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Successful Blogs

Posted by
August 6, 2005

This is a much longer post than my usual drivel.

I was visiting Debwire and I saw one of her posts about being an anti-social blogger.

She described recommendations to having a successful blog, although I don’t know where she got those recommendations but, after reading, I decided to google and see what constituted a successful blog (or blogger).

According to what Deb found, you must:

  1. Have your own domain versus one of those freebie blog communities like Blogger. I actually agree with this. I think everyone should have their own domains if they’re interested in having a website. I figure if you’re too cheap to get your own domain, then you shouldn’t be on the net.
  2. Have a unique and non-template design and color scheme. I agree with the “unique” aspect but I tend to customize the standard templates rather than re-invent the wheel.
  3. Pass the endurance test. I’ve been around since 1998 – but that doesn’t mean that anybody actually reads me.
  4. Comment on other blogs and network with other bloggers. I tend to comment on things that strike me or on blogs that I read regularly. But I don’t usually comment all that much, and I certainly don’t network at all.
  5. Possess a coolness factor — be “hip” to current trends — which comes across in one’s posts and overall content. Where do the ‘current trends’ come into play if you’re blogging about your personal life?

I used to have Deb on my blogroll but then she took down her blog and made it a photoblog. However, I had pretty much stopped visiting her blog on a regular basis because it got too “news-y” for me and I prefer to read personal stuff and go to a news site if I want news. She restarted her blog. I figure because she just got bored with posting pics only but she’s got a longer explanation if you want to visit her.

Anyway, after googling, I tend to agree with D. Keith Robinson about what a successful blog (or blogger) should be.

He says:

  1. Well written. Good content will make or break your blog. Period. This it the #1 thing that makes a blog successful in my book. I tend to stick to writing about my personal life. Grammatically I’m strong, but I’m sure my topics aren’t of interest to most people.
  2. Frequently updated. Unless you’re a guru of some sort you really need to stay on top of it. This can be a real challenge. I’m always up to date, and almost always daily, if not more.
  3. Consistent. This is kind of a combination of the first two. I like sites that are able to maintain quality and frequency overtime. I am consistent, but then again the “quality” is subjective.
  4. Open. I like to read people who are honest and willing to talk about tough issues in a free and open way. This one is me… open about everything although I don’t know how “tough” the issues are.
  5. Responsive. Those who respond to feedback and try to adapt to the wants and needs of their audience get high marks from me. I respond to anything that needs responding to.
  6. Well designed. Yes, I do judge a blog by its design. It’s not the most important thing, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t matter at all. I love my design. While it’s busy in one sense, I find it clean and clear as well.
  7. Aware of its audience. If you don’t know your audience it’ll show. I know who you are and where you live.
  8. Varied in topic. I feel there are lots of people who would disagree with this, but I like sites that change the subject every once in awhile. It’s not all about shopping :) .
  9. Personal. I tend to enjoy a blog with a bit of a personality. I want to “get to know”, to a certain degree, the person(s) behind the site. Tone and style have a lot to do with this. Oh I think people know me after reading here a while.
  10. Thick skinned. With any successful site comes nay-sayers, trolls, pedants and spammers. Nobody’s ever given me any grief here.
  11. Honest. Readers are smart and they can smell bullshit. Uhoh, I may be in trouble now.
  12. Accountable. Mistakes are inevitable and there are times when it’s best to fess up and admit where you’re wrong. I’ve missed out on this one. I’ll try to be wrong sometimes so that I can fess up
  13. Funny. I like a blog that can make me laugh on occasion. I make me laugh… does that qualify?

So, as far as I’m concerned, I employ some of the attributes for a successful blog here. Not only that, but I also give you haikus, piano playing and original songs, video and pictures. All I need now is content, content, content.

Oh, and related in a different sort of way, I will not read black blogs. Even though the very first website I ever created was black, with white type, I now realize how hard it is on the eyes, and I won’t bother reading anybody else’s.

Bloggage

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