For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a bloggy-life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week, I offer this BloggingHypotheticality.
Here you go. . . .
You receive an email that reads like this–only yours is from a real domain name.
Dear Sir/Madam:
Would you like to link to us?
Website: http://www.ilinkwithstrangers.com
Thank you very much.
What’s your opinion of this practice?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Not to be outdone by Successful Blog or by Lifehacker, our friend and colleague, liberal cowboy next door at jackofallblogs released his own list of 7 1/2 Steps to a Googilicious Website, and I have to give his post a 10.
I’ll translate his 7 1/2 steps for you here and you can read them in his own fine prose over at his blog. Please note that these are tips for websites, not necessarily for blogs.
and the last is one I never knew
Darn, why didn’t I think of that one?
ME “Liz” Strauss
PS–To all my new friends who visit here from the one link to this page.
Though I’ve made my share of mistakes–they’re on the meta-tags page–this page always was a JOKE. It’s a take off on another post. I see now that it’s dangerous to joke about SEO. Sorry about that.
Meanwhile, the nachos, Jack Daniels, and refreshments are in the sidebar under the ads. Pull up a chair and stick around as long as you want. We like people here.
🙂 –Liz
I post this tonight for those who come looking for something to think about, some conversation, or just a way to ease back into the week. It was fun last week, so I thought why not again?
Here you go. . . .
There’s been no traffic all weekend. A friend comes with a question about it.
What’s going on? Where’s all the traffic? Is it something I’ve done? Did they figure out I’m no good at this?
How would you answer?
–ME “Liz� Strauss
Armed with your thoughtful comments, I won’t be shooting in the dark.
QUESTION 2:
Are the interviews too long, too light? Is anything too anything?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Imagine the difference it would make, if we talked about our blogs.
QUESTION 3:
What is your blog about?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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.
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