Successful Blogs: What About Them?

What makes a successful blog? The simple solution would be to just copy the way I run my blog and everything else will be cream cheese. (Just kidding!) I was reading on D. Keith Robinson's blog about what makes up a good blog. I think what he says makes sense for all web content. Check out his site but below are some highlights.

A successful blog (or blogger) is...

  • Well written. Good content will make or break your blog. Period. This it the #1 thing that makes a blog successful in my book.
  • Frequently updated. Unless you’re a guru of some sort you really need to stay on top of it. This can be a real challenge.
  • Consistent. This is kind of a combination of the first two. I like sites that are able to maintain quality and frequency overtime.
  • Open. I like to read people who are honest and willing to talk about tough issues in a free and open way.
  • Responsive. Those who respond to feedback and try to adapt to the wants and needs of their audience get high marks from me.
  • Well designed. Yes, I do judge a blog by its design. It's not the most important thing, but I’d be lying if I said it didn't matter at all.
  • Aware of its audience. If you don’t know your audience it'll show.
  • Varied in topic. I feel there are lots of people who would disagree with this, but I like sites that change the subject every once in awhile.
  • Personal. I tend to enjoy a blog with a bit of a personality. I want to "get to know", to a certain degree, the person(s) behind the site. Tone and style have a lot to do with this.
  • Thick skinned. With any successful site comes nay-sayers, trolls, pedant and spammers.
  • Honest. Readers are smart and they can smell bullshit.
  • Accountable. Mistakes are inevitable and there are times when it's best to fess up and admit where you're wrong.
  • Funny. I like a blog that can make me laugh on occasion.

I think I pretty much know who my audience is: my mother.

I have quite a few people out there who come here and I am constantly trying to improve how I do things. So, if you read me on a regular basis, just drop me a note and tell me what you like or don't like or that you think I am a jerk! Don't be shy! Fess up!

But, seriously, there are a million ways to make a blog these days, but I find the focus on the tools dominate. Bloggers are always talking about the tools they use and the content somehow is lost in the typing. Things are beginning to settle down. Content will always be king on the Internet and I hope that there will always be writers out there willing to blab about anything. It is good practice to keep the old brain cells firing.

Did I mention that I am hot?

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about me

Shane Birley is a blogger, huge geeky nerd, web developer, poet, and creative writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is a partner at Left Right Minds, a web development, arts management, business blogging and on line marketing company.

buy the book, blog your world, feel like a million bucks

Just in case you didn't know, I co-wrote Blogging For Dummies! Before you send me any congratulations, questions, flowers, or blow me any number of kisses  - why don't you go buy ten copies and make me rich and famous.  

Or you could just buy a copy since it is a really good book and it has loads of great information for those of you out there who want to jump into blogging because it is fun and exciting.

podcasting

What else do I do? I talk out loud, record it, and post it on line. I chatter about all kinds of things. Some of the things are nerdy, some professional, and some of them are very much NSFW. Why? Because do them for myself and my non-work life. You can be the judge.