One of the best things about my work in community and new media is learning about new people. Thanks to my biography meme from yesterday, I had the pleasure of discovering more about 12 people, 10 of them really new to my world. That was exciting. What wasn’t so fun was working with the various blogs I encountered. But you know me. From my experiences, I learn and share. Here’s what I’ve got.
Make It Easy to Leave Comments
Several blogs use captcha to keep out spam. Most of these systems are built into the blog software and you have no say (blogger.com, for instance). But should you HAVE a say, choose wisely. Most of these systems are barriers to commenting, and several keep me out.
Another- I’ve discovered that several blog templates give the “You must log in to comment” line. Forget it. Too much work. I click away. That means lots of people click away, because if ever there was someone dumb enough to sign up for everything that comes along, it’s me. So, if you can disable that feature, do so. Otherwise, you smell like a marketer.
Please Add a Human Element
I visited several blogs that left me with NO IDEA who wrote the blog. No names, no pictures, no way to contact the party except through the commenting system. There are times when I want information without a face, but by its very nature, blogs are rarely that time (Engadget and blogs that are information-delivery-centric get a pass, but then, I know Ryan and Pete and some of the other contributors at Engadget, so maybe that’s why I feel that way).
For the rest of you, consider adding a picture to your sidebar. At least add a name. Take it from me: I put my full name, my cell phone, my instant messenger client, and all kinds of info, and I’m not being stalked. Yet.
Go Gentle with the Sidebar Gems
I had to check my blog to see if I was really calling the kettle black on this. I’ve got six, but I believe my six are community building tools. I have MyBlogLog for showing community. I have Upcoming.org for event populating. I have MyChingo so you can leave audio comments (video coming soon). And a few more.
When I see 40 or 50 weird things to click, it distracts me. I consider that sidebar information as a kind of “Here’s what I’m pimping” section. Every bit of it drags me to click away. Should you put a Flickr bar in there? Sure! Because it enhances connection. Promote just causes? Sure, because it’s a badge collection of things that matter. But, design that area with just a little thought.
Quick Hits
- Enable SEARCH
- List Archives, if you can
- Display how to subscribe
- Make Sure there’s a Contact page
- An About Me page is nice, too
Your Turn
Hey, don’t let me throw stones all over the place. Do you want to take a shot at my blog? Am I doing something that annoys you, or that you wish I’d do differently? Do you have improvement ideas I missed in my list? Let’s look at it all together and see what else we can do to improve each other’s blogs, because your blog is a community tool for you. Make it a good one.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m with you on making comments easy. I really get frustrated with complex commenting systems.
I think equally important is making your blog encourage comments/conversation. Chris, you do this because it is your nature, and you do it very well. Sometimes, I find I need to be better about that. I’m glad I came across your link in Twitter (I’ve neglected my Google reader lately).
Thanks for helping me focus!
I totally agree about making commenting easier, and let me add that people who use Blogger should set comments to allow anyone, not just Blogger users to comment. I have a Blogger account set up just so I can comment on those blogs but they only link back to my profile, not my site.
Archives- I had a link to archives for years. No one ever used it! The only views to my archives have come via searches. I’ll probably put an archive link back up one of these days, though, now that my new blog isn’t so new anymore.
Thanks for this blog post, Chris!
I’ve made a few changes to my blog thanks to your post (i.e., enabled search and simplified RSS). I had just added an “About Me” page yesterday (such good timing!).
I, too, am guilty of the whole sidebar clutter thing. It’s simply too much fun to add *just one more* widget! ;-P
And while I’m not completely sold on the idea of posting my entire identity (and contact info) online, I can see clearly how it works for you. Perhaps one day I’ll be ready to make that leap.
Anyway, like newmediajim, I’m really glad I got the opportunity to learn from and participate in your conversations, all thanks to Twitter. Cheers!
You haven’t been stalked yet? Apparently I haven’t been trying hard enough…
We’ll just have to disagree about the whole picture thing. Pictures of me tend to send people running in the opposite direction, quickly. Ask Chapman — he ran all the way back to Boston after seeing me.
I prefer a very simple design approach to things, and it reflects in my blog layout. Content on the top/middle, nice accommodating spacing, and all the remaining about/contact links on the side/bottom. I take my Wordpress themes and rip all the widget/sidebar stuff out of them before putting them online. I feel it all detracts from the message(s). At worst case I will reroute those widgets off to their own pages with a general link, but usually I end up just throwing them out.
The other thing you didn’t mention was advertising. We could debate this endlessly, I’m sure, but I’ve come to accept a few, minimalistic, non-intrusive ads on sites I visit despite my natural anti-ad bias. However, when you drown your pages in ads (see iLounge for a horrific example), you send a not-so-subtle message to your audience - -your blog is more about ad revenue than it is real content.
Yeah, the Blogger captcha sucks, especially since it keeps out those with visual challenges who are using readers; Blogger has given no alternatives.
I should go back and check what I have on, since I see you did email me rather than comment. I had a problem with evil comment spam but try to put any measures on only temporarily until it stops.
I especially dislike having to become a member of a blog. I’ve got enough passwords in my life and so don’t play along with that.
The other problem is the design of blogs. I hate my choices on Blogger to be honest, but don’t have the CSS skills to make something better. I try to tweak the font coding at least to make it a little more readable. Wordpress definitely wins out in this aspect; all my other blogs (various group blogs I have set up) have used Wordpress instead.
Cheers!
Connie
I changed my WP theme to one that has the comment field open. I had not realized users could not comment as I am always logged in to the blog. Thanks for pointing that out. Later, I was informed by friends about it too.
OK Brogan, right on the money on this one. I fear I was part of your inspiration on our new media group blog(that I have been updating). Love your caring and taking the time to reach out. Your comments then and here all very constructive. Mmm, the kool-aid is tasty! :)
Very good points, Chris. You ALWAYS make me think. Ouch, my head hurts. I feel I have to use captcha with my Typepad blog. Otherwise I am inundated with spam. I wish there were a better solution.
Looked at CRN lately? We’ve made several changes focusing on building upon personalities and community. :)
You nailed a lot in the first one for me. There are so many blogs that I subscribe to that require a log in and I will never do it. It’s just not necessary. I had to check my sidebar again too once I read your last part. I think I’m cool.
Just a few quick ones. Use community building plugins like Top Commenters. Place your best posts in your sidebar near the top for easy consumption, and always reply to your community — two way communication is critical to community building.
I was a little lost while blogging. This one Helped me out a lot. Thanks Chris.