Thread: What makes a blog shine?

Friends few months back Saurav posted about " Blogger and Adsense Help Needed" and many of us have doubt and question regarding blogging, adsense, tagging and SEO stuff so i thought to write about it. I'll try to mention things in general terms but if i put things in more technical terms then do let me know.

I'll try level my best to cover as many things as possible but appreciate if you will comment, point out my mistake if am wrong and make this thread better for everyone to understand and learn.

First of all, Blogging is like Online Journal/ Website. It can be personal or public, depends on the person who owns it. you can put the stuff on your blog related to particular theme, subject so that it gives better understanding to the readers of your blog, let it be image, video, audio etc.

Blogging Jargon:

Post: Every time you put an update on your blog, you create a post. In typical computer jargon fashion, this noun can also be used as a verb: you can post to your blog. Posts are also sometimes called entries.

Comments: Blogs are often referred to as conversations, and it’s the ability of your readers to leave comments on each post you make to your blog that creates the feel of a conversation. Comments are usually time-stamped and identified by the author’s name and perhaps a link to their Web site or blog. On some blogs, comments are threaded so that readers can comment on others comments, but on most blogs comments are simply displayed chronologically.

Comment Spam: Sad to say, spam is a problem on blogs just as it is in email or on forums Comment spam, as you would expect, is left in the comments of a blog. It is usually includes a few words and a link to website. The point for the spammer is to get as many links as possible to the web site, giving it higher search engine rankings.

Categories: Categories permit a blogger to subdivide content, putting posts about politics in to one basket and posts about celebrities in another. Categorization helps readers read only what they are most interested in and is a good tool for those scanning a blog’s archives.

TrackBacks: Trackback technology helps bloggers link back to other posts on related subjects. Functionally it’s a little complicated: if you are posting about something you’ve seen on another blog, look for the Trackback URL. Paste that URL into the allotted spot in your own blogging software, and the two pieces of blog software will communicate, building a link from the original post to yours (without the other blogger being aware of it)

Trackback Spam: Like comment spam, but done via Trackback.

Pings: There are several blogging tracking Web sites where you can Search for other blogs and look for recent posts. If your blog software allows you to ping those sites when you post, that post gets included in the ping site’s index, potentially increasing your traffic.

RSS/ Atom feeds: In the blogosphere, syndication is a big deal. With millions of blogs to read, many consumers use news aggregators, or readers, to pull in posts and read them rather than visiting hundreds of blogs every day. RSS and Atom are two flavours of blog syndication.

BlogRoll/ lists: Ever noticed those long lists of other blogs alongside the posts in a blog? That’s a blogroll, a list of the blogs read by the blogger whose blog/ site you’re on. Sometimes lists are also kept to recommend books and other media, as well.

News Aggregation: Many blog software packages allow you to pull in and display the RSS or Atom feed of another blog. This is useful if you want to create site with constantly updated content fed by blogs. For example, a blogger who posts about politics could pull in the feeds of other political blogs.

Moblogging: Moblogging is the short form of “mobile blogging”. Lots of blog software lets you post by e-mail from your phone, PDA, or anything else that allows you to send e-mails.

Blacklist: Blacklists are usually lists of URLs that have been identified as spam URLs, and that are therefore eliminated from comments and TrackBacks on your blog. With most blog software, the software company builds and maintains a common blacklist for all users to which individuals can contribute.

Captchas: Captchas are an additional security feature for commenting and user registration. By providing an image that includes letters and numbers, and by requiring the user to type in those letters and numbers, blog software can eliminate some of the comment and Trackback spam produced by robot programs.

URL Redirection: In an effort to render comment and Trackback spam ineffective, links included in comments and Trackback spam ineffective, links included in comments and Trackbacks are tagged with the NOFOLLOW tag, which indicates to search engines that it shouldn’t be counted when tallying search engine rankings for a Web site.

Skins: Most blog software includes a set of pre-designed templates that give the blog certain look and feel. These are called Skins.

