Blogging Tip: Is controversy necessary?
This is my second 'blogging tips' post, and considering the success of the last one I might make it a full series. If you missed my first tip, don't feel left out, watch it here.
So assuming you've now read the first tip, you will have heard me go on about how content is the most important thing to focus on when blogging, and I'm basically going to expand on that now.
Many people consider successful blogs to be full of comments and opinions from the readers. This leads to the common misconception that blog posts have to be controversial in order to spark a reaction.
Despite there being some truth in that, I by no means consider it a necessity, and here's why.
I realise I am stating the obvious here, but you want your readers to actually like you, and there is a chance that being controversial can effectively halve you following as it drives away those readers you disagree strongly with what you are saying.
But surely then I'll just get no comments and my blog will fail? Well no. People will still comment if your posts are useful and informative (like this one?), and even if they don't, it's doesn't mean your blog isn't successful.
Of course I understand the satisfaction that comes with knowing readers care enough to respond to your posts, but a compromise needs to be made.
There's only so long that you can 'sit on the fence' before it starts to get uncomfortable, so you will need to spark some sort of reaction, but you need to make sure that it's not extreme enough to make your audience hate you.
It's a difficult balance to achieve, but if you keep it in mind when writing your posts, you should soon be able to work out the correct level of controversy.
So that's it for part 2 of my blogging tips series, check back next time for
'Blogging Tips: The design you need'
I realise I am stating the obvious here, but you want your readers to actually like you, and there is a chance that being controversial can effectively halve you following as it drives away those readers you disagree strongly with what you are saying.
But surely then I'll just get no comments and my blog will fail? Well no. People will still comment if your posts are useful and informative (like this one?), and even if they don't, it's doesn't mean your blog isn't successful.
Of course I understand the satisfaction that comes with knowing readers care enough to respond to your posts, but a compromise needs to be made.
There's only so long that you can 'sit on the fence' before it starts to get uncomfortable, so you will need to spark some sort of reaction, but you need to make sure that it's not extreme enough to make your audience hate you.
It's a difficult balance to achieve, but if you keep it in mind when writing your posts, you should soon be able to work out the correct level of controversy.
So that's it for part 2 of my blogging tips series, check back next time for
'Blogging Tips: The design you need'
