Becoming a better Blogger does not require membership of the BBB (Better Blogger Bureau). After extensive research I have uncovered 10 secrets of Blogging and I am about to reveal these to you, free of charge. After all, I am not entirely driven by greed.

Background: Writing and publication of Self-Help Books is a huge industry in this country. The first "self-help" book was titled "Self-Help." It was written by Samuel Smiles and was written in 1859. The opening sentence was "Heaven helps those who help themselves." The book was an immediate success. Over 100 copies were sold on the first day when it became available to bookstores, mainly to members of Samuel's family - many of whom waited in line through the night to be certain of obtaining a copy. It should be noted that Samuel was the youngest of 12 children. Surveys revealed that 86% of readers did not get past the first sentence, with 62% of those deciding that offered sufficient advice, and affirming they received enormous benefit.

Instead of taking the time and going to the great expense of writing and publishing a self-help book for Bloggers, I have decided to condense the information and provide it on the internet. There is growing evidence that psychological therapies for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health problems can be delivered through books, computer programs, and other media. Why not through Blogs?

Let me be clear that the following 10 step program does not offer easy answers. I will suggest several courses of action. It is up to the reader to carry them out. I will offer hints periodically to help the reader along on the road to self-improvement.

Step 1. Find out what a blog is. (Hint: a computer will be a useful tool)

Step 2. Learn to write in English. (Hint: Farsi or Urdu are not well known languages in this country - yet).

Step 3. Think of a catchy title. A good title gets readers attention. (Hint: words such as "addiction," "Armageddon," or "self-help" are good ones)

Step 4. Use a photograph. Blog readers react to visual stimulation. (Hint: It is a myth that most Playboy subscribers buy the magazine for its insightful text)

Step 5. Avoid obfuscation. Readers don't like to be confused. (Hint: "obfuscation" means "confusion.")

Step 6. Never assume you are superior to your reader/s. This would make you a Blog Snob. That is a bad thing.

Step 7. Be concise.

Step 8. Avoid personal attacks. Stick to the facts of the argument. Just because some idiot doesn't agree with you, doesn't mean you should call him/her an idiot.

Step 9. Verify the facts. Don't base your strong opinions on rumors or on the evening news. When a TV anchor person refers to Africa as a country, take time to make sure the 53 countries of Africa haven't recently joined together to form one new country. And if they have, make sure to spell the name of the new country correctly.

Step 10. Understand that Blogging can be addictive. Potential harmful side-effects are; high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and strain on marital relationships. All of these symptoms can be dealt with by reading appropriate self-help books. Over-the counter medications may also be useful.

Armed with these powerful tools, there is no reason why the average person can't become a successful Blogger within weeks, or within days if a computer is available.

Paraphrasing a past employer, "Now get out there and Blog."

Note: The author began blogging at a dark time in Blog history (February 2006) when help such as this was not available - except on the black market, at great expense. Despite this handicap, and with relatively little natural ability, he boldly went where no one had been before and rose from obscurity to being named to Brendan's List, widely recognized as the pinnacle of the Blogging World. He attributes his amazing success to hard work, persistence, a high tolerance for dry roasted peanuts and good personal hygiene.