According to Burton and Greenstien, blog best practices
include focusing on a specific topic, utilizing social media, and developing a
system to produce new content (i.e. linking to other blogs) (2011) I agree with much of what they outlines. To build on the list provided by Burton and
Greenstien I think the most important blog practices you should focus on
include:
Well written content - I've stumbled across many poorly
written blogs. They either contain
spelling and grammar mistakes or the author's just voice isn't there. It isn't friendly or knowledgeable or
authoritative. It just tends to ramble, never reaching a point. My favorite
blogs have a fun and inviting voice that makes me feel like I'm reading
something from an old friend. I feel included in the conversation.
Good photos - I am attracted to blogs by their photos. Food
and garden photos lure me in, well written content and a strong voice keep me
coming back. The power of the image has been noted in several studies. According to Ionescu, image uploads on facebook result in 50% more engagement from users (2013). Photographs or other good quality images are essential for promoting a blog on social media.
Professional design - No offense to Blogger, since it is
kindly hosting this blog, but it lacks the polish and shine of a WordPress site.
There are so many inexpensive WordPress themes available, it isn't hard to put
together a professional looking site in no time.
Consistent publishing schedule - Nothing is worse than
falling for a blog, only to be left with weeks or months of silence. Was it
something I did? Successful blogs publish content consistently. They may not
publish big articles or recipes every post, but they post something at least a few times a week.
Adherence to the blog topic - It's okay to wander off topic
occasionally. Like if you post about food, but once in a while throw up a photo
of your dog dressed up for Halloween. I'm okay with that. But as a rule, I
think 90% of a blog should be dedicated to the topic or somehow support it's
mission statement.
Credibility - This goes back to last week and our discussion
about ethics. Kovach and Rosenstiel
point out the importance of credibility: “Transparency is the best measure of the confidence the organization itself puts in the information it provides”(185). For me, I am not looking for the perfect
blogger, but rather one that is honest and transparent. Even if it is about
food.
References
Burton, B., & Greenstein, L.
(2011, August 28). Food blog Code of
Ethics 2.0 [Web log post]. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from http://foodethics.wordpress.com/
Ionescu, N. (2013). Online political communication: the role of image upload on Facebook.
Romanian Journal of Journalism & Communication, 53-58.
Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T.
(2010). Blur: how to know what's true in the age of information overload. New
York: Bloomsbury.