This morning I’ve been working on / pondering / trying not to panic about my session with Lysa at SheSpeaks this weekend, and I have three questions for you, internets:
1) When you read a blog, are you looking for a super-professional presentation (design, photography, writing, etc.), or are you looking for something that might not look as professional but feels really relational? Or some combination of the two?
2) Do you tend to think of bloggers as friends? I mean, not your closest friends or anything – but do you feel like you have a little bit of a relationship with the bloggers you read?
3) Do you use Twitter or Facebook?
That is all.
Thank you ever so much for your wisdom.
I’ve been following your blog for some time and really enjoy it. Thanks for opening your life and sharing it with the rest of us Mamas!
1. I am always on my Google Reader through my cell phone – so while a beautiful site is nice, it really plays no role in whether or not I read a blog. I look for someone who is well spoken, has great experiences and can connect with me and my life. And a tad bit of humor is always great!
2. I was just talking with my 3 little girls about Stellan (MckMama)…while I’ve been praying for him constantly, I’ve not had my kids praying too. So last night I started out this way – “Momma has a friend who’s son is very sick…” Then I stopped and really tried hard to get that right “Well, no, Momma has a – um knows a – well, there’s this blog I read (which also confused them)…” I consider ya’ll my friends. Maybe that’s weird, but I really enjoy getting to know you all! I am a faithful follower of you, Big Mama, Pioneer Woman, and of course MckMama. Blessings to all of you!
3. I use both FB and Twitter. I love FB and am on there often…Twitter I still can’t seem to get the hang of. It’s not my favorite :)
1. My favorite is a cute blog design. After I get past the blog design, I look for relative content. I am not a big fan of the f-bomb, so that usually turns me off pretty quickly.
2. My bloggy friends are a “type” of friend. I look forward to comments and checking in with my bloggy friends everyday!!!
3. I use Facebook like an addict and I have a twitter account, but, I rarely log onto it.
Have fun this weekend!!!
1. I’m looking for content, period. A layout and design that’s pleasing to the eye is nice, but ultimately not all that important. Busy graphics and things that take forever to load discourage visits.
2. Yes and no. Some bloggers I’ve “known” for several years and they do feel rather like friends.
3. I still don’t get Twitter. Love the Facebook.
1. Content is way more important than appearances to me. I don’t pay too much attention to graphics, but do like the occasional photo as related to the post.
2. I don’t consider bloggers my friends, but I read the people who I could imagine being friends with.
3. Like Facebook, feel like Twitter is over the top.
1. Relational or professional depends on my mood. If I’m at work and trying to pretend to look busy, I go for the more serious ones; friendly fluffy ones for home. Either way, if there’s too much clutter on the page I skip ’em altogether.
2. It’s not a conscious thought to think of bloggers as friends until I begin to tell somebody in person about something I read on a blog. At that point I realize I say something like “I read something interesting a FRIEND of mine wrote…”
3. Facebook, yes. Twitter, no.
1) A super-professional presentation isn’t required – just something that makes me smile, or think, or praise.
2) I feel like I develop a relationship of sorts with the bloggers I read regularly, perhaps because I wouldn’t regularly follow a blog unless the blogger’s way of thinking resonates somewhat with mine.
3) I use both Facebook & Twitter, but like Facebook best.
1. I get a kick out of a really professional-looking blog like Pioneer Woman’s, but I won’t come back if the writin’ t’ain’t neighborly.
2. Yes, definitely.
3. Twitter, a wee bit, though I have no idea how to maximize it a la Mrs. Fussypants.
1) It depends on what I am reading. But, the more professional design and better lay-out, the more likely I am to stop and read and comment.
2) I think of bloggers as somewhere between aquaintances and friends. I definitely pray for a number of folks, and hope that I get to meet some of my favorite bloggers someday.
3) I read twitter from some of my favorite bloggers like McMama and Ree. I do not yet use Facebok.
1)I always first look to feel a connection with the blogger. Humor, spiritual insight, honest sharing. Spelling mistakes do catch my attention!
2)I do feel like I know my blog-writers! In a weird, lurking, virtual sort of way. But then again, there’s some pretty honest sharing going on.
3)Facebook. I don’t get/want to get Twitter.
I look for a more relational feeling with the writing. The look of the blog doesn’t really matter to me as I’m usually reading from Google Reader anyway. And I do think of other bloggers as friends. Especially those I read a lot or comment on alot. And i do Facebook but not Twitter.
And while you’ll be in the CLT area (where I live) for She Speaks, I’ll be in Greensboro for Deeper Still. Don’t be too jealous!! :)
I love a streamlined blog, whether it’s professionally designed or not. I opted to have mine “made over” by a designer, just so I wouldn’t look like so many other templates out there. I don’t like ads, but I’ve found that I can completely ignore them … and I’ve certainly never criticized anyone for having them. I read dooce before she ever had ads, and I remember when she started accepted them, people went angry-crazy over it. So silly.
