Every Sunday evening from 8.00pm CST, #blogchat takes place on Twitter.
Hosted by the uber-smart Mack Collier, it’s a discussion by bloggers about blogging – tips, tricks, tools of the trade, best practices and more.
It’s quickly evolved into one of the must-attend chat events on Twitter, and I never fail to come away with some cool new tidbits of information every week.
Last night, an interesting side discussion popped up around the quality of blog posts. It stemmed from a tweet by George F. Snell III, who said that the most important part of a blog post was the headline. Scott Stratten’s view was that the headline didn’t matter if the content sucked, while my take was that a killer headline can help guide the post itself.
This then led to the question of the post itself. I mentioned that it’s not always possible to post killer content every single post, as much as we try to as bloggers looking after our readers. Scott mentioned that if the reader learns, then isn’t that killer? I responded yes, which means that in that respect even mediocre can be killer.
This turned into a great follow-up discussion about whether you should post at all if your writing is just mediocre, with Scott suggesting that instead of regular posts, only publish when and if you’re going to knock it out the park every time. Unfortunately at this stage I couldn’t reply as my Twitter usage had been used up, seemingly.
I don’t disagree with Scott that mediocre posts shouldn’t be published (it’s why I have about 15 posts in draft mode, waiting on some tinkering with content). Where I do differ is that it’s down to interpretation.
As a blogger, I go out of my way to make sure that whatever I publish has both relevance and information that will help my readers. I’m pretty sure every single blogger out there is the same. Yet the relevance and “brilliance”, if you like, is down to the reader.
Say I write what I think is a killer post about social media monitoring tools.
To some readers, it could be the greatest thing since sliced bread. To others, it could be, “Meh, I know this, this post has no value to me. Next.” To that person, the post is mediocre because of the information (or lack of) inside the post. Yet to the reader who never knew this information, the post may be killer because it’s opened their eyes to something they never knew.
As I mentioned to both Scott and George, no-one sets out to deliberately write a mediocre post – but sometimes some posts will always be better than others, that’s just natural. The point is to be happy that what you wrote doesn’t short-change you or your readers. Unless you have that confidence, don’t publish.
Does that work?
photo credit: tiffanybbrown
If you enjoyed reading this post, please feel free to share with your networks using the social icons above. You can also leave your thoughts in the comments below and/or subscribe to danny brown to ensure you receive the latest updates.
Why "mediocre" blogging can still be great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
RT @DannyBrown: Why "mediocre" blogging can still be great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
RT @DannyBrown: Why "mediocre" blogging can still be great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
RT @DannyBrown Why "mediocre" blogging can still be great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
i think you hit the nail right on its head. everything is subjective. and the most you can do is do your best. that being said, if you dont have something to write or say – then you shouldnt blog just for the sake of blogging everyday. its just like creating artwork. you are putting something out there that some will love and some will hate and some wont even bat their lashes at. sometimes you work on something and put it away because it isnt working for you at that time. but when the inspiration strikes, you just go for it. and you work until its as perfect as you think it can be. (hard for me cause im very critical of my own work).
via uberVU
Architects, designers blogs can be visual & text, tips from @dannybrown http://bit.ly/3av6hG @nextmoon http://bit.ly/VRo0w
via uberVU
Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great http://bit.ly/2meP2n
via uberVU
RT @netgeek06: Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great http://bit.ly/2meP2n
via uberVU
Marius shares: Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great: Every Sunday evening from 8.00pm CST, #bl.. http://bit.ly/2meP2n
via uberVU
Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great: Every Sunday evening from 8.00pm CST, #blogchat takes place on Twitter.. http://bit.ly/2meP2n
via uberVU
RT @DannyBrown Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great | danny brown http://bit.ly/ijx5d
via uberVU
Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great (Danny Brown) http://tr.im/ugB0
via uberVU
i think you hit the nail right on its head. everything is subjective. and the most you can do is do your best. that being said, if you dont have something to write or say – then you shouldnt blog just for the sake of blogging everyday. its just like creating artwork. you are putting something out there that some will love and some will hate and some wont even bat their lashes at. sometimes you work on something and put it away because it isnt working for you at that time. but when the inspiration strikes, you just go for it. and you work until its as perfect as you think it can be. (hard for me cause im very critical of my own work).
Hi Danny, this is one of the biggest blocks I have with publishing on my blog. I think what I write is interesting and adds value, but there's always that niggling voice in the back of my head that's says “So? do you really think others think what you have to say is important?” That's definitely the confidence issue that you addressed, and one that I'm getting better at. I only publish when I feel great about my post, and so far, I've been received well.
