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November 14, 2005

2.1 Ellen Talks about Success

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 3:20 am

2.1 Meet Ellen

Interview with: Ellen
Her Blog: The Reign of Ellen
URL: thereignofellen.blogspot.com
Location: United States of America
Genre: Family Life /Cartoon Blog
First post: The Reign of Ellen–May 2005 / Sugar in the Raw–May 2003
Her audience: easy-going, funny, non-judgmental readers–moms; dads; college-aged women
Things to note when you visit: the open spirit of community; the royal gallery; the multiple kinds of interactivity; the connection between Ellen and her readers; how the open, friendly design supports the concept; the features and unique ideas

Meet Ellen.

2.1 Meet Ellen

Ellen’s an American blogger, a graphic designer interested in cartooning and music. Her blog is a team effort. Queen Ellen reigns in blogdom, and Jason, her husband and self-proclaimed serf, manages behind the scenes.

Ellen’s interview is important because her blog shows how personality, content, and visual design can be seamlessly integrated into a one-of-kind blog. The closer you look into this blogdom, the more you’ll find corollaries to a sitcom, a game show, and a brought-to-life comic book. I kept getting the feeling that I was watching people on TV.

Though it’s called the Reign of Ellen, Ellen’s not the only royal on this blog. Each king and queen is honored with a portrait and a coronation. Read through an interview–THAT is reader participation. The comments show that folks who hang out here are not only having fun, but that they consider the blog part of their extended family. It’s easy to see why Ellen’s readers come back every night. It’s nice to be with her. She’s the real thing. Just listen.

Ellen, what would you call a successful blog?

When I was starting out in the blog world, I would have said “honesty.”

If you are always being Miss Merry Sunshine, readers are going to get irritated or bored. I still believe honesty is important, but I think stepping it up to the next level requires including your readers in your world. I think that community is key. And I think that you need to like your community.

I know of several well-known blogs that would probably be considered “successful” due to the amount of commenters that they get. But some seem to have gotten to this level by being negative, bitchy, elitest and controversial. They spend half their time yelping, “Well, stop reading my blog then!â€? to anyone who gives a dissenting opinion. Do readers tune in because they are invested in the writer’s blog, or just to lurk in on the many catfights? Is this really success?

I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not sure what defines a successful blog. Blogging is such a new phenomenon–time will probably weed the successful ones out from the others.

Two weeks ago, Indie said,

. . . I never posted anything that I did not think was up to my standard of quality. In this respect I can call my blog a success.

What three words would you use to describe your blog?

Community, quality, content, honesty, information, authenticity, humor, accuracy, creativity, value, personality . .

Thanks, Ellen!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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11 Comments to “2.1 Ellen Talks about Success”

  1. November 14th, 2005 at 4:06 am
    indeterminacy said

    I thought about that, too, these blogs with nearly 30 comments per post - yes they are somehow popular, and maybe it’s a form of success. But you put your finger right on it: it’s the negative drama and controversy that stands in the foreground. That’s not the kind of success I want.

    I’m sorry I haven’t started reading you yet, though I’ve come across you again and again. I have to find a way to work, spend time with my family and write my own blog, while still reading all the other wonderful blogs I’ve found out about.

    And what’s going on here? You quoting me? That’s very flattering.

  2. November 14th, 2005 at 4:10 am
    Kristene Hekmi said

    I think I’m on of these Merry Sunshines that’s talked about. In my personal blog, I truly have to push myself to talk about controversial topics.

    In lovetranslated, I hope to push the envelopes a little. 3 words I hope to be associated with the site: playful, sensual, engaging.

  3. November 14th, 2005 at 9:45 am
    ME Strauss said

    Indie,Good morning!

