This post is part of the #SummerBlogSocial, hosted by Liz and Jessica.
Liz and Jessica ask, "When you visit a blog, what areas – besides the main post – do you check out? Do you visit the Nav Bar pages? Look at the sidebars? Check for a list of categories or tags? Talk about the elements of a website that are most important to you."
- The About Page: After reading a post, the first thing I do is go to the about page or the profile link to learn more about the person writing. I like to learn a little bit about other bloggers' favorite things, hobbies, families, or whatever, because I usually find out that we have something in common. I always like to be able to put a name or blog title and a face together. It helps me keep track of everyone!
- The Social Media Stuff: I like to connect on Facebook and Twitter, so I'll look to see if you have links to your social media pages. (Bonus if I can like your Facebook Page, add you on Google Friend Connect, or join your Networked Blogs profile through a widget already on your website!) I also look to see what other social media sites you use that I haven't heard about yet.
- Tags and Categories: I like to browse the categories or tag clouds on your blog to see what kinds of things you write about. Logos, blog titles, and tag lines rarely tell the whole story! So I dig a little to find out what other topics you cover that interest me.
- RSS Links: If it looks like your content is going to be interesting, I'll subscribe to your feed. It's impossible to visit every blog every day, so I think RSS feeds are a godsend! I really want you to make it easy to subscribe though. I might click away if I have to dig too much to find it.
- Pictures: Words and pictures go together like peanut butter and jelly. I love to see a blog with interesting and colorful photos or illustrations. They help me find interesting content more quickly, and they really add something to the blog post. Doesn't matter if they're pictures you took with your cell phone, scanned snapshots, or professional images. They're all awesome.
What do you notice most when you visit a blog?
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9 comments:
Ooooh, good! Cuz I've spent a LONG damn time going back and categorizing my posts! :) I don't know why I didn't start doing it from the beginning!
These are all good ideas. I definitely need to update my tags/categories.
Great list! I did this prompt as well- some of my things were similar.
I LOVE reading what you look for!
Although I will admit to feeling the need to run to my blog and give it a once-over! :)
LOL! I think after reading all of these posts we will all be scrutinizing our blogs and look for ways to make them better.
Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by Liz, Denise, Lisa and Galit! So glad to have you for "visit". :)
I've been wanting to carve out several hours... more like DAYS to go back to tag older posts. I agree it's a nice way to look at stuff!
What I'm learning through #SummerBlogSocial is that I need to work. on. my. blog.
But thanks so so so much for noticing the "today call me" theme I've got going in spite of my blog flaws.
I seriously don't think everyone does! (and I'm sure that's my fault and I need to clarify...)
A lot of people think my blog is called Julie C. Gardner - ha!
It's By Any Other Name (hence the "today call me...") but I guess YOU figured it out.
Bonus!
Your blog is beautiful and I LOVE your tips here. So helpful.
Liz and Jessica are awesome for hosting these links all week -
So much to learn for those of us not going to BlogHer.
As for what I notice when I visit a blog? To be both precise and vague at the same time:
Good writing. I'm an English teacher so I can't help but appreciate a decent command of the language...
Also humor (I like people who can poke fun at themselves) and depth...
I want someone who makes me laugh to also make me think...
So I guess content is most important to me - but that's not a first impression thing.
Your blog makes a great first AND second impression.
So hooray for you! And happy #SummerBlogSocial, too!
Good list!
I like things to be relatively clean & uncluttered, so I can find things easily (like how to comment/follow on social media/etc.)
I like text to have breaks. Big chunks of text throws me off, because a lot of time I'm reading quickly.
This is great list. I haven't been reading the about me pages. It sounds like I have been missing great information.
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