What Makes a Good Blog?

[cmharris6002]

So I started a blog. I have no idea what I'm doing really. I want it to be informative. I've been living this lifestyle for quite a while now and I'm thinking I can offer an interesting chronicle of the things we make and do.

Can you give me a critique of my blog (just two posts so far) and offer some blogging tips? I don't regularly read any blogs but I find them when I Google something and enjoy them very much.

http://artisanfarmsteadliving.blogspot.com/

[cmharris6002]

Also, I could add the blog to my web site instead of using blog spot. The advantage of blog spot is that the layout is more user friendly. Like I can label every post with cheese so if you want to read more about cheese you can just click the side tag. The advantage to putting it on my web site is that all the added content will bring in more traffic. Opinions?

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by cmharris6002

So I started a blog. I have no idea what I'm doing really. I want it to be informative. I've been living this lifestyle for quite a while now and I'm thinking I can offer an interesting chronicle of the things we make and do.

Can you give me a critique of my blog (just two posts so far) and offer some blogging tips? I don't regularly read any blogs but I find them when I Google something and enjoy them very much.

http://artisanfarmsteadliving.blogspot.com/

It looks good to me. As you build it up you will get more traffic. But you really need to promote it. And the only way to do that is to network with other bloggers. I read tons of blogs, and many are not the kind that I would normally follow. But they follow me, they make comments on my blog, they put my blog's button on their blogs and I am listed in their blogrolls. So I have to make an effort to network back with them. Just because many of the bloggers are not into homesteading does not mean they cannot embrace a part of this lifestyle. I see it in my own followers. Teach them and they want to know more.

I network like crazy. Not only for my blogs (I write 4) but for my 3 websites also. So networking is the best thing you can do for your blog and your website. It may bring your followers to your website.

Your writing is good. Your photos are good. People like to see how to do things and you have done a good job on that.

[cmharris6002]

Thanks for the input! I admit it might take me awhile to get around to networking with other bloggers but I'll work on it. I am still trying to learn how to navigate and edit stuff on blogspot.

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by cmharris6002

Thanks for the input! I admit it might take me awhile to get around to networking with other bloggers but I'll work on it. I am still trying to learn how to navigate and edit stuff on blogspot.

I posted your blog to my Facebook page and hopefully it would get some hits from that. Many of my friends on FB are also from this forum. I also started a thread on the blogfrog and posted your blog link there. Many people will probably visit you from that. Check your stats and maybe you will at least get some followers and comments from that. I think some of them will really like the cheese recipe!

[cmharris6002]

Thanks Kat! I am finding blogs to follow and even posted a comment. I also read a bit at blogfrog. Looks like some great info there. You have already been a tremendous help pointing me in the right direction I was wondering how often to post. Right now I have a ton of ideas, should I just go for it or should I pace myself?

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by cmharris6002

Thanks Kat! I am finding blogs to follow and even posted a comment. I also read a bit at blogfrog. Looks like some great info there. You have already been a tremendous help pointing me in the right direction I was wondering how often to post. Right now I have a ton of ideas, should I just go for it or should I pace myself?

Well I have been trying to post every day this year on my main blog, Homesteading On The Internet. But it is not easy. I write 4 and a have 3 webstores. One is new and I am really working on that mostly at the moment. Plus, it is gardening time. That sets me back usually, but we are having wet weather so I am inside and can work on them this week.

All I can say is to post as often as you possibly can. If it is a few times a week then do that consistently. Don't post a lot, then not for weeks or months. Eventually, you may want to add paid ads to your site and you will need the content to attract them.

Good luck! Joining Blogfrog is very beneficial to a blog!

[Halfway]

Very informative!

I like it and will "stay tuned".

[MoonRiver]

This is just my personal preference, but I hate web pages that scroll over a background. I find it difficult to read and distracting. I also tend to avoid sites that have long posts and don't provide a print capability. If I find something interesting, I may want to print it to read it or print it to file it.

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

This is just my personal preference, but I hate web pages that scroll over a background. I find it difficult to read and distracting. I also tend to avoid sites that have long posts and don't provide a print capability. If I find something interesting, I may want to print it to read it or print it to file it.

Well you can't please everyone. The best thing about blogs is that you can write them the way you want. I love scrolling backgrounds and long posts! So that is how I do it. So you can write your blog without them. Everybody is different. You can copy the post you want in wordpad and then print it out. I don't print out anything myself...........I am trying to eliminate all that paper.

