Comments on: Blogging tips #2.2: What to write about? http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:55:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Tlog - a technology blog » “Making money from blogging takes time” http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-371 The Tlog - a technology blog » “Making money from blogging takes time” Sat, 29 Oct 2005 13:26:13 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-371 [...] It’s something I’ve also mentioned before: blogging for money is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s hard work, and takes dedication, talent, a bit of luck… and, above all, time. In this particular case, I don’t mean “time” as in a lot of hours a day, but in the sense of “been doing it regularly for years”. Because: [...] [...] It’s something I’ve also mentioned before: blogging for money is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s hard work, and takes dedication, talent, a bit of luck… and, above all, time. In this particular case, I don’t mean “time” as in a lot of hours a day, but in the sense of “been doing it regularly for years”. Because: [...]

]]> By: andr3 http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-324 andr3 Fri, 14 Oct 2005 20:02:06 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-324 Well, kind of. I'm thinking about people who simply post links to to other articles, sometimes just quoting the original article and not add anything of value to the discussion. But you're right, engadget is an example of that. High frequency and quality, multiple authors (i think). There are so many types of blogs that it's unfair to generalize. I just made the mistake to think inside my sandbox... lol. ;) Well, kind of. I’m thinking about people who simply post links to to other articles, sometimes just quoting the original article and not add anything of value to the discussion.

But you’re right, engadget is an example of that. High frequency and quality, multiple authors (i think). There are so many types of blogs that it’s unfair to generalize. I just made the mistake to think inside my sandbox… lol. ;)

]]> By: Dehumanizer http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-323 Dehumanizer Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:30:30 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-323 I think you're thinking (what a phrase) in terms of <i>"writing a lot of garbage so Technorati and stuff show the blog as "recently updated" more often, so more visitors come"</i>. But that's not what I mean at all (though I'm sure some people do it). Sure, a personal blog with 4 articles a day will run out of things to say pretty soon - and it'll degenerate into <i>"I went to the bathroom. Then I came back. Now I'm bored again."</i> stuff. We all know <b>those</b>. :) But, say, a blog about digital cameras, or mobile phones, or just a <i>particular kind</i> of mobile phones, or games for a certain platform, or local (really local, as in "the neighborhood") news, or simply a blog with several co-authors... suddenly, 4 posts a day aren't too much, there <b>is</b> probably enough to say about the subject, without posts being just links (though <b>well-commented</b> links are good) to related articles. If you <b>really</b> like to write, however, there may come a time when it's a good idea to create another blog, instead of flooding your blog with 10 posts a day. Besides, blogs, to be successful, <b>should</b> be mostly specialized. But that's a subject for another series part... :) I think you’re thinking (what a phrase) in terms of “writing a lot of garbage so Technorati and stuff show the blog as “recently updated” more often, so more visitors come”. But that’s not what I mean at all (though I’m sure some people do it).

Sure, a personal blog with 4 articles a day will run out of things to say pretty soon – and it’ll degenerate into “I went to the bathroom. Then I came back. Now I’m bored again.” stuff. We all know those. :) But, say, a blog about digital cameras, or mobile phones, or just a particular kind of mobile phones, or games for a certain platform, or local (really local, as in “the neighborhood”) news, or simply a blog with several co-authors… suddenly, 4 posts a day aren’t too much, there is probably enough to say about the subject, without posts being just links (though well-commented links are good) to related articles.

If you really like to write, however, there may come a time when it’s a good idea to create another blog, instead of flooding your blog with 10 posts a day. Besides, blogs, to be successful, should be mostly specialized. But that’s a subject for another series part… :)

]]> By: andr3 http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-322 andr3 Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:00:36 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-322 Indeed. I believe each blog is a different blog. So the authors are the ones who should decide the frequency. ANd yes, if you want to increave revenue, more posts mean more visits, more pageviews, more ad-clicks. I just don't think that's what makes a blog great -- at least, not that alone. I think Asterisk ( http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/ ) is an exception. A good frequency with high quality contents. This all comes down to the existential question for bloggers... "are you a thinker, or are you a linker?" It's very hard to make well-thought posts every day, let alone more than one. Like you said, it should be fun, if itsn't, you better think if you want to have a blog in the first place. If you become a slave of your blog, then there's no point in having one, now is there? ;) Indeed. I believe each blog is a different blog. So the authors are the ones who should decide the frequency. ANd yes, if you want to increave revenue, more posts mean more visits, more pageviews, more ad-clicks. I just don’t think that’s what makes a blog great — at least, not that alone. I think Asterisk ( http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/ ) is an exception. A good frequency with high quality contents.

This all comes down to the existential question for bloggers… “are you a thinker, or are you a linker?” It’s very hard to make well-thought posts every day, let alone more than one. Like you said, it should be fun, if itsn’t, you better think if you want to have a blog in the first place. If you become a slave of your blog, then there’s no point in having one, now is there? ;)

]]> By: Dehumanizer http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-321 Dehumanizer Fri, 14 Oct 2005 18:40:51 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-321 It depends, I guess, on what you want to do with the blog - just write a bit when you feel like, or really be successful and earn some money. It also depends on the type of blog. But I admit, 4 a day may be overdoing it for some kinds of blogs. Oddly enough, I wrote "2-3" in a similar post on my personal blog. But people are lazy: if I say 2-3, they'll write 0-1, so I thought that by saying 4, they'd write 2 a day. See, I care. :) I'll edit the article and change it to "2-3", it's more reasonable. It depends, I guess, on what you want to do with the blog – just write a bit when you feel like, or really be successful and earn some money. It also depends on the type of blog.

But I admit, 4 a day may be overdoing it for some kinds of blogs. Oddly enough, I wrote “2-3″ in a similar post on my personal blog. But people are lazy: if I say 2-3, they’ll write 0-1, so I thought that by saying 4, they’d write 2 a day. See, I care. :)

I’ll edit the article and change it to “2-3″, it’s more reasonable.

]]> By: andr3 http://www.thetlog.net/2005/10/14/blogging-tips-22-what-to-write-about/#comment-320 andr3 Fri, 14 Oct 2005 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.thetlog.net/?p=126#comment-320 I agree with most of those arguments, except for one. The quantity. It's not the quantity that makes users come back, it's quality. Of course, if we're talking about 1 post per week, people will loose interest, but if that one post is relevant and well written, it's as good as writting 4 posts a day. I'm saying this not as a blogger (which i'm not a successful one, nor do i aim to be a celebrity) but as an user. I subscribe to lots of blogs which don't have that quantity but still manage to make effective and interesting posts. To me, that big ammount (4 a day?) is a huge turn off as a reader. Specially when most of them are reblogging or linking. Links should have their place in a blog -- on the side -- , not in their main stream of thought. But hey, these are just my 2 cents. I agree with most of those arguments, except for one. The quantity. It’s not the quantity that makes users come back, it’s quality. Of course, if we’re talking about 1 post per week, people will loose interest, but if that one post is relevant and well written, it’s as good as writting 4 posts a day.

I’m saying this not as a blogger (which i’m not a successful one, nor do i aim to be a celebrity) but as an user. I subscribe to lots of blogs which don’t have that quantity but still manage to make effective and interesting posts. To me, that big ammount (4 a day?) is a huge turn off as a reader. Specially when most of them are reblogging or linking. Links should have their place in a blog — on the side — , not in their main stream of thought.

But hey, these are just my 2 cents.

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