It also helps to think about it in terms of the old print formats.
Only blogging is like handing someone a stack of leaflets with some semi-descriptive tags on the side to help you navigate through them. A good test is to ask yourself if this would be useful or compelling if someone handed you a print version of the text.
Blogs developed the way that they did, I think, because they really took off as a way to socialize about the news, usually created for print or TV first. Social networks have taken over that role. Now, web publishing is beginning to take a more leading role rather than being wagged by traditional media. It helps to hold your writing to the same standards of quality that you would in a print publication.
- Don't call your writing "blog". Call it essay, guide or article.
- Don't put a date on your writing.
- Show your best writing up front.
- Collect email addresses, send your writing by email, track conversations.
- Keep detailed notes about your previous experiences and re-use them.
- Don't just write for other experts. Write for beginners.