The government just loves telling us important things about how to look after ourselves, don't they? Where once we were a nation of fish and chip-loving sloths, now we are asked at all turns to monitor the number of calories we consume, restrict our alcohol intake to so many units, and religiously count up how many fruits and vegetables we've had in any given day. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for healthy eating, but sometimes it seems as if our politicians can be a bit prescriptive when it comes to telling us how we should behave.

Blogging best practice can be a bit like that too, have you noticed? Visit any site you like which gives advice on how to maximise returns from your blog, and you'll be faced with a mass of ideas, many of which seem to contradict each other. Backlinks work. Backlinks don't work. Video is the only way to attract traffic. Written posts are the only way to attract traffic. Sometimes it seems as if you could spend your entire life bouncing from one site to another and applying all of the different tips and techniques, only to find that the next consultant you read is giving you a completely different viewpoint.

So, in the light of New Year's resolutions, post-festive health kicks and a drive to achieve success in 2013, I thought I'd give you the lowdown on what I view to be the best way to get your 5 a day for your blog. If you follow these tips with the resolve of a dieter in the New Year, you'll be able to shelve the gym and lift wads of cash instead!

1) Little and often is better than one big meal a day
How many times have you been warned not to skip meals, because you'll end up overeating and put weight on when you finally sit down to eat? Blogging is very similar. If you leave all of your administration, article writing, comments and responses for a while and then come back to it after a break, you'll soon grow tired of trying to catch up with everything and risk rushing the job, skipping out on fundamental best practice such as customer communications or regular updates. Your blog likes being 'fed' little and often, preferably every day, to give it the best possible chance of staying in great shape.

2) Make the most of carrots
Everyone knows that the 'carrot' is used as an analogy for an incentive. As well as being a healthy food item, it's also a good image to keep in mind for your blogging. When customers come to visit your site, what incentive do they have to stick around? Litter your blog with proverbial carrots by providing useful updates packed with information, a great free product for them to download, and regular customer-focussed communications, special offers and promotions. A blog full of incentives keeps people coming back again and again, beating down competitors with a stick!

3) Variety is the spice of life
We're often warned to eat a varied diet, and choose foods according to their different colours to make sure we gain optimum nutrition from our eating patterns. Your blog is no different - if it were to survive on a bland diet of repetitive articles with no thought or creativity, you'll soon see your customers jumping ship to discover variety elsewhere. Include a lot of varied, well thought-out and interesting updates, mixing video, podcasts, images and writing to present a range of options for your clients, and your blog will be in great shape for long-term success.

4) A positive attitude reaps rewards
Anyone who has dieted successfully in the past knows that more than half the battle for success stems from a really strong attitude with lots of motivation. Blogging is no different. If you have come to 2013 feeling jaded and pessimistic about your online business venture, it's going to be immediately apparent to your customers. Rekindle your passion for your industry by coming up with fresh ideas, doing some training or having a great session with a business mentor to make sure you are enthusiastic, motivated and raring to go with your blog over the course of the year.

5) Stay focussed on your goal
Healthy eating is pretty easy once you remember to keep your ultimate goal in mind all the time to incentivise you and keep you on track. Blogging is the same; you need to be really clear about what you are trying to achieve, in order to make sure that all of your online activities are on target for supporting you to reach your goals. Whether you are looking to generate more money this year, attract more customers, or simply share your knowledge about your preferred subject online, it's important to keep this goal in mind. Every activity you do for your blog should be questioned before you do it, with "Is this helping me to achieve my strategy for the year?" if the answer is 'no', it's time to re-think your reasons for doing that particular activity in the first place.

Just like healthy eating, great blogging is a habit that you can learn to do well each day. By following these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to achieving the equivalent of your 'five a day' regime for your blog, keeping it nourished, fit and in great shape!

Author Bio
Andrew is a full-time Internet Marketing Specialist and blogger from the UK. At his blog he shares all his knowledge and experience on how to make a blog.