What is it that makes you fall in love with a blog?
You know, those blogs that you read religiously, or are constantly drawn back to. The ones you’d read even if they didn’t pop up in your feed reader or e-mail.
What draws you in?
Is it the personality of the blogger?
The content?
What is it about that blog that makes you visit every day in the hope there’s a new post ready for you to read?
For me, it depends on the blog. Some blogs, like The Happiness Project, zenhabits and Problogger, I go back to because they inspire me and inform me. Even though they are primarily info-blogs… there is a real person behind them. I like that.
Other blogs, like Blacksburg Belle, Mayi Carles, and Tara Gentile, I always go back to when I need a little boost for my business. I love them because the bloggers are enthusiastic, consistent, inspirational and always have great advice for me.
Some blogs, like A Beautiful Mess, Meet Me at Mikes, Dainty Squid, My Girl Thursday, Little Chief Honeybee, and more, I visit because I enjoy the brightness, the fun, and the personalities and lives of the bloggers!
As a blogger myself, I’m endlessly walking the tightrope of what I blog, why I blog, and who I blog for. I blog for me, but I blog for you, too. I blog to grow my business, but I also blog because it’s fun and because I like to share my thoughts and the things I love!
Sometimes, it can be super-tricky to find that balance. Should I be more personal, or more businesslike? Should I take more photos or use other people’s (which are usually better). Should I do more outfit posts/tutorials/business posts/videos/personal stories/interviews/features/fun stuff/short posts/long posts… well, you get the picture…
I think all bloggers constantly walk that pretty little tightrope. The beauty and joy of a blog is that it’s an ever-evolving, fluid, and malleable thing. Every day a blogger chooses what their blog will add to the increasingly-crowded interwebs. Sometimes, we’ll hit on something brilliant. Sometimes we’ll make a gaffe. Most of the time we’re probably somewhere in the middle.
I think, perhaps, the best blogs come from the heart. When we can sense that the blogger behind the screen is passionate, engaged, and in love with what they have to say. I don’t know about you, but I never find myself drawn back to coldly corporate or anonymous blogs.
So, I think my answer to the questions is: the blogs I love have heart.
How about you?
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Image from jessjamesjake vintage.
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yep, it’s easy to see – you love what you do. Keep it going xxx
thank you for sharing those blogs–i have a full reader now!
i feel like i’m always walking that tightrope–never sure if i’m too all-over-the-place with my postings, or what i should be focusing on. i finally decided to have several main topics and somewhat of a regular schedule for when things are posted (real life on monday, graphic design on tuesday, etc.) but still worry that i should be focusing more on other things and i’m not always sure about what is working and what isn’t. i do try my best to be truthful, realistic, and never post about something just because it’s what ____ does. it’s definitely a challenge!
For me, what draws me to a blog and what keeps me is typically Tutorials. I am ADDICTED to tutorials. I find the ones that have a fail or two along the way and just make light of the situation really go a lot further than me because I feel like a part of them really shines through.
I’m drawn to blogs with personality & yes, heart. Blogs that have become sort of like ‘infomercials’ full of generic sponsored posts don’t really do it for me. I love blogs with beautiful, clean designs & where the writer writes with honesty. Be it part of a business or a personal blog I if d you can see when people are doing it for the love of it – I think that’s a good thing!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, blogs that have heart (like this one).
Of course, it also helps when they are nice to look at (good photos, not to crowded etc), have interesting content & a sense of fun 🙂
It’s important to have the correct combination of focus and personality in a blog writer, as well as passion about the subject of course!
I’m drawn to blogs with personality & heart too, just like the peeps below. I actually just did a new years clean up of my reader. I removed all of the blogs where I looked at the name of it and couldn’t picture the blogger. I like to feel like I know the person – so reading their posts is like a daily catch up. With your blog, even though vintage is not my style at all and I am a crappy crafter with no plans to run my own business I still love reading about what you do and what you wear and how you do it all. Probably because you write with such passion that even though I don’t have shared interests, I still find YOU interesting and inspiring. And I love that you reply to comments and tweets. Some bloggers/tweeters don’t and it seems a bit rude. You’re in the ‘favourites’ folder of my reader :) If you’re going to change/add anything to your blog, my request is for a few more short book reviews on what you’ve been reading lately 🙂
Aww, Neen! You’re such a sweetheart, thank you!!
And re book reviews… man, I read so many novels each week they blur together! I should keep a running list of the best though 😉
Hi Jess. Thanks so much! I’ve just started my own blog about everyday stuff. I was really surprised when people (friends and family) started reading it – and giving some lovely feedback. Feels nice huh?
I agree with everyone’s sentiments – the only thing I would add is that I lurve to read someone who writes well. Someone who puts a smile on my face or make me stop and think a while. A good blogger can make putting the rubbish bind out sound like an adventure!