I like blogs by all kinds of people and companies but love those most where the person's personality also comes through. Even if it's a company it's nice to have a little humour or perhaps strong opinions.
Debbie Weil
· 1 year ago
Chris,
I like these. #8 is a nice touch. But in my experience it's not something that would occur to folks at Disney or Starbucks. What's hardest for the corporates is dropping corporate-speak. Also, not thinking of the blog as an outlet for "messaging." I spend a lot of time showing them how to re-cast what they want to say in bloggy, conversational style.
Long way of saying that I suggest adding: #11 No corporate-speak
Darren Daz Cox
· 1 year ago
hey now, just because you have to read 9 million blogs a day doesn't mean the rest of us have to!!
Be brief? why? because YOU don't have time to read it? ha!
It has to be annoying to see 8 million of those bloggers writing about the same exact thing, I bet you cringe on 'Apple product rumor release day' as you know a hell of a lot of people are going to jump on the blogwagon and write a review so that they can get traffic, am I wrong?
helpful? why? why not blog to randomly inspire or to make one person feel special?
I think your post should read "what I, CB, look for in a blog" not general blogging tips.
Jordan V
· 1 year ago
My favorite on your is #8. I think too often people want to write something deep and meaningful and over think writing instead of just saying what's fresh on their mind. I would also add LISTEN to your list, especially for a corporation. A blog is a great way to listen and create a true feedback loop for companies who really care about what their customers think.
Lara Kretler
· 1 year ago
As someone who is getting ready to start my first public blog, this was awesome advice. Thank you!
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
@Daz - you know, that's a good point. These are my kind of general tips that relate to the space as I see it. A blog is a tool. You can do whatever you want with it. Don't listen to me. I'm only one perspective.
Kelly
· 1 year ago
Chris,
How funny! We just did this in response to a new reader, asking to "pick my brain," yesterday. I asked my wonderful readers to contribute their own ideas. My favorite out of all the comments was from Janice Cartier who wrote,
"Darlin', make friends. Just like home. Bring something tasty to the party and be polite. There's tons of room."
Your #6 is wonderful. Don't overthink it, indeed. Great advice.
Regards,
Kelly
Courtney
· 1 year ago
I wish more bloggers followed that advice, particularly not being mean. This culture of meanness on the internet is really starting to make me hate some of the blogs I've read for a long time.
micah
· 1 year ago
Chris, I love your list. If I were to make one it would be:
1) be honest with yourself; 2) be open about yourself; 3) be true to yourself; 4) be right but not rightous; 5) enjoy the reaction; it means someone cares.
micah
Darren Daz Cox
· 1 year ago
The key to blogging is to write something from YOUR perspective no matter how inexperienced or un-informed you might be, it's your blog which means your opinion.
If your blog post simply defers to someone else as having a 'better' opinion than you then you are missing the point in my opinion.
How many blog posts lead off with a link to someone else's blog or site? Yes, some people break a story and have important info, but when you, in your blog, are too afraid to write your opinion and just redirect people to the other site you are missing the point of blogging in my opinion.
Your blog is your place to say what you think, not to say that someone else is saying what you think.
You might get some google rank, maybe, by being a middleman or blog-caddy or brownnose-blogger but if you can't write your opinion, whether it be popular or not, then you are missing the point of having your own blog. You would be better suited to just commenting on existing blogs!
Maria Palma
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris,
I would add something that goes along with #5: Link to helpful resources that your readers would find to be of value.
Clintus
· 1 year ago
Great list. These apply to video as well and I need to be mindful of them. I think I will print them and put them above my desk. Thanks Chris.
Chris
· 1 year ago
Be real, transparent and authentic. It is time big business folk let the guard down and be themselves. It really is ok :-)
I did see this as ten tips, not ten commandments. If I were going to squeeze one in, it would be: be yourself.
For me, of course, that means I don't always manage to be brief. I agree that (usually) it's a blog, not a dissertation; on the other hand, your own interests and passions will come across.
Another tip: not everything you can count, counts. In other words, don't get in a tizzy about Technorati or Google rank. The higher a blog appears in such places, the more it's a sign of of other people pointing to it -- not necessarily of its meriting that pointing.
And there's the advice from the pre-computer blogger, Hillel the Elder: If not for myself, who is for me? If for myself alone, who am I? And if not now, when?
Jonathan
· 1 year ago
Excellent list of tips. May even print this out and post it up on the wall!
Mari
· 1 year ago
Awesome all the way around.
Might I also add "You can be personal without getting too personal"? It bugs me when folks spill their guts out on their blogs then complain because someone else calls them out for "being too personal". In my opinion, if you don't want someone to know something - don't blog about it. It's odd how some people can't seem to figure that out.
My website is my professional website, but I do often post up personal news - but what personal news and when is left up to my discretion. I don't let anyone else bully me into posting things I don't find fit for public consumption.
Tim Jahn
· 1 year ago
Personality. Be sure to inject personality into your writing so it sounds like the post is written by a human and not a machine.
Charlie on PA Tpk
· 1 year ago
If you are not enjoying it, it doesn't matter how much traffic you have.
Mehmet Cihangir
· 1 year ago
Don’t overthink it. (It’s a blog, not a dissertation.)
this is the most important one...
