"PLEASE, Gimme A Reason To Look At Your Blog!!!" Topic

I often see threads that say that there's something interesting in your blogs but, for goodness' sake …

1) Post a picture or two on the thread itself! I need to be teased, enticed, seduced, if you will, first, before I'm given a cold link on an otherwise empty thread ; and

2) When you add your blog link on a thread dedicated to the accomplishment you're announcing, please make it a DIRECT link to that item! Not just your generic blog link. Some of us like to go back and do TMP searches later, to see what it was you posted those many months ago, and don't want to do a long search for it later through all your blog posts once we get to your main page.

Please, please, please. (did I mention please!)

Thanks y'all,

From hot and steamy SE Louisiana,

Dan (a Houston TX resident away from home for a while, and living vicariously through your awesome work)

I must admit, i'm guilty of not following #2… but i've learned my lesson I swear!

I realized what I was doing as I kept clicking links from a while ago and getting confused…

Haha I've been debating on posting something like this for a while. I agree 100%!

I try to do all of the above, and it seems to me that the majority of bloggers do; obviously, not all, however!

I think all of these are reasonable and easy enough to do.

Yea, I agree, it'd be nice to know what the changes, or updates to them are, prior to clicking.

Then again, when you want to get your hit count up, and people might not look if you told them, that may be counterproductive.

Being a contrarian, I frequently don't click on the links though, if there are no pics, of info about the blog updates to begin with, since I can't be bothered in many cases.

How's this?

link

Pics are nice but I am more interested in what the person has to say. For instance, I get tired of battle reports that don't even tell you what game is being played! Post all the pictures you want but without context of knowing what to expect in the game, the pictures are kind of meaningless.

If it is a post about painting, I'd expect some pictures!

There's no pictures in your forum post Khurasanminiatures!

But I'll forgive you, since the content is worthwhile ;)

But there are pictures on the blog post! That's what this thread is about ….

Post a picture or two on the thread itself!

Dun dun duhhh….

There, you got it for me! Thanks Harold!

To be fair, he never said it had to be a related picture!!

In that case ….

Can we get that in 15mm and 28mm?

Khurasan, that link you sent us to goes to the mobile version. For the full site, the ?m=1 needs to be stripped off. Otherwise, your last picture in this thread sold me on whatever it was you're selling. Expect an order soon.

As time goes by I find I'm increasingly less likely to click on links unless it's clearly something I would be interested in.
As already expressed above, I also would prefer some sort of sample of what I'm in for if I click the link. There is only so much time I'm prepared to expend going to strange blogs for mediocre work in one day.

Yeah, I rarely go to blog links because they so seldom actually link to the topic at hand.

But then I sort of hate blogs anyway. I want web sites organized thematically, not just a timeline. So I may not be a representative sample.

Khurasan, at least your link on your 8:47 PST post complied with #2. It went straight to the item you wanted to draw attention to. So we can click on it next week, next month, or whatever and it will take you to the desired item.

MrHarold, that is just plain adorable! Is that your first? Awesome eyes and overall expression. See! That is the kind of enticement I need to click and look at the blog narrative. Put some sort of bait on the hook guys.

Joker, I know what you mean. Pics alone is not enough for a blog. Some sort of narrative completes the picture (pardon the pun). So I guess we can call that requirement #3.

Dan

@Cacique Caribe Haha, not my kid… but she (2.5 months) wasn't co-operating with a picture at the moment…

She's just toooooo cute!

Dan
PS. But where's the direct blog link that explains the picture? I thought you said you had stopped violating the second criteria!

Sorry Jon.

No info, no click…..

This whole subject came up a while ago, and I agree. I like to see a brief comment about what to expect and a couple of taster pictures.

It's what I generally try to do now with my blog links. I WANT people to click though and look at the whole thing and maybe more on my blog so it's not too much to ask or a little 'tempter'.

I think this is also a result of the huge (I think) increase in the number of blogs out there over the last couple of years. It's difficult to follow everything and in Blogs of War there's a good chance your update post will drop off the first screen in a day if you don't get any replies to the post. Adding a few images gives something for people to comment on even if they don't want to 'follow through' so to speak :) and so bumps your post and increases the chances of more people seeing it.

