10 Things I Look For When I Visit Your Blog
By AllieRambles
Blogs are everywhere these days. Everyone has one. (Ok, not everyone.) I have one. Mine is used to teach others about blogging and all the aspects that surround a successful blog. I don't come up with the stuff I write about on my own, I read 100's of blogs every week to get info to share.
When I visit a blog I scan it. I am actually determining whether or not I want to stay. Let me tell you what I look for.
1. A PLEASANT APPEARANCE
The first thing I do is see if your blog is hurting my eyes. Frankly speaking, I can't handle light writing on a dark background. Think about it, what do books and newspapers have in common besides words, white background with dark writing.
Please keep your blog's appearance as simple as possible. Too many boxes or images and too much color can really strain the eyes.
Tip: Look at other blogs within your topic and see what they have done. They already know your audience.
CONTENT
2. I am at your blog because I want the goods. Give me something I have never read before or help me learn or tell me a story. You get the idea. Thrill me. Write about what you know and what you are passionate about. Write for yourself and for your readers. Keep it honest.
3. CONSISTENCY
Have you blogged lately? Or is your last post 2006?
Do I see you posting on what seems to be a schedule? Do I know I can come every Friday and find you posted 3 times that week?
Do you stick to your intended subject matter or switch it up a lot? Many readers come to read about the same topic every time and will leave if you start to change topics on them.
4. CREDIBILITY
I am going to look for a history of posts showing me you are serious about blogging and I should come back often for more.
If you are new, keep going. In no time you will have 100's of posts.
5. ENGAGEMENT
Yes, I am looking to see if people have commented. This shows me you have writing that makes people take action.
Sure, you have comments. But I also need to see that you responded to your commentators. Did you engage them? Did you thank them for coming and gave them even more content to ponder?
6. SOCIAL NETWORKING
It is very important for bloggers to leave their blogs to venture into the world of Social Networking.
When I decide I can't live without your wonderful blog, I want more. I want to know what you are up to. To know which bloggers you like and who , besides me, likes you.
I first look for a Twitter account. And then I wonder if you are on Facebook. Are you a member of any communities or forums in your niche? I want to be there too. Do you have a bookmarking site you like? (StumbleUpon, Digg, Redditt) Because if you do I can bookmark you too and vote!
I want to be part of your social network and hopefully you will be a part of mine.
7. YOUR EMAIL
What if I really want to ask you a question? Or just send you a little note to say what an awesome job you are doing?
I want to email you.
Tip: Get yourself an email specifically for your blog. Keep it separate from your own personal email. Don't worry about all the email platforms you need to check, simply forward all your emails to one inbox and you are set.
9. YOUR PHOTO
AKA, your Gravatar.
It is assigned to a specific email and everywhere you use that email, in commenting, it will pop up. Sweet! Especially on your own blog.
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10. LINKS
Sure, I will be looking for more to read.
When I come to your blog I want to read more of your posts. Interlink them into your posts. Place the most recent and/or most popular in your side margin. Place them as related links at the end of a post. Don't be shy, it's your blog.
Tip: Don't over do it and link everything, everywhere. It gets very hard to read those posts and you look desperate.
Tip: Link to others.
Tip: Link using relevant words. If I am going to link to Hubpages, I would use the word "Hubpages" as my anchor link, not, say, "here".
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Comments
Good advice! I need to work on the social networking part--but I'd rather research and write.
I like writing about what I know works for me, and sharing that information. I also like "connecting the dots" that goes along with networking. The hardest thing I have trouble with is posting information without putting my readers on overload.
Absolutely! Content is king, but the package is essential TOO.
Interesting Advice! Would you please tell me what you will not look?
@Bmoja Not look at? A blog that looks rushed like misspelled words, bad grammar, wrong facts etc. You can tell when someone is just trying to make a buck or doesn't care. I love reading blogs that have thought put behind them and you get the feeling the author really likes what he/she does.
@JimmieWriter So true, the more I blog the more I realize, content is #1. But you are right, everything else needs to help you make that great content look good and spread the word.
@Michelle Sometimes I worry about overload. You know what can be done is you break up the posts into parts like for a series. It doesn't overload and keeps them coming back.
@TheDirtFarmer I am in the same boat. Just pick what you are comfortable with in social networking and be real good at it. I love Facebook and Twitter and pretty much just stick with them. And I have a few blogs I am always reading and commenting so we have become online friends, then it is fun.
@nycgirl So true! There is so much to remember my head spins sometimes. Just always be truthful, I'm sure you are. And practice. It will all fall in place.
:-)
~Allie
Allie - Very consice, to-the-point and clear directions, love it! My weakest point is the social networking, haven't got that one worked out yet...
Just a questions though: I have a contact-me page, would you still advise to have my email on my blog too?
Thanks!
Fenny
Hey Fenny,
Nice to see you on Hubpages!
You can place your email on your blog also but write in this form: "allierambles at gmail dot com". This keeps spambots from finding it and spamming the heck out of you.
Thanks for coming by! And see you on the blogosphere!
~Allie
A really good article AllieRambles. Some great, sensible points to help with things.
Thanks. Michael.
Great article and a catchy title. Frequent posting is so important. Even I get turned off when the blog has not been updated since long -it generally means that they have no passion for their work. Presence on social networks is an added advantage as it build a sort of authority and the social network pages and links rank high in search. Thanks for these points!
Nice hub!
I try to blog regularly but I guess that the topic that I blog about is just too wide. Somehow, my blog attracts a lot of spams. I think it's time to revamp my blog!
Great article. I came to know something new. This is a good idea to add my new friends that I meet while reading articles to add on social networking sites. Voted up.
This is great advice - very helpful. Voted up. It is hard to be consistent in many networking sites - I find that when I spend a lot of time on HubPages, my blogging suffers, or my Facebook suffers. I am trying to find a balance.
Millionaire- thanks for the vote up! I really appreciate it. :-)
Balance, oh! I think all bloggers struggle with that. I wish I had tips for you but sometimes we all just have to find our own way.
~Allie
Oh, I SO agree with you about dark backgrounds with light writing--often made worse by the use of 8-point serif fonts!
"All of the above" would be my answer to your poll--but I would add these things I look for as well.
1) Does the writer make sense, or are their thoughts all jumbled up and bouncing back and forth?
2) Are their sentences properly constructed?
3) Do they know how to spell, and use the correct words? For instance, if I see "then" when they should have used "than," and other such errors,it hurts their credibility on the subject matter, as well.
This is a great post; all writers and would-be writers should read it. Voted up, intersting, useful and shared.
Ms Lizzy,
I cannot believe i forgot that I look for perfect grammar and if the content is good and makes sense. maybe I just take that for granted. If I see a mess, I leave. :-)
TY for commenting.
~Allie
Hi, again, Allie--
And I see that I need to do a better job of proofreading the comments I leave. Grr... I'll really have to look into having hubby clean my keyboard to fix the sticky "e" and "7/&" keys... :-(
Lol! No biggy, I got it.
nycgrl 11 months ago
Great advice! It all seems like common sense but sometimes when you get caught up in it, you forget about these little things. I will make sure to keep them in mind when writing my blogs. Thanks!