The top 5 ways to be a great PNN blogger

1. Write about what truly interests you – and don’t worry about whether you’re a world class author. Your passion will come through in your words and others will respond. (If you’re inspired by a current event, go for it! Topicality, discovering what others think about issues of the day, is a prime reason for visiting PNN.)
 
2. Make it personal. Talking about the financial crisis and only citing figures of the amount of people who are out of work is one thing; sharing how being laid off is affecting you and your family is another. Combining your experience, revealing your thoughts, fears and hopes, as well as throwing in a few resources if you can, is the ideal. You’ve become a real person to others, letting them know they aren’t alone. And you’ve given them information that could help. Plus, PNN is a caring community; if you share, you’ll also get support.
 
2. Write in the same voice you’d use to chat with your friends. PNN is a conversation. You and other bloggers are coming to connect as much as converse. Ask questions. Be breezy and funny as well as serious (we all have different moods, right?). Share every-day as well as extraordinary things. You’ll captivate others and get comments and votes! (And don’t forget to visit and comment on others’ blogs.)
 
3. Short, engaging headlines will win clicks. You can see there’s limited space for display on the front page (where you’ll end up if you get enough votes!). Keep that in mind and think of what makes you want to know more. A tip: Question-style headlines often work well. For example: The worst gift ever?
 
4. Use pictures. Your ideal avatar is your own face; don’t hide! And including images of a great product find or intriguing people and places along with your post will make your blog richer and more rewarding for readers – who will come back for more!
 
5. Alert everyone you know that you’ve got a blog on pnn.com. (Don’t forget your Facebook and Twitter networks.) Encourage friends to sign up as subscribers to your posts. That way, every time you update -- ideally short and sweet posts at least five times a week -- they’ll automatically get the link. Don’t be shy in posting your blog links on other sites and blogs. Hey, you’re an intriguing person with insights to match!