When blogs were first introduced, many rabbis and educators in the Jewish world didn’t run to embrace blogging.
However, nowadays, there are a lot of Jewish personalities who have come to use their blog as a great vehicle on many fronts. If you still aren’t convinced of this, check out our post entitled, 4 Compelling Reasons Why Every Rabbi and Educator Should Blog.
And so, if you are a veteran to the blogosphere or are giving it a try for the first time, the following four tips will ensure your blog helps bring you and your organization success.
1. Get Personal
A blogpost is not a press release. It’s not meant to be cold, stoic and simply present information. A blogpost is inherently personal. Unlike a journalist, you aren’t meant to remove yourself from the story. When you write, don’t be afraid to use the first person and use lots of detail, while at the same time keeping your writing tight.
2. Engage Your Readers
As we discussed in the above mentioned post, don’t preach to your readers. Instead, strive to engage your readers. Ask them a question. Get them to want to be involved in your class or raise money for your cause.
Also, give your readers a reason to leave a comment or want to comment in person at your class. Keep in mind: when you ask them a question, it shows that you are the type of rabbi and educator who really cares and wants to know what they have to say.
If you do receive a comment, make sure to respond to every single comment. Every single one deserves a response. Nowadays, not responding to a comment is viewed like not answering your customer service line. Doesn’t exactly portray a warm and cozy feeling, does it? Plus, doing so allows you to ask another question and keep the conversation going.
3. Two Different Ways to Share Links
Blogs often share links to other blogs using something called a blogroll. A blogroll is a list of other blogs that you think your readers would enjoy. If you want to have a blogroll, it’s usually displayed in a list on the sidebar of a blog. You can read more about this here.
You can also consider posting a roundup of links that you enjoyed around the blogosphere. Let’s be honest. There’s a lot of negative blogs out there. But, if you could tip people off to some of the great Jewish blogs out there, you could help people read about topics that are more of a Kiddush Hashem! For an example of this concept, see here.
4. Never Give Up!
After several weeks of writing, you may hear this voice in your head that wonders, Is it worth still doing? I mean I don’t have thousands of hits yet?”
Always keep in mind: gaining a real online following takes time. Plus, the more you write, the more you develop your style, help yourself at a personal and professional level by working on your communication skills, and by extension, are one step closer to seeing blogging pay off for you and your organization. Don’t give up. You can do this!
To help give your words traction, make sure that you try and implement some of the tips found in this great infographic below:
