I’m in the midst of starting up another blog with someone else at the moment and I’ve found a massive benefit in using posting guidelines.
Posting guidelines are basically a set of loose rules or a guide for what your blog posts should look like.
Here is an example from my new project:
- Try to average around 200-300 words per post.
- Nothing over 400 words, any more and it should be split into a series of posts.
- Make one point per post, write another post if there are multiple points.
- Keep information bite-sized.
- Aim to write posts that are easily digested and provoke thought on one idea at a time.
- Be useful. If it’s a filler post, don’t bother, people can tell.
- Give advice, but keep in mind we don’t know everything.
- Explore a topics in a way that shows we’re still learning.
- Try not to tell people what to do, but don’t be afraid to present the facts.
- Keep post headings to the point, try not to fluff it too much.
Obviously guidelines are just that, guidelines. They cover the majority – expect some exceptions.
It is however a great way of laying it all out on the table for all of the contributors to see. Posting guidelines can be useful for introducing new guest posters too and saves having to repeat the same rules everytime you get a submission for a guest post.
If you run a blog, or are in the midst of starting one, try to come up with a handful of guidelines about what you would like your posts to look like. What are some of their distinguishing characteristics? When should you split a post into a series? Are there any common elements or structures that must be included?
Any more tips on creating blog posts would be greatly appreciated! What do you find useful to keep in mind when crafting a new blog post? Tell us about it in the comments.
