First, an exercise. Then, a blazing finale. (perhaps) To complete this exercise, you'll need: Take the first sticky note and use the crayon to write whatever you expect to get out of your new blog. It's important to use the crayon because it's bulky, awkward, and not the best tool for the job at hand. Much of blogging is the same way. You might be an excellent writer but a mediocre editor and a terrible salesperson. That's okay. But if you want to build a successful blog, you must be willing to step into a variety of roles and learn to run in ill-fitted shoes. Once you've completed the list of what you want out of your blog, set the sticky note aside. Take the second sticky note and write down what your blog will provide to readers. Are you hoping to provide them with an insider's view of where you live? Do you have a perspective on real estate, finance, health, or politics that you think others would find useful? Who do you think will read your blog? Fill in the blanks: My blog will interest _________ with posts about ________. It can be longer (as much as you can write with a thick crayon on a sticky note) or a bit shorter. It's up to you. The important thing is that you have a clear view of what you wish to provide with your blog. You cannot expect something specific (community, support, moolah) from others without first having an idea of what you are providing for them. Fill your mouth with water from the glass. Instead of swallowing the water, force it against your lips and teeth until it sprays out of your mouth (and hopefully in a safe direction!). You need to practice spewing water because you will be repeating this exact motion while reading some of the comments left on your blog. Most readers will not read your "about me" page to see what your credentials are before commenting. They don't care. Most readers won't read your entire post, and if they do, they won't read it carefully. The comments they leave will reflect how ill-informed they are. Unfortunately, how you respond to those comments matters a great deal because other readers will judge you by your responses. It's best to leave the angry spewing for water across your living room and approach every comment with an eye for the positive. Once you've cleaned up the water, it's time to grab your sticky notes and start blogging. If you're wondering if a certain topic would be good for a post, check your second sticky note and see if it will further your goal of providing a specific type of content to your readers. When considering if, when, and where to place ads on your blog, a quick consultation of your first sticky note will lead you to a conclusion. You might ask, "What? How can that be all? Isn't there a long and drawn out system through which I can build a blog that will guarantee my financial future?" The answer is very simple. There is no specific system that will guarantee success. If you have your personal and projected goals (the sticky notes), you are in a solid position to make good decisions for yourself. If you can stomach the idea of facing your detractors alone, then you'll really enjoy the best parts of a blogging community! One of the key parts of successful blogging is to appear both present in your content and willing to discuss the posted topic beyond the original text. I think back to the 5-paragraph essay format I was bludgeoned with in school and consider blog comments to be the elusive 6th paragraph. That said, if you have any questions about building a blog, forming a community, or just something random that comes to mind, drop them in a comment below. I'll be around to reply. (the blazing finale you were waiting for) If you just want to call me names or can't wait to talk to me, find me on Twitter or at my blog. by Seth Simonds, writer and super blogger