How can you use a WordPress site?

With a WordPress site, you can share your ideas with others. This has many benefits! For one, it will give you plenty of practice writing about things that you enjoy writing about. It will let others know what you are up to and thinking about. It will also gather positive attention from your peers, which can be beneficial in a variety of situations.

Where do I find the time to write?

Your posts don’t have to be long and exhausting to write. You can have an idea, jot it down on your WordPress site, and share it with the world immediately. If you see something you like on the Internet, you can share it on your WordPress site. Writing posts doesn’t need to be stressful; they’re simply collections of thoughts.

Keep an editorial calendar to note what you would like to write and when you would like to post it. This is a good way to plan ahead for writing to your WordPress site. This also helps you to remember to pay attention to your WordPress site on a regular basis.

You can schedule posts to be published at anytime. If you know you will be too busy later to address an upcoming issue, go ahead and write the post and schedule it to be released at a later date.

What should I write?

Consider your audience and what is important to them when you decide what to write. Here are a few ideas for your site content:

  • Share ideas.
  • Connect with your community.
  • Promote events.
  • Talk about current issues.
  • Write articles.
  • Recruit volunteers.
  • Host guest bloggers.
  • Provide tips.
  • Review resources.

How much should I write?

An average post is between 250 and 1000 words. Don’t write a lot just to make your post long, but make sure to write enough to cover the topic well. Stay focused and narrow the topic down if you need to.

Your post’s length depends on a few things. Consider:

  • Your reader’s attention span
  • Quantity of posts
  • Type of post
  • Comprehensive coverage

See ProBlogger: Post Length – How Long Should a Blog Post Be?

If you are using posts to republish links to other web pages, be sure to write a summary to indicate why the resource is important. Your WordPress home page will include a short excerpt of all of your posts, as you write them. Be sure that this page is of value to your readers.

How often should I write?

Write as often as you are able to create engaging, relevant content. It may be that you update your site weekly or bi-weekly. You may update your WordPress site more often during busy seasons or to help address current issues in your community.

Can I send email updates to subscribers?

Absolutely. Creating a way to send regular posts to captivate your audience is a great way to promote your content.

How can I tell if I’m successful?

Keep an eye on your site’s web analytics to track how your WordPress site is doing.

Which of your posts are most popular? What are some success factors you can identify for a post? This could be anything from writing style, length or tone to the relevance of the topic to your audience. Were you addressing a specific issue or promoting a current event? Are you engaging your audience in the comments or asking them for feedback on the post?

You may see spikes on certain days because you also are sending an email update to subscribed readers.

Take all of these items into consideration and adjust your WordPress site as you need to. It’s okay to be flexible and adapt to what is most beneficial and successful for your audience.

Tips for beginners:

  • Define your goals.
  • Know your audience.
  • Be consistent.
  • Be persistent.
  • Be inviting.
  • Be visible.
  • Try new things.
  • Ask for help.
  • Keep learning.
  • Be yourself.

(Source: Top Tips for Beginner Bloggers)

Signs of a good blogger:

  • Posts frequently.
  • Uses catchy, unique, specific headlines.
  • Develops a public voice.
  • Doesn’t ramble.
  • Links to other bloggers.
  • Caters to a niche audience.
  • Interacts with readers.
  • Actively participates online.
  • Engages readers in conversation.

Keep it professional!

  • Don’t hurt your or the organization’s reputation.
  • Check your facts and cite your sources.
  • Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say in person.
  • Watch your language.
  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest.
  • Respect confidentiality.

(Source: https://www.slideshare.net/corinnew/blogging-managing-your-personal-brand-presentation/)