What Should I Blog About?
Essentially, everything is fair game for blogging. Even the traditional taboos such as religion and politics have an extensive blog presence on the internet.
One person might decide to blog about animals. Another about only dogs. Along comes another with an affinity for Schnauzers, soon topped by one dealing with Miniature Schnauzers. Can Miniature Schnauzer Puppies be far behind? (Eclectic point of interest: I have a miniature schnauzer, and they ROCK!)
You see my point, I’m sure. You can blog about virtually any topic you can think of. And odds are, if you can think of it, someone else is already blogging about it. The best bet is always to blog about a subject you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
So Who Blogs?
Anyone can erect their own virtual soapbox, and share their opinions with the world’s netizens. Preach, rant, instruct, brag… all are equally valid motivations for setting up a blog.
Companies do it increasingly more often these days, too. Blogging about their products and services, or simply the technology behind them, is a very productive technique for establishing or promoting a brand.
Celebrities, such as actors, musicians and politicians have blogs. Activists and comedians have blogs. Even infants and peoples’ pets have blogs.
Last, but certainly not least, blog monetization has become commonplace. Many people blog with no more motivation than attracting people to click on their ads, thereby building a residual income.
Perhaps the more fitting question would be, Who DOESN’T Blog?
What Do All Blogs Have in Common?
Thinking of all the possible variations in styles, appearances, themes and goals, one might easily say, Nothing. However, there is one common element that all successful blogs share… readers. Without readers, any blog will die. Even the most narcissistic blogger will tire of talking to nobody but himself.
Comments from readers, and the responses back to them, are the lifeblood of a successful blog. Interaction stimulates thought, helps identify and refine new ideas and validates (even when the readers disagree) the author’s efforts.
If you don’t have a reader base, you had better start building one immediately, or resign yourself to obscurity and eventual failure. If you do have a respectable reader base, you need to nurture it, grow it and write to it regularly. Failure to do so will be your downfall.
How Will I Know if my Blog is Successful?
Setting aside monetized blogs, there is a simple manner of determining whether or not your blog is successful – reader participation.
Let’s say you get an average of 100 visits a day, 25 of which are unique visitors (meaning new visitors). At the same time you get an average of 10 comments a day, 6 of which are from your regular readers/commenters.
Would you consider that successful? As a snapshot view, it’s not bad. However, it’s not what some might call a roaring success. Personally, I would call it sustainable. 75 return visitors per day, and 25 new ones, isn’t to be looked down upon. I’ve had worse months than that, I assure you. On the other hand, there are blogs out there that get 3-5,000 hits a day, 80% of which are unique. It’s really a matter of scale, and the nature of the blog.
It depends a great deal on what type of blog you have. If it’s purely informational, you’re not likely to see much reader interaction, whereas if it’s anecdotal or humorous, you may receive more comments. If you run a very aggressive spam suppression plug-in, and don’t review the rejected comments carefully, you may be discarding decent comments without cause. On the other hand, little or no protection will bring a lot of garbage comments like, “Great post!” or “Thanks so much!” Both these scenarios will skew the numbers
Only YOU, as the blogger, after weighing your motivation for blogging, the effort you put into it, the reader interaction you get back from it and your overall sense of satisfaction, can say if your blog is a success or not. The numbers mean little, without careful analysis on a case-by-case basis.
More to the point: is your blog fulfilling your expectations? If so, then I’d call that a success.
Andreas Pazer (152)
abhibalani (136)
Jafar Dhada (128)
Holly Jahangiri (101)
bbrian017 (62)
Justin Germino (51)
Kris Edison (47)
James Pruitt (46)
Rahul Kuntala (31)
Hajra (26)
Hi Doc. Your chosen image looked to me like dice, red dice with the numbers removed and replaced with a question mark? . . . Then I realised these ‘dice’ had one side wider, they were not even, these Dice were rigged Doc. . . The numbers one to six had been removed. Holy Cow! That is deep.
