Today’s Bloggie Wednesday is slightly different, as I would love your feedback on something. I’ve been blogging for quite some time now, but I’ve never actually asked for any feedback regarding the blog. Today, if you could just indulge me a little in answering a few questions of mine, I’d really appreciate it.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my style of blogging, and sometimes wonder if I’m writing too much. Our attention spans are short, and with so many blogs we read these days, we often just scan the words and look at pictures. With that in mind, I’d love to know what you think about these:
- Should I write in paragraphs or list the important points (for reviews) in list form with bullet points?
- Should I write less, more, or remain as things are?
- What do you think about more photographs and a lot less words?
- What do you think of newsletters? If I created one for the blog (maximum is one email per week), is that something that could be of interest to you?
Next to beauty blogs, I enjoy reading fashion blogs, especially personal style ones. Most of these blogs have heaps of fancy-schmancy pictures with little words, and I wonder if it’s something I should be doing as well.
What do you think? I’m leaving it up to you 🙂
I didn’t think you need to change a thing about your writing format – paragraphs with clear description. It’s perfect just the way it is, really. Yes, please create a newsletter! I would be one of the first to sign up!
Jess: Thanks very much for your feedback Jess. I’ve been thinking about doing a weekly newsletter for many, many months now, but don’t know if I should really go for it yet. But very happy to know you’d support it 🙂
I’m comfortable reading your blog the way it is – its your text that lures me in because I’m a reader and I tend not to read anything in bullet points unless its for emphasis within text. I actually find a post written in bullet points, whilst perhaps useful, a little soulless. I like long rambly sentences.
As for photographs vs words, I’d say it’ll come down to style. For makeup posts, maybe extra photos maybe useful – there’s only so much we can say about a blush or eyeshadow in the end, unless you are really longwinded like I am 😛 But for skincare posts, there is only so much of a skincare tub/bottle that is worth including. My personal rule of thumb is a minimum of 2 photos (to break up the text) unless it is for discussive posts where a minimum of 1 suffices. I think beauty and fashion blogs are a little different. For fashion blogs, the emphasis is on the outfit, but for beauty blogs, the emphasis is on the product and what you think of it (if a review)
As for newsletters, I guess it depends on the content you plan to include. I don’t personally subscribe to newsletters myself unless from a store.
Paris B recently posted..Stroll in Green Park by Buckingham Palace while wearing Rimmel Glam Eyes HD Eyeshadow in Royal Blue
Paris B: Thanks very much for your feedback Peebs. I think you can kinda guess where I picked up my writing style from 😉 *pointing at you*
Yeah, good idea to put more photos of makeup than skincare products. After all, I do drool after pictures of makeup more than I do skincare (how to go goo-goo-ga-ga over a jar? :P)
At the moment, I’m not 100% certain what I want to put in the newsletter yet. Still on the drawing board 😛
I’m someone who loves pictures in blog posts. I have to agree, I sometimes skim through posts that are heavy worded but at the same time I do need some sort of writing to explain the images. I don’t like posts that are taken over with photos though.
I think your blog now is amazing, you don’t need to write more or less. A few extra piccies will be nice though 🙂 I also love fashion blogs but sometimes they have the same outfit picture from every angle imaginable and it gets tiring~
I’ve signed up to a fashion blogger’s newsletter but as I follow her blog already, it sort of just becomes a little too much. I mean, it depends what content you decide to include so I’m open to it 🙂 Hope this all made sense hehe x
しずか ♥ (heartofpearl) recently posted..Lens Village | Puffy 3 Tones Grey (Shinny Grey) & Pop C Light Brown Lens Review & Discount Code
Shiz: Thanks very much for your feedback Shiz. I’m quite into fashion blogs these days, especially the American ones, but I do know what you mean. Sometimes there’s only so much of the outfit one can take, and it isn’t necessary to post THAT many pictures 😛
I really like the way you’re posting in regard to paragraphs and photos. I think you break them up nicely. My only critique would be to take the ads out of your feed. I have to admit though I like your posts I’ve skipped coming to your blog due to being turned off by them. I really like how clear and well lit your photos are and that you use a larger size!
Jennifer Williams recently posted..Nail of the Day: Sally Hansen Naked Ambition
Jennifer: Thanks very much for your feedback, Jennifer.
As for the ads, just wondering, were you subscribed to my blog either via email, Google Reader or any other RSS reader? Would like to know so that I know how intrusive the ads are on these. Thanks again 🙂
Hi Tine,
I’m subscribed by Google Reader. It puts about a two inch by two in square ad at the bottom of each of your posts.
Jennifer Williams recently posted..Nail of the Day: Sally Hansen Naked Ambition
Jennifer: Got it, thanks! Oooh 2″x 2″? That’s quite big. I’ll see what I can do to fix it 🙂
Your blog is amazing just the way it is! Your beauty blog is one of the first ones I read. I read every word you write and pore over every photo except the Ingredient photo which I think is useful for ingredient peeps; but not moi.
To be honest, I’ve signed up for a few blog newsletters and I find that just too much. I already read their blog, follow them on twitter, like their FB page, follow on Instagram and Pinterest…so there’s not much else newsletters can do. IMO. OMG, I think I read too many blogs come to think of it…!!!
All I ask is – please never ever do truncated feeds. A lot of blogs have started doing that and it grates me because my reader is full of shortened feeds which annoy me. Like, I subscribed in the first place because they were full feeds and now they are short…well, I cant be assed visiting those blogs. Sorry. But if I already knew your blog was shortened feed in the first place, I get into a routine of visiting them anyway so that’s okay. Hope that made semi-sense.
