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Vikram D
Business Researcher | Blogger | Mobile Phone Enthusiast | Internet Addict
How can one make Blogs more enjoyable or What is that you do to maintain the popularity/readership of your blog?
I am interested in knowing the attributes that shape the success of a Blog. There are blogs on different subjects, but there are some common attributes that make a blog readable for its target market. I would like to have your views on this.
Good Answers (6)
Focus, passion, originality.
Focus - I think one of the most important choices a blogger makes when they start their blog is what their focus is. Think about a first time visitor getting dropped on your blog from a search engine or stumbleupon, are they going to understand in 2 seconds exactly what your blog is about? If the answer is yes you will build a readership and you will have a successful blog. If not, you may well build a successful blog but it will take years as opposed to months.
Passion - This is the only possible way that you will be able to sustain regular posting of a high enough quality over the course of years. If you don't have the passion your blog will become a ghost town very quickly. People talk about the passion in the writing, and how important it is for readers, but IMHO the passion is all about the ability to sustain you through the emotional roller coaster ride of writing a blog. Sure your passion will come through in your writing, but it is your passion that will keep you plugging away when no one is coming back, no one is commenting, and no one is linking to you. Passion may not be the only thing that will drag you along, but it is the most enjoyable so unless you are a masochist you better love what your talking about.
Originality - In branding terms, what differentiates you from the crowded playing field of blogs all talking about the same thing. They don't call the blogosphere an echo chamber for nothing, because most of the time everyone is reflecting and amplifying what else is happening around the blogosphere. Original content and original ideas in the blogosphere stand out like beacons in the night, and not to labor the metaphor but they also attract other bloggers like moths to a flame :-)
Kathie M. T
Author, Blogger, Founder of Virtual Assistant Industry in Australia, Speaker, VA Coach
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I write with passion on topics that I have good knowledge on - then I make sure I make others aware of them via various discussion groups, blog search engines, technorati tags and listings and so on. I also link to other blogs, comment on other blogs and participate in discussions with other bloggers.
Henk-Jan V
Managing consultant at Capgemini Nederland BV, Project Manager and Insurance Consultant
Best Answers in: Web Development (2), Project Management (1)
Hey Vikram,
Primary focus is content (still King). As Kathie wrote: I write about subject I'm passionate about, I consider worthy to notify and share.
Second: publish frequently. If you're not planning to write posts on a regularly basis, you forget your audience. They'll not take your blog seriously.
Third: make yourself known to search engines, RSS aggregators, listings, social networks, fellow bloggers.
Passion gives energy and compensates the time needed to maintain hobbies like blogging.
Links:
John M
Director of M2M Sales
Best Answers in: Blogging (2), Job Search (1), Career Management (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
1) Content.
2) Allow comments and interact with your readers.
3) Publish regularly. Every weekday, or two - three times a week minimum.
4) Publish in the morning or after lunch.
5) Make it easy to read - include RSS and email subscriptions.
6) Contests of other means to include and involve your readers.
7) Guest bloggers.
8) Reward those who comment - recognize contributors, allow follow tags.
9) Stay on subject. Business blogs should not wander into politics, etc!
10) Original layout. Get off default and canned templates as soon as possible.
Marlene J
Application Developer at Acuity Brands Technology Services
Best Answers in: Freelancing and Contracting (1), Writing and Editing (1)
Hi Vikram,
You've received really good answers/advice already, but I'd like to add that it's also a good idea to ask blog readers for their input on how to make things better and more enjoyable.
In my personal opinion, the best blogs are ones where the owners or editors have a very solid understanding of their topic and a deep, personal connection with their readers and target market. When you stop thinking of yourself as someone sitting behind a monitor writing your thoughts to a nameless and faceless audience, and, instead, as a guy chatting to his next-door neighbors about his favorite subject, you'll see your readership go up.
Of course, it never hurts to test new ideas. If you've never posted video content, share a relevant YouTube clip and then check your stats. Or add a free download and see how your readers respond. Think "added value". What can you do to add value to your blog, and subsequently to your readers' lives?
Hope this helps,
Marlene Jaeckel
Ajay J
Senior Journalist, Pro Blogger & Author - 'Let's Connect: Using LinkedIn to get ahead at work'
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I had written an article recently that may partly answer your question. It is titled 'The 4Ps of Blog Marketing.'
You can access it at http://www.techgazing.com/?p=71
Links:
More Answers (3)
Jonathan N
Freelance Writer, Professional Blogger
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I look at three elements when blogging: is it something I'm both passionate and knowledgeable about, is the layout and color scheme pleasant and readable, and will I be able to update on a regular basis.