I Always enjoy your Blogs Doc, even if they are hidden away on some God forsaken blog engaged in the outback of civilisation.
I have my Own blog Dog – I have my own blog and eating it too. . (Deep blogger joke, probably go right over everyone’s head)
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Tubby, and thanks for noticing the rigged dice. I’m sure it’s not the first time that a worldly lad such as yourself has encountered them. The trick is to bet WITH the fellow that brought ‘em, not AGAINST him.
Always good to see you pop in, mate! Thanks for the comment.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Best to bet WITH Jigaboo Jones then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ufOkRoShk
Bulbboy recently posted..help a total stranger
This is a great little intro into the blogosphere. Particularly interesting is the idea of new vs. recurring hits. I never really took that into account when thinking of my “success” rate.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Breon. The nature of an individual blog certainly makes a difference in the way we look at the new vs. return visitors. For a personal blog, I would normally expect to see a higher percentage of the visitors be repeats, and it’s always a good indicator that you’re offering them something they enjoy reading. A business blog, on the other hand, will typically want to see more new visitors, since conversion is the primary concern.
“Success” of a blog is a highly subjective judgment, though. While the numbers are important, I think they’re less so with a personal blog. Each blogger has to set his own scale of success, based upon the goals of his blog.
Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Very helpful information Doc. I will use some of it to help me out on my blog!! Thumbs up.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Glad you got something from it, Kristy. I think the preliminary planning is very important, for many reasons. Many people start a blog, just so that they can say they have one. With no clear idea of the topical theme, or a style to be pursued, I think one tends to hop around a lot, and try many things. To me, that means that it’s inevitable that you’re going to eventually disappoint some readers that returned because they liked what you wrote about LAST time. Even the most loyal of readers will get frustrated with constant variation.
Thanks for your input, Kristy. I hope you get something out of the rest of my series, too.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: feydakin
I almost agree with you on this Doc.. I think that readership can be used as a measure of success, but that isn’t what, in my opinion, makes a blog successful.. I think that what really makes a blog successful passion.. Passion for the topic, passion to share knowledge, and passion to improve.. Even if a blog only has a single reader it will be successful for the person writing it..
Steve G recently posted..Fixing a Concrete Porch
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Steve, and thanks for weighing in.
I think you’re spot on, regarding passion. Without it, we’re just going through the motions. If the passion exists, some people will still get satisfaction from putting their thoughts to words, whether they ever build a reader base or not. But I think that most of us get even more satisfaction from seeing that our writing is enjoyed or appreciated by others, and particularly enjoy the interaction that blogging offers.
To your point of a blogger that has only one reader, being able to achieve the desired success:
I have a friend that was divorced, and had not seen his teenage daughter since she was an infant. He works in the Middle East, and his daughter is in the UK. Several years ago, he started a blog, just to have a way to share things with her, and they managed to repair a lot of the damage that the separation of father and daughter had done over so many years. I would say that in some regards, their relationship is closer than that enjoyed by some parents and their children. In a way that’s sad, but successful? Absolutely!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: cricketwalker
You blog in a manner that feels that you are talking to me. When that is followed up by asking a question, I feel encouraged to respond. When folks blog about those things they are most passionate about, you can literally feel the difference.
Are my blogs as successful as they could be? Heck no! But they do what they were designed to do, so I am okay with that until I find more hours in a day and days in a week to spend working on them.
Cricket recently posted..Mirrors Your Mind
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Cricket! I WAS talking to you!
That’s the key, in my opinion, to a vibrant blog… ENGAGING the readers. Sometimes it can be done via a controversial post, sometimes just with a question. But regardless of the technique used to engage them, I think making them feel comfortable about posting their opinions is the most important step.
As you say, passion is contagious. You can feel it in the post, and it can draw you in. I see it every time I visit your blogs.
In your case, of course, I could also have just mentioned coffee, and I’ve have drawn you in!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Thanks so much!
Great post!
