1000 USD 2011 Best Guest Blogger Contest Article Approved
No, I’m not a vegetarian, but everyday I generally eat the same salad: a combination of fresh spinach, grilled chicken, a little cheese and onions and my favorite blush wine vinaigrette (go ahead, you can steal my recipe). Sometimes when I’m feeling bold, I’ll even add some mandarin oranges or fresh strawberries to the mix.
It doesn’t matter that I ate one or even two salads the day before – it’s the most delicious salad anyone could eat and it’s healthy.
But this post is obviously not about the health benefits of eating salads everyday – what I’m getting at is the idea that despite the fact that I already know what the salad tastes like – it’s not new to me, yet everyday it has a renewed freshness.
Aside from the occasional times I change up the combination of ingredients the salad remains the same, yet I am still compelled to return to it every single day.
What is it about this salad that is so irresistible? And how can you apply this to your blogging?
The secret that keeps me coming back to this salad, is not some magical ingredient – what keeps me coming back is the enjoyable experience of eating this salad. Not only does it nourish my body, it’s a pleasure to eat. Everyday it zaps my taste buds to life and creates a feeling of well-being.
Can your blog do that?
If you want your blog to pass the salad test, here’s what you can do:
Don’t worry about finding totally new and unheard of ingredients – focus on rearranging various combinations of the classic ingredients in a fresh way. Some days I leave out the chicken, but then add fresh bacon bits. The spinach still remains the same, but it’s enjoyable because I’ve made a small tweak.
Create an enjoyable environment that your readers feel compelled to experience everyday. Your goal should be to create content that leaves readers feeling better than they did before they arrived – it should nourish their minds and have lasting value. Sprinkle it with bite-sized bits of knowledge that they can apply.
Throw in something bold every now and then - don’t over do it, but every now then, don’t be afraid to shake up the salad bowl. Sometimes I skip the oranges and add strawberries – my taste buds never know what to expect.
Use humor to catch people off guard with a laugh. When I wrote, 7 Signs You’re a Hacker & 5 Ways it Can Help your Blog I wanted to create a post that not only made people laugh, but that also imparted some knowledge and made them think in an unexpected way.
Use vivid language that makes your post pop right off the page – you know your mouth started watering at the beginning of this post. I wouldn’t be surprised if a trip to the grocery store is now on your to-do list.
That was only accomplished by using specific and vivid words that people could imagine that they were seeing, feeling, smelling, hearing, and tasting.
You’ve got to be willing to create an experience that people will be compelled to return to your blog everyday. You want them to crave that unique experience – one that they can only get at your blog.
These tips I’ve mentioned are just a few ways you can create a refreshing and positive experience. What other lessons can we learn from my favorite salad?












Twitter: ivinviljoen
I like using real world examples and relating them to blogging. I like replacing with strawberries. That sure would shake up everyone’s concepts of ‘taste in your blog.
ivin recently posted..Why I Pay My Staff To Have Their Own Blogs
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Ivin,
That’s for sure – it also helps you make sure you’re providing content that satisfies a variety of tastes. Thanks for taking the time to drop by!
Kiesha recently posted..Fight Your Way to Inspired Writing: 4 Tips From an Expert Blogger
Seems like great ideas but working real world examples sometimes might not work for every blog. I guess I would need to find something that would be most appropriate for myself
Linda Campbell recently posted..Facts about Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
I love salads, but freshness really is key – both to a good salad and to a good blog. It may be the same ingredients every time, but wilted lettuce is a major turn off.
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..I Survived the Blog!
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Holly,
I totally agree – wilted lettuce is just down right disgusting!
Kiesha recently posted..Blogging Tips 101 Contest: 6 Reasons Why You Should Participate
Twitter: iamthecoolnerd
I’m not much of a salad dude; but I love the analogy nonetheless. Great work.
Eric Williams recently posted..Build 25 Free Backlinks at the Drop of a Hat Every Single Day
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Eric!
LOL! I know – salad isn’t for everyone, just as all blogging topics aren’t for everyone – but I’m so glad you still got the analogy, I think it would work for any quality recipe.
Thanks for dropping by & Happy New Year!
Kiesha recently posted..Blogging Tips 101 Contest: 6 Reasons Why You Should Participate
This is one of the interesting articles I’ve read on blogging. I liked the introduction you’ve used and it laid great foundation for your article and you’ve done a great job in linking the blogging aspects with our eating habits.
Awesome Read Up
Cheers!
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Siddartha!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I can remember enjoying the process as I wrote – it was one of those rare fun articles to write.
Thanks for taking a moment to comment!
Kiesha recently posted..Blogging Tips 101 Contest: 6 Reasons Why You Should Participate
Twitter: nirmalche
This salad looks tasty. I haven’t completed the basic articles for my blog. Will like to write some funny posts and audience lovable posts when I complete my first task.
Nirmal Kumar recently posted..Tamil Actor Dhanush Biography, Profile and List of Movies
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Nirmal,
No worries – as long as you know which ingredients you need, it’s all a matter of throwing them together. You’ll get there in no time!
Kiesha recently posted..Blogging Tips 101 Contest: 6 Reasons Why You Should Participate
Twitter: liveurlove
Hey Kiesha, I remember when you first posted this post, I was still at the beginning of my blogging journey and this post was what made me realize you must be the most creative blogger in the world.
