What makes this blog special?

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Okay, pm sent

But back to that question ~ what do you enjoy in a blog?

Humour, new ideas you can use, trivia, family stories, novelties or something else??

[Happy Momma]

For me- my favorite blogs are the ones I can relate to.  My favorite bloggers have kids around the same age as my toddler or a bit older.  Most of their stories focus around their kids and their day to day lives.  Sometimes funny, sometimes not.

I guess I could relate it to my favorite TV shows- like I love shows like Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld because the story lines have happened to me or could happen to me.  I think blogs are the same way- if I can relate I'm hooked.

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

You know, that's something that I've never read in any of those "blog building" articles you see around.

They say, "make it relevant to your audience", which I guess is the same thing, but I get it better the way you put it.

It makes sense that people read blogs (of people) that they can relate to.

[berriesweetest]

i don't get a ton o traffic either, but am happy for what i do have and like to see that it is growing. but am i special? well, yes and no.
yes if you can relate to me. yes if you like my writing style. yes if you feel like you want to read more at the end of the latest post. yes if you come back. more than once.
no if you can't relate. no if my writing style irks you to the very core. no if you don't even finish a post before clicking off my site.
i guess that relates to writing for your audience, but th thing is, you really need to write for YOU and patiently wait for your audience to find you.

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

of course you are special

crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl      crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl crawl

But seriously Pauline, it sounds like the thing that gets people coming back is emotional engagement with the writer.
Caring about them and liking them and their style.  ~The same as in friendships.

So is what we're really doing in trying to create a popular blog the same as trying to be the most popular girl in high school?  Euww!   

[Jo Ann]

you know what, i have been bugged with the same question for a looong time now. there is this one blog that also boasts of earning $1000 a month (she is a friend of a friend). but her posts are really so lame...

same with the others, i like blogs that share the same situations i go through. and those that makes seemingly mundane things so interesting...

ok, raising my hands.  pm ...

[girlzmama2002]

   Ladies, I think we all seem to have the million dollar question here!  My blog is a good example of what Berries was saying.  Some of my stuff is silly, lots related to adoption and China, some general parent-type stuff. Some reviews, some giveaways, some links, lots of pictures, especially of my kids.  Some people like it and some don't.

One thing I am trying to add, based on what I have read on those 'How to Earn Zillions on Your Blog' articles is current topics,regular topics and frequent posts.  That is supposed to help.  Also, getting your blog url 'out there'...via blogrolls, comments, carnivals, guest posting, etc.  I am also constantly adjusting my blog...moving around the information on my sidebars and trying to optimize my page load speed and more.  Always seems like there is something more I can do...guess I enjoy the challenge!

Don't know if this helps at all but there are my thoughts on this hefty question.

[grocerymama]

I agree Girlzmama2002! Your blog is a constant work in progss. What works where, which header draws people in. Writing style ect ect.
There are millions of people out there, someone will like how your write and what you write about. The trick is getting infront of those people's eyes!
As for the lame blogger - is she telling the truth regarding how much she makes? Who is to say she's blowing up her bottom line a bit?

[berriesweetest]

ha! my bottom line is broke!

I haven't mad crap blogging yet, unless you count the free stuff i get to review. which i admit is a nice perk. and again, my goal is to make money with the ad aspect since the journalist in me cannot accept money for a blog post. i hate it, but i guess i am insitutionalized in that aspect.
LOL.
as for me being special...do ya mean it? do ya really, really mean it?

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Yes I do, Pauline! 

~ I can prove it, 'cause I wrote that after I decided to let someone else win your madcapz giveaway.

So I had nothing to gain but your friendship... No, don't throw up. I swear it's true. 

Sometimes I'm so sweet I make myself ...  Bleagh.

[Candid Carrie]

If you find out if the lame blog is really making a grand a month, see if you can grab her secret, too.  You can private message me with that secret here or at my personal e-mail

 

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Hmmmm... I may have to get my Sherlock Holmes (or Sherlock Hemlock) outfit on and take another real good look over there......   

I shall be in touch vis you ven I haf zee answer.... 

[Willow]

I haven't figured out how a lot of the money-making blogs make their money when I have found SO MANY blogs that are either great fun or very informative to read and, as far as I can tell, they're blogging just for the love of it.  Maybe that's the secret.  I'd like to one day be able to earn some real money from my blog (or at least pay for my hosting!) but it's really a labor of love -- learning to get in touch with my own thoughts and feelings as well as allowing my writing style to evolve naturally and maybe, just maybe, providing somebody with some entertainment or education along the way.

And, Pauline, how could anybody NOT love you and your blog? 

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Okay, this is going to be a bit awkward.
(did I spell that right? I can never tell with that word)

Sorry, this is the serious me. I have a confession to make.

I have been spending some more time looking around on this blog that I originally spoke about that has remained mostly unnamed.

Now, I won't be going overboard and swearing my undying love or anything, but there is a chance that I may have misjudged it.

Um, yes, I can be impulsive and I occasionally find that I have made a mistake.
~ Take last night's odyssey of blogversity, for instance.
(and yes, I've been working on that phrase all day. Do you like it? I'm going to use it on my blog.)

But back to the serious me.
I have had a much better look around, and I can see the amount of work this woman has put into her blog.

So I suppose that now I can understand what all the fuss is about, since she's had so many years to build up her brand and image out there.

I really really really really hope that all of us can be half as successful in seven years' time time!   

[grocerymama]

Hi Jane - it takes a big person to write that post! Hats off to you 
I'm sure we all will be successful. Following your passions reap their own rewards!