I’ve just thought of what you should blog about: A hunt for spam commenters (accompanied with a Vlog) which shows those wastes of space the sharp end of a pointy stick, Vlad-the-Impaler-style!
I’d return to that one regularly.
Bulbboy recently posted..help a total stranger
Twitter: DocSheldon
LOL, Bulbboy! I think we’ve all had days that conjure up thoughts of spammers on a spit! Anyone care to register spammersonaspit.com and give it a shot? Vlad could rapidly become a popular folk-hero.
I have gotten to the point where I am not not so bothered by comment spammers. I take advantage of some good spam control measures on my blogs, so I see very few get through. Those that get screened out are quickly shown the door. Like trolls or ants at a picnic, I see them as simply an annoyance to be dealt with, but I don’t let them ruin the fun.
Thanks for your comment, bud!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Doc,
This is a very informative article. It leaves me with a couple of questions. First,
what is the best way to get the readers to your site, obviously if they are interested in your topic they will stay. Second, as far as an aggressive spam plugin, what would you recommend and how exactly does that work. I have a site and these are two of
the problems that I am wrestling with at the moment.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Bobby. There are several ways to attract new readers to your site. Two that I have found very effective are forum posting and blog commenting. I’m active on a number of forums, and I see a lot of new visitors arrive at my blogs via my signature links. I also make it a point to circulate through a number of blogs that I enjoy reading, and leave quality comments.
I would say that my blog comments bring me several times more visitors than my forum posts. That is probably due in great part to the thematic similarity between my blog and that on which I post a comment. Not all the blogs I visit and comment on have anything in common with my own blog, however. Always, the key is to leave a comment that really contributes something to the discussion.
A quality comment can leave people curious to see more, and your signature is their boarding pass.
As for spam control, assuming you are using WordPress, as so many of us do, my first recommendation would be the Akismet plug-in(http://akismet.com/). It’s automatic, you can set certain flags yourself, and it will quarantine suspect comments, subject to your review. I think it accomplishes 90% of what I look for in spam control.
Another, slightly more aggressive, is AVH First Defense Against Spam (http://blog.avirtualhome.com/wordpress-plugins/avh-first-defense-against-spam/). The beauty of AVHFDAS is the ability to customize a whitelist and a blacklist, with the added bonus of reporting spammers to the Stop Forum Spam database.
I recommend both of these plug-ins very highly.
I appreciate your comment! I hope you get some relief from the comment spam.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Hi Doc, I love the way you blog, if I could only write like that, I felt like you were talking personally to lil ‘ol me
. Some great pointers for new bloggers to get started too!
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Belinda. Well, you have told me that I accomplished three goals with this post. I gave you something that you enjoyed reading or found helpful; I left you feeling as though I was talking directly to you; and I made you feel sufficiently comfortable to leave a comment.
That is the sort of feedback that makes it all worthwhile for a blogger!
I think it’s important to mention, that every post can’t be expected to be a home-run… most especially not to all readers. In fact, I think it’s better to utilize a style that’s more likely to offer everyone something, rather than trying to offer everyone everything. We’re much more likely to build a growing reader base that way.
Thanks a lot for the kind words, Belinda. And by the way, You CAN write like that!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: cricketwalker
Your comments to the comments displays another important tip of interacting with your readers. When people see the blogger actively responding to the comments, it becomes a discussion. This makes even more readers comfortable enough to comment.
Cricket recently posted..Mirrors Your Mind
Twitter: DocSheldon
Absolutely, Grasshopper!
er… uh… Cricket!
Responding to comments is quite possibly even more important in the engagement process, than inviting comments in the first place. Readers that see others being ignored are unlikely to care to subject themselves to the same.
Obviously, the same holds true of a response that is belittling or rude. Every response should show respect and courtesy, even more so when responding to a comment that is antagonistic or rude. If the blogger can respond courteously to an obnoxious commenter, it tends to bolster the respect the readers will have for the blogger, as well as making them empathetic. That generally results in even more engagement.
