- Consistent posting
- Pictures
- Giveaways (working on it)
- Themes
I'm tinkering with my layout but the process is slow as I only know basic html tags and nothing about templates. I also want to persue what it is that makes people come to and stay on a blog. Ironically, the Businessman doesn't read blogs and has no suggestions on how to drive traffic to a blog.
What drives you to a blog? Do you read blogs of people you don't know? Do you comment? What makes a great blog?
Your insights are appreciated.
What I Made:
Posts
I think the popularity of blogs with giveaways and tutorials can really be combined as an overarching popularity of interactivity on a blog. People like blogs that engage them on more levels than "the story of a complete stranger's week"- blogs that give them things to try, things to say, things to hope for, things to think and care about.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone I know personally actually craftblogs. There are three things that will keep me reading a craft blog: if the author's projects inspire me, if the author's writing inspires me, or if the author engages and interacts with me in such a way that I want to come back. So how do we, as craft bloggers, hit on one or all of those big elements?
Another thought: as important as it is to have interesting, relevant content to keep readers, getting them in the first place is a whole different animal. I'll bet some of the best blogs in the world are largely undiscovered, because the so-called blogosphere is a massive place. Thus the question "how do you find blogs?" becomes just as important as "what do you like in a blog?" This is another part where giveaways and tutorials are good- my top way of finding blogs is through other blogs, and craft bloggers seem to like to link to tutorials and giveaways, when they know about them.
Plus, I can submit my tutorials to the big aggregate craft blogs, like craftgossip or Craftzine, and get a ton of exposure that way. Which is awesome.
For me, I come to find blogs in the "blogs of note," as well as through other people's websites. I wouldn't necessarily read another person's blog if all it contains is purely personal information.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't care for the giveaways. It doesn't make me any more inclined to read/not read a blog. In fact my favorite blogs are usually those that are inspirational to me (in my case, illustrator's or artists blogs) and rarely have contests or giveaways. I also read blogs in which I can directly participate, i.e. Monday Artday and Illustration Friday.
Also, if you like, I'd be more than happy to create an illustrated header for you.