There has been a lot of discussion about how to blog so people will read you. Even more about what people like in a blog post. I’ve been trying to figure out what makes me click the -Add to Google Reader- button on some blogs and skip past the others. Here are my thoughts
I’m fairly indiscriminate when I click on a blog to read. I have never limited myself to reading mommy blogs or homeschool blogs or any blogs that focus on one aspect of my interests. I am just as likely to read a blog about vegetarian cooking as I am to read a blog post about corned beef and cabbage. I looked through my subscription list hoping to find a clue to my blog reading psyche and I found a few recurrent themes.
It’s a Blog About Places I’ve been or Places I Want to Go
Sometimes reading a blog soothes the wandering gypsy aspect of my soul. I have lived in the same house for 13 years but I can’t stand to be home for too long. Reading a blog that talks about places I have been reminds me of the many memories I have collected over the years. I enjoy a sketch of Duxford Airfield in England or a photo of the gargoyles on St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY. A shot of grandma exploring the rain forest in Equador reminds of all the places I still have to visit. It’s nice to have a break from the everyday.
I Enjoy the Bloggers View on Things
I get tired of reading the same opinion over and over again. If you have something new to add go for it. Otherwise just link to the post and move on. When people add their own personal story or a unique opinion to a topic I enjoy reading it. If they just restate the obvious I get bored.
They Make me Think
I may be nerd, but when I have to type a phrase into the search engine to learn more about it, I feel like my time reading the post was well spent. Bloggers that can use their words to make me want to learn something new are gifted teachers. I have tremendous respect for gifted teachers. They usually end up in my daily reading folder.
They Have a Way with Words
Add a few intelligently humorous phrases to a post about cooking pot pies and I’ll be reading about it. I love when people use words to paint a picture. Oddly phrased descriptions and unusual adjectives make me want to read more. Throw in a few off-beast cultural references and I’m hooked.
They Represent Something I Want to Be
I’ve always been attracted to people that are where I want to be. The only way to get where you want to go is to point yourself in that direction and start moving. I wouldn’t know how to bake a delicious loaf of bread if I hung around with people that didn’t know how to bake. I also wouldn’t know how to peel off a fully intact Budweiser label and stick it to my forehead if I hadn’t spent my teenage years with rednecks. It’s important to choose your path. People that are on a path I want to follow go in my reader.
I Feel a Connection to the Blogger
Sometimes people write about topics that touch me. I appreciate a thoughtful honest post about topics that I face in my life. I also like to read about topics that I have faced in the past. It’s good to know there are other people with the same problems. It’s heartening to see someone overcome life’s difficulties. I tend to read blogs that make me feel like I can overcome anything that might slow me down. But I can’t stand when people overdo it. I don’t want to get depressed every time I read someone’s blog.
The Blog is Visually Stimulating 
Blogs that take the time to add pictures to their posts make my day. Let’s face it, the walls in my house are only so exciting. Reading a blog full of words is the equivalent of reading my Marine biology textbook minus the pictures of the whale vertebrae. It’s too much like work. Give me something fun or interesting to look at while I’m reading your story. I will not only get to the end; I will most likely remember what you wrote.
Another thought on this is breaking up what you write into small chunks. When I see a wall of words my eyes glaze over. The paragraph tag is this blog reader’s best friend.
Those are my thoughts. What makes you want to read or not read a blog?
March 31st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I think this might be the best post I’ve seen on this topic… maybe b/c you wrote it from a reader’s perspective rather than a how-to perspective. Anyhow, I definitely agree with you. My top must-haves in order to add a blog to my feed list is…
- writing style
- interesting topics
- unique perspective OR perspective that I identify with
I usually scan the main page of posts (5-10) and if there’s an “about” page (always a good idea) will read that too.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:05 pm
AbsolutelyBananas - I hardly ever read an about page until I have read a blog for awhile. May be the reason my about page is well… :) Thats a good point. I have struggled with what to put on my about page. I have no idea what people want to know about and I wonder why they want know it. I don’t recall any posts about making a good about page.
I suppose what a person puts on their about page kinda reflects the person personality. Some people will list their professional achievements or facts and figures and others will list all their personal preferences right down to brand of underwear.
Something for me to think about.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Great post. i couldn’t have said it any better. I think all bloggers have similar feelings. i know when i first started, i couldn’t be bother with other blogs. Now I’m fascinated.
1st timer here. cool set up.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Hi Mitch,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I got a good laugh out of your blog. Another good one for my reader. I hope you made it home in time!