This may be due in part to them 1) not knowing how to build and maintain a blog, 2) not knowing exactly what to write about and/or 3) not knowing whether they will have the time and energy necessary to keep it updated on a regular basis.

However, what most people don’t know is that you don’t have to start and maintain your own individual blog to voice your POV and network your personal brand online.  There are countless ways you can start contributing immediately to greater bloggerdom while working your way up to potentially owning and managing your own blog in the future.

Commenting: Commenting on others’ blog posts can help you start networking and engaging your name and opinion with other bloggers.  Pick a couple blogs to follow on a weekly basis and contribute your comment.  Make sure you always add value to each post.  You can also use Google Alerts to flag new posts containing specific keywords.

Q&A: Answering others’ questions can also be a unique way to publish your content and expertise without a blog. LinkedIn Answers and Quora are two top Q&A platforms for you to consider. Also, search for industry-relevant forums and discussion boards where you can answer questions and start discussions.

Twitter: Micro-blogging using services and platforms like Twitter gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions, link your followers to valuable resources, articles and other information online and work your way up to more substantial blog contributions.

Guest Blogging: For those of you who want to try your hand at full-length articles, consider contributing a periodic guest post to one or more blogs in your industry. It’s best to reach out to the blog owners and ask permission first. This will start a relationship with them, but will also allow you to customize your content to their needs.

Content Self-Publishing: In addition to contributing full-length articles as guest posts to blogs in your industry, you can also write and publish your content on several different sites and platforms, including Squidoo, Hubpages, Google Knol, Ezine Articles and more.

HARO: HelpaReporter.com (HARO) is FREE tool that connects professionals and students with bloggers, journalists, writers and authors seeking sources for their articles and publications.  This is a great way to get interviewed and quoted across various blogs and other media outlets.  It also becomes a nice credential to feature in interviews and career networking.

Team Blogging: If you’re ready for more regular contributions, reach out to a team blog and ask to join as a weekly or more regular contributor.  You can also start your own team blog if you can recruit some fellow bloggers to join you.  This will help you all share the load and commitment while giving all of your personal brands exposure to new audiences.

Once you get a good feel for contributing, if you decide you’re ready to launch your own blog, I definitely recommend you use the WordPress blogging platform. There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress-hosted and self-hosted. You can host your blog for free with the WordPress-hosted version via WordPress OR for a monthly fee with the self-hosted version via third-party web host. You may think this is a no-brainer and that you should go with the free WordPress-hosted version. Do what you please, but the WordPress-hosted version leaves you with less control over your blog and will end up costing you more in the end due to the fees WordPress charges for any customizations you may desire (including adding your own custom domain name and your own themes and designs).  I recommend you go with the self-hosted version and check out Page.ly which is an easy-to-use hosting service that will help you get your new WordPress blog up and running in a matter of minutes.

Check out our FREE step-by-step Build Your Blog guide.

Chris Perry, MBA, is a Gen Y brand and marketing generator, career search and personal branding expert, speaker, brand consultant and the founder of Career Rocketeer and Blogaristo.

Want to take your blog to the next level? Sign up today for our FREE 7-Day eCourse on How to Make Money Blogging. You will learn everything you need to know to build your blog, promote your blog and generate revenue from your blog or website!

While countless new blogs are created each and every day, only a handful of the bloggers behind them are able to build and maintain them successfully.

Here are the 8 basics all bloggers need to launch successful blogs:

1. Passion: When you start blogging, it is essential that you blog about a topic you love, be it broad or be it niche.  You don’t have to be the #1 expert in your field to be your field’s #1 fan.  Therefore, make sure you love learning about your chosen topic(s) and that you love what you write about, because this passion will show in every word on every post you publish and will draw in your readers.

2. Commitment: Effective blogging, whether for a living or for fun, requires committing yourself entirely both to content creation and to promotion.

3. Time: Establishing a successful blog and following requires more than just an energy commitment, it requires a significant time investment.  Not only do you need to research and write content, you also need to respond to comments, build a community, drive traffic to your blog and blog posts and network with other bloggers.

4. Consistency: Creating a consistent schedule for your blog posts helps building stronger relationships with your readers and gives them a reason to keep coming back.  While there is no post frequency requirement to becoming a successful blogger, it is important that you maintain a consistent posting schedule.  If you post every day, consider posting at the same time each day, or if you post once a week, post on the same day of the week.

5. Personality: Every great blog has its own unique voice and personality, usually that of its owner.  Make sure that your personality and unique voice shine through in each and every post.  If you have an opinion, don’t be afraid to share it.  Don’t be surprised by comments from those who do not necessarily agree with you, but do initiate discussion and debate by offering your own critique and ideas in your posts.

6. Patience: Becoming a successful blogger doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time to build a blog, generate steady and growing traffic and become known as a though leader in your industry.  A lot of bloggers forget this and give up too quickly when they don’t see immediate results.  If you are patient, stick with it and continue to research and leverage new ways to improve your content and your promotion, you will begin to see a strong return on your investment.

7. Marketing: As mentioned above, building a blog involves more than just writing content.  Sharing that content and expanding your readership is essential to establishing a following.  Make sure to research the many ways you can promote your blog, whether it be through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, an email newsletter or events.  Also, don’t forget to promote your blog on your business card, your online profiles, your email signature and in your introductions to new contacts online and in-person.  Many writers are not natural marketers, and so, in order to become a successful blogger, you will need to work on improving your marketing skills to drive traffic to your blog.

8. Networking: Blogging without networking with others will result in slow growth for your blog.  Successful bloggers know that building relationships with other online influencers and industry professionals generates additional awareness, referrals and promotion.  Be sure to reach out to other bloggers and invite them to contribute and/or offer to write content for them.  Ask around for opportunities to contribute to projects and consider interviewing industry leaders as a way to network and create new and unique content.

All of these blogging basics will not only help you build your blog, but also your brand as a thought leader.

If you have what it takes to start a successful blog and you’re ready to get started, check out our FREE step-by-step Build Your Blog guide.

Chris Perry, MBA, is a Gen Y brand and marketing generator, career search and personal branding expert, speaker, brand consultant and the founder of Career Rocketeer and Blogaristo.

Want to take your blog to the next level? Sign up today for our FREE 7-Day eCourse on How to Make Money Blogging. You will learn everything you need to know to build your blog, promote your blog and generate revenue from your blog or website!