So..what was the question again? :)

Andy

The only time I don't put up a teaser pic is if there is only one pic on the blog post, meaning it would be a waste of time clicking through if you've already seen what's on show. Is that okay?

Dan, visit my beer blog or I will post pictures of me, wearing only my black leather chaps and 10-gallon hat, sweating in the Hot Texas Sun, drinking my Shiner Bock!

If that's not enticement, I don't know what is!

mitchellsbeer.com

Suggestions of the OP warmly seconded.
As for pics vs text, for me I always appreciate eye-candy, but find boring detailed AAR mentioning each and every card of dice throw, specially when I'm not familiar with the rules set.

You mean like highlighting an article on painted GZG marines at link or a large dropship I have started at link?
That kind of thing?

Cacique Caribe – I second his comments. There has been an increase in the "wow I've done this on my blog" but without any photos or even a summary. I find this rude and disingenuous to the forum and Bill.

Yeah, I made a post about this a few months ago. Some folks seem to believe that a link only will entice your interest.
If you go back and check you'll find about half the links are generic instead of taking you to a specific post. Very irritating when searching.

Thanks,

John

You mean like highlighting an article on painted GZG marines at link or a large dropship I have started at link?
That kind of thing?

Well, not really, as you did not post any pictures here which was his first point..

This TMP post is an example of the sort of thing he wants:

TMP link

Some words about the blog entry, some teaser images and the link itself to the article on the blog, not just to the blog.

BOREDOM is the REASON
to check out any blog…do you really need a reason

I write my blog because I like writing my blog when I have time. If people like it, ok. If people don't like it, ok. Doesn't matter to me one bit. What did Lincoln say about pleasing people?

But then I sort of hate blogs anyway. I want web sites organized thematically, not just a timeline. So I may not be a representative sample.

So are you willing to host such websites for people, pay their bandwidth fees, and so on? Teach them HTML 5? Easier said than done. Geocities died for a reason. People have lives. This is me saying this, a fellow whose had a real website with 100s of pages and 1000s of photos since 1997. Maintining a website is a PITA. Blogging is sooooo much easier, once I learned to give up coding control.

Don't get me started. I'm tired and sick and cranky. (Pray for my students today! LoL)

If you're too lazy to click on a link or don't like what someone is doing for free, don't b-word to me about it. Go get a more relaxing hobby.

I write my blog because I like writing my blog when I have time. If people like it, ok. If people don't like it, ok. Doesn't matter to me one bit.

Same position for me. In addition to the enjoyment of writing the blog, it seems to have the added benefit of organizing and motivating my efforts to stay on task. Its kind of analogous to a to-do list for my hobby.

I do that *exact thing* in my posts. Literally. Nice to see it's made someone's list of good blogging etiquette.

visit, don't visit – up to you.

Mitchell: "Dan, visit my beer blog or I will post pictures of me, wearing only my black leather chaps and 10-gallon hat, sweating in the Hot Texas Sun, drinking my Shiner Bock!"

Ay, ay, ay! My eyes are hurting already.

Dan

This means I'd have to post something to my blog, which has been suffering from my recent lack of motivation to do anything miniature related.

Sarge: "my recent lack of motivation to do anything miniature related."

I guess that means I need to redouble my efforts to stir you guys! :)

Dan

"But then I sort of hate blogs anyway. I want web sites organized thematically, not just a timeline. So I may not be a representative sample."

This is the reason you have to use tags. Most blog formats allow you to simply click on the tag for all the post related to 15mm or painting but the owner has to tag them correctly.

I also like a list of categories on the side to help you find the topics your looking for.

I'm giulty of # 1 but not # 2, my appologise, I will try to do better in future, didn't mean to be so rude and disingenuous to the forum and Bill, feel free to visit, or not.