    I’m with both of you. I think that it can be fun for an entertainter to be contrary if the point of the act is entertainment. But when it poses as personality an it used as drama, it distracts from the content. Every wonder how well the ontent is written? Don’t think about it do you? Too busy having an opinion about the “guy” talking about it.
    Liz

  4. November 14th, 2005 at 9:46 am
    Angela said

    I really like this little plug you gave Ellen. I think the only thing I’d add in reference to her community is the respect she’s got for her readers. Each in her ‘court’ are unique individuals, and are respected for their views. She also has this way of evoking interaction through her comments by asking gripping questions that make you think, then laugh, then cry. Reaching an audience with that kind of affect, in my opinion, makes her blog successful.

  5. November 14th, 2005 at 9:49 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirstene
    Welcome. I don’t think that Ellen is saying to push yourself to be something that you’re not. I think she’s saying the opposite–don’t be Merry Sundshine on the days that you don’t feel like it. If you’re naturally upbeat–people will realize that is’ authentic, if you’re not it will come off a sugary sweet.

    If you live up to the three words that you’ve chosen for your blog, I don’t think you have to worry about being Merry Sunshing boring and irritating. No need to be controversial if it’s not you.
    Liz

  6. November 14th, 2005 at 10:02 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Angela,
    Welcome and thank you for coming. Please stay for the whole week.

    I can’t think of how I could change a word or say it better. You obviouly read Ellen’s blog often and understand just how it works. You translate the experience so powerfully. I think you’ve given a truly solid definition of a successful blog. Thank you, Angela.
    Liz

  7. November 14th, 2005 at 3:06 pm
    Jason said

    Hello everyone,

    I’m interested to see how this interview with Ellen turns out, and how Liz elegantly maneuvers the focus onto various aspects of Ellen’s blog, helping us to see things we typically wouldn’t notice.

    I tend to frequent blogs which focus on the workings of blogs (like most of you, I assume), and the dynamics behind them, and I personally thought it odd that Liz would pick my wife’s blog, to teach us some tricks about blogging. However, in the last few months of watching Ellen blogging away, I see where liz believes we can learn something new from her, specifically about community and the importance of relationships in the blog world. As well as the impact of adding a personal componet into the mix. This seems to come naturally for Ellen, and has paid off, in terms of developing a fun and engaging audience.

    I’m glad Liz is pushing all of us to think outside of the “black blog box” through this interview, and challenging us to see some new and creative aspects of blogging. I think we can all learn from this, and I’m very interested to see where the discussion takes us.

  8. November 14th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jason,
    I know you sat in on Indie’s interview’s with interest. That do was a non-business site that had some real opporutnities for finding new approaches to reaching readers. But don’t lose faith. The business sites are in the line up too.

    This being Building Readership Week I felt it important to show how tight a blog could get with its. readers. Also Ellen’s blog does a great job of using design to enhance her one-of-kind concept.

    Thanks, Jason, for your faith to hang in there. You know that the stats hold up her success. If Ellen were a TV show she’d be doing just fine every week. :P
    Liz

  9. November 14th, 2005 at 9:29 pm
    taorist said

    I agree with Ellen and Indie.

    The more controversial and violent the post is, the more it’s going get comments. I personally experienced this when I posted a series of violent experiences I had in the past (http://theaccidentaltaorist.blogspot.com/2005/10/when-daddy-shot-mommy-part-3-into.html).
    I got quite a lot of comments from that. I’m not saying I didn’t like it but it was a new thing for me.

    I get quite a few comments when I posted positive and uplifting experiences on my blog. My blog friends would usually comment and I love them for it. They’re there whether my post sucks or not. I love ‘em for it.

    The more controversial and negative the more it is read.
    Why do readers gravitate to such posts? I guess it goes the same way we read the headlines off a newspaper eh?

  10. November 14th, 2005 at 10:16 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Taorist,

    I think that it’s easier to respond to a negative than it is to stand up for a positive. It doesn’t take as much courage somehow.
    Liz

  11. September 15th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
    Successful Blog - Interview 8: Marti Lawrence, Blogger, Author, Publisher said

    […] Related articles 2.1 Ellen [The Reign of Ellen] Talks about Success 1.1 Meet Indie Interview 7.1: Meet Cat Morley, World Designer Interview 3 Patrick Makes California a Black Hole […]

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