Today I want to share the things that make a blogger and their blog undesirable to follow in the hope that you too would share with me some of the things you don't like (especially if I'm guilty of them). Our blogs are such an important part of the way we market ourselves that we should be careful not to offend the masses if it is avoidable.
I know you're wondering, so I'll share. My list was inspired by the way Jill Kemerer wrote her How to Unbalance Your Life post.
Top 3 Ways to Build a Bad Blog that Nobody Wants to Follow
- Don't be willing to foster relationships with others: so, don't leave sincere comments on others' pages, never ask your readers questions, don't become a follower of another person's blog if you don't have to
- Have so many ads on your blog that it is hard to discern what is content and what is promotion: this is a favorite of mine. I usually stay on blogs such as these a maximum of 3 or 4 seconds -- on my slow days.
- Include mainly random information at random times: only talk about yourself, don't have content that will be consistently valuable to others, don't post very often and make sure not to include a posting schedule so people will know when to come back.
I hate the ads too! One blog had those pop up ones. You know the ones where if your cursor touches them, they open up huge hiding the whole screen. I can't stand that.
ReplyDeleteNot willing to have a relationship is pretty bad blogger behavior.
ReplyDeleteBut also, consistency matters, too. If someone only blogs on full moons, chances are I won't follow them.
These are great points. I also hate when music starts automatically. I love music, but I'd rather choose whether or not I want it to play or not. My readers have to hit play if they want to hear the daily theme song.
ReplyDeleteAnd too many ads are definitely a turn off.
It annoys me when I can only follow certain blogs in a reader. I like to look at the photo montage of followers on each blog and to see my little thumbnail there... and to click on the thumbnails of others. I have discovered some great blogs that way.
ReplyDeleteI don't particularly enjoy blogs that are ONLY about the author and its just details of their life. Unless its a really exciting life and then thats ok.lol
ReplyDeleteI hope I strike a balance between information/facts/random humor so its informative some days and entertaining on others. I do not like a lot of ads or automatic music either. I lurk at my day job and thats a sure tell that I am not working! One thing I really like is when the author of a blog takes the time to comment on the comments of readers. Thats nice and it feels like a real relationship.
Susan- pop up ads are the absolute worst.
ReplyDeleteJennifer- I agree with you about consistency. I don't mind people having limited postings as long as they are not too limited and as long as I know when to check for updates. that sounds pretty selfish huh?
Roni- I don't like when music starts playing either, except when it is a really good song. I visit a blog that everytime I go to it, it's playing good music.
Amber- That is how I discovered most of the good blogs that I follow too.
Marsha- I agree with ones that are too author-centered. That may be the whole point of the blog but I probably wouldn't visit it more than a coouple of times. I think you strike an awesome balance. I never know exactly what I'm going ot read when I land on your blog, but it is all great, whether informative, goofy or random. You are also a good follow-up commenter.
Being new to the blogging world, I'm still figuring out my taste, but a definite turn off to me is when the blog contains so many inside jokes and comments that I have no clue what it is saying. I think it is great to have that kind of close relationship with your followers, but how do you get new ones? Maybe they don't want them.
ReplyDeleteBrittany- That's funny. I don't think I've seen that yet but it would be a major turn off if I did. It is important to show personality (I'm working on this) to readers and interact (working on this too) without causing new people to have to decipher every other word.
ReplyDeleteAds and an over abundance of book reviews. I like the odd book review here and there on blogs I follow, but that's all.
ReplyDelete