Discussions

I’m often asked the question, “How do I create a successful blog?”

I always give the same answer: “I have no idea!”

I say this because I really never set out with any plan or strategy when I started my own blog three years ago, and any perceived “success” along the way has been a combination of luck, chance...and a little bit of humor here and there.

What I do know, however, is what I like in a blog. I have a handful of websites/blogs I visit regularly, and I often examine what it is about them that keeps me going back over and over. I find it constructive to reflect on what I like in a blog, because I can then apply those basic principles to my own site. And really, that’s the best piece of advice I can give anyone who’s wondering what they can do to make their blog good -narrow down what YOU like to read in a blog, and apply the same principles in your own.

Of course, there’s never one right or wrong answer, never one single, set formula. Different people like different kinds of blogs. Many people come to my site and enjoy reading the stories about cows, looking at photos of horses, and seeing step-by-step food photos. Still others stop by my site, take a look around, and never come back. And that’s what makes the world go ‘round. Different strokes (or in this case, blogs) for different folks.

If I had to narrow it down, here are my primary suggestions for creating and maintaing a successful blog. In future installments of this series, I’ll dive into the detail of each subject and provide specific suggestions for how to implement them:

(These are in no particular order.)

1.  Photos: Right or wrong, a text-only blog will keep my attention for less than one visit, then I’m outta there. I need photos, graphics, visuals, to keep my attention. At the same time, poorly lit or blurred photos will detract from a blog and immediately take away from the quality. That is not to say, however, that you have to be a professional photographer to have a good looking website. There are plenty of great point-and-shoots on the market that, if used correctly, will produce good looking photos.

2.  Variety: Change up your content -text, photos, graphics -and don’t get into a rut of posting about the same things day after day. Provide a smorgasboard of content!

3.  Longterm, get your own Domain: This isn’t necessarily something you’ll need to do at first. For the first six months of my blog, I was at pioneerwoman.blogspot.com. But longterm, having your own domain just makes it easier to pass along, and it’s easier for folks to remember. A domain also just gives your blog a more professional appearance. (I’ll go into more detail about all the pros and cons in a separate post.)

4.  Make it easy for visitors to comment: I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to have to register and log in and give my thumbprints and mother’s maiden name in order to comment on something a blogger has written. I really like the natural flow of open comments. That’s not to say, of course, that you shouldn’t have safeguards in place to prevent spam or abuse, but in general, the more open and accessible a comments section, the better.

5.  Steer clear of the F-Bombs: Okay, look. I can really swear like a sailor if I put my mind to it. If I stub my toe or misplace something, I can really let ‘em fly. But I wouldn’t let ‘em fly if my kids were in the room, or my grandmother or my mother-in-law were there. So when I write a blog post, I just assume that other grandmothers and mother-in-laws might be reading. And I think it would be presumptuous of me to think they’d all be okay with reading a bunch of four-letter words. Keeping it real and “being yourself” is one thing -but I happen to believe it takes more literary creativity to write something interesting without including the f-bomb.

6.  Involve readers: Whether you have an occasional giveaway where you ask readers to weigh in on a topic in order to enter, or you hold polls here and there, part of having a blog is having readers, and things are a lot more fun when you acknowledge that they have just as much to bring to the table -sometimes more -as you do. The people who read my website have taught me innumerable things, and I value that more than anything else.

7.  Don’t try to be the end authority on any topic: Now, if you have a specialized blog about baking and you’re a trained pastry chef, then go ahead! Be an expert! But if you’re merely imparting what you believe and understand about parenting, politics, religion, or current events, just keep in mind that at least 50% of your readers will have a legitimate opinion that’s often diametrically opposed to yours. And that doesn’t make them necessarily wrong. Not that you have to compromise what you believe; but always consider that others won’t agree with you..and leave a little wiggle room for healthy, intelligent discussion.

8.  Laugh. And make others laugh: Don’t take yourself too seriously. If done right, blogging is fun. Make it fun for you and for your readers. You don’t have to be a cut-up or a comedian. But in this day and age, when everything around us is so weighed down and heavy, don’t be afraid to take a picture of your toenails, draw a parallel between your chipped polish and world peace, and call it a day.

QUESTION: What do YOU like in a blog? What do you NOT like in a blog? I’d love to hear your thoughts and see how different (and similar) everyone’s preferences are.

(And stay tuned for more Blogging College courses! I can’t wait to teach you everything I know. )

(Too bad I don’t actually KNOW anything.)<-->