Comments for Weekly Blogging http://www.weeklyblogging.com Blogging tips and tricks, published weekly Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:08:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Is a personal blog the online equivalent of a secret diary? by Kirsten http://www.weeklyblogging.com/155/discussions/is-a-personal-blog-the-online-equivalent-of-a-secret-diary/#comment-121 Kirsten Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:08:37 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=155#comment-121 I got into this topic a bit on my blog not too long ago, and you've expanded it a bit. I don't necessarily think that all blogs written by one person are personal blogs, as there are some great niche blogs that don't have a team of writers or even guest posts. I think that personal blogs are blogs that are largely about that particular blogger, even if it's only a small aspect of that person, such as your main blog. They're not all "secret" diaries, but personal blogs stop short of being niche blogs, assuming the niche isn't me or you or whoever else writes the blog. I got into this topic a bit on my blog not too long ago, and you’ve expanded it a bit. I don’t necessarily think that all blogs written by one person are personal blogs, as there are some great niche blogs that don’t have a team of writers or even guest posts. I think that personal blogs are blogs that are largely about that particular blogger, even if it’s only a small aspect of that person, such as your main blog. They’re not all “secret” diaries, but personal blogs stop short of being niche blogs, assuming the niche isn’t me or you or whoever else writes the blog.

]]> Comment on Mastering the art of cliffhangers: leave your readers hanging! by Ben http://www.weeklyblogging.com/143/content-ideas/mastering-the-art-of-cliffhangers-leave-your-readers-hanging/#comment-82 Ben Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:54:59 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=143#comment-82 Hi sharkbytes - I really do think that a lot of people would want to find out what happens next. Cliffhangers can be annoying but at least with a blog post you can just click through, unlike a TV drama where you have to wait a week (or a series!). Hi sharkbytes – I really do think that a lot of people would want to find out what happens next. Cliffhangers can be annoying but at least with a blog post you can just click through, unlike a TV drama where you have to wait a week (or a series!).

]]> Comment on Mastering the art of cliffhangers: leave your readers hanging! by Kirsten http://www.weeklyblogging.com/143/content-ideas/mastering-the-art-of-cliffhangers-leave-your-readers-hanging/#comment-80 Kirsten Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:10:17 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=143#comment-80 I've been considering a new blog design for awhile now (I actually have it picked out, but need to change hosts and all that fun stuff first), and I was thinking of having my most recent post shown in full, with excerpts for the rest that show on my page. I'm still on the fence about that, and I don't even know if it will be possible with the upcoming theme and my WP skills, but it would be something that will challenge my writing skills. I’ve been considering a new blog design for awhile now (I actually have it picked out, but need to change hosts and all that fun stuff first), and I was thinking of having my most recent post shown in full, with excerpts for the rest that show on my page. I’m still on the fence about that, and I don’t even know if it will be possible with the upcoming theme and my WP skills, but it would be something that will challenge my writing skills.

]]> Comment on Mastering the art of cliffhangers: leave your readers hanging! by sharkbytes http://www.weeklyblogging.com/143/content-ideas/mastering-the-art-of-cliffhangers-leave-your-readers-hanging/#comment-79 sharkbytes Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:17:44 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=143#comment-79 Hi Ben- actually, I really hate the cliffhanger post. It has to be an overwhelmingly compelling post to make me click through. I bet that 95 times out of 100 I simply move on. You got me to click so that I could tell you this. Very tricky, that. Hi Ben- actually, I really hate the cliffhanger post. It has to be an overwhelmingly compelling post to make me click through. I bet that 95 times out of 100 I simply move on. You got me to click so that I could tell you this. Very tricky, that.

]]> Comment on Does an image improve a post? by Let’s see how many people we can get… spammed, that is : Ben Barden http://www.weeklyblogging.com/29/discussions/does-an-image-improve-a-post/#comment-71 Let’s see how many people we can get… spammed, that is : Ben Barden Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:24:50 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=29#comment-71 [...] at Weekly Blogging, I ask: does an image improve a post? I think it does, if the image is both eye-catching and relevant to the post content. So, [...] [...] at Weekly Blogging, I ask: does an image improve a post? I think it does, if the image is both eye-catching and relevant to the post content. So, [...]

]]> Comment on Understanding the lifecycle of your blog by Ben http://www.weeklyblogging.com/18/planning/understanding-the-lifecycle-of-your-blog/#comment-66 Ben Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:56:40 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=18#comment-66 This may be a good post for you to read: <a href="http://www.weeklyblogging.com/8/blogging-basics/why-do-you-want-to-blog/" rel="nofollow">Why do you want to blog?</a> It looks at why a potential blogger might want to start blogging, and why existing bloggers blog. This may be a good post for you to read: Why do you want to blog? It looks at why a potential blogger might want to start blogging, and why existing bloggers blog.