I consider my blog friends to be friends, at least in my mind. I read about 40 daily, and I am definitely invested in their lives. I was especially happy to be able to attend Trent’s concert at your house last year. That was fun, and I got totally hooked on Lora Lynn’s blog from then on.
I am on FB once a day or so. I’m not on Twitter, because I know I would spend more time than I need to reading Tweets.
1–don’t care about the professional look. looking for the relational aspect.
2–yes, I think of those people whose blog I follow as my friends. My husband thinks I’m crazy. I tell him ya’ll only don’t love me b/c you don’t know me. : )
3–yes, I follow twitter and FB. Not religiously, but I do read them.
I don’t really care what the format looks like, as long as it is easy to read. It is really hard to read blogs that are white on dark colors – at least for me. I do consider some of the people whose blogs I read as friends – it is fun to feel like you are listening to what a friend has to say -not in a stalking way! I love those who are witty and correct with subject/verb agreements, etc. I am on facebook – I have no idea about twitter. Other than if people haveit on the side of their blog -aka Mckmama.
1) I’m a combo, but probably more relational then professional design. It’s the content that gets me hooked, the personality of the writing. I do notice grammar and spelling.
2) I guess blog friends are a strange type of beloved friend.
3) I’m a facebook addict, facebook from my phone even. Tried Twitter, it’s eh, which is not even as good as aight. It’s entertaining but Idk it just didn’t have staying power with me. Facebook feels more relational.
You will be wonderful at SheSpeaks, can’t imagine you any other way.
1. Relatable is what I’m looking for.
2. Yes
3. Yes/Yes
I do not like too busy or flashy blog designs. I like them clean ;). I read yours because you make me laugh out loud, and although it seems weird, I think of you as a distant friend. In fact, my husband & I recently had a conversation about you and Kelly (Harper’s Mom)about your love/addiction to SEC football! It all made sense to me when he explained that it was like us with ACC basketball :). Sorry, I think I am on another tangent. I read many blogs for homeschooling and home organizing ideas. Kelly’s cute pics of Harper just make me smile and inspire me to buy bigger bows for our baby girl! Ha, ha! I also love spiritual encouragement on blogs. I occassionally read Face Book, but honestly seems a little nosey. I do not twitter at this point. I do not think I have enough time to figure that one out. I hope this helps!
1) I like a clean design, but the most important things are a good story, correct grammar and language skills.
2) Yes, I absolutely do. I’m a new blogger (and raging extrovert) and feel a strong sense of community with other bloggers. I did the Super Happy Dance when I got a comment from someone who wasn’t related to me.
3) Yes, both. Twitter for my blog and FB for personal only (at this time).
1) I like things that are relational more than anything else. The pictures and design are fun too!
2) Yes! I consider blog friends, friends. Sure, not close friends maybe, but friends all the same. It’s so easy to find others who relate to you in the blogging world, so it’s a great way to get advice on the things of life! (and also to just laugh!)
3) I use Facebook
1) A combination- more relational than graphically correct! :)
2) Yes, I get very connected in a non-stalkerish sort of way! :)
3) I use Twitter and Facebook!
I am a sometimes sort of blogger! :)
I left out a w in that last post for the blogspot address! whoops!
1) While I LOVE good design, (I do a little designing myself) I follow most of my blogs through my reader so I rarely see it. When it comes to design, I like clean, simple and fun. Like your’s :)
2) Yes, I feel like the most of the bloggers I follow are my friends. You know the accquaintance-type friends. Not BFFs or anything.
3)I use Facebook and Twitter.
1. Definitely relational. If a blogger knows their stuff (whether the topic is their life or some skill), it’ll come out in the writing. Anyone can hire a schmancy designer! Besides, I follow most of my blogs in Google Reader, so I don’t even see what they look like unless I really exert myself and click on the link. I’m out of breath just thinking about it. :)
2. Yes, friends. I admitted on Amanda Jones’ Baby Bangs the other day that I was recently talking to someone and said, “Yeah, my friend Amanda Jones…” and had to add, “…who has no idea I exist…”! That makes me sound pretty lame, but it’s true. You may not know me, but by golly, you’re my friend.
3. I use FB, but I don’t tweet. There are only so many hours in the day.
I look for the blog to reflect the writer. Helps me see who they are. I do think of most as friends. More so those whom I am in contact with on a regular basis, AKA my bloggy circle. I am only using Twitter at this time.
1) Just something relational that touches me or teaches me.
2) Yes, absolutely. And I’ve made several real-life friends through my blog. They know I live in Beijing so they get in touch when they’re coming to town and we meet up and it’s like meeting one of your oldest friends. For the first time.
3) Both but I use FB more. I think Twitter is as annoying as the name.
I do love a good presentation and good writing, but I come back time after time for the relational aspect. I use Google reader, so I often do not see the layout unless I click over to make a comment.
