Liberty's Blog

Other Peoples Blogs.

This web log isn't perfect. Not by a long shot, but there are some things about some blogs that make some sites better than others.

1. Feeds. Many bloggers try to track a bunch of blogs and newsfeeds. Checking each one can be tedious. Getting other bloggers to link to means you need to get them to read your blog. Links mean a more hits and better search engine results. Laurence Simon prefers that blogs he reads have feeds also. Most blogging software support RSS or Atom feeds. Bloglines is a good web based reader, and Thunderbird is not a bad client based reader. Some bloggers prefer to provide a partial feed, only allowing a partial copy of the post to be read through the reader. The intent is to cause the user to click through to the actual site. This is annoying, and cause me not to read the whole posting, and not link to what could have been an interesting post.
2. Blogger info. A site should give a little info about the blogger. A little insight into the person who is helpful to understand where he/she is coming from. I realize that email spam is the bane of all of us, but it would be nice to be able reach a site owner sometimes. Reasons to email a blog owner can vary from giving him a tip on a potential great posting, or warning him of a broken link.
3. Don't insult the reader. I enjoy reading opposing points of view. But being insulted while trying to find something well stated is tedious. This why I won't read Echaton. Its tough reading an opposing point of view, while the poster is calling the reader a "f*cking idiot". Spirited discussion is fun to read, but when it degenerates into insulting someone because of their political or religous beliefs, it loses me. There are some blogs where the main postings are very fair, but the comments sections degrade to lows as deep as Hell. I don't bother reading the comments on these blogs.
4. Lots of pictures. This is something I don't do enough of. A few pictures make a blog more interesting. If one post lots of pics they might concider reducing the number of posts on the main page to help reduce load time.
5. Long posts. Some bloggers post some very long postings, and will lose their reader part way through the post. Such post might be better if split up into a few shorter postings. Sometimes a long well thought out is what is needed to make the point, but When its a habit those of us with short attention spans tend to wander.
6. Be nice to your fellow blogger. Link often, be respectful, speak well of your fellow blogger. Blogging isn't competive but rather a cooperative venture.

I haven't really discussed content, but that is what it really is all about, isn't it?

posted by Liberty @ 2:32 PM