Blog Content I (and We) Like (and Dislike)
{ | } This week I thought I'd do something a bit different with my discussion post. I think what I'm going to do is alternate between literary discussion posts and blog-themed discussion posts. This is in conjunction with my next "If I Could Write a Letter To Me" which is going to deal with followers; this post, however, is all about what draws - and repels me - to my favorite blogs.
As always we ALL get to have our say. I'll point out a few things, then let's discuss in the comments! These posts are ALL about us talking and getting inside each other's heads (in an academic, non-creepy way, yo'). I respond to ALL comments, so be sure to check back here so we can keep the discussion going!
What Draws Me To a Blog
- Consistent posting. If someone starts out great, then slacks off on their posting for a week, that's understandable - life does get in the way! But if they completely stop updating their blog with no reason as to why, I will eventually lose interest. So, bloggers, post, post post! It doesn't have to be a new post every day, but often enough that other bloggers know you're serious about your blog!
- Well-written, professional reviews. And yes, I believe that you can be entirely jazzed and fangirl-ish about what you've read without being immature. I think you can squee while being professional. And when it comes time to write that negative review, I believe you can be professional and intelligent about why you didn't like the book without tearing it apart.
- Be respectful and BE YOU. The blogs I love the most are the ones who aren't afraid to be a little geeky or giddy, and who, at the end of the day, have good, original ideas for features, discussions, etc.
- Similar reading tastes. We don't have to LIKE everything the other likes, but if I'm going to keep visiting a blog, it's nice if the blogger and I read a few of the same authors or genres, so that at some point, we'll be on the same wavelength. But with that said, I actually love seeing a blogger's take on books I have read, or am reading or am looking forward to reading. It's fascinating, seeing different opinions on the same book!
- A nice, concise, spiffy layout. If I want to get to your "About Me" page, and it's easy to find - thumbs up. Same with links to your Goodreads - maybe I want to stalk you there, eh? Make your links and your pages easy-peasy to find and I will love you forever.
- Friendly bloggers. I am NOT the world's best at commenting on all the blogs I follow, and I don't follow as many blogs as I wish I could. That said, the bloggers who notice me commenting and return it with a visit to my blog, even if it's just every once in awhile - totally make my day! And if they go out of their way to follow me on Twitter, email me, or whatnot, they become one of my blogging BFF's - yes, I'm looking at you Rhi, Mimi, Michelle, Anna, Michelle, Suz, Megan, and Marie!
What Turns Me Away From a Blog
- Sloppy posts. One of my pet peeves is seeing a review posted where the blogger doesn't split it into paragraphs. It boggles my mind to try to read that. It just looks like one long, run-on blob to me. Also, colored font. It's cool to highlight, bold, etc a word or words sporadically, but when the whole review is written in neon green? No thank you!
- Widgets that play music and/or weird background noises, aka a guaranteed way to get me to immediately click AWAY from your blog.
- Spell and grammar check your posts before you hit "publish." Take time to make notes before you write your review, or write it then read it over to make sure you've said everything you wanted to say.
- CAPTCHA. TURN. IT. OFF. Seriously, Blogger is pretty great at catching what it thinks is spam, and there is really no need for CAPTCHA. Go into your settings and look, because it MAY be enabled on your blog without you even knowing it, but please, please, get rid of it. If you have it on your blog and I'm still visiting, it's because I REALLY like you.
- Blogs that take FOREVER to load. If your blog takes 5 minutes to load, that's time I could be spending commenting on someone else's review. Maybe you have a half dozen widgets, or just way too much going on in your sidebar. Re-evaluate your sidebar every once in awhile - do you really need ALL those things?
- Memes. They're a bit of a double-edged sword (WoW is a GREAT way for me to discover new books I want to read) and a wonderful tool for new bloggers, but if you always post mainly memes with very few reviews, discussion posts, etc...then I'm probably not going to come back to your blog.
{ | } And now...YOUR turn. What draws you back to a blog? What makes you decide NOT to revisit one?
