The absolute, ultimate, number one characteristic of a blog that brings me back, gets me hooked and makes me want to read more is the openness of the blogger. Do they show a picture of themselves? Maybe a video? Audio, maybe? Do they give a little insight to their family? Maybe they go in to great detail about their past on their about page? Maybe they show pictures of their lunch?!

If I don’t know a bloggers name and don’t know what they look like, I’ll never become hooked, even if their content is very good quality.

Take this very blog, for example. Despite the persona of “John Cow”, I know your name (Hey Bob! /Waves\ ) and ever since you did the live video casting a few weeks back I’ve felt a much larger “hooking” or “addiction” to your content because I now know what you look like. Now I know who is behind the words, I feel much more compelled to read your content, comment on your content and link to you.

I’ve wrestled with the notion of writing personal content on my own blog. I’ve been blogging in some shape or form since 2005. For most of that time I was blogging from an entirely personal stance. What did I have for lunch? How was my weekend? Which people irritate me the most? I wrote about it all.

Then in 2007 I switched to business blogging, writing about all things entrepreneur and MMO. Suddenly my readership switched from a group of people interested in my personal life, to a group of people who wanted to learn from me and actually had expectations of the content I would write.

But there has to be a medium. Often, your personal life will cross with your business. Are you not going to share the important lessons for your bloggers, just because what your learned and want to share happened at a time when you were eating lunch? I took a trip to New York City earlier this year, so I shared my photos and told a few stories of the time while I was there.

I’ve said there has to be a medium, and there certainly is. I know this because I read blogs that have found the medium. Ms Danielle puts out some fantastic business advice, but also shares her birthday (and other personal things) with her readers (BTW, her birthday post received a lot more comments than any of her “on topic” posts). Brendon Sinclair over at Tailored.com.au is another person who has found the medium. Almost all his posts are business lessons learned while he was doing something personal, maybe shopping or eating with his family. I feel like I know Brendon better than most bloggers on the Internet and I learn far more from him than most because he has found that medium of personal and business.

I’ve just recently finished my training to become a kayaking coach. A lot of lessons were shared with us, but one in particular has stuck with me. It was three letters… SEL. Safe. Enjoyable. Learning.

Now discount the safe part for blogging, but the other two are quite related. In the MMO niche, we all want to learn from other bloggers. But we should do that learning in an enjoyable manner. Enjoyment can come from any road, but I personally find that sharing and discussing your weekend is one of the easiest, and most effective ways of building a strong, enjoyable community.

Two people knock on your door, one after the other. One is serious and barely cracks a smile and strictly tells you about the product he is selling. The other quickly asks whether the dog next door is always that scary, and proceeds to tell you how he just got chased… then proceeds to tell you about his product. Which door salesman are you going to feel the most connection to? Which door salesman are you going to remember? Which door salesman are you most likely to buy from? I know which one I would prefer.

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Lets see.
-1- NO, blogs shouldn’t be business only. It’s nice to know about the person you spend half your time reading his blog.

-2- Yes, thats true, but sometimes the blogger shares unimportant iformation, such as what he ate yesterday.

-3-Well, I look for quality content, but in John Chows case, the fact that he makes $30,000 a month

- Should blogs be all business ONLY?

God no, and here’s a little story.

A few weeks ago, they asked the Prime Minister in the UK “What’s the first thing he thinks about in the morning?”. He answered “The Economy, and how to improve the credit crunch”. Our glorious PM got ridiculed for it, as, lets be honest, it’s not the first thing any of us think of. It’s more of a “I hope I don’t get into work today”, “I could murder a coffee/wee”, “Damn I’m hungover” or, if you’re like me, “Who’s this cute chick I’ve woken up next to…again!” ;). The same is with blogging. Why are bloggers to show that they’re not human? Because it’s a sign of weakness? Trust me, I connect more with a blog like this when you complain that you have a Tequila induced hangover, rather than how much you’ve made.

Is not one of the attractions of blogging –> getting inside the mind of the blogger?

Most definitely! It’s ace building up such a rapport with a blogger.

