Chris Brogan: Seven Blog Improvements You Can Make Today
Satish Talim
· 1 year ago
I too need to look into some of these points...
Josh Holat
· 1 year ago
Very good advice, a good checklist to go through about blogging. Really get you to think about how to improve your content.
Jay (Twitter @qthrul)
· 1 year ago
I'm glad it is only seven at not ten.
I feel much better knowing I'm not doing seven things than knowing I'm not doing ten ;-)
Nice list!
Cathy Stucker
· 1 year ago
Great ideas, Chris. I would add that in addition to editing for content, it is important to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. A lot of people think that good writing skills are not required online, but they are critically important. Someone who can not construct an understandable sentence is not going to get my attention.
Thanks for the food for thought. I see a couple of things that I need to implement (or at least implement more consistently).
Myrna
· 1 year ago
Chris, this is the first post I've read on your blog and it was like an informative lullabye(that's great). You have a quintessential way of communicating.
I agreed with everything you said from short and clean formatting to not making readers sign up.
And I love this last sentence. "If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader."
Do you put this at the end of every post?
You are SO unobtrusive that people might just want to hang around you or your words. Even the lightness of font color. Oh this is too much adulation! I'll keep reading your blog to give you constructive feedback after I've cooled down.
Kidding but honestly, it's a 10!
Corvida
· 1 year ago
I just can't get used to #7. I like to post for the "now" not the "later". Maybe that's because I've yet to hit a serious writer's block.
4four1ones
· 1 year ago
Chris, Excellent Post. I have been scratching my head on some blog ideas and this definitely put me back on the right track. Adding something of relevance to your community is a very important detail. Thanks for this.
So glad you're back--have missed you! This is a great list and I'm forwarding now to my clients who blog--thank you!
Richard Mondello
· 1 year ago
I could learn something from all of those points. I'll get working on them this week.
marti garaughty
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris, gawd I'm so guilty of point # 6 and seriously working on changing that.
Point # 5 is a total turn off, if someone makes me jump thru hoops to participate, I probably won't.
My own point # 8 would be to add some spice with graphics, a lot of great blogs suffer from the "wall of words" syndrome. Hope you had a great Easter...
Christopher S. Penn
· 1 year ago
Put an OBVIOUS way to contact you - that seems like a no-brainer, but it's apparently not. Got privacy concerns? Set up a spare GMail account, open up a K7 line, and create a digital identity you can manage.
Mika
· 1 year ago
Good points.
I also don't like when the entire article is not sent with the RSS feed, and the author tries to require you to visit the site to read the full article.
Sue Murphy
· 1 year ago
Thanks for this post. I just re-read the bio on my blog, and it was horrendous! I just re-wrote it and added a picture. I may re-write it again after some more caffeine.
These are some great points to consider, a good checklist!
JM Daum
· 1 year ago
Walk the talk and re-write your "aboutchris," section, which is like all the other social media "evangelists'" (I dislike that expression, btw, for any who are reading) self-description.
Mika, thanks for your tip, because I didn't know abbreviating the feed irritates some people. Will people reading from a feed miss my images (if I remember correctly, some of my feeds show images and some don't)? Writing for a visitor center, my images are important. (Anyone is welcome to help with this question by emailing me at jmdaum@carrborovisitorcenter.com.)
One of my tips, gather a group of interesting people and ask them to regularly comment on your posts so the comments add value, and they aren't just a love-fest (not that an occasional complement isn't welcome, but Chris did write that people's reading time is valuable). My twitter friends let us know when they've posted something, and that's a great way to get comments from people you respect (if you follow them for that reason.
Best wishes, @netd
Anthony Kershaw
· 1 year ago
Always good, clear advice, Chris. Logical, but nice to read and remind yourself.
Cheers, a
Annie Boccio
· 1 year ago
I really need to work on #7. I've started to use MarsEdit which lets me write and store drafts offline (Mac only) and it's giving me a good head start- a bunch of titles waiting for content! Maybe if I set aside a day a week just to write.
