This is a guest post by Kathleen Hubert.

Oh! snap, its 2012 already! Are you ready for a new year of blogging trends? In the last few years we’ve dealt with everything from web 2.0 to crazy innovations in car loans and insurance (who doesn’t love all of the crazy Progressive commercials?), but that was then! Here we’re going to go over everything that’s new and now in blogging for 2012. Let’s get started!

1. Google+

Remember all those awful little social media buttons we all put on our blogs? If you want to get ranked on Google, you’re going to have to add one of the Google +1 buttons to your page. It’ll help your readers share your message and expand your audience. Hopefully they’ll work on the design a little bit!

2. The Mobile Revolution

With more and more people using their phones to access the internet, you’re going to have to remember to write short interesting messages that appeal to people whose attention is as short as their bandwidth cap.

3. Internet Activism

If you want to bring all the people to your page, you’re going to want to keep a close eye on social media sites like Reddit and Twitter to know what the cause celeb is of the moment. Draw in a new audience by talking about the things that matter to yourself and others, just latch onto those headlines and ride the wave.

4. Tablet Readers

People are browsing more and more with tablets, and we’re not just talking the iPad. Try to make sure your site matches the right display width for these devices.

5. Siri and the Voice Activated Search

People hate typing, so if you’ve put a lot of time and effort into targeting local search for your blog, you might start missing out.

6. Pandering to Panda

Since the Google Panda Update(s), bloggers have been trying to beat the system. Create informative, entertaining and FUN content to draw in readers instead of using cheap tricks.

7. More and More Live Blogging

Watching the State of the Union Address or the Emmy’s? People are going to expect you to live blog events while they’re happening; turn yourself into a news source for your readers!

8. Get Reinvested in Your Blog

Blogging has fallen to the wayside for many online, but if you want to get people to come to your site and buy what you’re selling (even if it’s just ideas), you’re going to have to get back into blogging. Blog about what’s important to you and the users will follow.

9. Get Creative

Creative campaigns for everything from gutter guards to car loans are what blogging needs to be about this year! No more dry boring blogs that no reasonable human would want to read; say good bye to content farms and stuff written just for the search engines!

10. Tutorials are King

Tutorials will be the order of the year for 2012; share what you know about and teach people something new! Add value to what you put on the internet and you’re good to go.

Blogging changes every year, but by following these tips you’ll be good to go for 2012! Get out there and try something new.

Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at car loans.

Written by: Kathleen Hubert on January 24, 2012.

Tags: blogging 2012, blogging activism, blogging g+, blogging panda, blogging siri, internet activism 2012