Post Scheduling: Some blog software allows you to write posts and schedule them to be published at some point in the future. This is handy for vacations and holidays.

Bookmarklets: A bookmarklet is a link directly to the new post page of your blog software. If you add this small JavaScript to your browser toolbar, it’s a shortcut to posting quickly.

Tags: Tags are really nothing more than keywords used to describe a piece of data — be it a web page, a digital photo, or post of your blog. You can categorize, maintain content online and this practice is also known as collaborative tagging, social classification, social indexing, and social tagging, Folksonomy.

Tag Cloud is arrangement of tags, that depicts the content of website, blog etc. Particular tag becomes bold/big on the basis of frequency that particular tag has been used.

There are two types of Tagging. Public and Publisher.

Public tagging is one in which Visitors of the website/blog tags content and manage according to their requirement. Eg. Digg.com, Del.icio.us that allow users to manage their content and tags

Publisher tagging is one in which Publisher (owner) of the website/blog tags content to make searching for content easier. Eg. Flickr.

A blogger should make real time schedule for blogging. It should not put blogger under pressure to post content on his/her blog. Like you can decide to post something on your blog every two week or two day.

In my next post i will write about what one should do to make his blog shine

As i said in my previous post, here are 20 ways to make your blog from good to great!

1) Write in your own voice

The best bloggers talk in their own voice, celebrate their unique identity and tell the stories that are real to them. Weblogs come from the idea of online journal, a personal journal, so it’s important to remember that journaling is not like academic writing, not like impersonal writing for a wire service.

2) Clarity and simplicity

Keep your post short. Make them clear and easy to understand. Simplicity wins. Remember, the web is global and expressions, idioms and acronyms don’t always translate.

3) Be informative

If you are attempting to create the impression that you are knowledgeable about a specific industry or sector, be sure that you stay current on news. If you are endorsing a product or voicing an opinion, be sure to check your facts; your reputation is at stake. If you are offering an opinion, be sure to qualify your post, making it clear that the content is intended as an editorial.

4) Fix a Schedule and Stick to it

Create a schedule and stick to it. Contrary to popular expectations, it’s not necessary that you blog daily. It can be twice a week or even once a week. Having said that, it helps to stick to your schedule. That way people will create a pattern of visiting your blog.

Realizing that blogging requires time and effort, don’t create unrealistic expectations and be unable to deliver. The trick is to enjoy your blogging. No point putting yourself under pressure by fixing an unrealistic time schedule. An occasional lapse or holiday is generally understood but readers returning to find stale, out-dated content are going to find another blog with similar content. New blog and RSS feeds are popping up on a daily basis. If you have worked hard to develop an audience and community you don’t want to lose them due to lack of communication.

5) Connect with and empower readers

One of the distinguishing features of blogs is interactivity. There are many ways to engage your readers, involve them in the conversation and utilize their feedback. You could run an online poll, or give them your e-mail address, or just enable comments under each posting.

6) Keep it current

The biggest problem with the vast majority of blogs is that they are stale. Because most people are not paid to blog, it takes a while to integrate blogging into their daily routine. Many people start to blog, try it out, and then never have the time to update it. To be successful, bloggers must keep writing posts on a regular basis and stay up on the topics that interest them, including current affairs.

7) Keyword-rich

If the goal of your blog is to increase your visibility, include related keywords in the title of the blog. Use the title as headline to attract interest. Each item post should have a title that will attract attention but still be relevant to the post.

8) You are a member of a blogging community

Just as there are small villages and large cities all across the globe, there are small and large blogging communities all across the web. If you want to become popular in your village, you will participate in your community. Read others’ blogs. Comment on their blogs. Link to their blog entries. Know your friends and know your enemies. This all goes back to the first point: your blog is a relationship. Treat it like one. Not many of us are interested in the lonely fool screaming aloud, alone in the wilderness. Neither is your audience interested in the voice of a lone blogger. Involve yourself in a blog community by participating.

