Isn’t it funny how the blogging mindset tends to seep into our normal everyday activities?  How often have you had random thoughts like “look at that cat, I wonder how can I blog about it” or “I can’t stand my boss - I can’t wait to blog about him”? The more we blog, the more we tend to think like a blogger. Such was the case for me the other night as I lazily tuned in to American Idol while cruising through the blogosphere. I started wondering to myself “what would Simon Cowell say about these blogs?”  Would he cut them to pieces in his smug, wisecracking tone? Which ones would he give praise and glory and a golden ticket to Bloggywood simply by saying “I like it”?

What would Simon say about your blog? Keeping this thought in the back of your mind before publishing a post might be a good reality check to remember. Does your post belt out “Living on a Prayer” with perfect pitch, hitting those high notes like only Jon himself could 20 years ago? Or did you waste days upon days standing in line (i.e. – writing your post) only to embarrass yourself worse than Paula Abdul at a Sunday AA Meeting. Just as it’s true in the entertainment business, the blogs that are the most likely to succeed are the ones that have heart. Believe in what you are writing about and be passionate in your efforts. If your only motivation is instant fame and overnight success, you will be destined for failure.

Am I saying you need to be the next pop culture icon of writing in order to have a successful blog? Of course not. After all, a star is born every minute, right? Sure, some people are born with a natural ability to write effortlessly, just like some can sing better than Kelly Clarkson from the moment they can speak. But this is not a requirement for success. With hard work, dedication, and something intelligent to say, your blog can have a huge impact on your intended audience. If you stay committed and passionate, you will almost certainly develop a following of faithful readers. Maybe it won’t be millions, but becoming an Idol in the eyes of a couple thousand is a definitely a success in my book.

Keep these tips in mind when working on your blog. It could be the difference between a blog that “blows up” with readers and one that just blows.

This post was guest posted by Jeff over at BuzzMyBlog. Visit his site to find out why his blog is a lot more than just another “Make Money Online” blog.