The 3 Unwritten Rules of Blogging
Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Julius.
Rules are everywhere. Rules exist for almost everything.
There are rules as to how you should behave. There are rules about how you layout a book. They simply are everywhere.
And there are also rules that exist for blogging. Believe it or not.
Now you are probably thinking that these rules concern your blog, or your content, but they don’t. They are not so much about your blog but more about you as a blogger. The way you behave and what kind of mindset you have.
It Takes Time
If you want to become successful through blogging than this will definitely take time. You won’t become popular overnight. It’s a rule of blogging, a rule of the Internet. There is no immediate success.
Building a blog requires patience and persistence. Not everyone has the right skill set to become a blogger. If you think you have the skills than go ahead and create a blog. But remember, it will take time to get where you want to be.
It’s Not About You
That’s one of the most important things I have learned through blogging. It’s not about you.
Don’t think that you don’t need to help others or build relationships with them because you are a successful blogger. Almost the reverse is true. Once you have become well-known you need the help of others to keep you there.
To become successful anywhere in life you need to stop thinking about yourself. Stop thinking about what others can do for you, and start thinking about what you can do for others.
Learn to Give
It’s strange that some people think they don’t need to give in order to receive on the Internet. I have made the mistake myself. You definitely need to learn to give.
The best thing you can do is to help people. Help others with your knowledge and expertise.
And really, you need to give because you want. Because you want to help. Not because it will help your blog. Give because you care about other people. Everything you have done will come back to you, whether in a bad or good way.
There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained by giving them to someone else.
You cannot gain happiness without giving it to someone else first. You cannot become famous blogging without making someone else famous first.
Related posts:52 Responses to “The 3 Unwritten Rules of Blogging”
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Hi, I'm Julius. I first started blogging over two years ago and it's been a rough ride, yet I made it. On And Break I hope to provide you with information that will make your ride more smooth.
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Alex
09. Mar, 2010
Awesome points Julius. These are all pretty straight forward tips, but an essential read for bloggers and aspiring bloggers. Good stuff.
jules
09. Mar, 2010
Thanks man. What would you add as a rule for blogging? I’d love to get more feedback
Suhasini
09. Mar, 2010
You have got down some very valid points here buddy, quite aspiring for bloggers.
jules
09. Mar, 2010
Thank you Suhasini. With what point do you agree most? Is there anything that should be added?
Eric
09. Mar, 2010
I have to admit, you said it all here.
It does take time and it does take understanding the importance of it not being about you at all. It’s about helping one another get where we’re all trying to go no matter what direction that might be. And lastly, you’ve got to give. It’s like anything else in life, if you give then you will get back.
The rules never change, it’s the people who change and cause other people to think the rules have changed.
jules
09. Mar, 2010
Interesting point there Eric. The rules indeed never change. But I also don’t think that people change as much. I think sometimes they simply forget about rules or they haven’t even learned them in the first place don’t you think?!
Suhasini
09. Mar, 2010
Well I would say there should be a lot of mutual understanding and a sense of sharing between bloggers too. It takes any blogger to reach success in no time.
jules
09. Mar, 2010
@Suhasini – I agree. There should be a sense of sharing between bloggers. Sharing is very important if you try to become more successful.
But what do you mean by “it takes any blogger to reach success in no time”? Do you mean that you need the help of others bloggers to become popular quickly?
@Eric – You are of course right. In one way people change. If you look at it from another side that people really don’t change. People do change their attitude over time and also their personality changes a little bit. But there are always these moments where you know exactly what a person is going to do next. Simply because he hasn’t changed.
Love the conversation here!
Eric
09. Mar, 2010
I think that people do change because life causes us to in one way or another.
I also think that a lot of people don’t know the rules yet or haven’t done them in so long that they forget and then someone comes up, having renamed them or something, and people buy into it totally forgetting that it’s what they knew but it’s been so long that they think they’re getting something spectacular.
So, I agree I also just think that people do change as things happen.
Butterfly
09. Mar, 2010
You definetly need help from others and it is those who help me to help me keep going. Excellent post.
jules
10. Mar, 2010
Thanks. I think people forget that once in a while. Especially once they have become more successful. But without the help of others it’s hard to grow.
Rohit Sane
10. Mar, 2010
People just keep writing and talking about their personal life which becomes quite irritating at times. Also, linking to others and working in a group helps you be better bloggers..
jules
10. Mar, 2010
Linking to other bloggers is definitely important too. I also think that we, as bloggers, should work better together. I think it would be helpful for everyone
ChickenFreak
11. Mar, 2010
Great rules.
