To Do or Don't To Do…

Posted by Scott Williams
21 Comments
January 30, 2008
10 Lists | Big Is The New Small | Blog Stuff

10 Blogging Do’s and Don’ts 

THE DO’S

  • Do take a stand on issues

  • Do share some Linklove (Link to those who link you)

  • Do respond to those who comment on your posts

  • Do open-up your comments if you use blogger for non-blogger users

  • Do check out Boyd Bettis’ blog today: (He interviewed me, sorry it’s so long he asked the questions, I just answered. :-) Show him some BigIsTheNewSmall love and comment on his blog.)

THE DON’TS

  • Don’t write a dissertation (Keep it Pithy)

  • Don’t argue with negative commenter’s (Keep it tactful)

  • Don’t share another bloggers post without giving them credit

  • Don’t be like every other blogger, be original

  • Don’t skip days without posting (unless it’s the weekend)

  • Bonus: Don’t forget to add BigIsTheNewSmall to your blogroll (Self-Promoter)

Thoughts, discuss!  What are some of your blogging Do’s and Don’ts?

  • http://www.jabberfrog.com gina

    love the pithy suggestion. i’m too a.d.d. for long posts. however, the issues i take a stand are not likely to be political, my savvy, metro-sexual friend. i’m stickin’ with what i know. and politics isn’t one of them. :)

  • http://littlepastor.blogspot.com JC

    I’m commenting only so I can live up to your commenting expectations. :o

  • http://www.floatingaxhead.com michael

    pithy…good word. i got called arrogant last week when i took a stand…i’ll have to work on that…or not.

  • http://www.blog.aaronhavens.com aaron

    thanks for the love Scott.

  • http://boydbettis.com Boyd Bettis

    Don’t consistently blog on stuff that waste peoples time

    Do discover your niche of blogging and stay consistent with it.

  • http://cindybeall.wordpress.com Cindy Beall

    A pet peeve of mine is when bloggers blog about nothing and take lots of pictures of themselves. A pic every now again is fine to show who you are, but several times a week? Just a little much for me. But, what do I really know? I’ve only been blogging myself for three months. Taking photos of yourself may be the thing to do :) I’m just not into it.

  • http://apriddyblog.blogspot.com natalie

    i prefer short posts. if it’s too long, normally, i will keep a’scrolling.

    if you do feel like you need to lay it all out there, break it up into paragraphs, people! nothing is more boring looking than a six inch block of uninterrupted, size 8 font.

    or, add a relevant picture to just add a bit of visual interest.

    that’s just a pet peeve of mine. thanks for letting me get it off my chest. :)

  • http://thinkinginprogress.com Jason

    Do: Subscribe to Scott’s blog because it’s pretty sweet
    Do: Honestly be yourself
    Do: Post regularly

    Don’t: Be a hater on your blog
    Don’t: Always give answers. Ask some questions
    Don’t: Ignore commenters

  • http://www.manymeadows.blogspot.com Robin Meadows

    Wow, Scott! You’re getting quite the famed reputation. Soon we’ll be saying, “Yeah, I knew him back when….” ;)

    I’m still learning the blogging stuff. I don’t like long posts, but I still have a hard time keeping mine as short as I’d like.

    Also, I’m considering switching to WordPress just for the easier commenting. (because of you!) LOL

  • Scott Williams

    Gina- I agree don’t take a stand on areas that you don’t feel comfortable taking a stand…
    JC- Thanks, BTW where did little pastor come from
    Michael- The cool thing about blogging is everyone has an opiion and most everyone is an expert.
    Aaron- You have been on the blogroll
    Cindy- Your blog has blown up Miss 25,000 page views. I don’t take a lot of pictures of myself however it’s different strokes for different folks.
    Natalie- I like the real long posts that don’t have any breaks for paragraphs. I agree w/ you! :-)
    Jason- Great thoughts and additions.
    Robin- Your posts are right-size. I might have a reputation but it’s probably not famed. ;-) Definitely go to wordpress, it’s much better and that domain is still out there. anna can hook you up w/ her hosting!

  • http://jthelmsdeep.blogspot.com Joseph

    Ditto your do’s and don’t’ with one minor addition. Be careful what you write, it could come back to haunt you.

  • http://www.annameadows.com Anna Meadows

    I fail on a couple of these… I don’t have enough time to devote to exploring and commenting on others blogs as much as I’d like… I know it would jump start readers for my blog…

    I also fail on posting in a timely matter… I may get a post out every week day, but sometimes it’s too late and I’ve lost a lot of morning readers… this would all be fixed if I’d get internet access at my apartment…

    Or bought a condo… mmmm

  • http://boffthewall.wordpress.com Brooke

    What if you don’t have something to say everyday? The rules you gave said to post everyday, but i don’t want to just post stupid stuff, so i wait for something good to write about.

    So…what do i do? :-)

    (being a blogger takes so much work! LOL…)

  • http://www.ichilly.typepad.com Chilly

    DO: whatever the crap you want to do… it’s your blog. Just be whoever YOU are rather than becoming a poser for someone or something else.
    DO: pray FIRST before you post (or even write the blog) – allow HIS fingerprints to be all over it.

    DON’T: get caught up in the insecurity trap = basing your worth on “comments” or lack there of…
    DON’T: endorse a blog just so they’ll endorse you. The links on your site don’t just represent others, they represent you…

  • Scott Williams

    Joseph- I always reserve the right to change my mind. ;-)
    Anna- You do a great job, it depends on your week, your schedule and your systems.
    Brooke- I have said in the past to atleast post consistently mon, wed, fri. or whatever, just some system for readers to know when to come back or when to check it out. I actually read some blogs who post once a week.
    Chilly- I always enjoy comments from the Real Pastor from the Real Church, who keeps it Real. I agree that you can do whatever however as it relates to whatever/readers/blog community, that whatever needs to be consistent. I agree that comments or lack thereof does not correlate to worth or readers, just the established community. I personally have chosen to link those who are linking my site, I think the LinkLove is part of that viral community. I am in the process of re-doing my blog and will differentiate between blogs that I read and blogs that are linking BigIsTheNewSmall. I will also turn the blogroll into a rotating one, becasue it’s getting out of control. Less is more! Just keeping it real! :-)

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    ouch michael. Sometimes my “cleverness” comes back to bite me. Does it help if I let you know that I’ve been accused of being condemning and mocking? probably not.

  • Scott Williams

    Jimmy- Probably so! A comment w/ out a (grin) waht’s the deal.

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    eh, Scott I was doing a mea culpa. The grin didn’t fit. I actually like the edginess of Floating Axe a lot. Oh well. Back on topic:
    Cheat. Use Windows Live Writer and the “more” tag. That way you can get away with writing really long rambling…uh I mean full of valuable content posts.(grin)

  • http://www.embracingthefriction.blogspot.com Christi D.

    I’m SO new at this, but I love what Chilly has to say…..be yourself! Don’t try to make your blog like someone else’s. The people that get you will read it, no matter what. It’s not a popularity contest:)

  • Scott Williams

    Jimmy- You should compile a book of your comments.
    Christi- I agree that it’s not a popularity contest; However Anne Jackson and Carlos Whittaker are some of the most popular kids in school. :-) Thanks for commenting!

    As it relates to the frequency and consistency of posting, I am speaking to readers coming back and knowing when to come back. It’s like expecting your newspaper to be delivered on certain days, if it’s consistently not there you are not going to go looking forward to it. Or you will find another newspaper to read… Some people just subscribe to the Sunday paper.. consistency, consistency.

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