What do you look for in a blog and what brings you back… what gets you hooked?

Quality content defintely. However, “quality content” can mean a number of things. The last blog I subscribed too was because I fancied the blogger in question and she kept putting up pictures of herself in bikinis.

Hey! It works!

Rhyss last blog post..Shagablogger.com Launch

Wow… excellent moos already.. Jamie and Rhyss, those would make could posts by themselves

I know John. Thought about it when I wrote it, may expand it on my blog :S

Rhyss last blog post..Shagablogger.com Launch

1) I don’t feel that blogs should be for business only. It would be without unique personality. Quality content, variety and *Handsome blogger * does keep me hooked to a site. Can see remember your cute smile that I saw on your video livesteam.

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I don’t think blogs should be all business, I don’t mind and sometimes get hooked by the personal bits shared by the author, so yes - one of the attractions is getting into the author’s mind, but there’s a big difference between a personal angle shared by the author and a long, tormenting brag-o-rama.

We cannot ignore the fact that controversy & conflict sell - BloggerUnleashed built his name upon these two factors and nothing else, JohnCow wouldn’t have got much attention initially if it didn’t have such a similar name to John Chow, and there a dozen more examples… and we see more and more bloggers trying to stir controversy in order to get publicity..which is very saddening, considering the fact only a small fraction of them have anything else to offer.

Now as for the last question - The classic answer would be “quality content”, but we all know there’s much more to it. I think that there’s nothing wrong with recruiting controversy to your side, just as long as you know that controversy alone is a time-restricted thing, people are going to get bored with your dining nights, your countless insults of A-listers, your controversial name will eventually be meaningless…only your words are there to stay, the value your bring to the blogosphere, your readers.

Cheers,
Allen

Allen.Hs last blog post..Quit Making Fun of Yourself

Depends what kind of blog. If it’s one run by one person - of course not - the main reason I read most blogs today is because I like the owner / the owner amuses me - if I didn’t know who he was, and there wasn’t personality in his posts, I wouldn’t stick around.

Blogs like Tech Crunch, or multi authored ones on a large scale tend to be business only, although you see a few bits pop up every so often.

I would expand, sorry, but Jamie killed it. Cracking comment!
Jasons last blog post..May 13th - Blowout Day For TUK Entrepreneur Advice

haha i dont mind diner posts or snow trips but less frequency, more updates! and the guy at the top really wants some gifts!

I feel that in order to be believable, to connect with the readers, there should be a mix of personal stuff in there….but it should be done without effort.

Some people will come back to a blog that offers lots of contests
Some people like blogs with a theme (cow theme for example)

I like blogs that offer great value…with a little mix of personality.

Keiths last blog post..Earning $400,000 per month

I don’t think blogs should be business only, you can go into any physically existing business as a repeat customer, and occasionally you’re going to catch them doing something outside the norm. But that makes the place endearing, you’ve seen a side of that business/blogger because you read/visit it regularly and you like that occasional quirky characteristic.

I like to know that I have a lot in common with the blogger, so getting inside the mind of that person is definitely a part of finding that out..

The draw for me consists of a few things:

1. Do we share common interest(s)? Blogging is not enough.
2. Am I going to learn anything here? Is the information useful?
3. Do I enjoy the writing style of the blogger?
4. Do I agree with the point of view?
5. Is this blog fun to watch?

I’ve read lots of bloggers for a long time, and my favorites list changes periodically with time. Overall I think the most important factor to me is my time, if I feel like I’m wasting my time reading a particular blog, I’ll stop and I usually get to feeling that way when the posts aren’t valuable any more to me and I feel I already have learned all I’m going to from that blog. Or I get bored with it, as I did with JChow.

I like to be entertained as well, so most of the bloggers I read have a similar sense of humor to mine, and are sarcastic a little vulgar and cocky. That’s what I look for in a blog to read.

My Answer:
Who cares?