]]> Comment on Understanding the lifecycle of your blog by Sharon http://www.weeklyblogging.com/18/planning/understanding-the-lifecycle-of-your-blog/#comment-65 Sharon Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:48:37 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=18#comment-65 Thanks, Ben. I've put almost 3 years into the Chicago History Journal and I'm burnt out! Taking a month off is a good idea; taking a year off may be better. Blogs can become our identity so this is a very difficult decision for me. But, I'm almost 64 and I have reinvented myself at least a couple dozen times over the decades. Nothing says I can't do it again. Come to think of it, maybe you would like to address the psychology of blogging some time. Everyone seems to blog for a different reason or do they? Thanks, Ben. I’ve put almost 3 years into the Chicago History Journal and I’m burnt out! Taking a month off is a good idea; taking a year off may be better. Blogs can become our identity so this is a very difficult decision for me. But, I’m almost 64 and I have reinvented myself at least a couple dozen times over the decades. Nothing says I can’t do it again.

Come to think of it, maybe you would like to address the psychology of blogging some time. Everyone seems to blog for a different reason or do they?

]]> Comment on Understanding the lifecycle of your blog by Ben http://www.weeklyblogging.com/18/planning/understanding-the-lifecycle-of-your-blog/#comment-64 Ben Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:48:08 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=18#comment-64 Kirsten - agreed, it's vital to know where you want your blog to be headed in the coming weeks and months. Laura - I can imagine that makes it difficult to come up with new content sometimes? I don't update all of my blogs regularly, but I often have ideas that I simply post on the most appropriate blog. To me this seems like a better way of organising the content than putting it all on one blog, which is what I used to do. Sharon - I think a blog doesn't just have a lifecycle, it can have many cycles. You may be reaching the end of your current cycle, but it doesn't mean your blog should end. There's no reason why you can't take a break from your blog for a month and come back with new ideas. I think that once a blog has been running for some time, it may need to reinvent itself to stay relevant and fresh. You suggest that you don't think starting a new blog will help, but I'd say it's always worth a try - especially if you write about something else entirely. Let me know if you'd be interested to hear more about this in a future instalment of Weekly Blogging :) Kirsten – agreed, it’s vital to know where you want your blog to be headed in the coming weeks and months.

Laura – I can imagine that makes it difficult to come up with new content sometimes? I don’t update all of my blogs regularly, but I often have ideas that I simply post on the most appropriate blog. To me this seems like a better way of organising the content than putting it all on one blog, which is what I used to do.

Sharon – I think a blog doesn’t just have a lifecycle, it can have many cycles. You may be reaching the end of your current cycle, but it doesn’t mean your blog should end. There’s no reason why you can’t take a break from your blog for a month and come back with new ideas. I think that once a blog has been running for some time, it may need to reinvent itself to stay relevant and fresh. You suggest that you don’t think starting a new blog will help, but I’d say it’s always worth a try – especially if you write about something else entirely. Let me know if you’d be interested to hear more about this in a future instalment of Weekly Blogging :)

]]> Comment on Understanding the lifecycle of your blog by Sharon http://www.weeklyblogging.com/18/planning/understanding-the-lifecycle-of-your-blog/#comment-63 Sharon Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:33:41 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=18#comment-63 Wish you had talked a bit about how you can tell if your blogging days are over. I have lots to write about still, my blog(s) are focused and I guess I have a reasonable number of readers. But, I have this feeling it is time to move on. Not another blog, just move on. So, Ben, does a blog indeed have a life cycle? Wish you had talked a bit about how you can tell if your blogging days are over. I have lots to write about still, my blog(s) are focused and I guess I have a reasonable number of readers. But, I have this feeling it is time to move on. Not another blog, just move on. So, Ben, does a blog indeed have a life cycle?

]]> Comment on Measuring reader participation: how many comments do you get? by Kirsten http://www.weeklyblogging.com/131/discussions/measuring-reader-participation-how-many-comments-do-you-get/#comment-56 Kirsten Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:22:16 +0000 http://www.weeklyblogging.com/?p=131#comment-56 I get discouraged because there are quite a few posts that don't get any comments, but when I did the math, I'm at 642 posts to 1981 comments, so just a hair over 3 comments per post. That makes me feel a bit better. I still think I need to do more things to publicize my blog, especially on days when I don't have posts scheduled. Any thoughts? I get discouraged because there are quite a few posts that don’t get any comments, but when I did the math, I’m at 642 posts to 1981 comments, so just a hair over 3 comments per post. That makes me feel a bit better.

I still think I need to do more things to publicize my blog, especially on days when I don’t have posts scheduled. Any thoughts?

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