Monday,Jun 1 2009, 11:41:24 AMWhat Makes a Great Blog?

This is a very smart question!

The blogs that I've seen work best always have a personal point of view. Even research reports in blogs with lots of links to sources can be personal if you the reader feel like the blogger is speaking directly to you.

The speaking part is really important as well. Bloggers that can keep the feeling of their blog as a friendly conversation do best. Even a blogger with whom I disagree more easily draws me in and hooks me as a subscriber when they write like they're speaking to someone. In the few times I've been motivated to blog something I imagine that what I write is in a conversation with someone over coffee in their favorite cafe. You must have an idea that people are reading, and you're writing something interesting to them.

Your own feelings and genuine outlook on life really hold a blog together over the long run. Keep it real. Don't take a position just because you want to start arguments and get lots of comments. Write about what you really know, believe and experience in your life story. You decide how personal and how intimate the feelings will be in that story. What ever feels safe and appropriate for you as you read it over before posting. The worst feeling can come after you've posted and realize that you have said too much, or left something out, that you really regret.

Finally, please do read it over and correct mistakes, Use a spelling checker if you have to, but simply mistakes and typos can be really annoying and distract a reader from what you're trying to say. Of course change the content if you must, but get it right. You may even want to ask someone you trust to read and edit for you.

Thanks for asking! I really believe people love giving their opinions as long as they feel comfortable in how and when they're asked. Come up with a snappy title to catch their attention, then they can find out from what you write that they're hearing from someone they really must get to know better.

Cheers! Greg

ps, I think I'm gonna post this on my journal, http://g4daddy.livejournal.com!

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