Are you a destination, or a layover?
January 13, 2009 by Danny Thompson
Filed under Social Media
There are certain blogs I check with regularity. Others, I stumble onto for one reason or another…usually because I’ve been pointed there by someone else…and don’t make it back to ever again. I’ve been tracking my own habits for the last few weeks, and I’ve noticed some common traits among the ones I frequent.
1. They are trustworthy.
Whether they’re offering their own opinion or pointing to comment somewhere else, the reader feels confident that following that link will be worthwhile. This kind of trust is built over time, but it starts with the very first post they read.
2. They are authoritative
Not that they’re necessarily a leading authority, or even that they seem to have all of the answers. But they are confident in their approach to the topic in question. Their writing has a certain weight to it.
3. They have a unique voice.
They’re funny…or angry…or cynical…or kinda weird. Or maybe a mix of some or all of these things. The one thing they aren’t is bland. They don’t simply post a link and say “hey, here’s a link.” They add something of themselves to each post and practically drag you forward into that link with them.
4. They’re not all business.
Sure, consistency is important. But so is showing that you are a real person. Some of the best blogs establish a rapport with their audience by slipping “out of character” once in a while, kicking up their heels and popping the top on a cold one. Or maybe more than once in a while.
5. They start, invite and participate in discussion
The pulse of a blog isn’t found in the frequency of the posts, but down in the trenches of the comments. Great bloggers post their opinions not to create controversy, but to spark conversation. Don’t take a stand in the hopes of starting an argument. But don’t be afraid to say “here’s what I think…am I right or wrong?” Instead of forcing them to confront you, invite them to correct you instead.
Can you use these to improve your blog (you can believe I’ll be using them to improve my own)?
And have you ever tracked the time you spend online? Do these traits gel with the blogs you read? If not, what draws YOU to a specific blogs?