I think that a lot of bloggers have a vision of a sea of readers out there, one so big that they just have to dip in and take their share. And then when they don’t get that share, they’re at a loss.
But every reader has a similarly huge sea of web content to choose from, so there is no “share”. The blog has to earn each and every reader, because if it doesn’t, there are dozens/hundreds/thousands of other blogs that are ready to do so.
The blogger often tries to succeed by making a halfhearted effort in the most popular niches, thus ensuring more competition, and failure. The sea of readers works, instead, for the blogger that attacks a narrow niche and does the best possible job for that niche.
jules
11. Mar, 2010
It’s true. You need to win over one reader at a time, this is what ultimately grows your blog. You’ve touched an interesting point here. You need to treat your readers better than other bloggers are doing. You need to give them something unique. That’s at least my thought on the subject.
Eric
11. Mar, 2010
Ultimately I feel that people change in some ways and in other ways they’ll always stay the same.
Also, the rules may never change, however people can spice them up or “edit” them to fit their needs and there becomes “new” rules that may work for another as well. Rules stay the same and yet they also get revised and people see these opportunities and are able to allow themselves to do more.
Conversation is important and I believe we’re having a good one here.
jules
12. Mar, 2010
Eric I believe so too. It’s a great conversation here and I am happy that so many people are joining the conversation.
And yes people sometimes simply change the rules. Of course it’s a problem if they change the rules just to fit their needs. In the end it depends on what kind of rules we are talking about. Are these moral, behavioral or other rules? I think in blogging we are talking about behavioral rules don’t you think? By the way what do you think about a page where we would add all the rules that are important for blogging? I actually love the idea
Eric
16. Mar, 2010
I think adding a page where the rules of blogging are talked about is a good idea.
jules
17. Mar, 2010
I might think about implementing one on this blog. Will see
It’s always great what kind of ideas you get simply by talking to other people.
James KIng
11. Mar, 2010
Spot on, excellent post. It is so true. It is about your audience.
Blogging is like learning Judo, Karate or Aikido you need to learn the basics and master those basics until you become a master.
jules
12. Mar, 2010
You are right James. You could definitely compare blogging to martial arts. You do indeed need to learn the basics but once you become better at it you need to teach others. You learn that it’s not about you anymore. It’s about helping other people. Great advice here James
Mars Dorian
11. Mar, 2010
I have to agree and disagree with you here.
It’s true that you have to give everything to your reader by creating the most astonishing content possible in the web universe, but you also have to have a personality larger-than-life to promote it. Think Gary Vaynerchuk – He’s giving a lot of value – but he’s also totally over-the-top. It’s about his content and about HIM ! People not only want info, they want the right messenger as well.
That’s my firm believe =
Be as delusional as possible + give to others = a life with a major impact
jules
12. Mar, 2010
I love it when someone disagrees with me because it helps to ensure a great conversation.
I think what I was trying to say is that you need to help others. That you need to learn to give. That doesn’t imply that you don’t have a great personality to promote it. I think you really do need a great personality. But in the end you should always show your appreciation to your readers and those who helped you to get where you are right now. You know what I mean?
And your formula is great. I simply think it works great for some people but not for everyone. Seems like Gary Vaynerchuk is just the guy for whom it seems to work out great.
Ralph
11. Mar, 2010
Something that occurs to me as I read you post is that you should have a reason. It should be more than an urge or a whim. There should be a mission even if it is only to establish a web presence.
jules
12. Mar, 2010
Right on Ralph. I totally forgot about that. It’s important to have a mission. A mission will help you to stay on the right track.
What is your mission?
lees shizzle
12. Mar, 2010
Can’t keep what you have unless you give it away, and that doesn’t necessarily mean for Free either. Nicely done Jules
jules
12. Mar, 2010
Thanks. I am glad you like my advice. Giving away is definitely important. That reminds me of a famous quote:
I believe that this is very much the case in life.
Bert Padilla
12. Mar, 2010
“It’s Not About You”… I agree with your idea here… Some bloggers don’t try to look back where they start. Keeping themselves always busy, then ignoring comment replies on their posts is just one of the many examples. Building a constant relationship to other bloggers is a must.
jules
12. Mar, 2010
It truly is. Without trying to constantly build relationships with other bloggers you actually lose credibility. I think it’s a problem that people start creating a blog. Once the blog is doing well they start another one. Then they open up another web site.
