What’s one of many characteristics power bloggers share that get others to believe and act on the information they publish? They write with authority.
What’s made blogs like Mashable, TechCrunch, Coppyblogger, and even other information websites like Wikipedia and eHow popular and linkable? Right or wrong, the information presented seems to be authoritative, even if it’s not always correct.
On trivia shows like JEOPARDY there are only a few acceptable answers per question, and not much room for interpretation. If you’re a contestant and answer incorrectly, Alex Trebek tells you so, then reveals the right answer. He speaks and facilitates his show with authority.
Channel an Alex Trebek-like persona when writing, and for even the meekest shrieking violet your authoritarian side will flow more naturally.
Put yourself in the user’s shoes, imagine going to Google or one of the other major search engines, and typing in a query. Type in the keyword target phrase for a post you have recently written and see what pops up. You want to make sure what you’re putting out is worthy of ranking well and is BETTER than what you see that’s already there. Plan on your post being the authoritative source above all others by offering as much unbiased, well-researched, and well-rounded information as possible.
One fear bloggers have about blogging with authority is the thought that maybe “my advice is not ‘right’ or valuable.”
This is a valid concern. I’d suggest you look at it from a different angle. Think of yourself as a reporter. You’re just reporting what you know from your point of view, that’s all anyone can do. The first tip below helps limit your feelings of responsibility.
Five Ways to Blog with More Authority & Credibility
1. Quote Credible Sources
By adding “according to” you’re able to suspend liability for the responsibly of “being right.” You’re a reporter, not an all-knowing oracle of expertise. Secondarily, quoting sources with already known credibility have a halo effect on your credibility.
2. Base Your Confidence in the Information Source
You don’t have to base your confidence in “what you know” or your own experience. Just be honest with your readers, that according to your experience and this other person’s experience, this is the outcome or advice you have.
3. Give Your Audience Solutions
Don’t give your audience just suggestions or recommendations. Name your strategies and concepts, and present them in bite-sized pieces with quantifiable results.
4. Write at Least 500 – 1000 Words
Think deep and narrow on one niche topic, not wide and superficial on high level topics. For more pillar content when you’re first starting, 1000 – 2000 words would be even better.
5. Add a Short Author Bio at the end of Every Post
Be consistent with this and you’ll always be reminding the reader of the frame from which you are speaking.
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About the Author
Neil Lemons has been personal blogging since 2001 and blogging for businesses since 2006. A Texas native, Lemons is a late 20-something adventurer and mobile lifestyle enthusiast. He’s also a Dallas-based Internet Marketing Consultant for local & national companies. Learn how you can attract lots of traffic, higher readership, and more social media share for your business by subscribing to his blog. You’ll receive exclusive, email-only content, and regularly posted updates on the state of Internet Marketing, and the latest traffic-generating techniques.
Photo Credit: NationalLampoon.com
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is hilarious and good advice at the same time!
Your argument would be stronger if you had spelled Alex Trebek’s name correctly.
Thank you Nathan. Dumb mistake. I thought I double-checked on wikipedia, but I was wrong. I’ll fix it.