everything i learned about blogging i learned from picture books

So, that’s not really true. Everything I know about blogging, I learned through experience and from reading the typical professional blogging blogs like Problogger and [insert your favorite Problogger copy]. The truth is, that kind of information doesn’t really click for most creative type bloggers. Whether your gig is selling your craft on Etsy, writing about interior design, or documenting your passion for gourmet comfort food, the usual tips and tricks don’t pass muster. In fact, most of the time, they’re not even speaking your language.

But I did learn key pieces about this blogging life that I have been able to translate to the world of creative blogging.

And then I noticed that those lessons could have been learned just as easily by taking a good long look at my daughter’s bookshelf.

Well before my daughter was even conceived, I loved looking at the picture books in the bookstore I worked at. Do they even write these things with children in mind? Beautiful illustrations… haunting stories… great literature. Picture books are tiny complete works of art. And I like to think of my blog in the same way – the words, pictures, stories, comments, all come together to form a unique piece of art.

I think if you treat your blog with the same care, humor, and aesthetic eye as a picture book, you’ll be doing your business a world of good.

Here’s what I learned:

1.) Pictures are everything.

In a picture book, even one that is beautifully written, pictures are more than half the story. Whether your blog is your business or you’re blogging to market your creative business, your pictures tell your story. The best blogs feature clear product pictures, well-staged and styled images, and personal photos that add personality to your writing. Your words should complement, never compete with, the story being told in images.

2.) Stay focused.

A 20 page picture book simply doesn’t have the space to ramble. The story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The characters are focused on a common goal. Do your posts have a tendency to ramble? Is the focus of your blog unclear? Having a clear and narrow focus may seem, at first, to be confining but in the end it brings a sense of comfort both to you as a blogger and to your readers.

If you stay focused, your readers will know what to expect and you’ll be able to stay on track with the purpose of your blog.

3.) Make a statement. Then repeat it.

In a picture book, the lesson to be learned is generally repeated often. Whether the lesson is an emotional or moral one, or simply a new word, it’s repeated often enough to drive the message home. That sounds an awful lot like SEO (search engine optimization: the art of helping search engines understand what your website is about) to me. Identify the topic that you want to bring in more readers around. Then write a post being sure to include that topic and its keywords in conversational – yet repeated – ways.

4.) Write for a variety of audiences.

If toddlers could actually read the books purchased for them, picture books would look very different. But they don’t, they listen as an adult reads the story. The best picture books are those that engage both the adult and the child. When you write a blog, you are addressing a wide variety of readers. Some are experienced, others are reading to gain experience, some are current customers, some are deciding whether they should become customers – each type of reader deserves to be engaged by most of your posts.

Keep in mind those readers who may want to learn more about a subject – provide links for more information. Keep in mind those who may not understand advanced concepts in your field – define keywords and provide links (preferably within your own blog) to catch up on background information. Ask questions and provide plenty of opportunity for engaging your readers in the comments section.

5.) No one else tells the story just like you.

There are so many wonderful picture books. And it’s one of the few parts of the book industry that’s always hungry for new authors. With all that interest, you might think there are a lot of copies. But each author & illustrator brings a unique perspective to a story.

Again, whether blogging is your business or just a marketing vehicle for your business, your blog should tell your unique story in your unique voice. When you blog with that type of authenticity, no one can copy you. And your readers will want to engage your brand more & more.

{image credit: stephanie corfee}