William E
· 1 year ago
I"m so new to this its silly.However,I"m a writer and I find both the tips and comments to be good guidelines for communication. I particularly laiked the comment about "listening", few do. I"ll add only one;we are obcessed with "we can do this!", when perhaps we should pause a second and consider, SHOULD we do this.Will it benefit anything other than our own ego? (taking my own advise...) See ya.
Anthony James Barnett - author
· 1 year ago
Good advice. I've only been blogging for about 6 months and I haven't really found my feet yet. Any advice is like gold.... So thanks
Anthony
Book Calendar
· 10 months ago
Write every day if you can even if it is very short. Then read some more. When you are finished reading. Write some more. Then go back and look at your writing. Take a breather and read some books about writing. Then write a review of the book which you read about writing.
Raquel Richardson
· 10 months ago
On don't over think it - this is usually the one I see the most from clients. They try to be perfect.
Take action, be social and start the dialogue. Your discussion can and probably will evolve and that's OK and good.
Stephen Vetter
· 9 months ago
Chris- I really liked this particular subject page because you practised what you preached. You were brief, short, considerate of your reader's time, got as close to telling stories and you possibly could by using what i call picture- feeling words.
Good Job... Very good Chris It has been a pleasure getting to know you.
Steve
Cara Bikin blog
· 5 months ago
Blogging should write something that you like, not just write a topic based on traffic that will get from that. it's my opinions.
Red7Studio
· 5 months ago
Chris, have you considered doing a typology of blogs?
rajiv
· 2 months ago
Blogs are an easy way of earning cash as well as traffic to your site only if done in a tactful way http://tinyurl.com/y9lr3le
All Comments
I like blogs by all kinds of people and companies but love those most where the person's personality also comes through. Even if it's a company it's nice to have a little humour or perhaps strong opinions.
I like these. #8 is a nice touch. But in my experience it's not something that would occur to folks at Disney or Starbucks. What's hardest for the corporates is dropping corporate-speak. Also, not thinking of the blog as an outlet for "messaging." I spend a lot of time showing them how to re-cast what they want to say in bloggy, conversational style.
Long way of saying that I suggest adding: #11 No corporate-speak
Be brief? why? because YOU don't have time to read it? ha!
It has to be annoying to see 8 million of those bloggers writing about the same exact thing, I bet you cringe on 'Apple product rumor release day' as you know a hell of a lot of people are going to jump on the blogwagon and write a review so that they can get traffic, am I wrong?
helpful? why? why not blog to randomly inspire or to make one person feel special?
I think your post should read "what I, CB, look for in a blog" not general blogging tips.
How funny! We just did this in response to a new reader, asking to "pick my brain," yesterday. I asked my wonderful readers to contribute their own ideas. My favorite out of all the comments was from Janice Cartier who wrote,
"Darlin', make friends. Just like home. Bring something tasty to the party and be polite. There's tons of room."
Your #6 is wonderful. Don't overthink it, indeed. Great advice.
Regards,
Kelly
1) be honest with yourself;
2) be open about yourself;
3) be true to yourself;
4) be right but not rightous;
5) enjoy the reaction; it means someone cares.
micah
If your blog post simply defers to someone else as having a 'better' opinion than you then you are missing the point in my opinion.
How many blog posts lead off with a link to someone else's blog or site? Yes, some people break a story and have important info, but when you, in your blog, are too afraid to write your opinion and just redirect people to the other site you are missing the point of blogging in my opinion.
Your blog is your place to say what you think, not to say that someone else is saying what you think.
You might get some google rank, maybe, by being a middleman or blog-caddy or brownnose-blogger but if you can't write your opinion, whether it be popular or not, then you are missing the point of having your own blog. You would be better suited to just commenting on existing blogs!
I would add something that goes along with #5: Link to helpful resources that your readers would find to be of value.
Third comment of the day for me Chris, thanks for the challenge. Other two here http://tinyurl.com/4ymue9 and http://tinyurl.com/5g84zd
For me, of course, that means I don't always manage to be brief. I agree that (usually) it's a blog, not a dissertation; on the other hand, your own interests and passions will come across.
Another tip: not everything you can count, counts. In other words, don't get in a tizzy about Technorati or Google rank. The higher a blog appears in such places, the more it's a sign of of other people pointing to it -- not necessarily of its meriting that pointing.
And there's the advice from the pre-computer blogger, Hillel the Elder: If not for myself, who is for me? If for myself alone, who am I? And if not now, when?
Might I also add "You can be personal without getting too personal"? It bugs me when folks spill their guts out on their blogs then complain because someone else calls them out for "being too personal". In my opinion, if you don't want someone to know something - don't blog about it. It's odd how some people can't seem to figure that out.
My website is my professional website, but I do often post up personal news - but what personal news and when is left up to my discretion. I don't let anyone else bully me into posting things I don't find fit for public consumption.
this is the most important one...
I"ll add only one;we are obcessed with "we can do this!",
when perhaps we should pause a second and consider, SHOULD
we do this.Will it benefit anything other than our own ego?
(taking my own advise...) See ya.
Anthony
Take action, be social and start the dialogue. Your discussion can and probably will evolve and that's OK and good.
Good Job... Very good Chris
It has been a pleasure getting to know you.
Steve
http://tinyurl.com/y9lr3le