It is true that anyone can open a blog and upload it to the cyberspace for the whole world to see. However, maintaining a successful blog for a long time is a mission most bloggers find difficult. Blogging platforms are free and easy to use by even the most technophobic writer, but qualities such as creativity, originality, enthusiasm, not to mention spare time, patience and an elephant's skin are less accessible.



So, what's sets apart the popular blogger who manages to post (at least) on a weekly basis to a large audience of subscribers from the ones who had neglected their blogs to death not long after the initial passion had faded? Or in other words, how can you run a successful blog for a long time?

Do's and Don'ts in Maintaining a Blog:

1.Write about what you know and, more importantly, love. When you come to make your most important blog decision - choose a topic – start by eliminating the traffic bringing subjects and leave behind the topics that interest you the most. Whether it is online pool, medieval manuscripts or backgammon, if you are truly passionate about it, it would be a far better idea than running one more blog that discusses the possibility of making money out of blogging.

2.Don't go to the already worn out highway! If you don't have any new, smart or funny insight to share which hasn't been already shared before by thousands of bloggers, or if your words of wisdom on that certain topic are about to run out within 2-3 posts, maybe you are picking the wrong blog topic.

3.Be creative! Don't repeat the same idea in each and every blog post and definitely do not adapt other bloggers' freshly home made ideas. If you want to keep your subscribers loyal for a long time, you must find new, original ways to keep them hooked on your blog.

4.Don't neglect your readers. Maintaining a blog is more like writing a feature column than keeping a personal journal. If you'll fluff and update rarely, you will be quickly forgotten. Therefore, thrive to add a new post (at least) once a week. If you know that for some reason you'll be unable to post in the near future, let your readers know about it.

5.Socialize! Encourage your readers to take an active part in reading your blog, by asking questions, adding polls, etc., they won't resist the temptation to add comments. And, of course, become an active reader at your fellow bloggers' blogs. When you do, please, try to write something less blunt than: "I like your blog, please visit mine".

6.Develop an elephant's skin. The World Wide Web in general and the blogosphere in particular is a wild area when it comes to anonymous insults and various types of harassments, especially if you are a woman blogger. Unless your personal safety and privacy is in danger, the best way to deal with it is simply to ignore it.