Keeping Things Interesting
By The Parodist | April 17, 2008
Alexei asked me a question earlier, which I made me pause for a bit so I can give it my full attention. Let me paraphrase it,
“What should a blogger do to keep a blog interesting?”
Apart from the aesthetic appeal of a blog, i.e. templates, fonts, etc., we’ll always put weight on the content, right? So long as you create good content, the blog will always generate a certain amount of interest from readers. Quite a safe assumption, I should say. We then go on to dissecting the content being created.
Personally, I always keep in mind the following: conversation, stories, use of image (and its quality) and keeping things light and personal.
The blog and the blogger
A blog, for me, is something personal. It ought to reflect your own personality. The more personal and honest-sounding it is, the more your reader can actually relate to it, hence, keeping his or her interest.
I do believe that a blog is about the blogger cuz it is the blogger who creates the content and there lies the quality. There are readers who read the blog specifically for the content that this blogger creates and there are some who read the blog for the blogger, regardless of the content. Change the blogger and the blog will take on a different personality altogether.
Frequent posting
Another thing I’d like to talk about is what most bloggers, who do this for a living, go through. Maintaining quality with frequent posting. This can cause burn outs, you see, and a certain amount of sacrifice — giving up quality for quantity. I’m still finding the perfect way to balance this thing out myself. But one thing I’ve learned through the years — I learned this from Liz Strauss, actually — is if you condition yourself to thinking that you are talking to just even one reader, you will be able to write something interesting that’s specific to him or her. This effort will not go to waste since it can reach people with similar interests without consciously trying. Know what I mean?
Coffee conversations
I just liken every post is to conversations you have over coffee. People love stories, and the more visual or animated you are in telling this story, i.e. using quality images in the case of blogs, the more appealing it’ll be. If you write in a manner that’s un-intrusive or not overbearing, there’s a lesser possibility of turning readers off.
Blog with passion
Lastly, write for yourself. If you like photography, blogging, fashion, travel, or food, write about anything and everything about these things. If you continue blogging about the things you’re passionate about, the blog will always be interesting cuz the blog will reflect that passion.
So, what about you guys? What should a blogger do to make a blog more interesting? How do you capture the interest of your reader? What drives you to keep coming back to the blogs you frequent?
Topics: Blogs & Blogging, Writing |
April 19th, 2008 at 1:51 am
I guess the whole thing about this blogging thing is what, expression? Even if it’s a job for some people?
April 19th, 2008 at 4:29 am
When we write, we communicate. We express ideas, thoughts and emotions; voice out questions and concerns in the written form. Blogging is like writing, am I correct?
And I reckon this remains true regardless if it’s tackled as a job or done in leisure.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
It’s basically about actually having an audience, then writing decently content-wise anyway.
Peace.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Is it? I reckon one ought to work on the writing bit first then the audience will come.
April 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Nice Tip, tnx!
July 7th, 2008 at 1:17 am
No worries. Glad you appreciate it.