In How to Build a Better Blogger, Performancing has a few healthy tips: instill character in your blog, learn the art of self-promotion, and don’t settle for being good enough are three of my favorites. Check out the entire list, and then…apply as necessary.

Been collecting links for a while, so I thought I’d do a little purge into a post here. Some of the best blogging articles I’ve read lately (many on referral from Matt, Sandy, Andrew and others - thanks guys!):

• Content is NOT King - the folks at Performancing reject conventional wisdom. Provocative!
• Value Blogging: Less writing, higher quality, says Aaron Wall.
• Filthy Linking Rich - E-Marketing-News takes a look at how good linking strategy can bring you fame and fortune.
• More from Performancing: How to monetize your blog. While I HATE the word “monetize” I like the idea of money.

Just a few good articles I’ve read lately. Want to pile on? Any suggestions to share? Comment!

Amid feasting and dog barking at our July meeting, our creative group came up with the following tips for successful blogging.

*Why blog?*

# Increase traffic to your site, through links on the ideaXchange blog.
# It’s food for “Google”:http://www.google.com/. You’ll rank higher, which will get you more traffic.
# Establish credibility. Show yourself to be an expert.
# Practice makes you a better writer.
# Network with other people in your field.

*Getting involved*

# Comment elsewhere. Include a link back to your site (or this blog). Traffic increases. Rinse, repeat.
# Set up “Google Alerts”:http://www.google.com/alerts, so you know what blogs are talking about your interests. Then you can go and comment on them.

*Post-worthiness*

# Websites that you read that help you with your creativity
# Books/resources that help you, that you like
# Business issues that have affected you. (Be careful to not malign or speak too privately.)
# Tips about your craft
# Most important: is it of value to others. This includes comments. Speak only if it’s valuable.

*Writing tips*

# Brevity
# Proper spelling (OS X tip: type beginning of word, hit option-escape, and recommendations will pop up.)
# Good grammar
# Clarity. Don’t vomit onto the screen.
# Be conversational. Use your own voice.

*Tips*

# Well-crafted link text. Put your links within the context of the sentence (instead of writing “click here”). If blogs that link to you don’t do this, it’s okay to write to them and ask them to change it to something more descriptive.
# Use links when you can. More you link, the more attention you’ll get.
# “Well-crafted titles”:http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/11/good-blog-titles-are-short-still.html. It helps with search results, and it grabs people’s attention. In pages of similar search results, yours will stand out.
# Subheads. Break up your posts into sections, and Google will understand the context of your post better.
# Tag your post with categories.

*Formatting*

# You can use “Textile”:http://www.textism.com/tools/textile/, a simple markup syntax, for adding bold, italic, lists and links.
# Or, you can use the visual editor. Turn it on by going to “your profile”:http://www.idea-xchange.com/wp-admin/profile.php.

*Images*

# Only use images you have the rights to use. Or give really excellent credit.
# Don’t make it too big. An inch or two is big enough (150 pixels wide or so.)
# Images should be 72 dpi.

I just came across this blog, Daily Guilt: My 101 in 1001 My first thought was: damn, why didn’t I think of that? Immediately followed by: I really need to revisit my goals (note: after doing a Google search, I realize that 101 in 1001 is not a new concept, however it’s new to me)

Because I’m a major list-maker, a few years back I started a journal dedicated solely to my goals (both biz and personal). I created a master list in which I check off completed goals, tweak existing goals and remove goals that no longer apply. Let’s see how I’m doing with the first 5…
1. Practice guitar every day for at least 15 minutes (daily) - failing miserably
2. Host a dinner party (monthly) - partial CHECK
3. Go to Italy - CHECK
4. Go to California - nope, not yet
5. Find 3-5 new clients, preferably in new areas (music, real estate) - CHECK

Not bad, but the list is definitely in need of a revamp. One technique I’ve found useful for achieving goals is to expand on the WHY and HOW: WHY is it important? HOW can I achieve it? (i.e. steps).
For example:
GOAL: Practice guitar every day for at least 15 minutes
WHY: because I secretly long to be a rock star; because I love having music in my life
HOW: sign up for class at Old Town School; just pick up the damn guitar, already!

Seeing it on paper makes it seem more doable and it’s oh-so-satisfying to check off the HOWs. Alternately, you may realize a specific goal is not that important after all, and you can cross it off and replace it with a fresh, new one…

Anyone else have goal-related ideas, tips, techniques they’d like to share?

I thought I’d share a little of my blogroll with you. These are the freelance/blogging sites I visit.

Fortuitous
Written by Matt Haughey, creator of and PVR Blog, it’s a collection of essays about running an online business. However, Matt’s insights are valuable to those in other, non-online freelance fields as well.

ProBlogger.net
Again, more about blogging than freelancing in general, but a good resource for working online. Includes a job board for pro-blogging jobs, should you be interested!

Freelance Switch
I’m not fond of the site’s hunchbacked mascot, but Freelance Switch provides lots of good tips and tools for freelances of all stripes, including a handy-dandy hourly rate calculator.

Girl At Play
The blog of Alex Beauchamp, artist and entrepreneur. She doesn’t post as often as she used to, unfortunately.

MB Toolbox
MediaBistro’s freelancer blog includes interviews, pitch briefs for PR folk, resource profiles, freelance journalism opportunities, etc. Really worth reading.

Are there any freelancer blogs or other sites that you read? Add them in the comments!