I think the important thing to remember is that without the interaction with the readers, a blog becomes no more than a diary.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Hey Doc, excellent post! I agree on your point about how user participating is a really good factor in judging the success – I also agree with Steve that passion also plays a major role in it. Participating is not only great for contributing to discussions, but also can be used as social proof – psychologically people will be more prone to think your offering useful and informative posts if they see more people interacting and responding with you.
It’s also very true that you can literally blog about anything you are passionate about – there is really a niche for everything! And if you are someone reading this and just getting started in blogging – free blogging platforms like blogger/wordpress/livejournal etc make the whole process simple and easy to learn.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Rebekah – Thanks for the kind words!
You’re absolutely right about the psychological aspect, too. The entire process of engagement is hinged upon the creation of an atmosphere that encourages participation.
The way the original post is crafted, the usefulness of comments, the flavor of responses to comments (by both the blogger and other commenters)… these all work together to create an open, comfortable atmosphere, that makes readers WANT to speak their mind.
It pains me to visit a blog, and see that a decent comment has been left by a reader two or three weeks past, that still hasn’t elicited a response from the blogger. How can we expect our readers to take an interest in participation, when it’s obvious that we don’t care enough to monitor or to respond?
As for niches, if you can’t find the niche you’re passionate about, CREATE it! You’ll be the first, and usually, you’ll soon find that others will join you, that may have always had the interest, but didn’t have the initiative to be the first one out there.
Don’t try to keep up… set the pace! Make the others try to keep up with YOU!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Wow, I’m impressed with your answers. Good blog post as well. I’m a wanna be blogger as well but I just need to free more of my time. Right now, I have the choice between my wife and keeping the blog up to date. My time goes to my wife
You provide good tips though.
“thx 4 sharing”
Twitter: DocSheldon
That’s very kind of you, Julien. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment.
I can certainly understand time constraints… we all deal with them. However, since the competition for your time comes from your wife, I’d have to say you’ve made the right choice. Blogging is great, and keeps the mental juices flowing, but when you’re old and gray…
your blog won’t be the one changing your diapers!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Doc, I’ve never read anything stupider in my life. Wait did I say stupider? That was just stupid. I should have said more stupid. No wait! Jesus, I hate this new brand of coffee. I’ve been drinking Starbucks French Roast for years (stick to it kids) but thought I’d try something organic. Hell, for all I know Starbucks is organic! But this stuff says it definitely is. The beans were brought to orgasm by hand. Is that a good thing? Anyway, I tried it. pfft. But that’s beside the point. The point is I meant stupendous. Stupendous post! Especially that part about erections.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Ah, Muddy, Muddy, Muddy…. what are we going to do with you?
You give a new meaning to the term “incorrigible”. Still, I appreciate you stopping in to rain your wisdom upon us. Anybody that drinks Starbucks French Roast can’t be ALL bad!
On the other hand…
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: swedal
Hey Doc, with four blogs going for business reasons I find it is difficult to keep motivated and devote the time needed for posting. Any tips for keeping the motivation level up to stay the course?
Twitter: DocSheldon
That’s a tough one, Bruce. The first thing that comes to my mind, may not appeal to you very much, but I really think it might help.
If you’ve got time for four blogs that you HAVE to do, then I’m sure you can make time for a fifth, that you LIKE to do. Start a personal blog, just for you. Set aside a half hour a day to write about something that you really enjoy. Doesn’t matter what it’s about, as long as it’s something you ENJOY writing about. You’ll find it relaxing, and it’ll get the noggin cleared a bit, so that the other four aren’t such a chore.
You just might find that you’re suddenly consuming less time to write five blogs, than you used to use, writing four.
At least, that’s the way I’d do it. But then, I’m rumored to be a tad “off-center”, so take it with a grain of salt.