9) Spell checking and proof-reading

It only takes a few extra moments and can save you from having to make embarrassing explanations. Remember that whatever you publish on the Internet can be found and archived. Think carefully about what you post before doing so.

10) Add Podcasts and Videoblog

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. That’s so very true when it comes to blogging. Sprinkle your blog with photos and videos. There are plenty of excellent space providers who are willing to host your photos and videos and offer to.

11) Your blog needs credibility

Unless your writing and content are out-of-this world incredible, you need cover a few basics. Just as successful business colleagues network with their peers, so do successful bloggers. Many blogs that succeed link to several other blogs.

12) Get your own domain

Kick out the secondary blog address like yourname.blogpsot.com. Buy your own domain. Show you are a professional. Show you are serious enough. However I blog for fun, I have the same secondary blog address

13) Get your custom email.

This can be best marketing tool for ones’ blog. Every time one sends out an email, one can promote his site in subtle manner. My point is, why promote Yahoo or Hotmail or Gmail, when you can promote yourself.

14) Publish your URL in stationeries

Use it in your Email signatures, Forum Signatures. Use it in your business card. In your letter pad.

15) Add a blogroll

It’s the equivalent of ‘You scratch my back, I scratch your back’. Add up your frequently read blogs.

16) Ping.

If you are using blogger.com activate the ping option.

17) Blog Directories

There are lot many blog directories available on net. Why wouldn’t you want to be listed there? Here are some blog directories that accepts Indian blogs:

Desiblogs
One India blogs
India Counts

18) Provide RSS Feeds

Many people use Newsreaders to subscribe to their frequently read blogs. Don’t miss out on this crowd. Make your site has RSS feeds. If you don’t know what this is, ask a tech friend.

19) Add Meta Tags

Google is very important driver of traffic to your blogs. Help Google index your blog better. Provide appropriate keywords in your meta tags.

20) Comment on other sites

Let’s be honest. We love receiving comments. And invariably check out the commenter’s blog. It’s an effective way to introduce your blog to others. However, be honest in your commenting. Don’t comment for numbers’ sake. Comment, so you can engage in a discussion.

I hope this helps!!

Thanks a lot nilact. Reps++

Very Good Thread. Rated 5/5.

Good info bro

Rep+

well researched!!!
kudos to you.

Thanks both of you, Saurav and Gothic_Coder for reps.

Thank you Nandini for appreciation.

I will write more whenever i'll get enough time.

Nice work you have done. Keep it up.

Love this thread.

It's actually very helpful. I have finally got some paid posts on my blog, but it has taken a while.

Good thread but I don't like blogs without a site.

great info

rep+++

Thanks money_ms and Luke Skywalker..I am glad that at least few people like it.

Very good article.

Nothing pisses of people more than bad spelling/grammar and SMS text language.

Also, writing on something that is of general public interest will help getting more visitors. For SEO, do not miss out on having good tags/phrases. Use industry standard phrases and buzzwords. This will help get good search hits.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Very good article.

Nothing pisses of people more than bad spelling/grammar and SMS text language.

Also, writing on something that is of general public interest will help getting more visitors. For SEO, do not miss out on having good tags/phrases. Use industry standard phrases and buzzwords. This will help get good search hits.

You are right kix. Thats why I hate those blogs majority of which suffers from that disease. As for grammar I know of great tool to solve that. Creating a new thread on that.

Great article..

Thanks everyone..If you people liked it, I'll write more such articles whenever I'll have time.

I am a newbie in blog. My blog is just one month old and I am trying hard to make the blog popular and informative. I need more traffic for the blog. I like the tips that was given it was really helpyful for a newbie like me. thanks.

when starting a new blog, if you already have a facebook page, try linking the blog to your facebook page using the networkedblog application in facebook. this will at least bring your frineds to the blog for a start.

hey,
nice tips.
can you tell me some sites where you can blog.

Excellant work.....by putting his valuable time........

Very...very.....informative......

Waiting for your next thered.....