Digital News Journalist

Many bloggers developed reputations by aggregating and linking to topical content. What these bloggers scoured for across the Web and then chose to link to was the editorial judgment that others valued. Two great examples of this are Romenesko and Instapundit.com.

Here is a framework, however, for a blog writing style that works if you are trying to do more than links out to articles by others:

–Readers want your opinion!

–Keep it short and sweet: no more than 150 to 200 words.

–Write in a breezy and conversational style.

–Write a compelling headline that lives up to its billing.

–Post regularly and frequently–your audience now expects new material on your site often and regularly.

–Sprinkle links liberally throughout—to sites that have written on the same topic or a related topic.

–Link to news articles that report in detail on a topic that you are commenting upon.

–It’s okay not to know everything and to even admit it. Just admit it when you don’t have every single fact. Tell your readers that you’re looking into it. Don’t forget to ask if they have a lead for that info.

–Write like you really care about the subject.

–Use keywords that search engines can pick up.

–Use lists, subheads, indents and such to make it more scan-able.

–If you made an error in a post that is live for only a few minutes, edit it. But if that error has remained on your site for some time, strike it out and also insert the correct info.

–Develop a consistent style. People will come back to your blog because they are interested in your opinion and they like the way you express that opinion.

–You can end a post by asking a question that draws readers to react to your post with a comment.

Blog writing does not end there.

–You need to visit other bloggers who write about similar topics and post comments on their blogs. Not to post a link to your site, but to join and be a part of a conversation!

–Respond to readers who have posted comments in your blog.

Examples:

• Livesinfocus: High risk behavior
• DailyKos.com
• WSJ.com’s law blog
• CNN.com’s health blog
• Lessig Blog
• New Yorker’s George Packer