Part I of this series listed the diferent blog formats as identified by Amy Gahran in Paul Chaney's book, Realty Blogging.
As an exercise for Project Blogger, Paul asked me to write a post with each format with the idea that I would feel comfortable with each and identify my weakness (I'm not sure if that was the goal, maybe Paul should answer that). I will now go into detail about each format and explain the benefits as well as how I feel about each.
LINK-ONLY - (my examples: Historic Home Niche and Outside Active Rain drops) - the idea with this format is just writing a list of links that your reader will benefit from. It helps to identify your audience and know what information may be useful for them. Paul guided me to 2 different blogs for examples: Hanan Levin's Grow-a-Brain blog and Steve Rubel's Micro Persuasion.
I had never done a link-only blog and found it to be a great tool especially when trying to keep content local in nature. I plan to do link-only blogs for different areas I work in the Miami Area including Chamber of Commerce, Activities, Police Department......I think you get the idea. Mariana Wagner, who thinks a LOT like me at times, just wrote a link-only post with that concept - Colorado Springs "Must Have" Links.
One thing to remember is that you should try to keep the subject of your blog pretty uniform - don't start going crazy and add links on all kinds of subjects that have nothing to do with each other - the more uniform the general subject of your blog, the better.
LINK-BLURB - (my example: Miami's Romero Britto) - This format fit my style a little more than link-only because it allows for some commentary, usually longer than a sentence or two. Creating lists of links that are relevant to your community creates a blog that is, according to Realty Blogging, "sticky... one that visitors will come back to again and again". A blog Paul told me to look at was Jim Duncan's RealCentralVa.
I think we can all agree that this is a common format used here in Active Rain.
BRIEF-REMARK - (my example: Project Blogger in my wildest dreams) - the point of this format is to write an article that is only one to 3 short paragraphs long - a post that becomes an announcement, an observation, a question or even a joke. Paul explained that people like shorter posts and guided me to LUXIST.COM
I have to admit that I had a real problem with this format - although my preference is shorter articles, writing a post this short felt like a cop-out to me, like I was being lazy and not doing my job. How wrong I was!!! This is a great tool and will start implementing this format more often, especially when finding a relevant article that I want to share.
LIST-FORMAT -(my examples: 10 tips for writing good Real Estate descriptions and Why isn't my house selling?) This format is a lot of fun and takes some creativity, it can be the famous "10 top reasons" or "things you should never.....". Our own Mary McKnight is famous for these lists and Teresa Boardman recently wrote a great post which everyone should read 10 things to avoid on your business blog.
Although this format is fun, I had difficulty coming up with material for this. One thing is for you to come up with a topic for a post and to feel inspired and something very different is for someone to say, write a list-format post right now.....my creative juices were on overdrive!
LONG ARTICLE - (my example: Historic Preservation in Miami Shores - Mediterranean Revival architecture). This is the most formal of all formats, it's more like an essay and it's obviously the most difficult to write and the tone is less conversational.
To me, this format was the biggest challenge for many reasons. When I read blogs, I don't like reading long posts, my time is usually limited and my attention spam is very short. For that same reason, I don't like writing long posts. Paul Chaney always talks about people scanning blogs and how formatting, arrangements and spacing is so important. But putting the length aside, I will quote my coach and mentor "While I know that wasn't fun to write, it is very informative. That's the kind of post that tells me this Realtor knows her business." Knowing this, I feel it is important to include a few long articles in your repertoire.
SERIES POSTINGS - (my example: Blog formats - PART I and this post you are reading now). When the subject of the post starts getting lengthy, it is a good idea to divide the article into different parts, we also see a lot of these here in Active Rain. You can also separate posts into categories for example - children's activities in your community vs. adult activities. Schools - elementary, middle, high school and colleges (the sky is the limit!).In the book, David Smith's posts on the future of New Orleans after Katrina, are used as examples of series postings.
I have used this format many times and it's fun to reference even comments on the first parts of the post. Doing these types of posts, in my opinion, cuts the length of the subject and captures your reader's attention. The challenge is in how to transition one post to the other - and the only way to get it right is to look at how other bloggers go about this and practicing!.
This exercise was extremely helpful to me. Go ahead and try out different formats, a lot of you mentioned that you were winging it and there's nothing wrong with that, but you will identify your strong and weak points and will be able to capitalize on them. This post turned out to be a combination of many of the formats, I think combining a few is not a bad idea, but would like to know what Paul Chaney has to say about this. What say you Paul?
Please check out Blog Formats - Part I
Geaux Ines!
After reading Paul's Tiger post I almost commented that I would finally break down and buy the book but now I don't need to thanks to your excellent descriptions. Not really. I will go get my credit card and place an order for the book.
I am so impressed with all the different posts you did and that each one represented something different in format.
