9 things that make your blog sink?

[dojo]

I got my own list of things that put me off when seeing a blog. Do you think you can help with putting more things into list? What are the things you think can make a blog fail?

Here is my list (http://www.wtricks.com/webmaster-blog/9-things-that-make-your-blog-sink/)

1. Hosted at blogspot or another free host.
2. Default theme
3. Links only to Youtube movies
4. Copied news and reviews from other sites
5. No original and personal content
6. Stolen content from others.
7. Two line posts
8. Too many ads
9. No comment opportunity

[bpb2221]

Would you mind reviewing my blog? See if I need to change a few things around? (other than needing global nav, which I am working on)

Ben Blanchard
www.benonweb.com

[gr8liverpoolfan]

Poor, crappy content is the biggest offender

[r3born]

Too many posts on the frontpage.
Too many pictures/text - must be balanced.
Kontera, pop ups, "get reviewed by my blog" links.
Poor vocabulary.
Too many posts/day.
:)

[bpb2221]

Could you elaborate on 'Kontera, pop ups, "get reviewed by my blog" links.'
because I didn't realize I had pop ups.

Poor vocabulary. Should I speak in formal writing tone and not a conversational tone? I am assuming you mean it should be more journalistic...? Is that even a word, oh, my vocab needs rehab.

Thank you for the 'too many posts' I agree, just needed to hear it from someone else. I will revise it to only show the last post. I have no problem only doing one post a day, cutting out news and focusing on core web development issues.

Too many pictures - Do you mean in the stories or on the homepage?

Thanks for the comments. Much Appreciated.

[r3born]

ROFL, I wasn't talking about your site, mate! :)
I was just listing things that I don't like on blogs.
Forget about Poor vocabulary, too many posts and too many pictures - this wasn't related to your blog. By the way, I suggest having 7-10 posts on the front page. Definitely not one.

To make up for that, let me have a look at it now...
Okay, let's got. First of all, what struck me - you claim to be a web designer, yet your template is rather plain. Make it more memorable.
#2. I suggest you make your "teaser messages" (what goes before "Read More") a bit longer... For example, if you give "7 tips for a successful website design", list 1-2 tips before the "Read more" link.
And #3 - add Categories to the sidebar, above the tag cloud. I almost never use tag clouds and I think I'm not alone :)

Hope you find this helpful!


Could you elaborate on 'Kontera, pop ups, "get reviewed by my blog" links.'
because I didn't realize I had pop ups.

Poor vocabulary. Should I speak in formal writing tone and not a conversational tone? I am assuming you mean it should be more journalistic...? Is that even a word, oh, my vocab needs rehab.

Thank you for the 'too many posts' I agree, just needed to hear it from someone else. I will revise it to only show the last post. I have no problem only doing one post a day, cutting out news and focusing on core web development issues.

Too many pictures - Do you mean in the stories or on the homepage?

Thanks for the comments. Much Appreciated.

[bpb2221]

ROFLOL... Embarrassing.
Will make the design more memorable, thanks. I am of the 'less is more' mantra, but I will try to add more style.

If I don't use the tag cloud, my categories list is a bit long. I had to change because of the length.

[r3born]

Next time think twice before leaving negative rep :)
Good luck with your blog.

[bpb2221]

What? I left you a positive rep. I even told you thanks in the note.

[r3born]

I have negative in my CP :) Nevermind :)

[bpb2221]

Just for my own knowledge, positive rep is left by selecting the 'I approve' radio button. Correct?

[r3born]

I checked it out again, I have a gray square (whereas it's green when the rep's positive). Perhaps gray is neutral rep because you've got 0 rep points? :)
We're going really offtopic here ;)

Just for my own knowledge, positive rep is left by selecting the 'I approve' radio button. Correct?

[mizaks]

bpb2221,

I'd agree with r3born on the need to have more content shown on your frontpage posts. There is a good plugin that allows you to change the amount of words in your teaser. Get it here (http://guff.szub.net/2005/02/26/the-excerpt-reloaded/).

As for the main topic of this post, my biggest complaint is sites with no originality -- lackluster presentation coupled with mindless posts.

[mwgr5]

What is wrong with using you tube videos sometimes. If I find a good video related to my subject I will post it along with a text summary or comments. Is this just a page load time factor?

Also, why does hosting a blog on a free blog service, like blogger sink a blog?

[r3born]

Personally, nothing against videos. If only a few posts contain videos, there's nothing wrong with it.

What is wrong with using you tube videos sometimes. If I find a good video related to my subject I will post it along with a text summary or comments. Is this just a page load time factor?

Also, why does hosting a blog on a free blog service, like blogger sink a blog?

[GnomeyNewt]

Few videos are okay, but all videos to me is not okay too. Fun if I'm bored tho :).

Here is some that I'm thinking right now:

Bad design or a design I've seen 100 times.
The titles suck and don't describe the content accurately.
Its just one long text. No paragraphs!
No pictures. Give me a little something to look at.

[mwgr5]

As the above poster suggested, I think using pictures is important. Not only does it draw the reader to the content, but pictures also provide a way for your site to attact visitors from google image search. Just make sure to name the picture someting relevant and add alt tags that are relevant key words.

[xeric]

Please make a comment about my blog. I just started blogging and i am really new in this blog field. I dont know what is right and wrong for me and my blog.

Will you please review my blog kindly, so that i could make changes.

blogtantra.com (http://www.blogtantra.com) is my blog and thanks for the good information you shared.

[r3born]

All right.

1. I think it is too white. You need to add color somehow, and if I were I'd change the header image to make it more memorable.
2. Subscribe by e-mail link doesn't work. It's not actually a link at all I think :)
3. I rather liked your blog, by the way. Easy-to-read text, a few pics here and there, a video... easy navigation. Make sure you remove default blogroll and pages. Simply remove the pages Widget and make sure your blogroll links are related to your site content.

:) Good luck.

Please make a comment about my blog. I just started blogging and i am really new in this blog field. I dont know what is right and wrong for me and my blog.

Will you please review my blog kindly, so that i could make changes.

blogtantra.com (http://www.blogtantra.com) is my blog and thanks for the good information you shared.

[xeric]

All right.

1. I think it is too white. You need to add color somehow, and if I were I'd change the header image to make it more memorable.
2. Subscribe by e-mail link doesn't work. It's not actually a link at all I think :)
3. I rather liked your blog, by the way. Easy-to-read text, a few pics here and there, a video... easy navigation. Make sure you remove default blogroll and pages. Simply remove the pages Widget and make sure your blogroll links are related to your site content.

:) Good luck.

Oh, Thank you so much. I really did appreciated your comments and suggestions. I will look after your words. I will make surely make changes as you said.

Thanks, you get a green.

[r3born]

You are welcome :)