Etiquette is the acceptable way to behave in society. Now, the word society can mean anything from in the office, when receiving guests, at an event or even when doing a job or a relationship. If everything is governed by Etiquette, it's even more important for activities that involve sharing one's opinions, growing thought leadership, and influencing people's thoughts and actions.
Just in case you didn't get where I'm coming from, there is such a thing as Blogging Etiquette.
Blogging Etiquette is the set of actions and behaviours that are acceptable and generally accepted as a blogger. It's like the dos and don'ts of being a blogger and creating content on a blog.
I've rounded up a list of 6 rules that govern Blogging Etiquette
- Ask Permission: it's just like consent, if they don't agree, then you can't post it or use it. Never ever use any content - text, image, video or even audio, without permission from the owner. If for any reason at all, you desperately need to use it, make sure to link back to the original source in one way or the other (I do this with the images on this site. They all aren't mine but I make sure to link back to the source where necessary)
- Proper Grammar: it might just be your little corner of the internet but if you want people to actually read, refer, share, and return, you really need to ensure you always use proper grammar. I know we are human and sometimes make mistakes, but let it be minimal. It is a blog after all, and one of its eternal appeals is the ability to edit and update.
- Comment Constructively: we all know internet users spam a lot but that doesn't make it the right thing to do. When commenting, think about how your comment adds value to the post or article being referenced. Yes, even an emoji can be considered to be of value too if used well.
- Avoid Copycatting: yes, blogging is more work than a lot of people make it out to be (I'm of the opinion, that is the reason why a lot of people would rather be social media Influencers these days). However, there is no room for copying other people's work. Research all you like but make sure what you finally publish is your words, your voice, and your opinions only. Otherwise, cite the source.
- Be Kind: this should be a general internet code of conduct. It is so tacky seeing how people lash out at one another especially on platforms like X (Twitter). NO! Don't let that be you. They gain popularity for being vicious, trust me, Brands don't want to work with them and normal people prefer to avoid them. Instead, be kind - with your words, with your comments, with your feedback. Kindness pays and it definitely gets rewarded too.
- Don't Digress: Trust me, I know how tempting it can be to want to share a long, winded story which in some weird illogical way relates to your post topic, but I beg of you not to. It is quite annoying to see a topic and be drawn in by it, only to find out that the substance of the article does not relate to it in any way.
Know any others you think should be part of the list?
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
