Comments on: Can Nice Blogs really finish First?

By: Blog Revolution Note XXIV « Joe Duck

Blog Revolution Note XXIV « Joe Duck — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:44:48 +0000

[...] Blog Revolution Note XXIV At SoundBiteBlog I stumbled (or rather twitter-comment-followed) an excellent post about how much the poisonous / ranting writing styles of many blogs help them succeed. The author wonders if nice blogs can finish first … [...]

By: Sparky

Sparky — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:14:56 +0000

Melina - thank you. You captured the essence of my predicament. I do think its possible to create intriguing, thought-provoking content, without stooping to sensationalist or negative/demeaning assassinations. There is enough of that at the check-out stand at the grocers. I don’t need to add to it! Thanks for stoppin’ by SBB!

By: Greg Cremia

Greg Cremia — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:13:39 +0000

It depends on how you define success. Are you taking about success in numbers of visitors or financial success?

IMHO, a boring blog with no comments is successful if it brings clients in the door. A popular blog with lots of comments is a failure if the commentators are all peers and potential clients are intimidated and go elsewhere.

By: Mark Flanders

Mark Flanders — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:01:46 +0000

Rich,
Caleb makes a good point I think. But, like you, I stay away from the “Flame Blogs”. They remind me of a teenager having a tantrum because he has learned tantrums get him what he wants and he never learns more sophisticate social skills. He just sticks with what worked in the past.

If you want to be proactive, I found this today in my endless prowl around the internet

http://bfletcher.wordpress.com/

He’s an excellent writer I have never “discovered” before now. AND, he’s blogging in a very quiet room. Just like we were when we started! Why not leave a comment over there? I’m sure it would be appreciated.

Mark

By: Melina Tomson

Melina Tomson — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:46:50 +0000

Negativity works. It gets people riled up and talking about you. That is what some people want…

I guess if I can’t make it being boring and nice, then I’d rather not make it. Not to say that I don’t have opinions on something and won’t voice them, but I’m not going to write nasty blogs to get better “numbers.” Attack ideas, absolutely. Individuals…never.

I’m not willing to get that one one feed, or subscription at the expense of someone else. If that means I lose…I guess I lose.

By: Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:48:51 +0000

The reality is that “nice” blogs don’t warrant comments. What’s there left to say but I agree with you?

Good comments require passion, and passion comes from controversy. Nobody is going to get fired up over a photo of your grandson, but tread into the darl worlds of politics or religion and you’ll face a barrage of ordnance unlike any other subject.
You have to decide, who are you writing for? Yourself, or the inflamed masses?

By: caleb

caleb — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:36:57 +0000

Personally, I love posts that are critical, but sensational stuff, I’m not so attracted too. There’s so much content to digest that I find myself gravitating toward the blogs that value my time the most. Ones that give me a new idea, or provide some sort of value on a consistent basis.

I often find that “sensationalized” postings, to be somewhat dishonest, and really they don’t offer much value toward me. So while perhaps “nice” isn’t the word I’d use…I’d say honesty goes a long way.