I generally gravitate towards blogs that are simply a day in somebody else's life. The ones that keep my attention are the ones with lots of photos, and smart writing. Funny is good, but not necessary.
I stumbled on your blog one day, don't even remember how, but I can say that I *blame* you for spending part of my work day lost in the lives of you and your family. Thanks for that!
I just found your blog when Smitten Kitchen came to visit and I am really enjoying it. Having said that, your blog is unique in the blogs I follow.
I am a news junkie, so I follow political blogs first and foremost, and liberal blogs at that!
I enjoy eating and to get really good and healthy meals you have to know how to cook, so I follow food blogs.
I have a creative streak, I make beaded jewelry, so I follow jewelry blogs.
Notice a trend? I follow blogs for which I have an underlying interest. I said your blog was unique (excepting the cooking bits) but one of the characteristics I most admire in others is the ability to tell a story and you tell a great story.
I guess what is true for life is true for blogs - what is important is love, both giving and receiving.
Thanks so much Ree. I have been hoping to get started on a blog and this will all definitely help. I love that there is humor throughout everything you write about. I totally get that you have learned not to take yourself too seriously--it's a pick-me-up everyday to read your stuff. thx. again for this college course!
For me, blogs need to be engaging, personal, snappy and make me feel like I'm a part of that person's life for the time I'm reading. Kind of like I've been invited into their living room. That's how I feel when I visit Pioneer Woman. I dislike automatic music and endless photos with brief captions that don't engage. I also really dislike excessive swearing in writing. Very occasionally a swear word fits, but mostly I can do without them. I'll be following your Blogging College posts for tips for my blogs: massagesedona.blogspot.com and rubyreddog.blogspot.com. (I see what you mean about the domain name!)
Thanks Ree - I love your site and I have been waiting for the next installment of the Love Story! Today???
I have been working on a blog the past couple of months at http://mm.mkeat.com/.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in a blog. I have spent a lot of time tinkering under the hood .. not always getting the exact look. So I look forward to more information from you on under-the-hood issues like how to get the look you want, adding plugins, and the like.
I write a feature article every month for the Family Living Magazine among other freelance pieces and I always find that I have more information than the publication allows - so I am hoping that my blog will serve as an expansion of my feature articles and tidbits here and there of random thoughts.
BTW - I agree, the F-bomb is something that I can handle in small doses - a couple of blog sites drop it like a two year old drops a bottles.
Please share more thoughts on how to attract and maintain readership. A blog is about connection and sharing - so please give all your advice on getting readers.
Loved reading this and can't wait for the next article. As for what I like in a blog - pictures and like you won't keep returning to blogs that don't have any. I also like when there are frequent updates(I'm guilty of not updating as often as I'd like)
as for dislikes - music is a big turnoff, as is excessive swearing.
Thanks Ree, I didn't know what a blog was until my sister showed me yours about 1-1/2 yrs ago. I check and read it a few times a day.I love reading blogs now and have started one myself. I don't like music and I like photos, but I don't have a lot of photos to offer. My husband would rather we didn't put our photos, (of family) on the web and I respect that. I like your photos and seeing the kids and the other people that do, though. Thanks for the course...now if I could learn how to make a blog button....www.lynettesideas.com
I generally gravitate towards blogs that are simply a day in somebody else's life. The ones that keep my attention are the ones with lots of photos, and smart writing. Funny is good, but not necessary.
I stumbled on your blog one day, don't even remember how, but I can say that I *blame* you for spending part of my work day lost in the lives of you and your family. Thanks for that!
Just wanted to say that i love you!! Your blog makes me smile all the time.
I just found your blog when Smitten Kitchen came to visit and I am really enjoying it. Having said that, your blog is unique in the blogs I follow.
I am a news junkie, so I follow political blogs first and foremost, and liberal blogs at that!
I enjoy eating and to get really good and healthy meals you have to know how to cook, so I follow food blogs.
I have a creative streak, I make beaded jewelry, so I follow jewelry blogs.
Notice a trend? I follow blogs for which I have an underlying interest. I said your blog was unique (excepting the cooking bits) but one of the characteristics I most admire in others is the ability to tell a story and you tell a great story.
I guess what is true for life is true for blogs - what is important is love, both giving and receiving.
Thanks so much Ree. I have been hoping to get started on a blog and this will all definitely help. I love that there is humor throughout everything you write about. I totally get that you have learned not to take yourself too seriously--it's a pick-me-up everyday to read your stuff. thx. again for this college course!
thanks so much for the blogging how-to - I'm really looking forward to your upcoming posts on this subject - thanks so much for sharing!
For me, blogs need to be engaging, personal, snappy and make me feel like I'm a part of that person's life for the time I'm reading. Kind of like I've been invited into their living room. That's how I feel when I visit Pioneer Woman. I dislike automatic music and endless photos with brief captions that don't engage. I also really dislike excessive swearing in writing. Very occasionally a swear word fits, but mostly I can do without them. I'll be following your Blogging College posts for tips for my blogs: massagesedona.blogspot.com and rubyreddog.blogspot.com. (I see what you mean about the domain name!)
Thanks Ree - I love your site and I have been waiting for the next installment of the Love Story! Today???
I have been working on a blog the past couple of months at http://mm.mkeat.com/.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in a blog. I have spent a lot of time tinkering under the hood .. not always getting the exact look. So I look forward to more information from you on under-the-hood issues like how to get the look you want, adding plugins, and the like.
I write a feature article every month for the Family Living Magazine among other freelance pieces and I always find that I have more information than the publication allows - so I am hoping that my blog will serve as an expansion of my feature articles and tidbits here and there of random thoughts.
BTW - I agree, the F-bomb is something that I can handle in small doses - a couple of blog sites drop it like a two year old drops a bottles.
Please share more thoughts on how to attract and maintain readership. A blog is about connection and sharing - so please give all your advice on getting readers.
Loved reading this and can't wait for the next article. As for what I like in a blog - pictures and like you won't keep returning to blogs that don't have any. I also like when there are frequent updates(I'm guilty of not updating as often as I'd like)
as for dislikes - music is a big turnoff, as is excessive swearing.
Thanks Ree, I didn't know what a blog was until my sister showed me yours about 1-1/2 yrs ago. I check and read it a few times a day.I love reading blogs now and have started one myself. I don't like music and I like photos, but I don't have a lot of photos to offer. My husband would rather we didn't put our photos, (of family) on the web and I respect that. I like your photos and seeing the kids and the other people that do, though. Thanks for the course...now if I could learn how to make a blog button....www.lynettesideas.com