Great blog post, and look forward to more great ones!
Cheers!
Patricia
I think that's the key thing to remember, Patricia, and something that Judith touches on in the previous comment – always write for you first and foremost. If you don't believe in it, how can you expect your readers to?
Then it's just a nice bonus if others like it too
You most certainly do not have to “hit every post out of the park” by eschewing mediocre posts! Is such a thing even possible? I can't think of any daily, weekly, or monthly journalist who does that. Even Malcolm Gladwell writes some dull articles.
Blogging is a personality-driven medium. People who want a bird feeder of constant BIG posts can turn to aggregated news sites penned by a variety of authors, or to any blog picking up verbatim news stories and press releases.
For bloggers who are the sole curators of their content, it's just as important to develop their voice as it is to write knockout posts. That voice is what differentiates your take on life and world from that of your millions of competitors, and what can sustain your traffic and success. Developing that voice comes from writing and posting often, and observing in hindsight what does and does not work – both for the audience and in aggregate with other posts on the blog.
Scott's attitude of “no mediocre” helps to fuel what I think of as the “epiphany epidemic” in social media bloggers. Many seem to want to force a major epiphany into each post, when sometimes they're just a useful minor revelation. It's okay to share a minor revelation; it adds flavor to your blog, and for some readers it might be major. By contrast, the incongruous ephiphanies can really wear on the reader after a while, and decrease trust in a blogger as a credible source.
This is where I begin to get conflicted about people with marketing-oriented backgrounds co-opting the blog platform without taking a journalistic or communications approach to the medium. I think there's a lot more to be learned from applying models of communications theory to blogs than by treating them as personal marketing outposts.
This why blogging is important. Sometimes you can explain what you mean in a 140-character tweet. It took a blog post to get this one right. Great points.
via uberVU
Encouraging article: "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great" http://bit.ly/3av6hG from @dannybrown
via uberVU
RT @philgerb: Encouraging article: "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great" http://bit.ly/3av6hG from @dannybrown
via uberVU
RT @philgerb: Encouraging article: "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great" http://bit.ly/3av6hG from @dannybrown
via uberVU
RT @philgerb: Encouraging article: "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great" http://bit.ly/3av6hG from @dannybrown
via uberVU
Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great | danny brown http://ow.ly/im3I
via uberVU
People who say they post “killer content” on a regular basis are often among those who title their youtube videos as “viral.”
If you look at my blog, it's pretty obvious that I only post things I'm interested in. I don't post all the time and I don't post about the same thing. Does that mean I write mediocre content? Probably. I'm not especially worried though. We're not in a race to fill the internet up with words.
Nice picture.
This why blogging is important. Sometimes you can explain what you mean in a 140-character tweet. It took a blog post to get this one right. Great points.
Your point on developing your voice is a good one, Peter. Unless you come out running from blogging school, I don't think you're going to be a Godin, Copyblogger or similar from the off. Heck, even these guys have their off days.
I don't think you need to worry about mediocre content any day soon, fella
As for the article/title debate, I think that a killer headline gets the readers attention, while the killer content gets the user thinking. Regardless if every reader thinks it's killer content or not, if you get people thinking – you've done a good job. The killer headline is just (in my opinion) to grab the readers eyes and keep them interested long enough to read your article.
With me and a lot of other people I know, in google reader, I skim headlines and only click and read what headlines attract me.
If I recall, Rob, I think that was George's point on #blogchat – much of the time, and especially on RSS, it's the headline that grabs. It's one of Copyblogger's strengths, coming out with titles that just fly off the page. So, definitely a big help and, as you say, leads nicely into what is hopefully useful content too.
Yeah, it's weird – when I was writing the above comment I kept thinking of Copyblogger & ZenHabits. Again Danny, this is an awesome blog post – and one that has me thinking, so I guess you succeeded in the Killer Content department
@dannybrown suggests that a mediocre blog can still be great. http://tinyurl.com/nxr4wf
via uberVU
RT @DannyBrown Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great | danny brown http://bit.ly/ijx5d
via uberVU
"Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great" http://bit.ly/13RGfJ -via @dannybrown
via uberVU
I simply liked the picture, Linda. No politics or marketing reasons involved.
via uberVU
There will always be those who disagree with, or take nothing away from, what we write in our posts. You can't please everyone all the time. If the subject has value to you, the writer, then it's worth writing about; someone out there will nod along happily as they read your creative clauses and non-dangling participles.
