Blogger etiquette

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Just a little advice I have for you. Maybe you are experienced bloggers who get asked how to begin/improve a blog by newcomers, so show them this. There is a chance you are someone who just started a blog or perhaps you are thinking of doing it, then this is created specially for you with all my geeky-nerdy-gamer-blogger-love.

What blogging is NOT

First of all, please acknowledge that the process of becoming a blogger is completely different from:

1. Waking up one day thinking you'll become a millionaire by your first month of blogging.
2. Turning your computer on and getting online.
3. Getting into wordpress/blogger.
4. Registering a new account.
5. Logging in.
6. Click on "create new blog"-like option.
7. Picking a catchy name.
8. Choosing an original address.
9. Picking a theme.
10. Posting an entry.
11. Pick your favorite: Write once every three years / Never come back / Open one blog per thought in your head.

Let me tell you this: if you want to share one thought and never come back, or write about what you dig the most right now, go to this website, create a new account (if you happen to live in a mountain and not have one already) and fill THAT site with crap. If you really want to blog, even as a hobby, do it frequently. 'About what' you may ask, that's your choice, but it is social media-courtesy to close a blog if you won't use it anymore. You will contribute to the creation of a better social networking media through the web. For every abandoned blog out there, an evil baby dolphin rips out a unicorn's horn with its mouth.

Here's a little secret: you see that address right now "geeklygamer" on top of your browser?, it's cute isn't it, an ohsoclever game with "geek" and "weekly". Soooo nice... well, actually I like it, but not as much as eleventy zillion other options, which were better, that are already used by people who have one or two entries on those blogs and nothing more since 2006!

Apart from all that there are some other etiquette implicit "rules" you should consider:

Active role (content producer)

As a content producer on the web consider this method:

Read - Write - Post - Share - Answer -

Read always to improve your writing and if you are not writing about a personal matter, read about the topic/genre you are writing.

Write and take your time for every entry. Don't rush them, review them and make corrections. also try to keep a solid style. Take me as an example (even as a bad one) I try to include ranting/sarcastic humor at least once per entry. Also I try to write like I'm speaking directly to you. Also when you post some images, video or audio, give proper credit to the owner of the media and/or the site where you took it from, same goes for quotes or paraphrasing. If I catch you plagiarizing I'll send Marcellus Wallace himself to deal with you. Finally on this matter: DO NOT steal bandwith, be nice and download whatever you use and then upload it to your site.

Post your new piece of bloggart when you feel it's ready (NOTE: ready does not mean perfect).

Share it without spamming. This is a MUST. It is horrible to see the same person tweet a link 45 times within the lifespan of a single mosquito. you will tire people. Share it once in your FB account, once or twice on twitter (and with some hours between), maybe on forums that are related to that specific post, etc.

Answer your comments. should you get one single comment or one gazillion of them try to answer them all. Of course if you become famous like this uberdudeyou won't be able to answer them all, but like him, be polite and at least READ THEM ALL and be polite giving some follow-up  to the topics your readers mention.

As you see, there is a little hyphen after the last step back there, it's because it continues towards...

Semi-passive role (content consumer)

Visit - Comment - Share - Socialize

Visit other blogs and read them. Either them being of similar topic to yours or not. Learn from them. Maybe get some inspiration. Know what you are doing right and wrong.

Comment when other posts deserve it. Maybe because it is an awesome blog or entry. Maybe because it sucks as much as undead skin. Whatever the case be polite in your comments.

Share blogs you like, it will be appreciated and you may get to invite them to read you. Share them but not spam with them.

Socialize in the net. I do not mean in horny chat rooms, but search for tweets about what you like. Talk to people, maybe follow some (DO NOT ASK OR EXPECT follow back), show them (occasionally) your blog posts and ask them for their opinion. Also see what they ask you to see.

That's basically how you should expect to be a nice blogger. I mean Success in this area as a career path is a nice dream and objective, but it takes years to get a strong position in the web. Be interesting, be clear, be yourself.