Me just moaning:
You don’t like what you’re reading? Run away somewhere… That way the people who you are moaning about can make money without you worrying about it. How is this an issue? I don’t particularly think that all blogs that are making money are useful, but you can’t say someone is wrong to make money out of posting pictures of last nights dinner. If that’s what they do, and they make money - and continue to have readers then then can do what they want.

Look at it like this, you have a blog, you post a picture of your dinner, or your fat dog humping your slippers, & You get paid $30,000 a month. You lose a few regulars who think you’re losing the point of your blog, OH NOES!

Next month, you write another post about last nights meal and the death of your beloved dog, and you’re still raking in $30,000 a month. With more readers and some of your regulars. You’re content hasn’t been any more informative, but your still making money.

Why waste time Writing good content when you’ve got money to spend?

The fact is once you’ve made it big that’s it. People will come to your blog regardless, in the hope that one day they too will be like you. It takes some effort to get to that point, but when you’ve got enough money to not give a shit about your readers then you can post what you want.

If you were getting paid to post about the day to day bullshit that everyone does, would you have a problem with that?

* Should blogs be all business ONLY? - Noup, i love mixed concepts.

* Is not one of the attractions of blogging –> getting inside the mind of the blogger? - I dream about cash cow every night

* What do you look for in a blog and what brings you back… what gets you hooked? - Interesting, new and good news info, fun and articles.

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I agree that seeing John Chow talk about food or off-topic subjects like technology, cars and travel, definitely gives him more depth of personality than just a “Make Money Online” guy. Same goes for Shoemoney when he talks about betting or UFC or how he lost an impressive amount of weight. And after all that is said and done, the blog sites do belong to them so they are really their brainchilds to do with as they wish…

I compare it to the concept of Howard Stern though, if people are tuning in and subscribing to Howard’s shows (crewd material or not), he will make money and be successful. So if people tune in to read the latest Chow and Shoemoney posts, regardless of subject, then they help continue their success.

Mouthygirl…

“I like to be entertained as well, so most of the bloggers I read have a similar sense of humor to mine, and are sarcastic a little vulgar and cocky. That’s what I look for in a blog to read.”

We think we love you (crap did i say that out loud)

* Should blogs be all business ONLY?
- Absolutely not. Blogging isn’t just about business, in fact it has only been recently that people seem to be jumping on the “make money online” bandwagon and trying to make money from their blog. Blogging is and should be whatever you want it to be. Anyone wanting to start a blog should be writing not only what they know about, but what they are passionate about. This is how you get readers and eventually make money if you want.

* Is not one of the attractions of blogging –> getting inside the mind of the blogger?
- Yes, people identify with certain bloggers or writing styles because there’s something about that person that strikes the right chords with you. Almost every blog I read didn’t start out as a money making blog but only became so because the author started experimenting with monetization and found something that worked. I love seeing how others live and what kinds of choices they make because of their lifestyle.

* What do you look for in a blog and what brings you back… what gets you hooked?
- Honesty and topics that are similar to my own interests. are what keep me coming back to a blog. I don’t whether it makes money or not or is a business or not. Some blogs I read just because they are entertaining and good writing always brings me back.

Fantastic responses… very well thought out. This is certainly going to be a tought call and i think a random draw of the top posts is going to be necessary… but you never know.

One thing we look at it like, is television. You watch a saw because you personally like it.. whether it be CSI, Oprah, Dukes of Hazard (good ole’duke boys) or NightLine… it must be something you can relate to and can entertain you.

I think there are very few that would watch television just for education and learning. The educational shows that do well are the ones that throw in drama, bring you into the peoples lives and above all keep you interested.

Keep the great comments coming!

Personally I firmly believe that the owner of the blog has the right to write whatever he wants. However I also believe that authority blogs specific to a niche such as Engadget and TechCrunch, should stick mainly to posting on subjects that they are covering in their niche since it is a professional blog designed to be a business. There is a difference between a blog making money and a blog that is meant to be a business.

Sure John Chow and John Cow both make money through blogging, but that doesn’t mean that their blog aren’t personal blogs as well. People who view it as a straight business blog will come to realize that they are the one ranting and complaining pointlessly to thin air. The reality is that at the end of the day, bloggers can blog about what they want and since it is a personal blog, all the more reason to emphasize there is no limitation to their topics.