By doing this you are giving away the opportunity to keep on building relationships with bloggers. You are making more money by not trying to build relationships anymore.
Thanks for the comment Bert
John Sullivan
13. Mar, 2010
Hi first time here and as I was reading I was thinking I could easily be good friends with some like this
Nice site and great message
Thanks
jules
13. Mar, 2010
Thanks John! I am glad you stopped by. I hope to see you more often around here
Chethan
14. Mar, 2010
I have become your Fan after Reading this Post….
You were 200% right… blogging is something unexplainable and has no defined rules…
cool
jules
14. Mar, 2010
Chethan I loved your comment. Blogging truly is something unexplainable. You just gave me an idea for a new blog post
Hope to see you around 
TheInfoPreneur
14. Mar, 2010
Hours and hours of work and to constantly give back. Spot on post my man!
jules
14. Mar, 2010
Thanks James. You seem pretty busy
How is everything going?
Matthew Needham
14. Mar, 2010
These are 3 great values to uphold when blogging. You certainly need to build relations with other bloggers and contribute to making the ‘world a better place’ by commenting on websites and helping out where you can.
jules
15. Mar, 2010
I think many people miss out on the great opportunities you have as a blogger. I think it’s never been easier to connect to other people, yet there are so few people doing it. The ones that do will be successful in the long run.
Thanks for the comment Matthew.
Pubudu Kodikara
15. Mar, 2010
Nice post mate.. and your right, it takes time to build a better blog! and we can talk about that point in a different way also…. blogging will take your time without our knowledge!
jules
15. Mar, 2010
Thanks. What do you mean with “blogging will take your time without our knowledge”?!
You mean that it simply takes a lot of time? If that is so than I completely agree. Blogging will take lots of your time without your knowledge.
Lucian Apostol
15. Mar, 2010
The third tip is very good. It is a rule not only for blogging, it is a rule of life. If you want to have friends you have to give something: time, money, patience, ego.
jules
15. Mar, 2010
Thanks. You are right it’s a rule of life. Giving is very important, and yes if you want to have friends than you should give them something.
Mo
18. Mar, 2010
“some people think they don’t need to give in order to receive on the Internet”
Man I’ve seen that so often, far too often. A sort of self-indulgent insouciance, at times making you feel like any interaction with them is like engaging with a brick wall.
jules
18. Mar, 2010
Yeah me too. I have to say though that I was a little bit like it in the beginning. I think it is sometimes hard to engage with other people. I have yet to figure out to make it easier. If I do I will definitely tell you about it
Onibalusi Bamidele
19. Mar, 2010
This is an awesome compilation, so many people don’t want to accept that blogging takes time, they want instant results.
Thanks for the great post.
jules
20. Mar, 2010
Thank you Onibalusi
I am truly glad you enjoyed the article. Is there something that I missed though?
MrsMoody
20. Mar, 2010
Awesome tips, the “It takes times” is the hardest part for me lol, thanks for sharing Julius
jules
21. Mar, 2010
You will get there
I have now been blogging for over a year and a half. So it does take time 
Victor
20. Mar, 2010
Well put. I’ve never considered the “It’s not about You” theory, but I can somewhat agree with you. Often times, readers don’t want to know everything about your day or the really personal (unless they have a direct relationship with the matter). But still great points to ponder over.
jules
21. Mar, 2010
Thanks. You are right … it of course depends. If you have a blog where you only cover personal stuff then you are probably going to write a lot about yourself and readers will be interested in it. Whatever kind of blog you do you just need to create content that is somewhat different from the rest and readers will automatically come back to your blog.
Karen
21. Mar, 2010
Hi Julius,
You’ve managed to strip the entire act of blogging down to three main rules – it does take time, it is not about you and you need to give. If bloggers keep these rules in mind they will become successful.
Oh, and one more rule. Don’t give up!
Thanks for the reminders,
Karen
jules
25. Mar, 2010
Karen I loved your comment. It’s truly important to keep these rules in mind. As to your fourth rule. I agree you need to learn to not give up. But here is the thing. I think if you learn to give then ultimately this will lead you to not easily give up anyway. Once you embrace the idea of giving you will not easily give up.
Mike Roosa
06. May, 2010
All very valid points. Nice job. I really like the one about giving. Many people just expect you to give and give and give, but never have anything to offer in return. Relationships are give and take and that includes relationships built on the web and with your community.