Photo by: Vramak
What is quality content? Before you publish your next article or post, how do you or determine if the result is ready for the blogosphere? I’ve been asking myself tough questions regarding my blog content. Is my blog’s content accomplishing anything in the following three areas:
- Informing
- Entertaining
- Inspiring
Like you, I’d like to think my blog does at least one of these things. Honestly, entertainment isn’t really my thing, as far as writing is concerned. On the other hand, being informative or inspiring individuals to action, no problem. Those areas seem to be my strong points.
Ask yourself, what are you informing your audience about? Maybe you’re an excellent entertainer? Know your strengthens and weaknesses. Back to our first question, What is quality content? While that answer is subjective, instead of defining it, let’s examine what it does- that is, “remarkable content.”
Characteristics of Remarkable Content
This isn’t rocket science. Just observe your surroundings. It’s amazing how often we overlook many of the answers to our toughest questions. Content that is:
- Widely Stumbled and Retweeted. (Sometimes, anything submitted by power users goes viral- so, there are exceptions).
- Extremely valuable: meaning, your words inspires others to action.
- Provokes responses/feedback. Comments anyone?
- Bookmarked. Check Delicious for hot trends and so on. If a link is saved by thousands, whatever is on the other end of that link might be worth a look.
- Something that helps people learn something new. These are commonly tutorials, how to post, so on. (These will take longer to write).
- Something that pushes people into a deeper knowledge/ know how. For example, content that teaches someone to become an advance photoshop user or app developer or “______” (whatever else you want to throw in there).
More Traits of Great Content
- Quality content is from real life experiences
- the stuff you tested and tried.
- Content written with the reader in mind.
However, that doesn’t mean someone hasn’t said it before. There’s only a certain amount of original content to go around. Remarkable content is unique and quickly shared because it rings different with the reader, even if others said it before.
- This type of content is easily understood.
- This kind of content leads to results, feedback and likely goes viral on social media sites.
- Again, this content is actionable!
As always, there are excepts to the rule. So, before you write your next post, ask yourself what exactly your content does: Is it inspiring, informative or entertaining? Oh yeah, and if it happens to be a combination of the three, you’re an unstoppable force! Keep it up.
Best,
Miguel
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Mig,
I don’t think myself much of an entertainer either. ha.. except pulling my own legs, maybe. The fact I like reading about your posts, is that I could connect to what you said, easily understand and makes me think of what shall I do before starting a blog post of my own this week, which I think delayed a bit. sigh…
Thank you so much for sharing.
@wchingya
social/blogging Tracker
Hey Ching Ya,
Thanks, it’s a neat feeling to know someone connects with my writing. No worries, it’s worth delaying and making 10x better before pushing it live! Thanks for visiting and sharing! Cheers!
Great post. I like to think that my blogs do just that. I try my hand at the entertaining aspect too.
Thanks for the comments everyone!
@ Anne
All the best with your entertaining approach!
@Yan
Awesome buddy! Welcome back, I’m excited about the site and what can I say about a huge fan of Thesis theme! Great move. I’m doing well, graduate school is starting up again next month.
@ Goo
Thanks for your kind words.
So do yours, neat looking site you’ve got going… it’s hard to argue with that, entertainment is the name of the game. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
-Mig
As I’m back into blogging mode, this article sorta remind me what and how I should present my writing.
I love to be one of the *unstoppable*.
How are ya, buddy?
Yan
Miguel,
I’d like to think my content meets the 3 requirements you’ve specified. Yours surely does — this was a great read.
I feel that #2 (entertaining) is probably the most important. No one wants to read anything boring.
Quality content portrays the character of the author. If he/she is effective, his/her post will speak of it. Let your true self be expressed for the human beings reading your work. If they sense your honesty and sincerity, they will reciprocate.
Entertainment is not the part of blog.Blog should informative and useful.
Content should be qualitative not quantitative.
Miguel: I like the benchmarks you’ve set for yourself here. Seeking to be one or some variation of the three: informative, entertaining or inspiring.
I like to mix it up between the three. And if I’ve made a connection with at least one person, if I’ve inspired them or influenced them in some way, shape or form, then I feel a sense of accomplishment.
Hey Ricardo,
I hear ya my friend,
How’s life and your site going these days? Thanks for dropping in! Cheers!
I just stumbled here and love the photos you use. Caught my attention enough to read a bit, too. Nice.
Some thing that answers that unanswered too should qualify as a remarkable content