For me, quality comes into play when discussing the quality of the writing, itself. There are so many bloggers whose writing is incomprehensibly bad, maddeningly mediocre. When a writer can't take the time to use proper grammar, punctuate or spell properly, then even if a great idea lies within, it'll get lost in the effluvium.
It's kind of funny to see this debate in the blog space. I wrote fiction for a number of years (still do, just focused on other things at the moment), and the subjectivity of it all is pretty much endemic in that community. Put it this way: some people love Hemingway. The ones that don't might love Faulkner instead. Different styles, word choices, and subject matter resonate with different people.
I define “quality” in this space as “makes people think.” They don't even have to comment. I just want them to think about what I say. That, in fact, is why I post only once or twice a week — there's no way I can come up with ideas that explore a few different angles. Daily posts, for me, would be little more than half-finished thoughts.
The article was interesting but I was totally distracted by the picture of Sarah Palin with the word “mediocrity.” This just confused me. Can you tell me why you did that? From a marketing standpoint, I can see why you used Sarah Palin's picture since she is hugely popular but why “mediocrity?” Are you making a political statement? If this is the case, then why wouldn't you write about the issue you have with Palin and say it, make a statement, a point, reference sources, state some facts. Wouldn't this be better than stretching to tie Palin in to this topic without a connection?
I simply liked the picture, Linda. No politics or marketing reasons involved.
Couldn't agree more, Christa – anything that makes you rethink or re-evaluate your position or knowledge on something makes the difference.
And I'll try and make sure my thoughts are finished
A blog post must inform, teach, or spark discussion RT @DannyBrown Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
Great post by @DannyBrown Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still be Great http://bit.ly/3av6hG
via uberVU
Hi Danny,
Great post. This is one of the things I have been struggling with of late. I just started a company blog (big win!), suffice it to say that I am relatively new to the blogging world. So, me being a noobi and such, there's always that voice in the back of my head telling me that what I am writing has already been written before, and therefore many people already know this information and gain no value from the post.
I try to remind myself that so many people are new to social media that even if I think everybody knows something, that's not the case. And as long as 1 person learns from my post, I guess that makes it 'killer content.'
Great Post Danny! Keep up the good work!
Ryan
nice sarah palin picture
via uberVU
No matter how great your content is someone will find something wrong with it. It's the way the Internet works, because everyone is a critic. The most important thing, for me at least, is to believe in your content and to always learn from it and keep improving.
Great post, @dannybrown – "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great" http://bit.ly/yBGo7
via uberVU
RT @johnhaydon: Great post, @dannybrown – "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great" http://bit.ly/yBGo7
via uberVU
RT @phaoloo RT @johnhaydon: Great post, @dannybrown – "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great" http://bit.ly/yBGo7
via uberVU
RT @LoriMoreno/: RT @phaoloo RT @johnhaydon: Great post, @dannybrown – "Why Mediocre Blogging Can Still Be Great" http://bit.ly/yBGo7
via uberVU
Do you think that readers think a blog post is a mediocre only because of the information or lack in the post? Do you think they might apply other criteria?
via uberVU
Amen to that!
via uberVU
Killer content is definitely dependent or the reader. When 1st started blogging and doing research everything I read was awesome. Now, it takes a bit more, but that's only because I've read a lot which makes it more likely that I'll have run across something similar to what you may have written. The second half of that is about what I post. My stuff probably isn't “killer” every time (who know's it may not ever be) to the masses, but I'm trying to connect with a specific audience and niche so if they are getting something out of it then I've done what i set out to do.
It's all relative.
http://twitter.com/franswaa
And that's the perfect example there, Frank. If you connect with just one person, your post has been “killer” – even if 10,000 other readers disagree
Do you think that readers think a blog post is a mediocre only because of the information or lack in the post? Do you think they might apply other criteria?
I agree with you Danny…
On my first blog, I primarily try to be amusing with the occasional heartfelt tale.. I've been surprised at the times that I will get more comments over a post that I felt wasn't my best piece of work yet connected with others. They say one man's trash is another man's treasure.. so perhaps one man's mediocre is another man's Pulitzer…? haha
Amen to that!
I think again that can come down to the reader themselves, Beth. I've heard views that how a blog post is laid out can affect its effectiveness; if there aren't any images; grammar (obviously) and punctuation being key factors too. I guess some folk are more forgiving with grammar if the information and usefulness of the content itself sets apart any smaller “issues”.
Exactly, Beth. While blogs have the regular readers, there will always be new visitors dropping by that don't know about you. Something that didn't get a lot of response previously may get a fresh new impetus because it's stoked that person's interest, who then goes on to share with their community.
It's all relevant and what makes blogging such a confusing funhouse!