7 Habits of Highly Effective Blogs

Over fifteen years ago I read Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Subsequently I read his follow-up books “First Things First” and “Principle Centred Leadership.” To say that these books transformed my life is perhaps a little melodramatic, but they did have an enormous impact upon me, the way I see myself and my approach to life.

In the spirit of the original “7 Habits” book, Darren Rowse of ProBlogger recently challenged his readers to submit their list of the “Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers.” This concept also applies to writers. What are the habits characteristic of a good, effective blogger, writer or whatever?

One of the first to respond was Kami Huyse and American communicator who works in public relations. She lifted her habits straight from Covey’s book, elaborating on each on as she saw its relevance to her work, including blogging. Her seventh point is most relevant to me.

7. Renew yourself. You don’t have much to offer if all you do is sit in front of a computer. We all need to renew in the areas of physical health, social networks, spiritual renewal and mental improvement. When you do this you have something new and interesting to bring to the conversation.

My main blog (one of three) is about birding (see Trevor’s Birding). I could sit in front of the computer all day and have nothing relevant to write about in my blog. I must get out there in the field and actually go watching real, live birds in order to have something relevant, interesting and hopefully readable to write about. This has the added benefit of getting out in the beautiful Australian bush, a sure way to blow out all those cob webs in the brain. I can then come back refreshed, renewed and inspired to write.