Another idea that comes to mind, if all four are of a common topic, is to build yourself a mini-syndicate. Write on one or two, and scrape that content, via an RSS feed to the others. Then rotate through the four, so that each one gets its turn in the barrel, so to speak. With an RSS feed, you needn’t be concerned about duplication issues (which, by the way, DON’T carry any mythical penalty from Google), and it’ll save you a lot of time. I don’t know what platforms you’re using, but if it’s WordPress, I’d bet a dollar against a doughnut that there’s a nifty little plug-in available to handle that very easily.
Thanks for the comment, Bruce. I’m sure you’ll settle on a solution that works for you. When you do, we’d enjoy hearing about it.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: DocSheldon
@Bruce – Another idea that I have used in the past with some success (at least as long as I stuck with it) is to formally structure my time.
You probably already do that to some extent. Set up a block of time to develop content for each blog. I’d suggest doing them in short bursts… perhaps 1/2 hour blocks. If it takes you an hour to research and compose a post, do it in two blocks of time, say, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then let it sit a day, come back and edit it and post it.
I’ve done this by setting aside a window of 7 to 7:30am, before my phone starts going nuts on me, so that I can think through a post, compose it, review it, and plan my next post. The next day at 7am, I give it a final edit, post it, and start working on the next one. At 7:30, whether I’ve finished or not, I save my work, and move on to the next task.
That method takes a good bit of self-discipline at first… something of which I am sometimes lacking. But if you do it, you’ll find that you’ll be handling five blogs a week, in a half hour per day. As you establish the habit, you’ll find it starts to become easier to get focused.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: jmarkafghans
Once again, you’ve given me a lot to think about and think through. I’ve been blogging for a while, but noticed – thanks to your helpful tips – that I’ve become very distracted and even more Random than the title of the blog might suggest. Which undoubtedly accounts for the feeling that I’m not successful and, definitely, lacking the kind of traffic I would prefer to see.
I also like the suggestion, in response to another comment, to set up a schedule.
Jules recently posted..Shop Manhattanite Your Closet Will Thank You
Twitter: DocSheldon
Don’t feel bad, Jules! Believe me, I’ve taken a look at some of my posts the next day, and thought, “What was I THINKING!”
Hate to repeat myself, but…
the success of your blog is gauged only by you! What anyone else thinks doesn’t matter one whit! If at the end of the day, it accomplishes what you wanted, even if it was just getting one little rant off your chest…
then it was a success!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Just a Little Shameless Begging on Behalf of my Entry
Twitter: jmarkafghans
Well, see – you’ve done it again, Doc!
I may not have 3,000 readers, but I’m writing what I like to write, the way I like to write it. After reading several blogs, I thought that my style wasn’t ‘right’ and lost confidence. Silly me!
Have you ever considered a career in blogger-therapy?! You could make a fortune.
Jules recently posted..Shop Manhattanite Your Closet Will Thank You
Twitter: DocSheldon
“… I’m writing what I like to write, the way I like to write it.”
See, Jules? Then your blog IS successful! That doesn’t mean it’s perfect for you, or that it couldn’t be MORE successful, of course. But such things don’t have to be graded on a scale.
“I rate my blog a 6, on a scale of 1 to 10″ could only be valid if a person felt like their blog was only accomplishing around 60% of what they want it to. Short of using monetization as the only metric, I can’t imagine how one could grade that way.
To me, it’s like being proud of your child for their accomplishments. Sure, if they get elected to some high office, by virtue of their abilities and charisma, you could be MORE proud. But that doesn’t take away from the pride you already feel for them. I certainly wouldn’t try to rate any of my kids on a scale of 1 to 10.
Like anything else we do, improvement in always possible. That does NOT equate to a failure, though.
As for me being a blogger-therapist… funny! We have some friends that are practicing therapists… one’s a psychiatrist, and three are psychologists. Of the four, only one shows even occasional signs of mental or emotional stability… two of them are extremely questionable and one has that Charles Manson wide-eyed look that gives you cold chills.
If being disturbed is a prerequisite, then maybe I AM qualified! LOL
Thanks for the comments, bud!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..And the Beat Goes on…
Twitter: jmarkafghans
OT – I’m pretty sure that mental stability is highly overrated and disturbed is a lot more … creative!
