As people always tend to make quick judgements, I've shied away from this topic until now although it's been on my mind since 2006, when we set up a blogging group over the issue.
At that time, a few of us were p---ed off by how the American Awards ignored good bloggers over this side of the pond. One of my detractors [the stalker] has put it about that I set up that group to get people to come to my site.
Like all spin, it took a kernel of truth and put a distorted skew on it. Of course the five of us were hoping that by visiting one another, we'd up our reader levels and that's why we had so many join for that purpose, including him by the way, and to be part of a new "scene".
Who doesn't want to be where the action is? Then, when bloggers I highly respect come and leave a comment at my site, it's very nice.
Euroserf,
Chris Dillow and
Johnathan Pearce were my first commenters, with
Stephen Pollard,
Tim Worstall,
Mr. Eugenides, the Pedant-General-in-Ordinary,
Clive Davis,
Oliver Kamm,
Melanie Phillips and
DK coming in and I tell you - that blew me away. That's one of the reasons these guys are top bloggers, not because they visited
me per se but because they really do care about the blogosphere and about helping someone along, even nobodies like me.
When I go over to any blog and the person actually answers me, that's double nice. When that person adds me to the blogroll, even if he/she adds many people to the blogroll, that's triple nice. Hell - why not? Why not feel good about that? High profile, low profile, whoever it is - if that person rolls me for the right reason, then that is very nice.
So let's not be hypocritical and put on the false modesty. We know what feels good and we also know, each in his/her own mind, what makes a great blog, a top blog.
For me, it's:
1. They have a product. They have a particular thing which readily identifies them and I mentioned one such blog yesterday. It's something which makes us come back again.
2. They have authority. I don't mean from the number of readers, which Technorati and other engines use to determine this. I mean from what the person writes. They do their homework and know their subject.
3. They blog consistently. All right, there might be pressure of work now and then but they'll bounce back. They might have a hiatus but we know they'll return. They blog at least daily and sometimes with more than one post. It's not necessary to go beserk, as I do but consistent is the word we're looking for.
4. They give what the people want, the issues people are concerned about, as distinct from it being just a string of comments on the MSM news. Don't get me wrong - some bloggers comment in such a way that the anger and the wit come through and that makes us come back to their blogs too.
4a. There is a subset here who don't give the people what they wish to hear, who say quite the opposite of the accepted wisdom and that's a dangerous game, blogging wise because unless you're known for it, you might be marginalized and passed over forever. But if you do become known for it, then that comes back to Point 1 above.
5. They care for their readers. This is highly debatable as a criterion but it does seem to me that when the blogger does
not engage with his readers, not necessarily mentioning people's names but at least acknowledging the argument brought by his/her readers and joining in his/her own discussion, then that is fulfilling and gets people back.
One of the harshest criticisms of my blog in past years was the lack of debate on key issues. That stung and today I feel there is quite good debate here, more on some issues, of course, as the subject matter is diverse. On the other hand, debate is not everything and those who have fabulous shots of gardens and food and places they've been aren't looking for debate - they want to put something they loved and hope others will too, a more than legitimate reason for a blog, even though I've been less than charitable in the past on this.
6. They're human and concerned with things we humans are concerned about. They're personally approachable [at times] and when they're not, then that is a known known, like Ann Robinson in that appallingly masochistic programme I've forgotten the name of. It might be that their blog product is to tear strips off any who differ but even that is a product in itself, if it's a known known.
7. They have detractors and its the nastiness of their enemies which reflects them, the aspiring bloggers, in a good light. It cuts both ways. If my three or four closest blogfriends were universally against one particular blogger, my first reaction would be arrogant - well maybe I can see something they can't. But almost always I'd be forced to concede, in the end, that the guy was a prat. Similarly, a blogger quite a few of my friends are mentioning in a positive light will get a visit from me and that's one more reader for him.
8. The blog is well arranged, you can see who the person is without necessarily knowing name, address and shoe size, the navigation is clear [or at least followable] and you can find your way around.
Now your not so humble blogger finally comes to what does NOT make a top blog:
a. Stat porn lovers who always trumpet how many readers they have and whose whole blog experience seems to be to aggregate more and more readers for the purpose of aggregating more and more readers.
b. Sheer visitor numbers. I'm adamant about this. There are some damn good blogs out there and I'm going to name names here -
Lord T is the one I have in mind - who have the product, who have the inventive ideas and have a good looking, well arranged blog. He himself said that his ideas don't appeal to all but I'll say this - whenever I go over to his blog, I'm always challenged by new ideas. Hell, what does a person want from another blogger?
c. Lazy bloggers who rest on their laurels, casting a small royal comment here, in lieue of an actual post, a throwaway line there. Again don't get me wrong. Certain bloggers have this as their intellectual product [Point 1 above] and that's fine but it takes skill to be laconic and not all can get away with it. One of these who
can do it is a blogfriend of mine.
d. The inconsistent blogger who quite rightly pleads pressure of work, being called away and yes, we can all sympathize with that but the simple fact is - when we click into his/her blog, there's no new post we were hoping to find there. Yes, sympathy, sympathy. I know how difficult it is and of course we put family first, then work, then blog but still ............... ?
You have your own criteria, no doubt and I'd like to hear them if you'd care to leave them here.
This post was motivated by
Angus Dei but Angus, I take issue with you on one point. You say I write better. No I don't. I have a way of writing, that's all and it's too smooth for many people who prefer a more cut and thrust, almost a more "honest" approach. I'm too close to rhetoric but I can't help it because it's the way I write.
You, on the other hand, consistently come up with vignettes day after day and your "product" is becoming known. Keep at this because it's good. It takes more than a smooth talker with pretty colours to make a good blog and you've got what's needed.
That's about all I wanted to pontificate on today, folks.
England, to me, follows this map and doesn't include Wales and Cornwall although if they get nasty about it, then it does.
41.1% (1570)