Blogging can be an invaluable way to share your ideas with the world, but it's essential that your blog follows some guidelines to ensure a professional and enjoyable experience for readers.

Avoid offensive language and imagery in your posts, and use photos and videos that have proper credit given for them. Also keep your writing easy to read by using sans-serif fonts with short paragraphs.

1. Be original

Originality is of utmost importance in blogging; without something fresh to contribute to the conversation, readers won't continue visiting your site.

Find creative ways to be original by interviewing others, attending conferences and webinars related to your topic, or participating in discussions online. Consider adding photos or videos to make posts more visually stimulating, but always be clear as to who owns any rights related to what content posted.

2. Be consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to blogging; otherwise, your blog could quickly become outdated and lose reader interest. If you fail to publish posts consistently on a blog, reader interest could quickly decline resulting in loss of traffic.

Consistent posting can also help increase your search engine rankings, especially if you create posts around specific keywords or phrases.

Plan ahead and set aside regular blocks of time for writing. This will allow you to remain consistent in your blogging schedule, as well as maintain a similar tone throughout your posts - this helps readers quickly recognize who they're reading from.

3. Don’t be a one-hit-wonder

Whatever its foundation may be, blogging's success relies on more than writing; it requires engagement with an audience.

Be consistent, post regularly, and always add something new - whether that means taking an unorthodox angle on an existing topic or writing "part two" of an earlier blog. Be sure to include relevant images, videos and links for your readers' enjoyment!

4. Don’t plagiarize

Plagiarism is an ongoing problem in blogging. It constitutes theft that compromises both the credibility of your posts and trust between readers and bloggers.

Plagiarism should never be tolerated on any blog. You should include a disclaimer on your blog that all the content posted there belongs solely to yourself or attribute your sources in order to deter content thieves from taking credit for what is theirs. This can also help stop copycat blogs from copying what's written there as well.

5. Don’t ramble

No blog post can survive without the writer being passionate about its subject matter, which is why selecting one that sparks your interest is crucial to its success. Take your time researching it thoroughly so your topic comes across authentically in your writing style and to its readers.

Do not be intimidated to experiment and get creative when blogging; blogs cover everything from photo blogs to step-by-step guides. Just ensure your information is presented in an accessible way and use journalistic skepticism when questioning everything presented as factual and correct. One can visit the site codyhochstenbach.com/ to get complete insights about Blogging.

6. Don’t be a hater

Haters are an indicator that what you're posting is more than vanilla fluff. Whether you're writing about your day or doing hand lettering, when someone has something negative to say about you that proves you aren't just boring.

Haters provide you with an opportunity to prove them wrong. Lashing out will only encourage them to keep at it and possibly find new ammunition against you; take the high road by thanking them for providing feedback instead.

7. Don’t spam

Spam comments - whether automated or from untrustworthy humans - can clog up a discussion section and turn readers off, potentially harming search engine rankings as a result.

Blog spam resembles email spam in terms of its goals; gaining backlinks. It often takes the form of trackbacks, comments and pingbacks and is difficult to detect as it often comes disguised as genuine replies; here are some tips that may help.

8. Don’t mention other bloggers

As a blogger, it's crucial that you follow proper etiquette when mentioning other blogs - otherwise you risk offending or harming their readership and making them less likely to revisit yours in future.

Follow these rules of blogging to create a successful blog and expand your readership! So what are you waiting for? Start writing! Lily Herman is an award-winning New York-based writer and editor whose work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29 Cosmopolitan and TIME magazines.