[MoonRiver]

Originally Posted by katlupe

Well you can't please everyone. The best thing about blogs is that you can write them the way you want. I love scrolling backgrounds and long posts! So that is how I do it. So you can write your blog without them. Everybody is different. You can copy the post you want in wordpad and then print it out. I don't print out anything myself...........I am trying to eliminate all that paper.

The OP asked for input and I gave mine.

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

The OP asked for input and I gave mine.

Oh, I thought you were talking about your own blog in general. Sorry, I didn't understand what you meant.

One thing I thought about what you said about printing out what is written on the blogs, many bloggers now are using copyscape so nobody can copy what they write. They are afraid people will copy it and then print it somewhere else as their own.

[katlupe]

Originally Posted by cmharris6002

Thanks Kat! I am finding blogs to follow and even posted a comment. I also read a bit at blogfrog. Looks like some great info there. You have already been a tremendous help pointing me in the right direction I was wondering how often to post. Right now I have a ton of ideas, should I just go for it or should I pace myself?

Lots of my friends on the Blogfrog commented on how much they like your blog. Keep doing what you are doing. Your recipes are great! I love recipe blogs like Pam's and your's. Very good topics! Especially gives me great ideas for meals!

[LoneStrChic23]

LOL I have no idea how to be a "Good Blogger"..... in fact I've had several pretty harsh comments made about my blog, either on it's content or complaints about it being too wordy... I don't have a huge following...But I blog for me & for a few family members so I'm happy with it I can't post often as I don't have home internet (I'm on my cell for internet) but I post when I can...

I follow several blogs that I really enjoy but I doubt I could keep up with their kind of posting pace until I have home internet..

I like the layout/colors on your blog and I think it's off to a great start! Loved reading about the bees

[LoneStrChic23]

Katalupe- What is BlogFrog??

My cell isn't letting me load the page (its a tempermental Android phone!) but I'm curious about it..

I should be near WiFi with my laptop this weekend so I'll hopefully get to check it out then...

[cmharris6002]

Thanks for the good advice Kat. I agree sometimes you connect with a critique and it makes sense to make changes and other times you just have to stick with what you like. I am thankful for all the input. The help and support here is amazing!

I like my background but I do think my Mozzarella post is too long from a scrolling standpoint. I don't know how to change that without cutting content.

Originally Posted by katlupe

Well you can't please everyone. The best thing about blogs is that you can write them the way you want. I love scrolling backgrounds and long posts! So that is how I do it. So you can write your blog without them. Everybody is different. You can copy the post you want in wordpad and then print it out. I don't print out anything myself...........I am trying to eliminate all that paper.

[tojo66]

I'm new to blogging, too. Yours seems very nicely done and I will be following it-(love the yogurt post!) Happy blogging!

Tojo66
www.blessedlittlehomesteadlife.blogspot.com

[cmharris6002]

I enjoy your Blog. I love the post on the old cook books!! I'm a follower

[seeknulfind]

Hi Christy,

I took a quick look and I'll jot down my thoughts without looking at the other posts so you know why if I'm a bit redundant.

Overall your blog looks quite nice. Great pictures and a comfortable "feel". Good subjects too.

As far as the posts go - I prefer to have less posts on one page and with navigation to other pages on the side. Why?

First of all, people visiting your site are likely to find it by following a link. Whether that link is on a search engine or from another site, they saw something that interested them.

For example, I might have found your site while searching for "mica in soap". I come to the page and that is what I see. Great. But then I see "Milking Goats". Okay. Do you use the goat's milk for soap or what? If I am only interested in soap then you may have lost me.

On the other hand, if I see some navigation on the page listing other pages (with enticing titles) then I might see something else I'm interested in.

I see you do have navigation but I had to actively search for it. If your article was on it's own page this would be less of a problem.

Please understand I do not use blogger much - I use wordpress and I host them myself with my own domains. It costs a bit more but I have lots more control.

About the articles themselves - your photos are beautiful and you write well but I might not spend much time on your site because what I want is information. HOW do you create such lovely soaps? Where do you get the Mica? (great place for an affiliate link!) What if I'm new to soap making? Can you show me how to get started? (here you could link to good books - even your own - or even a beginning soap making course - lots of possibilities here.)

All in all you've got a nice blog here with the potential of being a great blog.

Andy

[cmharris6002]

Thank you so much for your input Andy. I find your suggestions very helpful! One thing I really relate to is providing more info. I really need to open up more and that is what I'll be working on. I am still trying to work blogging into my life and I have a long way to go before it feels like a natural part of what I do but I am enjoying it