Blogging 101
I’m not claiming to be some sort of authority on blogging or anything. These are just my own personal preferences. You can take them as you want. Of course I wish everyone blogged this way, but the blog world doesn’t revolve around me. Hmph. But don’t start wondering if any of this is directed at you just because it may be applicable. I’ll tell you right now that it totally is. Right at YOU. :P Today I’m covering blogging. Tomorrow, commenting (leaving and receiving). Thursday, etiquette.
Blogging
1. Do not blog with the sole intention of a.) making money or b.) getting lots and lots of comments. Most other bloggers will see right through it, become annoyed and prevent you from achieving your goal by not responding in the way you’d hope. Focus on the content.
2. BREAK THAT SHIT UP!! There is nothing more aggravating to me than going to a blog and seeing that the entire post has no breaks in it, or maybe one or two in a 3 scroll post. It’s just one big blob of text that’s easy to get lost in and it makes it really easy to skim without actually reading or give up. Paragraphs, with one space in between them FTW.
3. SHORTEN THAT SHIT UP. The longer it takes to read, the more likely people won’t read it. And the more often you write long ass posts, the more often people will probably skip over your posts completely. If it takes a shit load of time or energy to write, it takes the same to read, and it can get really old having to expend that much energy on a daily basis. I try not to make my stuff too long, which is a conscious effort on my part because I’m super long winded. Actually, this post was long as hell originally. I was afraid that if I had broken it into a series, it would have looked too much like I was biting off of Playgroupie’s Blog Tip Series, which I’m not, but it really feels like I am. But I’m not. So I went ahead and broke it into parts.
4. Stop posting multiple times a day unless you *really* have something important to say. I’ll get tired of seeing you in my reader and stop clicking all together. It’s very, very annoying. That’s what twitter is for. Or plurk. Leave a damn note on facebook, send an email – anything besides hit publish on another paragraph.
5. Make it interesting. And if you can’t, just don’t blog that day. That especially goes for you mommies. I think I explained very well how I feel about your empty baby book posts here. Take me for instance – my blog has been pure suckage lately. So I’m taking a break, starting next Monday. It’s going to be until the second week in October. I have to do it. Everything that’s been happening lately is weighing down my psyche and I can’t focus. Blogging isn’t fun right now. I need to stop. For a while. I know that it’s best for me and this blog because I write first and foremost for myself – and being as I’m not happy with the shit that’s piling up, I need to get it back where I think it should be. For me.
6. Your blog design/content:
- A unique and original design is always good. Folks are likely to hang around a bit longer if just to look around. If you’re good with photoshop, make a header. If you know CSS, fool around with your standard template a bit. If you have the money to spend on a designer, get a custom design. Me personally, I’m using a standard free wordpress theme that I found in a google search. I hate it, but I’m holding out for the marvelous Courtney aka Judith Shakespeare who designed my old blog and will be giving this one a complete overhaul in the future.
- Have a home button, or make your header clickable. I’d rather not have to delete the subpage from my address bar in order to get back to where I started.
- Those blog groups and rings and shit such as ‘The Mom Blogs’, ‘Crazy Hip Hop Hos’ or whatever? They don’t work. They just clutter your sidebar. I guarantee that your blog is not getting that much more traffic, but that main group site sure is from those pretty little icons they make mandatory for you to be included. Don’t believe me? Install statcounter and check how many hits you get from there. I’m guessing none.
- Speaking of sidebars: you don’t need a lot of shit. Take away my ads and you’ll see that my sidebars are extremely minimal. And, after BlogHer & the ‘Questions’ thing is over, the ‘I’m Speaking’ & ‘Maria’s Got Questions’ buttons will be gone so there will be even less. All you need are Feed links, archives, categories, and links to your ‘about; page and how to contact you. Oh, and maybe some social networking icons. I like those. I like to stalk your Flickr accounts especially. (:
- And, speaking of About Pages. You need a damn about page. People want to know more about who they’re reading, usually. I know I do. So tell me! And your stupid little one line blogger profile doesn’t count.
- Finally, speaking of ads, if you don’t like them I suggest you get Firefox [which you should have anyway] and the AdBlock Plus addon. Or shut the fuck up and ignore them. I tire of this whole ’selling out’ debate. It’s not your blog. And as long as the ads don’t affect the content, it shouldn’t matter. The two wonderful and lovely Jens at BlogHerAds told me quite plainly that advertisers might not want to run their campaigns on my blog because of my content, and I told them I was ok with that. Not a damn thing changed, and not a damn thing will.
