I've got 331 unread updates on my Google Reader dashboard. So what? 331 isn't even half of what people get on their readers. And that's my point. I've got 331 and I am as busy as hell nowadays and how could I read 331? I simply CANNOT. So I choose out the best among the many. But how?
This is now the dilemma. How can you make your posts lest your blog stand out from hundreds more? And sometimes, from thousands more?
On a personal standpoint, I choose "what to read" using three pointers in mind. I cannot waste precious time on clicking something which isn't worth the momentum.
- History - err too cliche right but of course since we are intelligent beings, we associate what is "now" to what is "before". If I see a blog title, I ask these questions: Have I read this blog many times before? Did I like the posts from this blog? Questions like that could lead you to realize that this blog is indeed what your tastes like.
- Post Title - given that I've clicked on the blog title, what faces me next is the post title. This is inevitable. People judge a post by its title, sometimes. Though a little mystery might work too.
- Social - the bias part. If you are friends with the blog owner, why not give his blog a read right? This is part of friendship, an unspoken obligation they say. It would hurt to know that a friend isn't reading your posts. :)
The three I've mentioned are very relative, meaning, it might be the same for you or not. But I guess my three pointers may have a point. Or maybe they really do.
Now, from a reader standpoint, I now shift to the blogger presence. From the three, let me formulate some thoughts.
- History - What to do if history's included? Keep doing the best and never fail the readers. The effects of a good post can be trailing and so are the effects of a not-so-good one. Keep writing and have some consistency. If people will like you for that and they indeed have liked you for that, then no wonder in the near future they'd continue liking you and your blog.
- Post Title - This topic cannot be discussed in a single number. It needs to discussed in a whole different post. But nuf said, let's give a swift catch. Post title is sometimes important. Though there are occasions that it isn't. But most of the time, it is. Based on personal experience, the post title really matters when I have to decide whether to read the post or not. Catchy and inviting titles, effective. Plain and dull, never mind. Though mysterious titles work sometimes, right?
- Social - The power of social networking. Keep socializing and socializing and stop when you're already overdoing it. The key is to have lots of friends in the blog network (of course you must be true to them). Make friends with your commentators too. Keep a happy disposition in mingling with people who drop by your blog, blogger or not.
We all do differ on deciding whether to read a blog (post) or not. But I was sharing something which I think may be common in all of us. I hope you've gained some little useful insight from my sharing in this post. I'm busy as hell nowadays and I hope to write more on this blog soon. Good luck! :)
Continue Reading...