@Maureen - yes, you NEED the book! Go buy it...now! :-)
@Ines - Combining them is fine, though each does serve it's own purpose, more or less. It's like learning to play the piano. You do it the way the book says (and your piano teacher or else she slaps your hand with a ruler...sorry, flashback to my past; at least I'm not doing that to you!), then once you've gotten to a certain level of proficiency, you take liberties and make it really your own.
That's exactly the way this works. You learn different styles (formats), then find which ones work best for you and make them your own. The student becomes the teacher in a manner of speaking.
For those of you that want to see what "GEAUX INES" is about - go to Project Blogger: I've Got a Tiger by the Tail!
Maureen - why are you always so nice? Thanks for the toot - I really appreciate it!
Paul - talk about "shameless self-promotion" - are you sure you're not related to The Codgers?...and you do slap me with a cyber-ruler btw! LOL! I can tell you that I do see an advantage to having blogged blindly for a couple of months - I can now go back and see what I was doing and why some things worked and others didn't. You are a true COACH! thank you.
Ines
Boy oh boy.. all the energy you've got...excellent post... content.. I am going to have to go get a book now since now one would pick me as an apprentice... thanks for sharing... job well done.
Bryant - you of all people!! It's not complicated...you're just a natural!
Desiree - their loss....the book is really helpful, I recommend it. I'm beginning to think I should get a referral fee of some sort.
Cynthia - the book is Realty Blogging and was written by Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney - we even did a review here in Active Rain. Check out the last review with links to the rest and the group is The Realty Blogging Book Club.
Great Minds ...
Thank you for clarifying these, Ines. It IS a brain stretch at times to write in different formats. But I really can see the value.
Hi Ines - this post, I LOVE!!! I am discovering that, although you said above that it's the hardest to write, I tend to write the "long articles", and have trouble on all the others. I try and try, and I just cannot manage something shorter. I best keep trying, and I did read the book, some chapters more than once! ;-)
Thanks for all you're doing for ALL of us!
Ann
Mariana - I was going to bed and checked my e-mail one more time and noticed I never answered your comment - YIKES!!! Specially with "GREAT MINDS" how could I do that!! Paul has a plan and I am so glad he made me do that, because the benefits are endless....let's see what he comes up with for marketing....stay tuned.
Ines, those were great examples and I've learned so much from you - I visited all the posts and like you i have felt the short posts were cop-outs but I've seen some done really well to just share something quickly - even thought I could add an RES tour if someone wants more?
The view is great here in the backseat (lol) - but man do you have a lot of homework girl :-) Is rick ready to count the money when the marketing ideas from Paul start - can you say Tidal Waveeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Dena - you may print this....it will be an open book exam. : )
Cyndee - I don't know what Rick is ready for...probably for me to hang up the computer time. I'm off to an office meeting...Have an awesome day!
Karen - anytime! LOL!
I Think I need that book too
I like your new posts and the way they're formatted... very attractive!
Ines,
That is a lot of info. I have bookmarked it to come back and read it tomorrow. Too tired tonight!
Thanks,
Lucky :)
Ines,
Thank you for providing this inspiration. I often try to mix things up a little in format...but now I have something to jog my memory!
Joan - it's not so much about the book as it is about doing the exercise, make sure you do it while reading....it's really helpful.
Lucky- LOL! come back as you like, my home is your home!
John - I'm with you....but you need to write long ones every so often to show your expertise.
Valerie - as Paul said above, "Combining them is fine....then once you've gotten to a certain level of proficiency, you take liberties and make it really your own".
Laurie - you're the best, isn't that the whole point of this experience?
Great post, Ines. Geez, there is so much to keep in mind. Sometimes it hard enough just coming up with the topic I feel like writing about. Who'da thought there could be so much to this blogging thing?
You are doing a great job. Thanks so much for sharing all this - the learning is terrific!
Jeff
Beth - I see you are liking this whole "blogging thing" - I am so glad, there is so much future in it.
Jeff - I totally agree, but the advantage of knowing the formats is then thinking of the subject and automatically knowing how long and how much research it will be....it helps organizing and planning your thoughts.
Thanks George - I appreciate the support, and hope you can apply some of the concepts.
Sharon - you are right - but "interest" is so subjective....what I may consider a great book, you may hate. I love Jeff Turner's posts no matter the length...and like you say, the longer the better....but that's because his ideas are so captivating. Thanks for complimenting the architecture posts, I really enjoy doing them.
Ines - the other thing that makes sense to me is that as some formats are better for one's own personal approach and preferences, different formats appeal to different people. Since you don't always know your target audience and what might appeal to them, being able to use different formats, while testing your own skills, allows you to better appeal to a broader audience. And BTW I always enjoy your architecture posts. Keep up the good work.
Jeff