Competition in the blogosphere is fierce. To stand out above the rest, we must raise our blogging to a new level of excellence.
There are approximately 181 million blogs in existence today. Add to that the additional competition from other social media outlets and you have to be on your game to make it out of the slush pile.
But what makes a good blog great?
Today I’ll share some of those things, and you may be surprised at how simple they are to incorporate in your site.
1. Laser-sharp focus. Now more than ever it’s critical to focus your blog. If you can’t define the target of your blog in one or two sentences you need to refine your goal. If you’re curious, the focus of this blog is helping writers reach the world through excellence, connections and technology.
2. Easy-to-read format. This includes everything from fonts that don’t strain the reader’s eyes to well-organized layout.
3. Regular posting schedule. We all want people to come back regularly to read our blogs. How can we reasonably expect that from our audience when we don’t deliver regular content?
4. Images and videos. We have become a visual society. Because of that, people enjoy a blog that’s illustrated with pictures and videos. Be sure, though, you’re using images legally and not infringing on copyright. Not certain? Here’s a post to get you started on Copyright 101 for Bloggers.
5. Well-crafted posts. It’s vital that we provide well written and edited pieces. This isn’t difficult with only a few extra minutes of work. Not sure where to start? Here are 5 Easy Steps to Edit Your Blog.
6. Sustainable passion. This may be harder to pinpoint from the readers view, but as a blogger you’ll need it to stay on track. Blogging is hard work. There are days you get busy, and days you run dry. During the tough times, it’s the passion that will sustain you, giving you the will and the want-to to continue.
Making it as a top-notch blogger in today’s social media climate may seem unlikely, but with just a little bit of focus and passion you can rise above the rest!
Now it’s your turn. What are some things you look for in the blogs you follow? What are some things that will keep you from coming back to a blog?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
Excellent, Edie. Something I look for is personal info in the sidebar. I can't believe how many blogs have NO author info. Who wants to follow an anonymous blog? At least tell us your first name!
ReplyDeleteSusan, ever since you first brought this to my attention I seem to notice it all the time! I'm with you, it's very frustrating. Thanks for dropping by - Blessings, E
DeleteI just noticed that this past week with a blog. I was searching for the author's last name and couldn't find it anywhere! NOT GOOD!
DeleteEdie, thanks for this helpful insight. I was just thinking about the number of blogs out there this week, and wondering how one gets noticed. This is very helpful. Thanks for spurring us on!
ReplyDeleteCrickett, I'm really glad this is helpful. It can be daunting to launch a blog right now, but I know yours is going to do very well! Blessings, E
DeleteEdie, as always, you have very helpful information here! A quick question...is my name in the sidebar of my blog? Love you!
ReplyDeleteJamie, thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, your name is at the top of the sidebar, along with your picture. Blessings, E
DeleteGreat tips! Just tweeted this one. Very helpful when trying to make our blogs stand out!
ReplyDeleteHeather, thanks so much for the Twitter support! I appreciate the feedback. Blessings, E
DeleteThanks, Edie.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can add is TAKE AWAY VALUE. If I invest my time in reading a blog I need to gain somehting of value from it - for the most part I really don't care that your poodle is having puppies (unless I'm a dog-lover reading a doggy blog!)
It was great to meet you in person at the Writer's Plot Conference.
Blrddinhd,
Jean Hall
Jean, you are so right! Without value, you can do everything write and have a spectacular failure. I'm so glad we got to connect in person at the Writer's Plot. We know so many of the same people, it seems odd we hadn't met sooner. Blessings, E
DeleteFantastic tips, Edie! I always learn so much from you!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, thanks so much. I love your post today - I'm a huge Charlie Brown fan! Blessings, E
DeleteThanks Edie! Our world seems to expand by the minute and sometimes it seems out of reach. Your tips are not only applicable to blogging, but to life in general. Having impact doesn't just happen. It takes thoughtful, truthful and daily interaction within our circle of influence.
ReplyDeleteElaine, you're right about having impact. Thanks for pointing that out. It's something we know, somewhere in the backs of our minds, but not something we pay attention to. Blessings, my friend, E
DeleteAnother great post, Edie! Another thing I would add is an easy sign-up widget (or whatever it is). Sometimes I have to hunt for a place to sign up. Sometimes I have to give up. :-(
ReplyDeleteOne other thing is an easy-to-find search feature for your blog. Sometimes I want to revisit a blog post at someone's site, but they either don't have a search feature, or it takes me forever to find it. People aren't going to take a lot of time to look. They'll most likely just move on to another blog that does have the ability to search.
Vonda, both of those are very important. Thanks for reminding us. Unfortunately the search engine that runs a blog's search feature isn't often under our control. Blogger has improved theirs over the years, but it's still far from optimal. Blessings - E
DeleteThank you for sharing all the ways to do better! The thing I look for when I visit a blog is clarity -- I hate the busyness or clutter that takes away from the focus of the message. Also, I love blogs to be pointed and short!
ReplyDeleteVerna, both very good points! Clutter makes it almost impossible for the reader to find the focus of the blog. And I'm with you, if it looks like a post goes on forever I click away. Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings, E
DeleteI appreciate all your good advice that got me going with my blog, Edie. It's to your credit that a non-techno like me got it up and functioning!
ReplyDeleteSteph, you've got a good blog going, the credit is all yours! Thanks for the encouragement and for stopping by, Blessings, E
DeleteI'll have to agree with Jean, Verna, and Vonda: I look for clarity, useful information, and an easy way to sign up. I really like using Google Reader and am disappointed when I can't find a way to set up an RSS feed. I also look for succinct posts - I don't have time to read someone's 900 word rant, even if good info is buried in there. Thanks also for the shout out on Twitter today - I've learned so much about blogging from you, and I truly appreciate the compliment. My following is still small, but I'm hanging in there with encouragement from people like you!
ReplyDeleteGreat insight, Edie. I have much to learn but your tips have helped tremendously (as always!)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Edie. You know I'm always working on my blog ;) I also loved the post you led me back to on editing. I need to work on font...I just need to fix it over the whole blog or it will drive me crazy and I haven't had time to do that yet. I think I started with verdana at the beginning, but somehow I switched. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou are the social media queen. Great advice. Now I have to apply them.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as always!! Thanks for the info, Edie!
ReplyDeleteAnd a question...What is the URL that you put in if you're trying to add RSS feed? (And I might have asked you that before...tech goofball that I am!)
ReplyDeleteReally long posts are a big turn-off for me. I know we can't all be as concise as Seth Godin, but I like succinct, focused posts. And yes, I'm very visual, so photos are great, too. I've seen a lot of blogs without About sections and that's frustrating. I like knowing who I"m spending time with!
ReplyDeleteAll great advice, Edie. As usual. Thank you.