Blogging, a tricky affair ? Part-II
I think in last post people got me wrong. It is not about what to write or for whom to write, it is about how to present your contents or how to make your blog reader friendly.
Ok now, here goes the first best practice…
Three weeks back, I had helped one of the new bloggers to setup RSS feeds. So, the very first point I am going to mention is feeds. Make sure that RSS feeds are setup on your blog so that people know how to get the contents easily. They don’t have to visit your site daily to check for new updates.
Believe me, there are some bloggers who either don’t know or don’t want to give feeds. It is extremely difficult to check their blogs every now & then. Also, if you happen to visit some private blogs, you won’t get a feed. You ask for an invite and are stuck with visiting them everytime. The only major issue I have with Google Reader is that it doesn’t support feeds that require a username and password.
The main intention behind subscribing to a blog RSS feed is NOT to get the new content as soon as it got posted BUT at reader’s own convenience & in his own place. Yes, at his convenience & in his own place. It is time efficient; the reader receives everything in one place and makes him feel as though apart from delivering the goods (post), the blogger (you) is also interested in reader’s convenience or how s/he receives the information.
Oh, you don’t have any idea of RSS ? Go thru it here.
And if you are new to Google reader, this is what you should go through. No, I am not vouching for Google reader, it’s just that I use it. You can share your experiences on this.
Now, whether to have short feeds (excerpts) or full feeds is something we grapple with on and off. I guess it is partly a personal preference and partly working out what works with your blog and readership.
We’ll discuss it in next post. You are welcome to ask any questions, we all will try to solve them.
In the meanwhile, if you have not subscribed to my feeds, you can do it now. They are displayed on the top of left sidebar for this blog. If you are interested in the combined feed for all my 3 blogs, here they are. It will reflect any update across my three blogs.
Subscribe through your reader
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………………….. through e-mail
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Tags : Blogging, Blogosphere, Tips & Tricks
Tarun said,
April 10, 2009 @ 10:58 am
Good post this.
Yeah there is lot we can do when it comes to blog.
Simple suggestion that I would like to give is check out google and you tube.
I prefer my blog uploads on the browser earlier then most.
I love syndication.
But I am not sure if someone subscribe me.
Ciao
Trotter said,
April 10, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
I’ve the feeds; but it doesn’t seem to work… ;))
Peter said,
April 11, 2009 @ 1:32 am
I really find the Google Reader handy. The only problem is that the list of blogs I wish to follow is getting so long…!
Cuckoo said,
April 11, 2009 @ 10:51 am
Tarun,
Ha Ha… you selfish like me ?
Keep sharing your ideas and experiences. Those who read all the comments will be benefited by suggestions from other readers.
Peter,
Long list is a good indication. Isn’t it ?
How many blogs do you have btw ? I am going to write one post on Google reader as well.
Shivanand Manthalkar said,
April 11, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
Good educative and beneficial post. Thank you…
abhishek said,
April 11, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
If you use Flock web browser, then there is no need for google reader.
Also, try to enlighten us about trackbacks and pingbacks. Couldn’t quite get the concept.
Cuckoo said,
April 12, 2009 @ 11:56 am
Shivanand,
You are welcome.
Abhishek,
But will definitely explore.
Thanks for the mention. Haven’t used Flock anytime. I am loyal to FF.
Well, I have certain topics in mind and limited no. of posts for this series but will try to cover this as well. If not me, then by someone else.
Keep asking questions and sharing your experiences.
Peter said,
April 12, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
To answer you question; I have only one blog really working - two older ones “sleeping” but not closed.
Cuckoo said,
April 12, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
Peter,
I think it was a misunderstanding.
How many blogs do you have on your reader ? I’ll tell you mine then.
It’s a good indication if the list is becoming long. No ?
sam said,
April 12, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Tried Google Reader quite a while ago. While it was good and I did add quite a few blogs to it, I finally found it cumbersome to log in and check everytime. I guess I preferred visiting the blog personally. This blog list thing on blogger is quite handy it seems, coz, it does provide one with updates from other blogs. i like that…
but yeah, it doesn’t allow the privacy of Google reader.
Cuckoo said,
April 12, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
Sam,
Wait & see.
One post on Google reader is on the cards.
abhinav said,
April 12, 2009 @ 11:53 pm
Hey thanks for the informative post … i wud need to think abt it for my blog
sam said,
April 14, 2009 @ 2:57 am
with bated breath, m’lady
Peter said,
April 14, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
To again answer your (by me misunderstood) question: Yes, it’s getting so long now that I have no time to go it through as regularly as I would like… but I have of course some favourites! (When people visit my blog, I try to do the same with theirs … and then I add them to my list if I find the blog of interest to me… and there are so many! How many bloggers are there today worldwide? Millions anyhow.)
Musings » Blogging, a tricky affair ? Part-III said,
April 16, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
[...] Contd from Part II Now, after deciding & setting up the feeds what kind of feed to provide to my readers ? Full feed, short feed or no feed at all ? As I mentioned earlier, most of the time I’ll cite my own examples. So let us take my case both as a reader and a blogger. [...]
Cuckoo said,
April 17, 2009 @ 1:29 am
Abhinav,
Think fast then.
Sam,
There you are.
Musings » Blogging, a tricky affair ?? Part - I said,
April 26, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
[...] To be contd here.. [...]