I dont care one way or another…If you want to visit, great. If not, oh well. But if you do it's nice if people left feed back on the blog…we all liked our egos stroked…amongst other things…

stepman3.blogspot.com

I have been thinking about this over dinner, some here have commented they don't like blogs etc, I really think blogs are great for the hobby, it allows an exchange of idea's, it gives enjoyment/entertainment and centralises all ones posts in one area, it also easily allows you to share posts amongst several differant sites, it acts a a virtual display case and picture storage, and allows you to follow peoples work, sites like TMP do some of this but not all, I actually get disapointed when I see a post on TMP with excellent pictures and there is no blog link, that post will eventually end up lost in the void, yet a blog would allow me to easily check the persons work at will, anytime I want.
Anyone who has visited my blog would realize its not all about "look at my stuff" I try to enhance the hobby for others, I write the occational review (even though it is not enjoyable for me to write long posts) I write these reviews not because I like to hear my own voice, but because I think someone may benifit in seeing a product, or I have not been able to find any pictures/reviews of a product myself, so I make it easier for the next person, I write tutorials to help others pick up hobby skills, and try to promote the hobby in general, whats not to like? just my 2 cents.
link

But then I sort of hate blogs anyway. I want web sites organized thematically, not just a timeline.

If posts are correctly labelled, you can read a blog by themes; even in chronological order for on-going processes (campaign or modelling reports…): go for the oldest post of the label, then go iteratively for 'more recent' .
I fail to see in what websites are superior.

I do my best to always include a teaser picture and a link directly to that post on my blog. Occasionally TMP wants to truncate that link. My posting of Lysette is a good example. I tried 4 or 5 times to get the link to behave properly and it truncated it every time. I do my best though.

If I had a blog, I know I'd be seriously guilty of all infractions mentioned, in spite of having cursing same. Those that can, do, those that can't, kvetch.

The whole 'properly formatted blog' that allows follow a theme can fall to the not 'pointing to the right place' problem, if hunting the linkage is as involved as finding a particular entry.

Face it, sometimes blogs just happen, so setting up those linkages often don't.

I will say feedback is a complicated; I don't think just visiting commits me to make a comment. If I find what I want, or seriously like, or even have constructive criticism, yes.

Wouldn't stroke your ego as much, though.

Nothing, however, morally requires me to sign up, and some blog systems think it should to allow comment. Meh.

Doug

Links Damn IT!

The number of times I have read a review of something I thought was kinda neat in a blog, then had to spend 5 minutes googling around to find the sight where it was for sale is many. All it would take is one nice obvious link.

When I write my infrequent screed on the crap i am doing I always try to provide a link to things that I am referencing.

One it is always good to provide good citations of other peoples work that makes yours better.

Two it is good advertising for your source, meaning supporting a company you like can have the support to make more stuff you like.

Three it also shows your readers that you are interested in the subject enough to continue reading your blog about the subject.

Today that is my biggest bitch, I promise I will have a new one tomorrow.

My view.

I love looking at other peoples work on their blogs. Finding a link to them on TMP is great, but I dont need the poster to provide us with a summary of their blog post, including pictures here. It takes me very little effort to go have a nosey if I'm interested.

Additionally posting to many images in the forum can be a pain. The basic format of the forum works reasonaly well on phone screens. With modern tech I take the opportunity to check out the forums, and read whats new, when I'm out and waiting around. That cant happen when I have to wait for half a dozen large images to load. The recent post regarding gatling guns was a good example. Nice pics that illustrated the point, but hell to load.

But as I say, just my view on the topic.

John

Number 1 is true but it's not suitable for everyone, but worth considering.

Number 2 in the OP is vital, esp. when you come to a new project you do a big forum search find a pile of tantilising links about the Tibetan Army Band follow them to find the blogger is into Mau-Mau now and not a Tibetan Nose flute in sight… frustrating.

I think Texan Dan should have his own blog and show us all how to do it… ;-)

I completely agree with both one and two. It's just common courtesy. If you want someone to come to see your blog, then give them a sentence or two and a pic.

The picture system here at TMP is one of the easiest to use. If you can't make it work, fine. If your post doesn't contain any pics, fine. Otherwise, just do it.

For those post links without details/pics but justify not using good posting etiquette by saying "I do the blog for my enjoyment, I don't care if other's see it" I call malarky. If you didn't care, you wouldn't be posting it here.