Jules recently posted..Blog Action Day 2010
Good post Doc. The point about reader engagement is a good one. I do have a caveat to offer for new bloggers though. It’s true that most topics are being covered somewhere by someone on the web, no matter how obscure. But it isn’t necessarily a good idea for newbies to deliberately plow through everything else online, particularly if they want to write about something they’re passionate about. Reading what interests you is great; reading the ‘competition’ as a means of preparing yourself can be overwhelming.
Look forward to more of your posts.
Twitter: DocSheldon
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Watley. I think you make a valid point.
Very true… trying to digest all the rest of the opinions floating around there in the ether could definitely be overwhelming.
I think that we’re all periodically faced with one of two scenarios:
• we’re well informed on an issue, and have formed our opinion only after careful consideration of all points or view;
• we’ve formed our first impression, but are still open to discussion, before we decide precisely how we stand on the issue.
Frankly, I wouldn’t necessarily suggest any review of what others are saying, unless it’s to gain more knowledge, or just to refresh my memory. And if it’s a topic I’m already passionate about, I should already be well informed, and refreshing shouldn’t be necessary.
I don’t particularly care what others are saying, anyway. We all have our own point of view on things, and someone else’s stated opinion isn’t likely to change mine, unless they’ve made a darned good case. If I’m easily swayed, then I’d say my level of passion for the topic is somewhat questionable.
That said, reading the opinions of others can be helpful in better defining our own thoughts on a topic. I know that many times, although I’ve formed my first impressions on an issue, I’m still not entirely sure that I’ve looked at all sides of it. In those instances, it’s very helpful to read the opinions of others, in order to give me a broader perspective.
If I keep an open mind, I’ll learn something. If not, then I think that will be reflected in my writing, and my readers may start doubting my credibility. There’s often a very fine line between standing behind one’s position and being too stubborn to entertain other ideas.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..It’s Time For Me to Get a New Computer!
Twitter: kikolani
It’s so true – you can blog about any topic your heart desires, and there’s bound to be someone out there that will enjoy it, as blogging gives you a worldwide audience.
Also, I have a Miniature Schnauzer too! These are some pics from a year ago of his first haircut.
Kristi Hines recently posted..The Truth About Making Money Online
Twitter: DocSheldon
Yep! It’s amazed me a time or two, when posting something a little “off the beaten path”, that someone would actually step up and say, “Wow! I thought I was the only one…”
Almost enough to make me stop questioning my own sanity.
Hey! I said ALMOST!
Dobby’s a cutie! They’re super-intelligent, aren’t they? Ours had us trained in record time!
Thanks for stopping by, Kristi.
Thanks Doc – I needed a kick where it counts to remind me of all the great things I could be doing with my blog. I’ve shyed away from encouraging folks to leave comments for fear they’d leave something untoward.
I guess I just need to relax and don’t worry about it.
Thanks for giving me some traffic and visitor statistics to shoot for – I guess I’d better get busy!
Nice article – I look forward to reading more from you.
Shellie recently posted..Repairing Mini Lights
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Shellie. Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment!
While I suppose it’s inevitable that we’ll see comments from time to time that we wish hadn’t been left, I won’t let some nitwit ruin it, either for me or for my readers.
A politician once got hit by a rotten tomato when stumping in the backwaters. His response was, “At least they’re not ignoring me.”
That’s how I feel about it, too. Even an unflattering comment from a troll can galvanize your readers into interacting more. And I never delete a dissenting comment… they’re sometimes the best sparks for a good conversation.
Start watching those stats, Shellie… they can tell you a lot!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..BlogEngage Blogging Contest Update
I agree that you can write about anything you want to. I have to say through that I have had several different blogs. My first one lasted for only a few months before I gave it up. I did not understand how to get people to come to my blog to even talk to them in comments. After talking to myself I lost interest and now that blog hasn’t received a new post for several years. After doing tons of research I now run SEOSage and have learned how to increase my traffic. It is so much nicer having people to read my articles and comment. I will take your advise to heart about interacting with the comments. I see that you have taken your own advise and even responded to a person that did not like your article.
