Does your blog look cheap?
According to Nick Wilson, here are the ten signs of a cheap blog:
- Hyphenated-Domain-Names.com
- The Host owns the Domain
- Using the Default Template
- Cheap Advertising
- Posting “Daily Links”
- Hit Counters
- Colored Backgrounds
- Fixed Width Designs
- Stupid Fonts
- Gimmicks
I do not agree with most of Nick’s description of what makes a blog cheap. I agree, however, that the appearance of a blog plays a role in making the readers more or less comfortable while reading. But, what makes me a loyal reader and regular visitor is the content of a blog and not how it looks. Content rules.
Take for example the Oracle bloggers, many of them use Google’s Blogger service and are hosted on blogspot.com, does this make them cheap? Not to me. As I have just said, content is what matters, everything else is secondary.
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Filed in Interesting Stuff on 08 Dec 05 | Tags: blog
Hmmm, I have to disagree with #1 (among others). Considering my last name is hyphenated, I think I have a valid reason for a hyphenated domain name!
Rob, maybe he was referring to domain names like this:
http://www.the-best-blog-about-everything-free.com
Still, I could care less as long as the content of the blog is of high quality.
And what’s wrong with cheap ? If anyone looks hard enough, they’ll see my blog is not only cheap, but totally free. I even CHOSE a hyphenated name for it.
Seriously, I agree with you. A blog is about content. Okay, I left mine quiet for a month. That’s my fault, my problem and a bigger issue than a coloured background.
Three sign of an excellent blog – content, content, content Four signs of a bad blog: – The word ‘Professional’ and ‘Blogger’ in close proximity – Lists containing exactly 10 items – Deliberately provocative posts designed to drive traffic – Having to register for the privilege of adding a comment
…although to be fair Nick is preaching to a slightly different audience – the professional (and impecunious) blogger. I view myself as a personal blogger and yes, I admit it. I am cheap and you know what, I don’t really care.
I would have posted this response on Nick’s blog but would have to wasted some of my (valuable) time to register.
Alternatively, I guess I should have posted this on my own blog but was petrified it would break my regular blogging rhythm cycle and would alienate my tens of readers