Thanks :)))))))
Ling recently posted..To Open Or Not To Open? That Is The Question!
Ling: Thanks very much for your feedback, Ling. When I popped in Ingredients photos, I didn’t really think they would make much of a difference, until there were a few posts which I didn’t put them in (or write them out), I had requests for them. Oh well. That’s why I don’t throw the packaging away until I’ve photographed them 😛
As for truncated feeds, nope, not my style. I don’t like reading truncated feeds so I don’t do them, but there are still a number of blogs which do them, which I do still read. It’s a personal choice, I suppose 🙂
Like Paris I’m comfortable with reading your blog the way it is right now and I like long rambly sentences, but I do understand your need to try and make a change for the better 🙂 I find myself questioning my blogging style too- am I too rambly? Do I have enough photos? Do I take good enough photos? And the like. Haha 😛
I also say that writing in lists or not and more pictures vs words depends on the type of post/product- some might necessitate more pictures for details, while some might necessitate more words to explain, and some might require bullet points for emphasis. So I would say it’s up to you to feel what sort of “format” suits the post you’re writing 🙂
As for newsletters, I personally am not a fan unless it’s a store, and even then I am picky on what newsletters I subscribe too. It might be too much also, considering how most blogs are already on Twitter/Facebook/other social media avenues. But you can still do a trial run and see the response I guess? 🙂
Stephanie/Yukaeshi recently posted..Face Oil Reviews Part 1
Stephanie: Thanks very much for your feedback Stephanie. I’m not really a fan of blogging in lists too, but just wondering if it’s something I *should* do since our attention spans are short 😛 I think I’ll stick to my usual style for now 🙂
Yes, I think I would love to see you doing fashion posts every now and then! I am like you, apart from beauty blog, the next love, is really fashion blogs. haha.
I do like more pictures. But I actually quite like your style already, given that I’ve been following for some coming 4 years. I think one of the reasons I stick out and respect your blog is because you write enough to make things credible, factual yet giving a peek into your own life (which is really the part that keeps people interested in you).
But for newsletters, I guess no. I normally go to my local magazines for in-depth write-ups already.
=) Pretty much like this blog enough that I can type out your url!
Jyoan recently posted..Kelly Rowland Bronze Turquoise Makeup – Recreation from Pixiewoo
Jyoan: Thanks very much for your feedback Jyoan. FOUR YEARS?! Man, hearing that made my day 🙂 Thanks ever so for being such a loyal reader 🙂 xxx
I love reading your blog the way it is. Your writing style is engaging and the amount of photos is just right. I think some posts may need more photos and less words, other more words and less photos so just go with whatever you think suits the post better.
As for the newsletter, it depends on the content. If it contains exclusive content not available on the blog, I’ll definitely subscribe. But I’m not really a fan of those that just include a roundup of posts published during the week or are full of ads.
gio recently posted..Product Review: Bottega Verde Powdery Eyeshadow in Lavender Grey
Gio: Thanks heaps for your feedback, Gio. Yeah I know what you mean. I do think that some posts need more pictures, and some need less. Sigh, to find a balance between the two is tough! 😛
I also think your blog is great. It will depend on my mood and if I am tired or not if I read all blogs I subscribe to. If I am extra tired pics and bullet points are always easier. Your blogs supply the right amount of information for me and I love your writing style!
Raylene: Thanks very much for your feedback Raylene! xx
Hi hi!! ^_^
As a reader, I do prefer reviews with small paragraphs of words and images in between to keep me interested. I find that blogs who write in really large paragraphs boring to read, unless there’s lots of humour incorporated. But most of the time, I just click close after scrolling down and reading a few of the shortest paragraphs.. So yes 🙁 And I think that having one whole newsletter which gathers all your blog posts of the week is a great idea! I find that if they put in catchy titles or simpler titles makes me interested straight away!
As for styles of fashion blogs, I prefer beauty and fashion blogs to each be stylised differently and shouldn’t be mixed. Depending on which audience you’re targetting at!! ^_^
Just my feedback. Hope you found it helpful!! I’m also fixing the writing style of my blog so the comments of this post will help me too! Thank you! I was looking at Temptalia, Productrater (Justine) and some other beauty bloggers who has great writing skills for inspiration! Hope it helps xx
Tram recently posted..Saturday/Sunday Steals #16
Tram: Thanks very much for your feedback, Tram. I highly appreciate it 🙂 I’ll trying to use smaller paragraphs of words and more pictures in between 🙂 xx
maybe you can check out bloggers with thousands to millions of facebook likes and find out what makes them so attractive? i think there is always something to learn from those popular ones, find a trait u never try before, see if it fits ur style and something that can help you improve your blog overall?
Katherine: Thanks very much for your feedback, Katherine. I do agree, there’s always something to learn from the big guns. After all, there must be something they’re doing right to gain so many followers, right? 😉
love your blog as it is…weekly newsletter is a great idea but it should be different than your blog posts…may be you could dig up your older posts and put them up and roll it in that way!!!
Swati recently posted..What to look for in a product review? {Beauty Products}
Swati: Thanks very much for your feedback, Swati. That’s a good idea, linking old posts. If I do end up doing a newsletter, I’d add a round-up on the side of the newsletter, but something different as the main content 🙂
Excellent work! I really love to learn form the expert..Very helpful blog indeed.. 🙂
Athena recently posted..Cd Mastering Cape Town
Athena: Thanks Athena 🙂