What’s on the iPod: The Graveyard Near the House by The Airborne Toxic Event
Good day yesterday. I managed another article, two interviews, three revisions, and a conference call. The pace has slowed, amen, but I still have things to tick off the list, so back to it this morning.
I was thinking about what goes into making a good blog. Not that I have the magic formula, but I’ve noticed some trends. One trend has me a bit disturbed — bloggers who don’t mind using guest posters to drive traffic, but won’t allow them to advertise on their blogs.
I’d heard of one interaction in particular where the guest poster was denied any support from the blogger he’d just helped out with a guest post. The reason: he didn’t have as many or more followers than the blogger in question. I guess that blogger didn’t think about how his own request would be viewed by bigger fish in the same pond. And let’s not talk about how this relatively unknown blogger has lumped himself in there with the big fish. Large, uninformed egos do exist.
So for me, the practice of vetting who you associate with is too strange to understand. See, the people you deny today? They may outpace you someday and look at how you’ve insulted them. Way to mar your own reputation.
But there are ways to run your blog, and yes, you can vet, you can put yourself on a pedestal, or you can ignore everyone who posts. Totally up to you. But if you’re intent on building a solid community and support system (these are your coworkers — do you really want to be that one bad seed who’s always stepping on people to get ahead?), try concentrating your efforts on things like this:
Share information. Don’t you hate bloggers who present their information as though it is something they thought up themselves? We all learn from each other. Admit to it, and pass along information that’s worked for you. Invite others to share in kind. Isn’t it true we grow at all stages of our careers? You’re never too brilliant to be learning. If you think so, you’ll soon be that same level of self-deemed brilliance — and alone.
Dictate not. The worst bloggers, to me, are the ones who say “You must…” Any sentence that starts with an order is worth ignoring. No one must do anything other than what works for him or her.
Open a vein. How much different would this blog be if I didn’t share bits of my life with you? Maybe a better read for you, but I doubt I’d have the close friendships I’ve been blessed with in all of you. Let your personality out. It’s not about “wowing” your “audience.” For me, it’s about being honest and being myself. Your choice.
Don’t rewrite. Ever. I wish I could count on just one hand the number of times my own posts have been “rewritten” by at least one of the self-titled “big” bloggers. For those of you who skipped that ethics course in college — rewriting someone else’s work is most definitely theft. And it’s trashy behavior. Guess who that reflects on? Be careful — your clients are watching, and watch them jump ship the minute they begin to doubt where you’re sourcing your information. Instead, say something like “I saw this on John’s blog” and then extend the conversation. You’ve just given a nod to John, who will be more inclined to reciprocate when appropriate, and you’ve shown your ability to be a class act instead of a low-life thief. Plus you’ve shown your ego isn’t the center of your decision-making process.
Build friendships. I really don’t know how some bloggers can keep followers when they barely interact or worse, interact only with those they think will somehow benefit their own careers. Like I said, the person you snub today could well be the person whose career soars beyond your own tomorrow. But don’t build friendships with that in mind — build them because you want real friends. No one wants a phony friend.
How do you give good blog? What are examples of bad blog behavior you’ve seen?
To have a friend, you have to be a friend. Take the time to visit other people's blogs and interact. It's not just about people coming to YOU, it's about broadening the entire community.
What I love about this post is it gives the other side of the guest blogger story.
We all are fed up with the deluge of requests from people we don't know. Unfortunately, it affects the good people-the newbie or the generous guest blogger.
I likened our blogs and guest blogging to inviting someone into your home. Well, just because it's your home doesn't mean poor behavior is acceptable.
Another less egregious example is the host who never responds to comments. Would you invite people into your home, then not speak to them?
To summarize: Be a good human. 🙂
I read you blog everyday because you're a good friend. Yes, you have helped me understand this business better and steered me in the right direction, but it's the friendship I value most. So many bloggers come off phony. Be real and care about the people you speak to and the rest will take care of itself.
Yeah, Lori, Wade, Cathy and Devon… obviously I agree. Thanks for saying it.
Hi Lori! Thanks for a great post! I agree, blogging is a fantastic experience… if you do it right. And personal integrity is of vital importance.
Good post Lori. This kind of thing seems to come and go in cycles, doesn't it?
I remember this happening with another "big ego" blogger a few years back — constantly asking people for things, but never reciprocating in any way once she thought she was "above" you. It was a game of constantly riding someone else's coattails.
And do you know what? People noticed. Bloggers need to remember that their readers likely know each other, or they'll get to know each other at some point (especially in blogs where you target colleagues — at any level).
When people get to know each other, they talk. If you lie to people, use people, swipe your material from others, etc., word's going to get around. Eventually the trends become clear.
None of us are perfect. But there's a line between making mistakes or slacking occasionally and downright using and abusing your readers. Hopefully we won't see many more like that original bad apple, but you never can tell.