Gordon B. Hinckley, a prominent religious figure – once addressed his congregation with a list of 6 Be’s for becoming a better person.

I’d like to take the time now and share my 7 Be’s for becoming a successful blogger: Be Kind, Be Humble, Be Entertaining, Be Prompt, Be Helpful, Be Genuine & Real, and Be Accurate & Knowledgeable.

  • Be Kind – Naturally, humans are attracted to others who are kind and caring. Take for example, Mothers. In most cases Mothers are the most cherished and enduring figures – based on their ability to love and care for young. Be the “Mother” of your niche, and become a personality that cares. It must also be noted that in some rarer cases – being a rude, jerk-like blogger has worked to grow a base of fans and followers. This method of blogging must be handled with care, otherwise you’ll poison your image quickly.
  • Be Humble – Nobody likes to hear constant bragging. It can become irritating and boring rather quickly. Although it’s perfectly acceptable to share accomplishments, don’t berate your readers with constant messages of self promotion. There is not a single person who knows all there is to know in his/her niche. It’s important to remember that there’s always room for improvement and learning.
  • Be Entertaining – People watch TV and browse the net in order to receive some form of entertainment or knowledge. As mentioned in the post, “Run Your Blog Like A Booming Media Giant,” it’s beneficial to blend entertainment and information into a colorful combination. We like to call this Infotainment. Humor goes a long way in helping to transfer your message.
  • Be Prompt – News is only pertinent if it’s on time and prompt. On another level, it’s important to be quick in responding to emails and blog comments. Let your readers know you appreciate their support by being relatively prompt in your replies.
  • Be Helpful – One of the biggest secrets many of the most successful bloggers share is being helpful. Share your knowledge and help others by using your information to better their lives.
  • Be Genuine & Real – It’s important to be yourself when blogging, and let your true character and personality shine. If you’re funny, let your humor flow. If you don’t like Internet Explorer – don’t say you really like it. This is a simple principle, yet many try too hard to come across as someone they’re not. If you’re true to yourself your writing will be closer to your heart, and that feeling will emanate towards your readers.
  • Be Accurate & Knowledgeable – Blogging without any knowledge to back your claims and arguments should be avoided. Although blogging can be a great way to learn by sharing – if you’re looking to build a reputable brand and base of followers, have some form of experience to operate with.

Although the above list isn’t the Bible of successful blogging, I do hope you’ve been inspired to take a look at where your blogging experience might be improved.

Blogging is heavily based on positive communication with your following, and implementing what I’ve talked about here will surely help to further develop your blog as a trusted, reliable resource.

What Be’s did I miss? Share with us your Be’s for successful blogging!