fuck you

max1018

February 22nd, 2008
at 10:57am

Oh well done. I really REALLY feel sad now.

Grow up.

Poit388

February 22nd, 2008
at 5:57pm

What i use is ping-o-matic to submit my feed to multiple feed engines this gets readers i never say the word “blog” i always reply to comments.

Dave17

February 22nd, 2008
at 7:03pm

Thanks for blogging about this. I was going to start a blog and this has helped me.

Lucas Dos Santos

February 22nd, 2008
at 7:06pm

Thanks for the tips Chris. I’ve been brainstorming for an upcoming blog and these tips are really helpful. Especially the “don’t sit on your computer all day” one. You have no idea how many good blogs have been ruined by uninteresting posts. Sooo many people post 4-5 posts a day and none of them are even useful. I’m hoping to start up my blog soon. Nice work and I love your work.

wardriver

February 22nd, 2008
at 8:40pm

Hey chris, thanks for the tips. I was lookin into starting a blog and this will help me lots!

Ultraman5000

February 22nd, 2008
at 9:32pm

What I do to help out to keep up with my blog is..I make sure that it’s the last thing I do at night right before I go to bed. And it’s part of my nighttime regediment. Plus, I find it fun to do..that’s why I have like 3 blogs.

Vonney001

March 22nd, 2008
at 9:50pm

Hey Chris, You are really a brave person to
conduct such an informative and helpful video
on YouTube. I hope you ignore most of the
above comments and keep doing what you’re doing. As an old woman who likes to write/blog
about the first 59 years of my life, I really
appreciate your help. Secondly, I want a dog
just like Pixie. How old is he, and how did
you get him to behave so well while making
this video? Thanks for all you do.

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