Food For Thought: Blogs

[Elizabeth Ann West]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/techn ... .html?_r=1

So the above article is about people running blogging networks, and that these networks-- often concentrated on a single subject or area-- are drawing advertising dollars away from traditional print outlets like magazines. If this continues in popularity, there may be an increase in blog type pieces here. After all, most of these people who run the blogs can't possibly create the daily content needed to keep audiences captivated.

Anyone have any success here with the blog posts? Willing to share what features of a blog post should be included? Word count? Is SEO really necessary since authors can just tag them? (not here, but on their blogs).

[nichewriter]

I've been producing blog posts for about half a dozen clients (outside of CC) in the last couple of years. I don't run my own blog, but my clients usually have the following requirements: 250 words or less per blog post; keyword/phrase in the title, in the first 100 characters and last 100 characters of the blog post itself, and naturally throughout (often 1 or 2 times); and conversational/informal tone. I've had orders for 400-word blog posts, but majority of my blog post assignments were between 150 and 250 words.

I haven't tried submitting blog posts on CC, though, to know how they'd do here. But based on my experience outside of CC, there's no shortage of buyers needing blog content. The short blog posts are an exercise in brevity, and so when I start writing articles for submission here on CC, it can be a relief (lotsa words wanting to get out!)

[Phil]

Aren't most blog posts written in first person? Is there an exception in place to allow for blog specific articles?

[Celeste Stewart]

Not necessarily first person, but they generally have a more casual tone.

[Lysis]

Blogs are fun to read and interesting sometimes, but I don't see them taking over the big mags. Something the big mags still have is credibility where a blogger can say anything and there's no editing process. I read blogs for fun but that's it. If I see a claim in a blog, I will generally google for the info from a more credible source.

[nichewriter]

Hi, Phil. It depends on the client. Like Celeste said, blog posts have a more casual tone. They can be first person or second person. I have written blog posts with first person POV according to client requirements. One had me writing blog posts on her vegetarian blog and since I'm vegetarian, it was easy to write in first person.

[Celeste Stewart]

Just keep in mind that if you are submitting blog content on CC, no first person POV.

[Phil]

Just keep in mind that if you are submitting blog content on CC, no first person POV.

I thought so. That's why I asked the question on exceptions. Thanks for the definitive answer. I will simply try to rule the blogosphere from the third person.