I write this piece as a blogging service announcement. You may agree or disagree or just think I'm nuts in the head. All fine with me. I'm going to write it anyway, cuz I feel like it needs to be said.
My expertise comes from being a professional (albeit unpaid) blog reader and commenter. I read and comment a great deal more than I write. I love a well laid out blog page that makes reading easy and commenting easy breezy.
Some of the biggest problems I, as your reader, have encountered involve the junk on your page other than your blog. The ads that pop up and have to be removed so that I can read on. The left side list of places you want me to share your blog that interfere with your words. The badges that take up a quarter of your page that I have to scroll through to get to the comments. Typing my name, email and website addy every time I want to comment. Captchas! Music that plays automatically when I open your blog. I like quiet. A blog written around pictures which don't show on a mobile FB platform. Subscribe to me pop-ups while I'm reading in the middle of the page.
One or two of those don't really bug me that much, but dang, if you want readers you really have to think about someone who is trying to read your words being able to actually read them without a bunch of stuff to work around. Your readers are lazy and they came for your words. Not for your extra add-ons.
Just suggesting here that I'm probably not the only reader who doesn't come back often if it's too distracting to read. And I don't comment where there is a captcha and often don't comment if the site can't remember my email or web page addy after I type in my name. Ain't nobody got time for that!
Just sayin' make it easy for the people you are trying to attract! Doesn't that make sense?
Or no? It's your blog and your readers. It's just my opinion.
Jo
Hear, hear, Jo! I agree with you completely.
ReplyDeleteWhew! There's ONE. Thanks for your continuos support, Elaine!
DeleteThinking this might not be my most popular post ever! :-)
Count me second. With ya on that.
ReplyDeleteYAY! Thanks!
DeleteIf a blog is too hard to read or comment on, I am probably not going back. Couldn't agree more. And, I know and trust that as my friend and only official blog fairy, you would tell me if mine fell into that category, right?
ReplyDeleteI totally would tell you! Glad you agree.
DeleteHoly crap Jo you didn't have to dedicate an entire post to me! ;) Actually these are ALL valid points and seeing Kathy's new blog look I think it's time I revamp mine!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Kathy's new blog page!
DeleteI was NOT targeting you, silly. Just in general I find so many pages that I can't comment on, yet they ask for comments. So many pop-ups that interrupt the flow of reading and the sidebar crap that edges over onto the words and actually blocks part of the blog? WTH?
Just think if you want readers, make your page about THAT.
I did remove that sign in thingy. I guess since I don't have to do it I never realized what a pain in the ass it is. So, thanks for that tip and I knew you weren't targeting me. I've just been toying with the idea of changing things up a bit and you and Kathy lit the proverbial fire under my ass. :)
DeleteThat's what friends are for! :-)
DeleteI do love your new look. You did good!
I agree Jo!! I've kept mine simple, mainly because I'm a newbie...but I've read a few. The song thing REALLY bugs me, especially if it's a loud or heavy metal music. Nothing worse than starting to read, then "BLAH!!"
ReplyDeleteExactly, Joe. I don't dislike music, but I don't necessarily want to hear the songs YOU might think link in to your blog. My solution to that one is that I turn off my speakers before I start blog reading sessions.
DeleteI like your page a LOT. It's simple and clear and I can actually just read AND comment.
This makes perfect sense to me!
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear! Don't you get tired of clicking OFF things to read someone's thoughts?
DeleteJEESH!
I couldn't agree more. In addition to what you've listed, the other things that make me read too fast, or click out are dancing, flashing gizmos that compete for my attention even if that can't be the blogger's intention. In comparison, some of the prettier, softer blogs with reasonable length posts make me feel like I do when I stumble upon a little boutique and wanna see, wanna see!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Softer and more gentle. I'm okay with length if they're well done. I do love a pretty setting!
DeleteThat is irritating. There are alot of pages I will turn away from or just simply X out because there is to much junk and it's just a pain in the ass to do all that junk just to make a comment. But to each their own I guess!
ReplyDeleteI know! I wonder if the money driven blogs are the ones who need all those pop`up things, but whatever, I don't play.
DeleteNice to see you back!
It is annoying to visit a blog that you have to jump through hoops to comment. I never used to mind the captcha's at first...but as time has went on they have become even more annoying. Still I am dedicated and poor so I will continue to do what I have to. I realize that the writer is like me and loves the feedback so I make a point to leave it. I think you have a lot of good points here Jo and thanks for the mention above. I love my new design. I am so happy with it! ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. Captchas are very easy to remove so I def only comment on them once, IF I can break the captcha. The fuzzy ones are just a mess for me.
DeleteI really do love your new design!