I do consider a few gals that blog as friends, though we’ve never met in real life.
I use Twitter and Facebook.
1. Presentation matters, but the relational part is more important. And I like when bloggers post on a regular basis…daily/weekly. Otherwise I tend to lose interest.
2. I consider bloggers my friends (You are my friend, right?! haha) even though they have NO IDEA I exist (I’m not a blogger and not a very good commenter). I’ve convinced my husband that I have many bloggy friends and he hears all about your antics.
3. I use FB
1) I’m not looking for something that I would describe as “Super Professional” But I’ve absolutely stopped reading blogs or failed to read a recommended blog because the design was actively bad. So the style can be clean or “relational” as is appropriate for the blog content as long as it’s clearly legible and not horrifying.
To be more constructive here by bad I mean annoying or hard to read.
Does your page play music on load?(This is, in my opinion, an unforgivable strike against a site)
Is it hard to read the text due to poor font, bad font size, or poor color choice? In particular don’t put a font on a printed background, particularly if the background dosen’t scroll with the text. (You laugh but I’ve seen it, and avoided those sites)
Also is the text of the blog given enough space or is it being crowded out by the sidebars. In particular when you resize the page the section with the blog text should never get crowded out by the side bars. (Instead the page should develop a horizontal scroll bar) The text is the really important thing, don’t make it too hard to see.
You’re doing it everything right Boomama.
I guess what I’m really saying is that the design of a blog dosen’t matter very much to me unless it’s bad. Although I admit that a nice color scheme and pretty headers makes me more likely to give something a first look without a recommendation.
2) That depends on the nature of the blog. I read organizing blogs that could be automatically generated by a computer program for all I care but I won’t read a blog about a person’s life, such as yours, unless they seem nice.
I tend to think of the latter kind of bloggers as my “real imaginary friends”, if that makes any sense. Clearly you’re a real person, but I don’t comment much and I don’t have my own blog so you don’t know me and we’ll never meet. However in my Imagination we’re friends and I think about your life, and I think that your son is adorable and I care what happens to you.
3) No.
I had one more thought…I have all my blog post importing into facebook as “notes” I’m starting to get a lot of people who keep up with us by reading and commenting on those “notes”.
1) I’m embarrassed to say that I almost never click over to the blog and do most of my reading on a reader (Google reader) so the great designs are lost on me. The relational aspect is far more important to me.
That said, my gifts are not of design, so I admire the well-put-together blogsites very much, and it probably matters more than I think the first time I click over.
2) I do. My husband doesn’t get it at all. But yes.
3) Both. However, I only “Friend” people I have actual (not just virtual) relationships with on Facebook (though if it were the only way to get this blog, however, I would be quick to make an exception–and besides, we’re friends, right?) and I rarely tweet myself; I’m mostly on Twitter to see what others have to say. Re: Facebook: I know I wouldn’t be thrilled to have my virtual world and semi-real-world cross over too much. But maybe that’s just me.
Fun things to think about. Have a great weekend!
I am purely a content person. I want to be told a story, even if it about potty training junior. I read blogs for entertainment.
Presentation… I don’t like a small font. If I have to lean toward my computer screen to read or if the blog has a “directions to your new toaster” feel to it, I just can’t read. UNLESS…
I have built a relationship with that blogger. I think blogging as a hobby entails building relationships with other bloggers. WE can count on each other to CARE what we have written.
And I occasionally use Facebook.
1) When you read a blog, are you looking for a super-professional presentation (design, photography, writing, etc.), or are you looking for something that might not look as professional but feels really relational? Or some combination of the two?
Both are important, professional presentation as far as readability, links, images, basically I like it to look nice, and make sense. But the most importan feature is the blogger has to be relational. Without that there is no reason to read :) Your blog has both :)
2) Do you tend to think of bloggers as friends? I mean, not your closest friends or anything – but do you feel like you have a little bit of a relationship with the bloggers you read?
Yes I feel like I have a relationship with the bloggers I follow, more like a well liked aquaintance than a friend since I haven’t met any of them in “Real Life.” I have met people from forums though and find them much the same in person so I do feel I develop a relationship with the bloggers I comment on, and who answer back. Otherwise it’s a bit of a one way “conversation”
3) Do you use Twitter or Facebook?
I do both!
1. relational
2. i do think of the bloggers as my friends, or at least acquaintances although i rarely leave comments and i have not met any authors of the blogs i read.
I use Twitter and Facebook.
I consider a blogger a friend (although, not the same as IRL) if we have some sort of “comment relationship”. I think I’m a “fan”, in regards to much-visited blogs, where the blogger wouldn’t be able to remember my username.
Blog design…..I’m drawn in by blogs that have obviously utilized graphic magic, but that isn’t what keeps me reading. If a blogger is using a site template, with no frills!, and I feel a connection, I’ll stay. :-)