Manda Treefall has a post up about what makes a good blog, and asked for feedback with these questions. And it stopped me in my tracks and made me think fully about blogging. The questions are good questions; if you would like to leave feedback on her blog then do so, or comment here too. I would be interested as well:
What makes you enjoy a particular blog (not just this one, any one that you read)?
What type of post is your favourite?
How important are the photographs?
Does the design of the blog attract you or even stop you from reading it?
Do you like blogs to be colloquial/regional or fairly generic?
An equal amount of craft and family, or does too much of talking about the kids put you off?
What else? What are the best words of advice you can give a blogger?
1. What makes you enjoy a particular blog?
I personally enjoy a blog when I can feel inspired or refreshed after I’ve left. Something that makes me rise to new challenges or fire of new ideas, or inspire me in the way I live and work. If I visit a blog and feel “uh I could do that” too often, then I don’t generally stay around very long. I like to see the barr being raised by talented people, in whatever field.
What I dislike is a blog designed just to sell to me. Shop updates and WIPs I find interesting but banging on about the store all the time? I leave. I like to read about real people, not the corporate image.
2. What type of post is your favourite?
Something creative with beautiful images.
How important are the photographs?
Very. Dull images, fuzzy photos, lack-lustre snapping and badly framed shots after a while give me fatigue. If you are going to blog is it too much to ask to pick your best shots? And if they are dull then it puts me right off a blog. Grey/brown/drizzly shots do my head in.
Does the design of the blog attract you or even stop you from reading it?
I like “clean” blogs with fairly minimal whistles and bells. I want to be pulled in by the actual posts and if the blog is on a black background I click straight off. Multi-coloured blogs spell a-m-a-t-e-u-r and if anything flashes or sings as me I strike it off. Simple clean lines. It’s enough.
Do you like blogs to be colloquial/regional or fairly generic?
Not bothered one way or tuther.
An equal amount of craft and family, or does too much of talking about the kids put you off?
I like to read a blog about a real person, not the hard sell. If a person has kids and they don’t mention them then that’s just weird. I am more attracted to bloggers who share similarities to myself; I have kids and identify easily with other mothers.
What else? What are the best words of advice you can give a blogger?
Blog frequently. There is nothing so annoying as a hit and miss blogger. Include eye candy. Be you.
Happy Solstice! Don’t forget your brolly!
xx
I almost could not read your post with those amazing flickr shots.. yum..
could not agree more and cute blog!