A question I’m pondering ahead of a session I’m running on Friday for a group of journalists on blog basics. Some who are attending are already blogging, others are interested. My gut reaction is that being yourself and honest is crucial. Any thoughts from fellow bloggers or readers out there?
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on Jan 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Like you, Phil, I would have said ‘personality’ or ‘individuality’ – blogging is about speaking as a human being and entering into conversations with readers.
If I had to pick another “important thing”, I’d say speak about stuff that matters (echoes of Tim Reilly here, I think – see my post here). Readers will, I hope, want to learn new information or gain new perspectives from reading a blog. If it’s simply regurgitating other content, they will soon drift away.
Paul
on Jan 21st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
The question is too narrow really; Are you asking about style? Popularity? Niche? Making money?
They’re all determinants which will influence the way one blogs, particularly niche.
The most important thing that begats all them, however: blog regularly.
“Being yourself” is not necessarily a winning strategy. BBC bloggers must have all posts vetted, for understandable reasons. Robert Peston’s blog is hardly any more personal in style than reading any broadsheet.
Conversely, other bloggers deliberately antagonise, and/or make fools of themselves to link-bait.
I think you guys call it “finding your voice’.
I’ve been watching a blog over the last couple of mths as a bit of personal research. The blogger became very popular after someone posted a pic of a huge cheque he earnt online (writing reviews).
Whether it was true or not, it was picked up by many other aspiring bloggers, and he was soon being interviewd on ‘making money’ blogs, podcasts, radio, newspapers and TV.
He’s not daft – he’s now in the ‘make money’ blogging niche, writing templatised “10 guaranteed ways to…”, and “How to drive mega traffic to your site” type posts.
The posts are bland and repetitive after a while (how many times can you write the same thing different ways?) but it is the audience that intrigues me most: most of them are just commenting hoping he will selectively choose them to share his good fortune.
“Great post”
“Extremely useful”
“This is awesome. I’m going to print it out and stick it on my wall”
I wouldn’t mind, the posts are typically about basic, common, everyday tasks involved in writing (his audience are mainly bloggers) – if he wrote: “Use a spellchecker”, he’d get the same response.
I prolly went on a bit there but the point is, what kind of audience is that? Are they *really* reading? I don’t think so.
Will his notoriety last? So long as he’s happy – and able – to churn out the same ‘ole, same ‘ole, and replace bored readers, maybe.
I think I got lost there – I must have ADHD, soz!
on Jan 21st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
RE: ‘Blog regularly’ – Mike Willoughby’s blog being a case in point!
on Jan 21st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I don’t think there are any rules. I follow about 30 blogs on my RSS feeder, and some are manic (Tim Worstall?) some almost dormant, but the beauty of an RSS feed is that you don’t have to worry about frequency. I find that the ones I enjoy reading are the ones that are not only knowledgeable, but written well. And laid out with a certain feel for the reader staring at a screen. Lots of white space is good.
If you want an example of someone who blogs badly, look at Jonathan Porrit. He’s a very knowledable guy who can’t write very well, and he has no idea how to set out his text on a page.
on Jan 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I’d say that most important is being clear about who your readership is and regularly giving them stuff that’s useful or interesting or, ideally, both.
on Jan 21st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Allowing yourself to be wrong, thinking aloud without worrying about being ‘caught out’, searching for answers and consolidating theories. All things important to me when blogging.
Also, not blogging whilst drinking red wine ;o)
on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Phil – blogging to me is all around sharing, learning and inspiring, which I try to do through my blog. It is very much a reciprocal thing as I learn more and get more inspiration from blogs (and I would include micro blogging here such as twitter) than many other sources.
The difference between blogs and websites? websites should give fact and information, blogs give opinion as to what people/organisations really think and allow engagement – which is why organisations need both – or a combo.
Also concur with other views here – be yourself.
on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
I think it’s most important to write about what’s important to you (within the constraints of the theme of the blog). The blogs I most enjoy reading are those that are passionate and well-informed.
Not too fussed about whether they post regularly. I agree with Mark on this. That’s what RSS readers are for.
Also I’m not sure about worrying too much about targeting the readership. I suppose it’s a relationship that develops over time but I think passion trumps marketing.
on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
Good thought provoking content.
There is a lot of noise out there now but if you’ve got something interesting to say I still believe people will listen.
on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I think the best thing to say to new bloggers – especially when they’re journalists – is that blogs are very different from print. A blog is an experiment… a try-out of a half-formed thought. That’s why it’s such a wonderful form. It’s a thought you try out on your readers.
Journalists make the mistake of thinking they’re like a rolling op-ed page… that they’re writing the last thought on something, whereas really a blog is about your third or fourth pass at an idea.
on Jan 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Why thank you one and all. I will be quoting from you profusely at my session later today. All points are pertinent but William’s one is particularly so for my audience.
on Mar 4th, 2009 at 7:05 am
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