Sure Chow attracts lots of users through his money posts and recaps on his income, but from beginning to end, his blog covered other subjects as well. Readers who’ve come to love his blog should accept it for what it is. It is a lot like trying to tell someone you like certain things about them but bitch at them if you don’t like other aspects of their personality. If you can’t accept them for who they are, don’t bother being their friend. If you’re a true friend, you’ll stop your whining. Similarly, if you don’t want to read their blogs, you don’t have to. No one tells you how to run your life, your business, or anything else you do, why do people expect bloggers to act any different?!

Stevens last blog post..18 Kids and Counting!

A work that doesn’t reveal a part of the person behind it, it’s not passionate work.
That way blogs and work must be personal to be great.
I search a blog that you read and see and you feel that it’s outstanding and different from the rest.
Excellence requires passion, and this is present in this blog.

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Awww…outloud indeed, but it’s cool, it’ll be our little secret

Very interesting questions you pose here, John Cow. Here’s my take:

1. I think that the underlying question for your first question is whether or not what you blog about makes you happy. It’s always good to pick a niche and work on it, and in that case it can be considered good practice to stick to business. However, I believe that in the end, if you choose to blog about something else because it makes you happy, then feel free to. It is your blog after all, and you control what gets put there!

2. I think it’s always good to get to know the blogger that you are reading about. It allows you to develop a better rapport with readers, and make you more interesting than the next guy in the end. Would you rather read a blog that’s all business all the time, or would you rather read a blog that ties in a bit personally? I would rather read the one that I know more personally, which is part of the reason why I continue to read John Chow… he’s open about all the stuff he does.. and his dot com Pho videos are hilarious!

3. What gets me hooked on a blog. Tough question. I have to admit that I oftentimes judge a blog from its theme. Has the blogger put any effort into making his/her blog something that I want to look at? Next is the attitude of the blogger, which is very important to me. I’m not going to continue to read someone that trashes everyone else or just doesn’t try at all. I’m going to come back for quality posts, humor, and whether or not I feel that I can interact with that blogger. That’s very important to me.

Great post, John Cow. I’ll be back to see more results!

Wow… am I really the first apple user to leave a comment? What kind of odds are that?
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I think a certain amount of “personal” material really adds to a blog. You just have to be careful how MUCH (unless you’re writing a PERSONAL blog ). What I LOVE most about blogs is the more “personal” interaction.

So the kinds of things that will keep me coming back:

* The blogger writes in their own unique voice
* As I read I feel like the blogger is talking to me
* The language isn’t too “technical” or wordy
* The blogger responds to any comments I make (I like being heard)
* The material written is of interest to me with a bit of variation (who wants to read about the same stuff EVERY single day????)

HOWEVER, if I’m reading a blog for the information side of things, I really DON’T want post after post about menus and some such. The occasional post on the other hand I think can actually EHANCE a readers experience.

I visit blogs that have ideas and methods I have not
seen before and that interests me and I will be back
but to have all business makes for a boring read at
times. A splash of humor and personal intervention
makes a blog attractive as well. Recently a post about
“Humpback Grooming” got a good laugh out of me
and you need that to break up the day.

At times I am Blogging about a concept or program
I am involved in and then sit back and have a look at
it. Man! That’s boring..I need something to livin’ it
up a bit.

Gords last blog post..SnagIt

* Should blogs be all business ONLY?
NO! In fact, blogs should NOT primarily be a business. When a blog becomes popular, some business aspects can be brought in but they should just be peripheral.
* Is not one of the attractions of blogging –> getting inside the mind of the blogger? YES! Readers love to get inside the mind of the blogger - especially someone interesting who can tell him or her something new or say something from another perspective that the reader has never thought about.
* What do you look for in a blog and what brings you back… what gets you hooked? Sincerity! Bloggers must sincerely be wanting to share - whether it be about their lives, tips or skills to impart or things to share e.g. blog themes.