Bloggers are everywhere. The guy with the Buddy Holly glasses behind the MacBook in Starbucks is a blogger. The girl on the park bench in rain boots with an iPad is a blogger. The person in the mirror can easily become a blogger, too, with the right mindset.

Creating a blog is easy, but maintaining one is hard. Bloggers around the world have poured their time and energy into sustaining viable blogging operations, and in order to find success for yours, you’ll have to learn to do the same. Here are five important bits of blogger news to remember as you begin to build your brand online.

Go viral, keeping it simple.

This isn’t LiveJournal we’re talking about. You’re joining the ranks of the best bloggers on the web, so appreciate your position by learning what an ideal post looks like. Hint: It’s more like a tweet than a novel. You want your ideas to spread, so make them short, succinct and simple in order for maximal viral value. Be bold, be catchy and be yourself, then watch the world react.

Pick a schedule and stick to it.

When you first begin blogging, it’s tempting to simply write whatever you want whenever you feel like it. But blogs are much more advanced than that. Modern blogging requires a readership, and one of the best ways to keep your readers engaged is to post regularly, ideally on a set schedule, so they know what they can expect from you. Win them over with your words, but let them know where to find you.

Know your audience, but write for yourself.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to write about exactly what you want — and get paid for it. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Sometimes you’ll have to bite the bullet and delve into topics you’re not thrilled to cover. Don’t pander; consider it a creative challenge to keep your writing flavorful and evocative. That’s what will keep your readers tuned in to your message.

Always tag your posts with relevant keywords.

It can get annoying and monotonous fairly quickly, tagging each post with thematic keywords before you click “Publish.” But all great bloggers do it because it allows for optimal discovery. People on the web make a hobby of finding blogs that appeal to their interest, and they do this by searching through certain tags. Using these tags will place your site in the pantheon of other great blogs from across the entire Internet.

Social media should be your best friend.

Bloggers typically use five or more social networking platforms to push out their content, and for good reason. You’ve likely spent time cultivating online friendships and followers on these websites, so take advantage of that. Posting your newest blog updates to Facebook and Twitter will open up avenues for extended readership, which is, after all, the entire point of blogging. You want to be heard, so spread the word yourself.

All the best bloggers began in earnest, furiously typing away their ideas in hopes the world would notice. It’s formulaic, really — finding your voice, then amplifying it until it resounds throughout the caverns of the web. Bloggers everywhere know that. Now you do, too.