After doing this for a year, I feel I could offer some advice for people who are thinking of starting their own videogame blog.
1.Don't be afraid to have a grand vision. It is something to aim for. But start small, slowly introduce sections and the amount of work you do. Don't worry if it takes a few months for your site to grow into your grand vision, or even if you don't reach your vision. Try to get the main parts in, see what your audience reads and make sure they are catered for.
2.Try to be different from the other sites. Its easy to copy what others do, but it's harder to make your site unique. Have a good look around the web and see if you can find a niche that's not being catered for. If you want to do something that's similar/same as other sites, spend some time getting posts down on your site, then try contacting those sites either offering news tips, or show them your work.
3.It would be handy to have some money put aside to spend on your site. Its ok to use Blogger/Wordpress, but there comes a point where owning your own domain name would make your site look more professional.
4.Don't be afraid to experiment with new technology, many websites were slow to use Twitter, and try to keep on top of social trends. All this will give you a leg up on the big sites and will help build a audience.
5.When talking to PR, understand that you may not get a response. Remain calm and polite and ask again. Some companies will refuse to talk to you because of the size of your site. Understand and move on to others who will.
6.Have a go at doing a podcast, either solo or with mates. Try experimenting with other things like video's on youtube. If your looking at moving to a bigger site, understand that they use audio/video reporting heavily and any experience is essential.
7.Don't expect to get a job at a big site because you have a small site. Having your own site is a good way to earn experience in writing and the videogame industry, but it doesn't mean your guaranteed a job a major site. It will be a let down, but you should be enjoying working on your site, if you haven't been enjoying it...perhaps working in the industry isn't for you.
8.Always check your work. Read what you have written and check for mistakes. It may sound simple but all the sites suffer from this time to time.
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