I am back now to tell you that I applied some of the salad tips from this post and they worked like a charm. So I wanted to thank you for giving some of this tips and making my salad the tastiest ever.
I think the most valuable tip I got was leaving out the chicken and adding bacon bits from time to time, cause adding a different spin to a post makes all the difference.
Happy new year, girl and all the best in 2012.
Brankica recently posted..Website or blog | Why SBI beats WordPress any time
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
Oh, that reminds me – never put your posts into a salad spinner. That’s about as far as this analogy can take us, and that’s just one step too far!
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..How to Make Custom Ringtones for Windows 7.5 Phone
Twitter: weblogbetter
Ha!! You always know how to get a howl out of me! That kind of has me thinking of that week my site was out – I felt like things were going to spin completely out of whack! That reminds, me – I need to invest in a new salad spinner…
Kiesha recently posted..3 Better Ways to Research Keywords
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
You mean you don’t just rinse the lettuce, then stand in the middle of your kitchen holding one end of it and spin around as fast as you can, shaking the lettuce up and down (being careful not to break it into bits) until you fall over dizzy?
Dang, I thought that’s how everyone did it.
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..How to Make Custom Ringtones for Windows 7.5 Phone
Twitter: weblogbetter
LOL! That’s actually not a bad idea – I could hold my strainer and go out on the back porch and just spin around until all of the water has been dispersed. Although if I fall over the rail and bust my head open, that might make the salad taste a little funny…
Kiesha recently posted..3 Better Ways to Research Keywords
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
Just a tad salty, that’s all.
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..How to Make Custom Ringtones for Windows 7.5 Phone
Twitter: weblogbetter
Yeah, that new Brain Matter Dressing is kind of salty. I better just wait until I can get to Walmart and get a real high quality salad spinner. Sometimes being cheap just doesn’t pay.
Kiesha recently posted..3 Better Ways to Research Keywords
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
OH, brain matter!!?? I was just thinking blood. Well, brain matter’s mostly fat, so we’ll need a little vinegar and some herbs to balance it out…
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..How to Make Custom Ringtones for Windows 7.5 Phone
Twitter: weblogbetter
Thanks, Brankica! I’m so glad that you were able to apply some of the things that I mentioned here and even happier to know that they worked – but really, you already had the best part of the recipe – “You!”
Thanks for this update – that just made my day!
Kiesha recently posted..Blogging Tips 101 Contest: 6 Reasons Why You Should Participate
Twitter: susupublishing
Now I get the connection between my inability to make salads more often … same frequency as blog posts.
Although I hesitate in making new years resolutions, I have made it a goal for this year to write more, update my blog more … and to eat more salads.
Happy 2012 Everyone!
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Velika,
Those are two things that can definitely help you have a great year! Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy New Year!
Kiesha recently posted..5 Tips to Getting More Likes on Your Facebook Page
Some really nice tips.I visited your blog as well.A lot to learn for newbie like me.Thanks for sharing.
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Shanky!
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment! Happy New Year!
Kiesha recently posted..5 Tips to Getting More Likes on Your Facebook Page
Twitter: Yuni
As indonesian, i rarely eat salad, and dont eat it yet a whole my life so far
Nice thought. Love the analogy. 
would love to try after read this post, sounds tasty.
Yuni Ardita Sari Dewi recently posted..How To Deactivate Facebook Timeline
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi YuniAdita!
I’m glad this post has inspired you to try something new!
Kiesha recently posted..5 Tips to Getting More Likes on Your Facebook Page
Twitter: melaniekissell
This resonated with me instantly, Kiesha …
“Use humor to catch people off guard with a laugh.”
I’ve always been a firm believer that a sense of humor is a person’s best and most valuable asset!
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Melanie!
Yes, humor can’t do what other tactics can’t – and if you can make someone laugh, it might just brighten their whole day and change their whole attitude.
Kiesha recently posted..5 Tips to Getting More Likes on Your Facebook Page
It’s amazing, Kiesha, I never thought of it that way. I’m ever so creative when it comes to salads – try out all sorts of ingredients and usually they’re fantastic…You made me wonder why I’m not so bold with my blogging!! Lots of salad..err, food for thought!
Thank you ♥
Twitter: weblogbetter
Hi Corinne!
I definitely encourage you to be bold – you’ll never know how far it can take you until you try!
Kiesha recently posted..5 Tips to Getting More Likes on Your Facebook Page
Twitter: blogsnewsreview
I think you are onto something, Kiesha. I seem to travel in a pretty tight loop around the same blogs. I’ve followed them on Twitter or Liked them, find the topics about blogging fascinating and tune in. And I really like them, just like your salad or my three martinis (kidding
) I’m breaking out of my comfortable rut coming here. Glad I did!
Astro Gremlin recently posted..Proportions
thanks for providing some useful tips to improve my writing skills and attract more number of visitors to my blog.
shenoyjoseph recently posted..Top 5 Best 10-inch Android Tablets You Must Buy in 2012
I love nuts in a salad so I would probably ask a questions that helps the readers think out of the box. By the way I loved the title of your blog post—it drew me right to your blog content—and you did not disappoint me with the content—loved it.
Love this analogy. You are very talented. It really struck a nerve with me because, while I think I write fairly well, I am having a hard time figuring out how to spice it up. Sadly, no, my blog does not pass the salad test, but I think after reading your post, I will be more conscientious of the ingredients.
Thanks.