*Tomorrow, Commenting 101.
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I agree with every point in here. And I’m pretty sure I meet all the criteria. Cool beans.
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All really good tips. Most of them are ones I do on my blog because I just started paying attention to what I loved/didn’t love when reading other blogs. I can write the ass out of something until there is nothing left, but I’m probably the only one wanting to read that much of my own blather. When I am extra long-winded sometimes (I’m still me), I try to balance it at some point within the next few posts by aiming for brevity. Which kills me. But it’s good for me and for my writing, too. Good stuff, Maria!
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I’ve been on a break, too, I feel you sister. I’d rather bother people via email than blog my cluttered mind lately.
I do need to work on lengthy but I break up a paragraph like a mofo!
xoxo love you.
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Great tips Maria! I always break up my paragraphs unless Blogger is being particularly bitchy that day with editing.
The latest from amy…Update
As a newbie to blogging who has rally no idea what she is doing- I appreciate the info! I need someone to guide me!
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Will you write my damn about page? Can I call it a “damn about page?”
Thanks for the info on BlogHer. I didn’t sign up for it because I didn’t want them to mess with my content (not like it’s brilliant or anything, but it’s MINE). Now, I just may do it!
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Well said. I can’t wait to read the comment one, I suck in that department.
And you read my whole dang post, didn’t you? It was long . . . but, I had a pic of a hot guy. So hopefully that made up for it.
Love the series!!
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For the last time, Maria, stop writing blog posts about me and how much I suck :P (I love this – can’t wait for etiquette)
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This was awesome, Maria. I use short paragraphs but need to work on shorter posts…
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Great post Maria! thanks for writing this, I know that Auds mentioned you had been helping her and you were a big help to me too as a newbie, so I think it’s great for you to put some tips up here!
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You know you love everything about my blog. :P
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“Crazy Hip Hop Ho’s”?! I’m dying!
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totally agree, especially about posting a million times a day. I get overwhelmed and it starts to stress me out cause I feel like I need to catch up. Don´t do that shit to me, I´m under enough stress as it is!
Looking forward to comments and etiquette cause I´m new to blogging and feel I may have violated an etiquette rule somewhere down the road. Will you be touching on etiquette of award giving/receiving?
The latest from Bluestreak…15 years in 10 bullet points
I agree with everything you said. Especially “crazy hip hop hoes!” I joined several of those blog rings and now just want to take those muthas off. When I first started blogging I didn’t know any better! Take your well deserved break. We will be here when you return!
The latest from MekhisMom…Do Something
All great pointers that I completely agree with.
Can’t wait for Commenting 101. I know I have broken a million rules. Like blog hopping on the weekends w/ no spell check. LOL. HD schooled me on the importance of firefox it’s spell check.
well sometimes blogger wont give me my line breaks-it is so aggrevating it will be all nice and spaced out when i preview but when I publish it is one big ol’ jumbled blog blob
Great tips!
The latest from Georgie…I do not like green eggs & spam
7. Remember there’s plenty of room in the blogosphere for blogging tips series!
Great tips, Maria! I should listen to you about the sidebars. I just can’t give up the crap in them…yet.
I’ve been having a hard time commenting, so I’m commenting today BEFORE the commenting post tomorrow. That should cover me.
I’m glad you don’t let anything change because of ads. I’ve had some companies exclude me from reviews because of my name, but fuck em if they can’t get down with vagina.
I did accept one with the agreement that I’d do the review at DadCentric. They will pay (Friday).
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i cant stand when people dont break up posts. i actually tend to get annoyed just glancing and wont even bother
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Agreed.
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So true! The keeping it short can be hard sometimes though as I am a rambler and once I get going it can be hard to leave out some “essential” details *laugh*
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Great tips. I especially agree with the multiple postings one. Seeing the same blog pop up in your reader more than 4 times a day is a little irritating!!!
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Basically, you get from blogging what you put out. I intend on my blog being not only a way to connect with other people but as a journal for me and my kids, to record the little shit that gets forgotten without typing it down. That tendency keeps several people from clicking back, I’m sure. Especially when they click onto my site and see a post about learning to ride a bike. But, c’est la vie. That’s my blog and I claim total responsibility for it. There’s a lot of good stuff mixed in with sweet nothings, too! Like, real brainy shit. :)
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Now I’m worried I have a shitty ass blog. Oh no wait I already know that. LOL And I try to keep mine plain and just about my main point. I am NOT long winded. Hmmm maybe I should make myself a new header.
