10 More Things Every Blog Should Have: My Thoughts

Last week’s edition of the TXBloggers weekly Twitter chat focused on the second half of “20 Things Every Blog Must Have”, and this post is written in response to that list.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the first 10 things every blog should have, according to TXBloggers Twitter chat moderator Lisa Stauber (@milehimama).

The chat was originally intended to go through 20 items, but time ran out, so the topic had to be split into two weeks’ worth of discussion. If you missed that first list, be sure to check it out here.

11. Navigation – most people have a navbar, but you at least need some way for readers to find other posts you’ve done.

One of my goals with the current design of this blog was to feature a prominent category bar high up on the page, right below the logo. There’s a search bar at the end of it, too. I also made use of a “tag cloud” and monthly archives to make it easier to search. That way a user can browse the “key” categories, the most prominent tags and based on a timetable.

12. Interesting or Original Images – and make sure you use a watermark so they can be traced back to your site.

The debate over whether a blogger must employ original images or stock photography is long enough to warrant its own post. The image accompanying this post is a stock image. If I’m writing about something of a more personal nature of which I have an appropriate original image, I’m certainly not opposed to using it. A recent post, however, on the subject of public breastfeeding is an example of a post in which an “original”&nbsp image would have been difficult to obtain for obvious reasons.

I try to find interesting stock images, or at least quality images that reinforce the topic of the post to make it easier for a reader to immediately discern what the post is about. It also helps break up what would otherwise be a very gray, text-only blog that would look boring even to me. Images can make a huge difference for your blog’s curb appeal.

13. Social Media. If you are blogging to let your voice be heard,make it easy to share your stuff & find you on the web.

This blog’s theme came with its own social media sharing option built-in. Still, I added Shareaholic (you’ll see it below the post so you can share as soon as you’re through reading). I’ve also added the Social Stickers plugin at the top of the sidebar so you can find me on various networks. The more connected you are, the more you can help share each other’s content and build a powerful alliance of support.

14. A community. Whether you build your community in comments, forums, on social media- don’t blog into a black hole.

Community is one of the most basic, yet often most-overlooked aspects of blogging. I can write anything I want and schedule new posts all day long. But if I don’t have an audience willing to read, participate, offer feedback, share and sometimes even talk to each other and build stronger relationships, I might as well be talking to a brick wall: sure, I’m still getting things off my chest, but what am I really accomplishing if I’m not providing a place where real discussion can happen?

15. A Disclosure. If you ever get anything from brands — from money to products — you must disclose.

In some cases, this is a legal requirement. In all cases, it is an ethical requirement.

16. Mentors. Blogging changes quickly & you should have people to bounce ideas off & who will make your site better.

This is an interesting one, and not one I’d think of right away. I don’t know that I have a formal “blogging mentor”, but by being part of a growing blogging community, I have more and more people off whom I can bounce ideas that I feel I’m in an even better position. Once in a while, I’ll ask individuals whose blogs I enjoy reading what they think of something I’m doing; once in a while, someone will ask me.

I definitely think it’s important to have people you can talk blogging with behind the scenes. It’s always a learning process. The more people you surround yourself with, the more answers you’ll have.

17. Google Analytics. AND Webmaster Tools.

I use both, but I use Google Analytics much more. After a record-breaking month in July, August broke another record. So far, September’s looking great, too. But the real reason to use Analytics isn’t just to watch a few numbers: Analytics can give you detailed information about where your readers go on your blog, which categories are the most popular and which ones go almost unnoticed.

I am also signed up for Webmaster Tools, but to be honest, I’ve not made much use of it. This is an area where I don’t have many answers. Obviously, I need to work on that.

18. RSS feed and email subscription. Make it easy for people to read your blog where THEY want to read it!

I offer both here. And I agree that we bloggers need to make every option as easy as possible for our readers. Think of it this way: you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions every day. The faster and simpler something is, the more likely you’re willing to invest a portion of your limited time to do.

19. Security. Don’t let a hacker take your blog down.

There are a variety of security plugins available. Some protect your files, some, like Login Lockdown, even secure your admin sign-in form to stop a would-be intruder from attempting to cycle through too many password possibilities to gain access to your blog. But there are other kinds of security you should think about to: in some cases, spiders and bots can be blocked from your blog by plugins that attempt to limit their activity (and thereby, reduce the strain of resources your blog causes for your host server).

A good place to start would be your web hosting company: They should be able to offer some suggestions for security plugins you should consider.

20. YOU. Your voice, your perspective, your advice, your stories, your photos, your style.

A writer’s “voice”&nbsp is one of the questions I am most often asked about by newbie bloggers. It’s definitely one of the things every blog should have, but it’s hard to pin down, especially when you’re starting off.

Your voice is your unique way of communicating. But here’s where it gets tricky: you don’t have your voice until you begin using it. So if you start off “searching”&nbsp for your voice, you’re going to fail. Start off writing. Start off by saying what you want to say. Go back and refine it, as best you can, before you click Publish. Keep doing that: be authentically you and your voice emerges on its own. It’s an automatic benefit of expressing yourself.

Your voice may be similar to someone else’s. But unless you’re all about putting on some elaborate act, your voice will be distinctive.

Your Turn:

We’ve now explored 20 things every blog should have. Do you have any items you think should be added to the list?