Two other ideas: Watch your length. There are good topics for long blog posts, and good topics for concise ones. Know the difference. Also, mix it up a bit. Use audio, use video, use images. It's getting ridiculously easy to add multi-media to your blog.
jeanne
· 1 year ago
great suggestions! and one suggestion from me. please consider fixing this language: If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
It should read: If you enjoyed this post, please consider LEAVING a comment or SUBSCRIBING to the feed TO RECEIVE future articles delivered to your feed reader.
I only suggest bcs I care. And I took you at your word with tip #1!! :)
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
Hi Jeanne- That's baked into the theme so I'll look and see where it is to fix it. Thanks for that. : )
Tom Kephart
· 1 year ago
Loved the list, Chris! In fact, I'd write a post about it on my blog, but then I'd be violating number 6 :)
It is in my article links on my front page, though.
Kelly
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Great post! There's a lot of #6 going around, but mine was #5. When I first started the blog it didn't take me more than a week to get over myself and realize I was not on a scale to get spam, so I got rid of the comment moderation. I realized that if you read one blog, that might not irritate you, but comment moderation is a scourge if you read more than one. It becomes the blog you won't bother to comment at.
Fast-forward... captchas don't bother me, but I've been informed that some consider that one little step like "whips and chains," so after all this time, I took out the captcha last week. I haven't seen any huge increase in comments, but it's had no ill effects, either.
One tiny thing for you: here in the submit area, under "email," should that say "URL"? Unless something's wrong with my screen, it appears to say "URI," which I gotta say gives me thoughts of medical issues. :( (Sorry!)
Regards,
Kelly
Warren Whitlock
· 1 year ago
All good ideas that I will share with authors marketing books online.
"Storing up posts" is an excellent idea. One client tells me that he write well in advance of business startup issues, posts go up 3 times a week.. says there is hardly ever a week without some positive offline connection with a post.
I asked him "what did you do to promote?".. he said nothing.. just let a few friends and clients know.. now it's picked up by papers and other media.
Blogging doesn't have to be a full time job to get done right.. content is what matters. Get it out there.
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
@Kelly - European and other parts of the world use URI (Uniform Resource Indicators). It's one of those semantics issues that I don't fight over. Toe-mahhhh-toh.
Kelly
· 1 year ago
Ohh, I didn't know that. Still gonna look odd to a lot of your readers...(On the other hand, I just only noticed now, probably 'cause you asked? I commented elsewhere a few days ago and didn't see a thing.)
:)
Regards,
Kelly
bennie
· 1 year ago
I liked #7 because yep it happens to all of us and theres times when you dont feel very creative or your mind needs to rest. Im going to store at least 4 and try to post with more regularity.
tbowcut
· 1 year ago
Good list. Especially got me thinking about the "About" page. Currently I just have a link to my LinkedIn profile, assuming that would enough. I think you are right that there is value to making your about page rock. Thanks for the tips.
JohnBush
· 1 year ago
L8hQvJ Hello! Very good job(this site)! Thank you man.
derrick sorles - web 2.0 consu
· 1 year ago
Great insight Chris! - And it was a pleasure meeting you and listening to your talk at SOBCon08!
Thanks!
Tech News
· 1 year ago
simply it's great
Tribute Bands
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris
You've changed my thinking with regard to my 'About Us' page. I have always kept this short and to the point because I don't think people are interested in reading this kind of stuff. It's boring isn't it? and the customer is only ever interested in themselves and not you, that's what I've always been told anyway. I'm now thinking it's a great opportunity for me to engage the customer by making the 'About Us' page more human by adding a photo or even a video and telling more of a story...people love a good story!
This is the first time that I've made a comment on your blog, thank you for changing my thinking about this seemingly dull part of my website.
John O'Hara United Kingdom
Guy
· 8 months ago
How do you avoid comment spam if you don't require login or captcha?
How To Weld
· 5 months ago
I just can't get used to #7. I like to post for the "now" not the "later". Maybe that's because I've yet to hit a serious writer's block.