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Duly noted. Great tips … I hope others take heed lol.
biggest no-no for me…
is white writing on a black background. it’s too hard to read! i make two exceptions to this…because i love the writers in real life…otherwise…i can’t read it.
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I don’t know how to make an about page. Because I’m not really that cool.
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A-tothe-MEN.
Good Lord. I go out of town and then I get sick and there are five posts from you in my Reader! I don’t know how you do it! But I’m glad you do. :)
I like the tips.
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Oooh I JUST put up my about page. And I so wish you ran blogging, it would be so much better. :love:
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You are becoming something like a blog hero to me. I am feeling the scribe.
I agree, I cannot and will not read one big long paragraph. That messes with my eyes and mind.
I blog for the love, but I’d love to make more than the few dollars here and there which I currently make. I need a sponsor. Bad.
Good point on the ads, the very reason why one magazine turned me away. I refuse to compromise my opinions on what I write. Some other magazine has to feel me.
Too funny @ cluttered sidebars. I am guilty I do believe.
Good stuff, perfect looking lady.
Fuck, I know I need an About page. Have no idea why I haven’t done it. I love to talk about myself.
I hope you get what your soul needs from a little break. You are absolutely right, people don’t need to post everyday. Especially now that readers will tell us when you are back.
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Couldn’t agree more!
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I love the bloggy lessons. Especially about the long posts… I get so easily distracted.
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Uh, this rocks. Period.
(Will you consider adding “no one cares about your ‘i cleaned out the cabinets’ post”?)
Sounds good so far. The long posts do get to you after a while… you could have kept going in this one though =)
I love this because every word is true!
Have a great break – we’ll miss you.
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I don’t meet them all, I know, and you know what? I don’t care. I like the fact that I can make a whole 27 c in a month! with my adsense thing. :)
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I’m going to go write an about page right now. Well, I’m going to make a note right now to write an about page.
I agree with almost all of what you say.
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Amen girl….
About the “if you ain’t got nothing to say, don’t blog that day”
I’ll go 3 or 4 days now without posting anything. Mostly it’s just because I don’t have nothing I want to even talk about.
You mean I shouldn’t just post my laundry list on days when I am uninspired???
Damm.
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I’m sure you’re right about those…….but I wouldn’t know personally.
I think the first one is the only one I abide by: I don’t write to be popular. the difference between me and you is that mine ISN’T popular and I’m SURE not making any money! lol
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I freely admit that my posts are too long. But you know what? They’re fucking awesome. If you want to read something that’s fucking awesome, you’ll stick with me. There’s always-slash-usually a point.
Oh, and when you do the one on comments, would you tell these people to stop cursing so much? I fucking hate that shit.
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P.S. Amen on the About Me pages. How else am I gonna stalk you? I NEED MORE INFORMATION!
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So if everyone gets the ad blocker plugin, why would anyone want to advertise on your site?
Curious advice.
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Well, being as AdBlock Plus is one of the most (if not the most) popular addons for Firefox, I doubt if most readers don’t have it already, so I don’t think my advice holds any weight.
But, I feel that more important to me than making any money off of this blog is ensuring the people who read are happy with their experience, so if I lose out on advertisers or whatever, that’s alright – ad money is nice, but it’s definitely not what I’m most interested in here.
Agree with everything there babe… but I do have a couple more gripes and one you are gunna kick my arse for.
The arse kicking one is excerpts on the front page. I don’t wanna click to read the rest! And if I do, I aint going back to read your other stuff..
and two, partial feeds. Same thing. If you make me click on your blog after I HAVE SUBSCRIBED then all you care about is clicks. I am more likely to comment on a full than partial excerpt.
Thus ends my whining.
Oh and I love you.
You know that.
I love you too! Not all of my posts you have to click through – just the ones over 500 words. That’s a lot of words! But I understand what you mean. I just try to eliminate having a main index page that’s 50 scrolls long. (:
I agree about full feeds. I had them for a time because I was annoyed at feed scrapers, but then I said fuck it and put a copyright at the bottom of my feed. It’s rare that I click through, simply because I’m too lazy and if nothing in the excerpt catches my eye, I’m not bothering to read the rest.
I’m mean like that.
:-[)
*bows*
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Maria, you are awesome.
Hell yes. Especially about putting space between paragraphs– who can read those posts over 80 lines long with no breaks.
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