Chris Brogan: Some Tips to Fine Tune Your Blog for 2008
communicatrix
· 1 year ago
Probably the thing you don't even think about, b/c you're always so good about having it: a pic of YOU, the blog author. I like seeing it right up on the home page, although shy types could stick it in the "About."
Good list. I'm in the throes of massive reorg, so I'm bookmarking this.
Albert Maruggi
· 1 year ago
Great post, will use abundantly. In picking the tips you find interesting the most important one is to be you. That's really the only thing that is unique on the web.
Ike Pigott
· 1 year ago
Funny you should write this, as I was already looking at how to tweak the sidebar on my blog. Didn't get it done by January 1, but the cleanup is underway.
Beth Dunn
· 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure you recommended putting your picture right up on the banner not long ago, and that's become my next priority. I can't seem to take a good picture of myself, so I'm getting a photographer-friend to take a decent shot of me at an event we're having this weekend.
It's one of those things that seems so self-evident -- once it's pointed out to you. Thanks for the post; I'll be trying a couple of these tips as well.
JasonFalls
· 1 year ago
Wow, Chris. Thanks for the props. I wish I could take full credit. But, alas, I just picked a nice theme. Still, I appreciate the kind words.
I really like the concept of sharing with our blogs. Friday, I'll post a little something on sharing to talk about how I've added the Google shared items feed of mine to my sidebar. In fact, I think it was one of your previous posts about the college student blogger from a week or so ago that got me thinking about sharing my items on my blog.
That's my suggestion on improving blogs everywhere. Let's all point out the things we like from each other for all to see.
lawton chiles
· 1 year ago
Chris, fantastic post for a number of reasons but the main reason is the level of specifics that you give us.
I love the fact that you rock the left-handed sidebar on your blog, as i have experimented with two and three sidebar blogs.
Also, it is important to note that while those who are more popular on the web such as yourself tend to put your email sign up lower down the page, do you think someone who is building an opt-in list on their blog should start with the RSS feed or the headline for the opt-in form?
Just a recurring though I am having…
In addition, the heat map link is awesome and i will be checking that as well- the only thing i would change would be impressing upon your audience the IMPORTANCE of testing and of relating profits and popularity with how people browse your site.
Thanks again,
Lawton
mousewords
· 1 year ago
"Brevity is your friend"
Ouch. Ouch. Okay. New year's resolution for me: Put the word count into the novel I'm writing. :-);-) I do try, but I'll try harder. (My last post of '07 was huge, but that was on purpose.)
What a fab article! Thanks! Here's my 2 cents: I'm often looking for a "Contact" link on blogs. That might be a good thing to add, too. No, my blog does not have one yet. Re-do time!
Dale Cruse
· 1 year ago
I consider easily findable Contact information super important. Chris, you do this very well so that might be why you didn't emphasize it. But it's an absolute must for me.
Cat Laine
· 1 year ago
I'm always surprised that people really do want to know more info on the blog's writer(s). May have to put together a page that has info on me and the interns in Guatemala who are posting. Thanks for the advice.
Joanna Young
· 1 year ago
Great suggestions Chris. I've just decimated my sidebar clutter as part of a redesign effort and it looks soooo much better.
Joanna
Jeff
· 1 year ago
Great tips, Chris. I know you just started using the addthis.com button, so you may not have an opinion on the value of it yet, but the idea behind it is important: give readers an easy way to share your blog posts on whatever site they prefer.
Ewan Spence
· 1 year ago
Having just re-jigged the template on my blog, I had to also decide what to do with the "Daily Links." I supressed them from the blog's front page and recent posts sidebar section - and placed them in a dedicated sidebar. But I continue to push them down the feed. RSS posts are a lot more transitory that main site pages, so I figure if people want them on the site, they are there, and those in the RSS can skip much more easier than the blog readers
Kristen
· 1 year ago
That was an awesome post. I so need to work on my "about" page. Yours is quite impressive by the way.
Mitchell Ashley
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Some people recommend having a list of your top 10 most popular posts in the sidebar. Then visitors can see content that's been really popular.
