I know many of you who have read about this idea are wondering how the first blog is going to be chosen–I know that I would be. I’d want to know how it’s going to be done for every blog after that as well. So here is the answer to your question, and thanks for being patient.
How the Lucky Blogs Get Chosen
I told you in the original post that I was going to just hop right in without having every answer, and that’s what I did. So while, in the future, I hope to have a panel of famous and incredible bloggers helping to choose the blog to visit, for now, I’m going to pick one based on my judgment.
The kind of blogs I’m looking for have great content and are under-appreciated. It doesn’t matter if you have no readers or hundreds of readers, you may still be producing something that a much greater audience would love to find and follow. So, it’s about who is the most underrated–which blogs are just waiting for someone to shine a light on them before they reach the next level, whichever level that may be.
We Won’t Always Agree
I could point to Seth’s blog, one of the most universally acclaimed and widely read blogs on the web, and a big chunk of you would be unimpressed. The same would be true of “I Can Has Cheezburger” or any popular blog. We are a highly diverse group (if you haven’t browsed the sign-up section, you should), so it’s impossible to just point to one example or one standard as being good.
So part of the challenge here is abstracting what makes a blog good. Here’s my thinking of what ingredients make up great blog content.
What All Great Blogs Have In Common
- Long or Short Form: Either can be good, but there is a specific style to each. Does the author understand and embrace one or the other as appropriate?
- Wit: There’s almost never a circumstance where an infusion of wit can’t help the writing. And wit isn’t just about being funny. Sometimes it’s about humor, but more often than not, wit is about peppering in interest through the unexpected and the clever. Grammar, science, parenting, writing, religion–there’s always room for added interest.
- Value: To be good, a blog must consistently provide value to the reader. Whether it’s entertainment or educational, professional or personal, people are trading their time to read your site, and they expect to get something in return.
- Variety: If you are going to write about something non-stop and expect people to read it every day, you must find a way to keep your subject fresh.
- Presentation: Not everyone can get their website looking how they want it without spending money, but there are some basics that can really ruin a blog if they are screwed up or really help if done well. Use lists, bold, big fonts, quotes, graphics, photos, and other tools for making your message come across more clearly. Don’t spend a ton of time on this, but the rule of thumb is that clean and easy to read is better.
- Consistency: If you update once a month, you are not a great candidate at this point. However, a huge part of why people infrequently update is lack of visitors. I understand that, so there is leniency here. I have to believe you’ll write regularly if we visit you, though.
- Personality: Does your blog foster a sense that you are human? A huge part of blogging is the conversation between the readers and the blogger. When done well, bloggers on any topic can convey a sense of who they are, and this is part of what readers crave.
- Brevity: Say what you need to say. No more. (Of course, this doesn’t mean use few words. Some ideas, some stories, and some tones require the use of many words. Just don’t meander around. And don’t wander aimlessly. And don’t repeat yourself.)
- Subject matter: Write about three things constantly: your topic, your thoughts, and yourself. Almost everything you write should have at least a little of all there of those blended together. You can also alternate between which is the focus on a given post.
- Skill: Being a talented writer goes a long way. So does taking great photos or being really funny or being a great designer. If you have a special sauce, the kind of thing that your friends might say about you (as a compliment), it will probably be interesting for readers to see as well.
While that may seem like a lot to worry about, it really boils down to being accessible and being interesting. If you’re brilliant and hilarious but hard to read–no one will read. If you’re clear as a bell but as engaging as a toaster oven–no one will read. If our group visited a blog like that, it wouldn’t help much.
The First Blog
The first blog will be a big test for this entire system. I’m hunting for someone who is almost certain to take our group’s collective gift of time and attention and then turn that into something sustainable and great.
This blogger will be blazing a trail, of sorts, because it will be up to him or her to set the first example, good or bad, of how to handle all of the attention and how to make the most of it. I plan on coaching the selected blogger to help make that an easier process, but still, this first blogger needs to have a special confidence and courage. It’s not easy to go from obscurity into sudden attention, but it sure is exciting.
I’m Available, So Are Other Participants
If you have questions or comments about this or anything else, you are welcome to contact me through the info on the right of the page. Also, I would encourage you to ask your questions in the comments section to one another. I hope to turn this into a community in the not too distant future, but in the meantime, that’ll be a start.
Thanks again, hope you’re having as much fun as I am!
