This week I have been assigned the first activity:
It doesn't take brilliant ideas to have a successful blog, it takes dedication to and understanding of your readers. Each of the three blogs listed have thousands of subscribers, and in the case of Digital Photography School over a million. Not every blogger can expect to get such numbers, but what is a new blog with out ambitions?
When I was younger I started a blog on (of all things) how to survive a zombie Apocalypse posting about 10 blog posts in a few hours. I was frustrated with the lack of views (hint: refreshing the page doesn't count), in my frustration I deleted the blog completely. Too much blind ambition met with reality can be very disheartening, a successful blogger should aim high, but be modest in their progress.
Blogger Ryan Biddulph posted an article on basicblogtips.com listing 12 steps to creating a successful blog, along with commitment, quality control and good flow Biddulph mentions setting the goal of your blog. I think this important an ambitious blogger, a blogger should write for more than money but as Biddulph puts it:
Now for my blogging strategy, I plan on keeping my posts simple, informative, coherent and interesting. I am also open to connect with my readers, got any questions about me or my blog feel free to ask in the comments and I will try to get back to you with an informed response. Got any ideas for future blog posts and I may be able to squeeze one out on your topic.
How will I go about creating simple, informative, coherent and interesting posts you may ask? I will do my best to research the topics involved, review my work and add in anything that intrigues me during said research.
Obtaining readership is another matter, hopefully my posts are interesting and informative enough for a few readers to subscribe if it peaks their interest. Gaining readership is mainly reliant on self advertising to peers and people Google searching Enterprise 2.0. Of course there is the option of paying for advertising, but as a university student who isn't made of money I don't think this would be a wise option for an assignment.
And with that I don't have anything more to write about for now. I hope this post has gauged at least some interest, or given some ideas to prospective bloggers. Ill get back to you with blog post #3
An inspirational quote for those bloggers who might have lost faith in their blog:
The task for this week is to extend community knowledge on what makes a blog a success and to introduce your blogging strategy.To discuss the topic of successful blogs its probably best to look at successful blogs such as Freshome, This Song Is Sick and Digital Photography School. These blogs are great for their reader base because they deliver interesting posts, with consistent frequency that generate discussion. But there is a humble beginning to all blogs, and these blogs are no exception. They all started with one blogger posting what they thought was nothing more than a little interesting thing to share. Thus from this they grew in readership and in bloggers to form great sources of insight.
It doesn't take brilliant ideas to have a successful blog, it takes dedication to and understanding of your readers. Each of the three blogs listed have thousands of subscribers, and in the case of Digital Photography School over a million. Not every blogger can expect to get such numbers, but what is a new blog with out ambitions?
A key point to a successful blog is a good design. Nothing too complicated or distracting, but still interesting enough to catch the eye of prospective subscribers.
When I was younger I started a blog on (of all things) how to survive a zombie Apocalypse posting about 10 blog posts in a few hours. I was frustrated with the lack of views (hint: refreshing the page doesn't count), in my frustration I deleted the blog completely. Too much blind ambition met with reality can be very disheartening, a successful blogger should aim high, but be modest in their progress.
Blogger Ryan Biddulph posted an article on basicblogtips.com listing 12 steps to creating a successful blog, along with commitment, quality control and good flow Biddulph mentions setting the goal of your blog. I think this important an ambitious blogger, a blogger should write for more than money but as Biddulph puts it:
Think about providing a valuable service to people on the internet. Observe the awesome blog here, run by Ms. Ileane. She provides a valuable service to humanity by publishing valuable, in depth blog posts. Remember this each time you sit down to create a post and you cannot help but to inspire individuals.For more tips that prospective bloggers should check out you can find a bunch of tips here, here and here.
Now for my blogging strategy, I plan on keeping my posts simple, informative, coherent and interesting. I am also open to connect with my readers, got any questions about me or my blog feel free to ask in the comments and I will try to get back to you with an informed response. Got any ideas for future blog posts and I may be able to squeeze one out on your topic.
How will I go about creating simple, informative, coherent and interesting posts you may ask? I will do my best to research the topics involved, review my work and add in anything that intrigues me during said research.
Obtaining readership is another matter, hopefully my posts are interesting and informative enough for a few readers to subscribe if it peaks their interest. Gaining readership is mainly reliant on self advertising to peers and people Google searching Enterprise 2.0. Of course there is the option of paying for advertising, but as a university student who isn't made of money I don't think this would be a wise option for an assignment.
And with that I don't have anything more to write about for now. I hope this post has gauged at least some interest, or given some ideas to prospective bloggers. Ill get back to you with blog post #3
An inspirational quote for those bloggers who might have lost faith in their blog:
Don't forget. Believe in yourself. Not in the you who believes in me. Not the me who believes in you. Believe in the you who believes in yourself. ~ Kamina
Nice blog post, very inspiring, especially the last quote.
ReplyDeleteIt is very good blog that gives me some thought. I really didn't aim high with my blog...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it is a mistake that you didn't end with a period(.) at "Further trying to improve"(the 5th paragraph).
And I think if you like to give a short summary for each point, it will be easier for lazy readers like me.:)
Thank you for the quick error spot. I fixed it.
DeleteI like the idea of short summaries and I think I will have them at the end of future long blog posts.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Great! looking forward to your next post. It's also a chance for me to read and learn.
DeleteI do like the design, and as you said design is very important in blogs, but is there a certain stage where the design is too bare, do you think?
ReplyDeleteYes design can be too bare. But it is important to theme the design to the context of the blog. My blog as it is, is a factual and detailed summary on various Enterprise 2.0 topics. I believe a stark simple background themes well along with the informative tone I am trying to set.
DeleteWhere as an artistic blog would, with blog posts about works of art would need a more vibrant feel to juxtapose the artwork.
Well this is all merely my opinion anyway.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Hi Bradley, I really like your blog post, just wondering, how do you plan to obtain a relationship with readers?
ReplyDeleteI am interested in this myself and I just wrote a blog post mentioning how possibly social media can help build a relationship. Plug: http://graceobrien.com.au/blog/?p=12
What are your thoughts?
-Grace