Ashlie recently posted..SEO Link Building Tips Before You Get Started
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Ashlie- Thanks for your comment… that’s the lifeblood of a blogger!
I’m on my 3rd and 4th blog now, and like you, my first one was a disappointment to me. I had no idea what I should be doing to attract readers, and it just died of boredom (mine). I suspect it happened to most of us, early on.
It really is important to follow your comments closely, and respond right away. For instance, I’m feeling guilty for not having responded to this yesterday, when you posted it.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..Search Experience – Now- Part Two
Twitter: vijayrc
I feel myself missing something on my blog while reading your words. That is the continuity I hope so. Hereafter I will be updating my blog daily. Thanks for inspiring me..
Vijay recently posted..Dofollow Blog- CommentLuv is Enabled on Ambabo
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Vijay-
Don’t feel bad… as you can see, reading all the great posts everyone has put up on blogging, there are a LOT of details to remember. I think we all forget a couple now and then – I certainly do.
Actually, posting daily isn’t as important as posting consistently. Some people post every three days, some even once a week. I think the important thing is to try to be as consistent as possible, mostly for your readers’ sake.
Glad you got some benefit from it. Thanks a lot for your comment.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..What Does the Future Hold for Us
Doc,
I have to agree that success is in the eye of the beholder. If all you want from your blog is a place to share your thoughts, then it’s a success even if no-one reads it. It’s all a matter of what the purpose of your blog is.
~Amy Sue
Twitter: DocSheldon
Exactly, Amy Sue! We can’t let someone else gauge our level of satisfaction. It all depends on what each of us is looking for!
Thanks for your input!
Doc Sheldon recently posted..What Does the Future Hold for Us
Interesting contnet – frequent updates and a sense of humor usually bring me back…
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hello, Renata-
Certainly, interesting content is a priority for most readers. And I know that a lively sense of humor will usually get me searching for the Subscribe button.
I do a good bit of blog surfing, and I bookmark those that I enjoy. But when I return and still find the same lead post after two or three weeks, I generally give up on them. There are too many really good blogs around for me to want to waste my time returning time after time, hoping to find new content.
Thanks for your contribution, Renata.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..What Does the Future Hold for Us
Doc,
Thanks for this post. It gives the new blogger something to think about. It’s especially helpful in determining the meaning of success in the blogging world.
Thank you again.
Chris
I really liked how you used math to not only explain the monetary means but also how the comments add to the equation of blogging. I’ve read your work before and I’ve always been impressed on how it’s unique to the topic. You can also tell you put a lot of time and thought into your work. Most excellent post.. it’s just what the Doctor ordered – Pun intended!
Keep up the work my friend
Snerdey
Twitter: DocSheldon
Hi, Snerdey-
Glad you liked it! Comments are the result of engagement, and without engagement, I think all we really have is a diary.
I really appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Doc Sheldon recently posted..What Does the Future Hold for Us
Nice blog Doc! Found this from v7n! In your opinion, what’s the real means of successful blogger?
rahasia seo recently posted..Cara Cepat Meningkatkan Traffic Pengunjung
Twitter: DocSheldon
rahasia, I think the key element is to connect with your readers. As the name of this blog implies, engagement is critical for bloggers. While it’s possible to acquire short term traffic with a one-off post that piques folks’ interest, that typically won’t have a lasting effect.
Consistently providing information that is truly of interest to your readers, in a format that is interesting, enjoyable, easily understood and encourages responses… that is how you achieve reader engagement.
The “consistent” aspect is what many of us often have difficulty with.
Doc like yourself I am a student of the SEO game. It amazes me how few people pay attention to at least learning the basics. Blogging and SEO go hand in hand if the blog is for business purposes. Without SEO knowledge most of the time you will be dead in the water!