All Comments
I feel much better knowing I'm not doing seven things than knowing I'm not doing ten ;-)
Nice list!
Thanks for the food for thought. I see a couple of things that I need to implement (or at least implement more consistently).
I agreed with everything you said from short and clean formatting to not making readers sign up.
And I love this last sentence. "If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader."
Do you put this at the end of every post?
You are SO unobtrusive that people might just want to hang around you or your words. Even the lightness of font color. Oh this is too much adulation! I'll keep reading your blog to give you constructive feedback after I've cooled down.
Kidding but honestly, it's a 10!
Excellent Post. I have been scratching my head on some blog ideas and this definitely put me back on the right track. Adding something of relevance to your community is a very important detail. Thanks for this.
best,
4four1ones
www.thedailysamurai.com
www.battletweets.net
Point # 5 is a total turn off, if someone makes me jump thru hoops to participate, I probably won't.
My own point # 8 would be to add some spice with graphics, a lot of great blogs suffer from the "wall of words" syndrome. Hope you had a great Easter...
I also don't like when the entire article is not sent with the RSS feed, and the author tries to require you to visit the site to read the full article.
These are some great points to consider, a good checklist!
Mika, thanks for your tip, because I didn't know abbreviating the feed irritates some people. Will people reading from a feed miss my images (if I remember correctly, some of my feeds show images and some don't)? Writing for a visitor center, my images are important. (Anyone is welcome to help with this question by emailing me at jmdaum@carrborovisitorcenter.com.)
One of my tips, gather a group of interesting people and ask them to regularly comment on your posts so the comments add value, and they aren't just a love-fest (not that an occasional complement isn't welcome, but Chris did write that people's reading time is valuable). My twitter friends let us know when they've posted something, and that's a great way to get comments from people you respect (if you follow them for that reason.
Best wishes, @netd
Cheers, a
Two other ideas:
Watch your length. There are good topics for long blog posts, and good topics for concise ones. Know the difference.
Also, mix it up a bit. Use audio, use video, use images. It's getting ridiculously easy to add multi-media to your blog.
It should read: If you enjoyed this post, please consider LEAVING a comment or SUBSCRIBING to the feed TO RECEIVE future articles delivered to your feed reader.
I only suggest bcs I care. And I took you at your word with tip #1!!
:)
It is in my article links on my front page, though.
Great post! There's a lot of #6 going around, but mine was #5. When I first started the blog it didn't take me more than a week to get over myself and realize I was not on a scale to get spam, so I got rid of the comment moderation. I realized that if you read one blog, that might not irritate you, but comment moderation is a scourge if you read more than one. It becomes the blog you won't bother to comment at.
Fast-forward... captchas don't bother me, but I've been informed that some consider that one little step like "whips and chains," so after all this time, I took out the captcha last week. I haven't seen any huge increase in comments, but it's had no ill effects, either.
One tiny thing for you: here in the submit area, under "email," should that say "URL"? Unless something's wrong with my screen, it appears to say "URI," which I gotta say gives me thoughts of medical issues. :(
(Sorry!)
Regards,
Kelly
"Storing up posts" is an excellent idea. One client tells me that he write well in advance of business startup issues, posts go up 3 times a week.. says there is hardly ever a week without some positive offline connection with a post.
I asked him "what did you do to promote?".. he said nothing.. just let a few friends and clients know.. now it's picked up by papers and other media.
Blogging doesn't have to be a full time job to get done right.. content is what matters. Get it out there.
:)
Regards,
Kelly
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks!
You've changed my thinking with regard to my 'About Us' page. I have always kept this short and to the point because I don't think people are interested in reading this kind of stuff. It's boring isn't it? and the customer is only ever interested in themselves and not you, that's what I've always been told anyway. I'm now thinking it's a great opportunity for me to engage the customer by making the 'About Us' page more human by adding a photo or even a video and telling more of a story...people love a good story!
This is the first time that I've made a comment on your blog, thank you for changing my thinking about this seemingly dull part of my website.
John O'Hara
United Kingdom