I’ve only started to really hone my writing skills online. Over the past 12 months this blog has grown from a subscriber base of nil - to 200+. So for those of you who are still reading. Thanks.
However in that space of time I’ve had to relearn how to write for the web, and think more like a reader. One of the best ways that I’ve found to keep things snappy - is to read around other people / blogs who have absolutely nailed their writing style.
I’ve tried over the space of one year of to grow the blog over a variety of disciplines. Namely the ones that interest me the most. So out of all the reads around the web, which ones stand out for me personally? What RSS feeds could I not live without?
In essence I think that to be successfully online as an online entreupreneur you need a few things. Product / Technology, Marketing / Copywriting and SEO. Combine those things with a passion / drive and results will follow. Here are some guys worth reading within those fields.
Seth Godin
Marketing.
If you aren’t subscribed already, and you currently architect your own blog, I couldn’t recommend a better place to learn how to write for the web. Seth gets it. His posts are often snappy, witty and intriguing, he has clearly honed the art of copywriting for the web. I read one of his books in the space of a couple of days, but that’s not to say its full of fluff - on the contrary it made more impact. He also frequently posts from a marketing perspective.
The Register
Tech.
The register takes tech news, and puts a unique spin on things. Their articles titles are often (link?) baity, and the writing style feels satirical - which is a change for the usual monotonous tone we have grown accustomed to when reading about techy related things. This in itself makes “El reg” stand out amongst others.
Brian Clark
http://www.copyblogger.com/copywriting/
Copywriting.
Brian’s blogs is on the subject of copywriting, so it is no surprise that it continues to be one of the best sources on how to write succinctly, and best of all how to write copy that sells, or encourages visitors to action. A potentially vital skill for 2009.
Rand Fishkin
SEO.
http://www.seomoz.org/team/randfish
SEOmoz provides companies around the world with consulting, Internet marketing and search engine optimization services. If you want to keep abreast of SEO - SEOMoz should be on your list of reads. Rand himself admits to watching SERP (search engine results pages) - over a variety of different industries and fields on a daily basis just to keep ahead of the game. So I make sure and gleam as much information as I possibly can from them.
Speaking in terms of writing style, can I suggest: http://scottstories.com/ A blog in a very traditional sense - a writer writing about being a writer.
Lisa