There are so many do and don’t lists in the blogosphere, that it can often leave one wondering which blogging principles to apply. While there are several things that every blog needs, the top three can be narrowed down to relevant content, an eye-catching layout, and social network links.
Relevant Content
Every blog has content, so what will make your blog’s content stand out? Relevant content. It’s the kind of content that is relevant to both your blog and your audience because of your topic, events related to it and your own personal features. If you have a street-style fashion blog, relevant content would consist of regular posts capturing individuals on the street in different settings and outfit ideas, i.e. for the 4th of July or fashion week. On my blog, I have a feature called ‘ShoeLust’, which allows me to showcase my love for shoes. And because many people who read my blog share a love for stylish shoes, it makes the post relevant.
An Eye-Catching Layout
The layout of a blog is the first impression. People will notice a layout before they even begin to read the content; I do this all of the time. If a blog’s layout is boring, I generally don’t stay long enough to read the it. A great layout comes from an understanding of the topic of the blog and the audience being reached by it. The colors you choose matter because they send different messages. If you have a fashion blog that does not only target females, beware of an overdose of pink. A male will definitely be turned off by a fuchsia theme, even if your blog is for him and her. The layout of your homepage should be eye-catching, providing previews to your most recent post.
Social Network Links
The most annoying thing I’ve experienced is when I come across a blog I like and I have to go on a scavenger hunt for the blog’s Facebook profile, Twitter page, and RSS feeds. Those links are vital and should be easily visible to readers. If the blog has additional social media accounts or networks such as Pinterest or Independent Fashion Bloggers, the badges for those accounts should also be easily accessible. When one finds themselves enjoying a blog, he or she will take advantage of the opportunity to connect with it.
4 Comments
Great response/ continuation of IFB’s post!
This is great my blog is still a bit of a baby and I definitely needed these tips
This post was extremely helpful! Thank you. P.S. Love the blo/
For me, the most important thing about a blog is the content, if that’s interesting people I tend to ‘forgive’ a dull layout.
I would add another thing to your list and that is an easily accessible forum. What I mean is that people who want to contribute with their opinion do not need to register through other service (e.g. disqus) to post a comment.
I like blogs because I’m a chatty person but I get turned off by having to register and share my details with secondary sites just because I want to contribute to a discussion.
Ease of commenting has a big effect on blog traffic,in my opinion.