I’m not an angelic blogger. I refuse to capitalize ‘i’ if it is the middle of a sentence. (If we’re so important why don’t we capitalize ‘Me’?) Typos slip by even using the Firefox spell checker. My updates are sporadic. But i do read a few other blogs and stumble into many more. I wish all did these things.
1. Have a photo on their “About Me” (or should that be a lowercase ‘me’?) page. I can’t help it. I like to see who i am talking to. If there is a picture of the blogger i seem to comment more often. I just added a few pictures to mine instead of links to places with photos of me.
2. Use there/their/they’re and to/two/too correctly. Some bloggers are making ten times my annual salary by writing – and yet they can’t write properly. Note my disclaimer above about the ‘i’ use. If by chance people have a reason to use ‘their’ when they mean ‘there’ then someone please explain. Maybe it is a boycott i should join. Or maybe we should force the language to change and all use ‘thyre’ instead of all three to show how we hate homonyms.
3. Cite sources. I do my best to link to inspiration for subjects or information i use for posts. Why? Because it helps readers take the next step on the subject if they want more. Problogger inspired me with a shiny $1001 bill to compile this list of 5 things.
4. Have a dialog. I’m shy around those i don’t know in person but behind a keyboard i can be bold. I want to hear from people that read my posts (not every post they read though) and i love it when people follow my trail of breadcrumbs from their site back to mine and comment. Lurkers are alright too – i see them with my hit tracking scripts – but just not quite as satisfying. Perhaps challenges or prizes are necessary to lure people into participating. I may try that.
5. Update more often. I honestly can’t think of a single blog that i check with any regularity that i think updates too often. I don’t want updates scrolling by like a stock ticker but i don’t need every post to be a novel. Even if it is just a link to something funny or a photo taken with a camera phone it is nice to see new content streaming in. I need to work on this also.
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Well, I’ve done all except for #1 so I guess its time to add my picture.
I agree with you on the spelling. It irks me no end seeing basic spelling ignored in blogs. I also hate it especially when one of my own mistakes slips through the net.
Must do something about having a photo of me on my blog!
Great points! I agree with you 100%.
I’m looking to make some good obscure picture of myself and put on my about me page. I haven’t put up any yet as well I think it might scare the readers I have.
Have a look at my Top5 blog post if you have the time.
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I agree with your points. Mozilla in-line spell checker is a real boon for catching many spelling errors, but unfortunately can’t discriminate between “there” and “their”
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Just surfed in from Darrens site. I couldn’t agree with you top 5 list more if i wanted! Their is some good stuff here and their! =)
Sadly, I”ve been guilty of all 5 and I’m a repeat offender.
Nice post!
Don
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I agree entirely – I like your attitude. I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog thanks to Darren and his writing project.
Nice list. Good advice about the pic…I have been two lazy to put it their. (Kidding!) My blog will have a new pic of me by tonight!
You bring up some valid points. I don’t have a picture but I am a good speller!
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Good list, I find that I will often revisit to correct silly spelling mistakes, unfortunately you can’t do that on a comment!
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came from the writing project..nice post
the citing sources is always a big one, since I’d hate it if people rip off my work and claim it as their own. i have a post up at luxuryglobetrotting.com if you’re interested. peace.
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Yes, I like “seeing” the person behind the blog as well.
I couldn’t agree more about the spelling. It’s just something that bugs me to no end. I have to admit to not having a photo on the About Me page yet. I did have one, but it was from a couple of years ago. It’s time for an update.
My entry is available at http://www.rodtempleton.net/2007/05/07/my-top-5-required-feeds/ if you’d like to have a look. Good luck.
I like your list. I score a powerful 2.8 out of 5.
1. Innocent- I have a picture of myself & I am a stud in it.
2. Innocent- While I’m not with you on the “i”, I sadly suspect most people really don’t know the difference between “they’re” & “their”, or “to” & “too”.
3. Innocent 80% of the time about citing sources.
4. Guilty as sin- I currently don’t even have comments enabled on my blog, probably because of my terrible research skills & my tendancy to offend people.
5. Guilty- Only five posts a month & going strong. I am incredibly lazy.
Ug. My comment is neither interesting nor funny, but I don’t feel like re-wording it. I give my comment a pathetic 1.5 out of 5. Sorry, I’ll try harder.
I’d like to put a pic on my blog, but I’m afraid it will cause too many people to freak out.
I love it! A long time ago, i read a post a guy wrote about how to blog and how to keep readers interested. I am going to try and find it again and i’ll post the link in another comment.
Here you are….this isn’t the site i read a long time ago, but it is similar and has great tips. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/how_to_get_traf.html
Good suggestions, all. I didn’t put a photo on my site, but you can see a cartoon of my hands, if that is any consolation. I love the part about dialog. My Word Press site allows me to edit each comment with my own response to the commenter. People seem to like that, because it’s like having a conversation. Thanks for your views!
i SO agree with the “picture” thing. I don’t understand why people hide. along these same lines I find it very frustrating if I’m reading a blog and there’s no contact information. Sometimes emailing a person or blog directly is preferrable to commenting if your question or comment is unrelated or a tangent.
I fully agree with your suggestions. I think they are basics to any blog and can’t believe that not everyone follows them. I will admit, that I don’t have a picture of me on my blog, but that will probably change pretty soon. Thank you for your post!
I’ve done all but number one too! Great post.
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