Help Me Improve: Posting Style or Voice
Conversationalist or Quack?
This is the writing section of my contest [see rules and guidelines here] to help me improve my site and make it an A-List quality blog.
This section was also partially inspired by Problogger’s post about getting more comments on your blog.
Conversationalist…not
I use to have a secret nickname for myself when I commented on forums…”thread killer.”
It was a common occurrence that went I left a reply on a topic, that it was the last one and the topic slowly drifted down the stack and vanished. After I noticed this trend, I began to ask why?
I think that I realized that I break many of Darren’s rules for eliciting conversation. I find that the “buzz” for me is to come off being [or appearing to be] someone who knows stuff, as opposed to a questioner or learner.
This tone, when applied to a blog, will not be too conducive to commenting. It is something that is really my nature. I’m not exactly a conversationalist in real life…I am a computer programmer after all. The job description includes “anti-social” at the top of the requirements.
I do make an effort to move beyond that “thread killer” tone and I find I get more comments now than when I started blogging, but more posts coming from a space of questioning [like this series...see I'm learning] are in order if I want to make the A-List.
Besides that I often wonder if people are getting my sense of humor? Do you realize that I am often attempting humor? or at least I am often amused?
Word Usage
I also like to twist my words into unusual configurations and play with them in non-traditional structures [I had once a goal to be a creative writer]. Does my word usage or sentence structure ever pose a problem?
Does it interfere with effective communication? I like to provide at least a measure of entertainment with each post…but I wonder if that leaves some people frustrated?
Technical
Too many typos?
Do you pull your hair and scream “Why the f*** doesn’t this guy proof read this cr*p” every time you read one of my stories?
Problogger also mentioned that he hires an editor to review his posts once and a while [the guy's dedicated]…should I do that? I know that I am quite liberal with punctuation…does that drive you crazy?
Posting Frequency
Do you think the site would be better if I posted more? Would I make more money if I posted more?
How about affiliate links?
Do you feel ripped when I use them in my posts? …like you are being manipulated? …would it be better to leave them off completely…or relegate them to their own page?
I don’t like to link to anything that I don’t actually use or at least have tried, but there are quite a few times that I’d like to present products [with affiliate links] just because they are cool looking, but I don’t have the time to do a complete review….would you consider that tacky? or would you like to hear about them, even if there is more risk that they suck?
That’s it for the writing review…as always comments are welcomed and there is a prize for the best comment in the site review series.
Jon Symons
Trying to improve things…so you don’t have to.
btw…Ze Frank’s latest video is a work of complete classic especially if you’re into rocks…and who isn’t?
Browse Timeline
Comments ( 13 )
[...] Posting [see the post with details] – style, tone of voice, conversational enough, how’s the writing style? do you get my humor…or just think I’m weird? What about posting frequency? [...]
Help Me Improve this Site - Win A Prize | Art Of Money added these pithy words on Oct 12 06 at 7:11 pm[...] My fear was that there would be no response [and I guess that would be a response that would shape the future too] but that didn’t happen. Now I didn’t set any records for comments by a blogger and I did bribe y’all with prizes but I still set a new record for comments on a post [12] and it was clear to me that some people really do value the site and care enough to want to help improve it. [...]
Help Me Improve Series Shakedown | Art Of Money added these pithy words on Oct 17 06 at 8:44 pmTy added these pithy words on Oct 12 06 at 7:44 pm“Trying to improve things…so you don’t have to”.
Actually, I think we are having to since you are asking???
Jon added these pithy words on Oct 12 06 at 8:04 pmOh ya Ty, I forgot this was Web 2.0 where you make the visitors do all the work
Alison added these pithy words on Oct 12 06 at 8:13 pmOkay, I’ll admit that typos and errors are a big turnoff for me. That said, nobody’s perfect, and I can forgive liberal use of punctuation.
Let me know if you want a copy editor, ‘kay?
Jon added these pithy words on Oct 12 06 at 8:30 pmHi Alison…long time no see.
Do you have a page where you describe you editing services and rates?
If so send me an email, or better yet leave a link. I have a project coming up that will require editing.
markinjapan added these pithy words on Oct 13 06 at 7:40 amDear Thread Killer,
ROFL – why not post under than pen name? You could have a lotta tongue in cheek fun in stirring up constructive controversy!
I see you’ve left the best topic for the final post..so I will warm up with some brief comments on this one..
- that “buzz” you speak of might get a very creative outlet with info products where you are the guy with something to say. But don’t bottle it up just coz it don’t feel right in blogging land…
- I notice typos (except mine!) but don’t mind so much if the content is interesting.
- Posting Frequency – if you get jaded from too much posting, I think many regular readers will eventually notice. Post if there is something you want to say.
- Affiliate Links
I am on the fence on this one..but since your journey from salaried employee to financial freedom is one I am taking I would check out products and services which you are using, reviewing and recommending to get you closer to that goal.Thanks Jon – a wake up call for myself when I hold up the mirror.
regards
Jon added these pithy words on Oct 13 06 at 8:52 amThanks again Mark…all excellent points.
The posting frequency is a tough one for me. I guess it’s inherent in blogging, as soon as you know that there are a few people who actually read your site, then you know that there is an expectation to produce on a regular basis. But I agree with you, writing just to fulfil that expectation will diminish quality and the readers will notice.
David added these pithy words on Oct 14 06 at 1:14 amJon,
I like your style of writing; keep it up.
On frequency, one per day is about as much as I can handle.
I support you using affiliate links; I have found your recommendations good, so I’d like to help you earn some money by using them (I’d even come back to your site to find the link to buy through).
I really like the way that http://www.moneysavingexpert.com (
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1148661420,18378,) deal with their affiliate links – all the ones that earn them money are marked with a *, and they explain how this earns them money; but they will never recommend a link just because it earns them money. There are often un*ed links recommended in the test.HTH,
David
David added these pithy words on Oct 14 06 at 1:22 amOne last thing.
Why not have a donations button at the end of each post, like http://www.stevepavlina.com? I’ve given Steve money after reading a post that really spoke to me; I figure it gave me value, so I want to give Steve money to encourage him to give me some more!
David added these pithy words on Oct 14 06 at 1:30 amAha! I just found the tip jar; don’t hide it away like that!
Put a link at the bottom of each post, ala:
Iff you liked this post, leave me a {link}tip{/link} to encourage me to write more like it
Nneka added these pithy words on Oct 16 06 at 12:45 pmStruggling with my voice as well. You’re doing a pretty good job though. You don’t come off as know it all, but you do provide complete information in your post. If I have a question I post a comment. Most times the post contains all the relevant info on the topic with very little fluff.
Posting frequency is good. I can come back daily and get fresh content. Less than that and it becomes hit or miss, more and there’s too much info (with your current writing style). I notice Darren is able to get away with about 4 posts a day. He usually does a heavy post, 1 or 2 news posts, and 1 or 2 with links. It keeps his blog high on my radar because I don’t want to miss anything, but I’m not overwhelmed because it’s not all heavy.
Affiliate Links – consider your audience. I hover over all links (and do some other stuff when they are hidden), to find out if a link is an affiliate link. However, is most of your audience from the seasoned IM camp or the newbie camp. The aff links don’t bother me and newbies probably don’t know (especially when hidden
Of course you could be transparent about it. I wouldn’t have a problem because I am getting great content and a bonafide recommendation.
Jon added these pithy words on Oct 16 06 at 7:08 pmThanks Nneda…the affiliate links is a dilemna, but I like your suggestion to just mark them with a note to identify them as affiliate links.