Hey bloggers! I just published a new post on my blog:
http://templatefaerie.blogspot.com/2011/01/5-reasons-why-i-wont-read-your-blog.html
It discusses 5 common problems with blogs, which discourage me (as well as many other people, I'm sure) from reading, and of course, commenting and subscribing.
Now I'd love to hear YOUR reasons for not reading some blogs. :)
For me it's all about content. I don't mind ads that much. Spelling is a big one for me, even though someone as awesome as me occasionally makes spelling mistakes every now and again. ;)
I spent a while changing my layout because it was so difficult to read. It can be hard to find the perfect balance that suits everyone. I have the problem of writing too much and articles that really change the feel of the blog. I write a super dry article and then some comic relief ones. People like consistency I tend to find.
I actually don't mind some ads, such as the BuySellAds, which can look very nice and professional when done right. Google ads are okay too, as long as they aren't those bulky picture ads.
I am a visual person, so I need pictures immediately, this does not mean pictures on ads. Which I think we can all agree are more annoying than anything.
I appreciate a short read and some imagery. The content doesn't have to be that engaging as long as it is not too long. I read several blogs a day, I can't spend too much time on one.
http://www.phalenshappyaccidents.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the comment, Phalen. I love hearing what other people like to see on a blog. :)
When a blog lags I am quick to close it. Smooth scrolling all the way please.
i won't read it if:
1-5. it is very technical..
hahah.. i just don't find it entertaining. like it's making me so stupid for not understanding a thing from it.. something like that. :)
Mine are :
1. Bad content, uninteresting
2. Hard to read text- light color on black, too small, no paragraphs
3. Autoplaying videos
4. Ads everywhere
5. Content is all over the place, doesn't match description
I don't really care if the text is long or about pictures.
txt spk, bad spelling and grammar, small text, no photos, no interesting content, "had cereal for breakfast" types of entries etc etc etc
1. if the blogger is only ranting, as in all his posts are only about the negative things in his life.
2. too long text content.
3. highfalutin or so deep words. common, do i need dictionary for a single blogpost?
4.the blogger seems not approachable.
i can forgive too many ads, wrong grammar and spelling as long as i understand the message.
My biggest reason is that I really, really dislike automatic videos or media players. I mean what makes you think I want to instantly hear your ideas.
I'm more picture driven and most of the blogs I visit are mainly for inspiration as a photographer. Occasionally, I visit blogs for answers to a certain problem I face at that point in time or reviews for equipment that I intend to buy.
Some personality is good. I hate intrusive ads, as well. How small is "too small" font?
I prefer text no smaller than 12 pixels, which is the same size as this text, but of course, how small text appears also depends on the resolution of the reader's monitor. I originally used 13 pixel text on my blog, but when I viewed it on a different computer, I thought it was too hard to read, so I increased it to 14 pixels.
I suggest testing various fonts, text sizes, and text colors, because how readable text is all depends on the combination of these. A good tool for this is typetester.org.
What is the point of this thread? Your blog is your blog. Who cares if anyone else reads it or not? Why work to try to make your blog into something other people want to read when what you should be doing is expressing yourself via whatever means necessary.
...wow I'm grumpy right now
In my opinion if you're putting something on the internet then there's a desire for others to see. If you don't, then I'd recommend buying a journal to hide under the bed. ;)
Hope you feel less grumpy too.
No two people on planet earth think a-like! Everyone has a different approach and perspective on any particular matter or subject. Some people can write very well and still cannot convey their thoughts effectively with clarity, while others who can't write that effectively get their thoughts across to their audience with a clear understanding. The essence is to make it quite simple and clear. I can tolerate both ads and videos that are relevant to the content. But please let me choose if I want to listen to a video. Give me choice.
very complicated blog or to crowded
i like a simple blog that have much benefit.
nice to know you.
Honestly, the biggest issue for me is poor english skills. I'm not perfect. But there should NOT be any grammar confusion. If you really want to be read, then take the time to proof.
I re-read mine like six times before posting, and still end up finding something to edit after I hit post. We don't have editors, so it is our job to proof. :)
A blog is a great way to improve your writing, because on a blog, you usually write regularly. Nobody is perfect—I know I'm not! But the more we write, the more mistakes we'll see in our writing, and we'll be able to prevent making the same mistakes over again. I think I'll always be learning how to write better.
