Six Characteristics and Qualities of a Successful Blogger

Update (September 7th): I made a short 5 minute video clip.  I’ll place inside this post but it will also be on the front page to view at any time.

Blogging requires that you discipline yourself to adopt a certain set of characteristics.  Everyone is different but, in the end, there are universal qualities every successful  blogger must have.

Genuine

If there’s something you want to write about, there is a good chance that someone else already did it.  It doesn’t matter.

Producing quality content doesn’t necessarily mean that no one else ever touched the topic.

What makes your writing yours, what makes your content unique, what will make readers come back to your blog is your approach to the topic of discussion.

No one else has had the same life experience as you and we are different in some way from one another.  Bringing your personality to you writing is what makes your post authentic and genuine.

Hard Worker

Another factor in writing original material for your blog is effort.  Anyone can throw a blog post together in 20 minutes, but a successful blogger take his or her time.

One rule to writing that I will continue to emphasize is this: You should never publish a blog post without editing and proofreading it. This is a rule that applies to all writers but even more so to bloggers.  Why?  Because it is much easier to publish your content.

You will always want to revisit your blog entry before it is published.  Try to do this at least a few hours after you write it.  If this is a post that you want to be a big hit with your readers then leave it for a full 24 hours.

Confident

Never avoid writing a post because you think your readers won’t like it.  Do that and you might miss out on writing what could have been your best post.  If you want to write about something and you feel passionately about it, then write it.  Be confident in your abilities to interact with your readers and know that that confidence comes from writing about things you care about.

Your job as a blogger is not to “please” your readers.  Sometimes that will happen and sometimes it won’t.  What your readers really want is to be able to interact with your writing in some way. This interaction may come in the form of comments and discussion.  Other times it may be that your post caused him or her to begin thinking more deeply about whatever it is you wrote about.

Open-minded

This point is directly linked to the previous.  However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between confidence and arrogance  When you are writing your content make sure you stay open-minded to other views (this does not apply to matters of aqeedah of course).  Just because you are the writer does not mean you are the smartest, most knowledgeable person on the issue.  Believe in your readers and they will believe in you.

When you are piecing together your thoughts for a post, write it as confidently and genuinely as you can.  At the same time, you need to leave room for discussion. Your readers need to feel like their opinions can be voiced and that they can freely (and openly) disagree with you.

Arrogance is something that is reflected everywhere, even our writing.  I ask Allah (swt) to protect us from arrogance because it takes only a mustard seed’s weight of arrogance to keep us from Jannah.

Creative

You are the creative type.  The very fact that you turned to a blog as a form of communicating a message is a creative behavior on its own.

The problem isn’t whether or not you are creative.  Rather, the problem is what is limiting your creativity.

One of the top reasons you feel you’re not the creative type is because you tell yourself that.  Instead of telling yourself that you’re not creative enough – do the opposite.

There’s no secret to creativity.  It is a skill, not a talent that we’re born like — and like any other skill, it gets better with practice.

Right Intentions

The Prophet (saw) said that from the branches of eeman is removing an object from the road.  Imagine then if you had the right intention when blogging.  Imagine if you were writing and communicating knowledge that could benefit and inspire people.

Subhan’Allah brothers and sisters, with the right intention Allah (swt) could grant you Jannah if He so pleased.  When you blog, remember why you are doing it and keep in mind that you will see every letter you typed again on the Day of Judgment.

One of the only things that can benefit you after your death is leaving something behind that helped people after you.  Make your intention to please Allah (swt) and Insha’Allah you will reap the fruits of in dunya and akhira.

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This list is not as complete as it could be.  There are many other characteristics and qualities that everyone should have.

My question to you is what other characteristics and qualities should bloggers in specific have?

(Photo: clspeace)