Blog

Scott McClellan is the super tall editor of COLLIDE Magazine and despite mocking his own Echo Conference session title, he doled out some great advise for being a good blogger.

Here are some take-aways from the notes I took on this session.

Design

• It's what you show the world. It's how you engage and invite people to your blog.
• Even blogs can use a "I'm new here button."  Blogs present content like a TV show, some people will join in mid-season and need to know some of the context from the past  If people can't make sense of what's going on on your blog it feels like an insiders club.
• Bios need to be real, not cute, so people can get to know who you are.
• Blogging is about inviting people to come back tomorrow.

Voice

• What should I write for my blog that I can only write?  This is a way you can discover your voice for your blog.  
• For the local congregation, only you can tell/blog those stories from your community.

Rhythm

• Pick what's right for you in terms of posting.  Once a week?  Every Day?  Every Month?  What it sustainable?
• Readers and writers both benefit because they know what to expect 

 Read

• It's great to create, but you need to read blogs, too.
• When reading other blogs, look for what worked or didn't in that post?  What caused you to take action (comment, share with friends, etc.)

Generosity

• Generous people use their art (writing) to give gifts to people with no expectation of repayment. It's valuable but free!  It's not a transaction.
• Too often when we blog we're asking for something like affirmation, money, etc.

Story

• The best blogs tell a story. 
• Posts can be installments of a bigger story.
• Blogging is a multimedia platform, not just words, that let us tell a better, richer story.  Statistics don't tell a rich story.

Comments

• Scott is starting to rethink comments. Seth Godin, a popular marketing blogger, doesn't have comments. If you want to comment you can start your own blog.
• Where do comments add value and where are they an outlet for people to be stupid?
• Godwin's Law. As a comment stream gets longer and longer it's more likely someone gets compared to Hitler.  In other words, the conversation degrades.

Intentionality

• The best blogs are written on purpose. Great blogs reek of intentionality and planning.
• Best blogs are marinated, reviewed, edited.  For example, blogger Jon Acuff writes three weeks in advance.
• Ask yourself what am I setting out to do through this blog?  With this blog, I want to ________.
• Creativity has a behind the scenes to do list to ensure quality.

This really is some good stuff.  The thoughts on comments, intentionality and voice especially got me thinking about how I blog.  It's official, Church Juice has its first man crush and it's Scott McClellan.