I noticed you don't do this. Is this something you'd recommend, or not. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
I love your blog btw. Thanks and keep up the great work.
J T
· 1 year ago
If you like CrazyEgg, might I recommend ClickTale.com.
Similar easy to use, free (for casual use) service that offers a ton of value.
I'm not affiliated with them in any way, I'm just an analyst who enjoys their product.
Blantonious
· 1 year ago
Good tips, especially those for the sidebar stuff. Thats one of the things I hate about so many blogs. Oh that and too many ads and adsense.
chemical
· 1 year ago
what I found useful were your recommendations on post titles Chris. Plus brevity is something you are very good at. But I think you can work more on your sidebar and keep it more evenly colored or grouped. Of course it's hard when the widgets are outsourced but that list you provided in this entry may placed on the top of the sidebar for quicker navigation. Just a suggestion...
Sujoy
· 1 year ago
You somehow managed to read through almost everything that popped up into my mind when I read the title of this post, and even added a bunch of some very good ones too. Awesome job Chris.Kudos. Thanks to Jason for mixxing this.
Cheers, Sujoy
eve
· 1 year ago
i know i'm late to the party adding this - but please please, people should utilize their meta tags - keywords, descriptions, title. Not only for search engine optimization of their blog, but for tools like del.icio.us and other bookmarking tools.
Daz Cox
· 1 year ago
just curious why you would want people to go to your site eve when there is zero content, just links to social networking sites. How is optimizing your 'business card' non-blog website working out for you?
Melissa Kojima
· 1 year ago
Hey thanks for all the tips. I really appreciate. it.
startatnothing.com
· 1 year ago
Being new to this blogging thing, I really appreciate your tips. It was hard to accept the fact that clever titles were not as effective as titles that actually describe the content. But, it's definitely logical, seeing as how it directly correlates to SEO and site traffic... and a new site can use all the traffic they can get. Thanks again.
Mark
· 1 year ago
Blogging is exploding and statistics show over over 70 % incrase in bloggers every year. This would be a really good post for the guys who really want to make something good while blogging.
All Comments
Good list. I'm in the throes of massive reorg, so I'm bookmarking this.
It's one of those things that seems so self-evident -- once it's pointed out to you. Thanks for the post; I'll be trying a couple of these tips as well.
I really like the concept of sharing with our blogs. Friday, I'll post a little something on sharing to talk about how I've added the Google shared items feed of mine to my sidebar. In fact, I think it was one of your previous posts about the college student blogger from a week or so ago that got me thinking about sharing my items on my blog.
That's my suggestion on improving blogs everywhere. Let's all point out the things we like from each other for all to see.
I love the fact that you rock the left-handed sidebar on your blog, as i have experimented with two and three sidebar blogs.
Also, it is important to note that while those who are more popular on the web such as yourself tend to put your email sign up lower down the page, do you think someone who is building an opt-in list on their blog should start with the RSS feed or the headline for the opt-in form?
Just a recurring though I am having…
In addition, the heat map link is awesome and i will be checking that as well- the only thing i would change would be impressing upon your audience the IMPORTANCE of testing and of relating profits and popularity with how people browse your site.
Thanks again,
Lawton
Ouch. Ouch. Okay. New year's resolution for me: Put the word count into the novel I'm writing. :-);-) I do try, but I'll try harder. (My last post of '07 was huge, but that was on purpose.)
What a fab article! Thanks! Here's my 2 cents: I'm often looking for a "Contact" link on blogs. That might be a good thing to add, too. No, my blog does not have one yet. Re-do time!
Joanna
Some people recommend having a list of your top 10 most popular posts in the sidebar. Then visitors can see content that's been really popular.
I noticed you don't do this. Is this something you'd recommend, or not. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
I love your blog btw. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Similar easy to use, free (for casual use) service that offers a ton of value.
I'm not affiliated with them in any way, I'm just an analyst who enjoys their product.
Cheers,
Sujoy
Website is a good resource for blogger
Keep up the good wrok
Jessica
Editor
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Will definitely help many people.
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