John Dilbeck Musings

Darren Rowse has an article about 9 ways to make your blog more inclusive.

Blogging, at its best, is a conversation with topics initiated by the person who owns the blog. Most blogs allow for comments, and this is where the conversation takes place.

However, sometimes, especially for people new to blogging, these conversations seem inaccessible for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the blog is rather technical and uses terms that don’t mean much to a new reader. Other times, the blog has a small group of regulars who are familiar with each other and the comments have private jokes and obscure references or other interactions that exclude anyone who is not a regular part of the conversation.

In 9 ways to make your blog more inclusive, Darren offers some suggestions to make it easier for new people to join the conversations and to understand more about what is being discussed.

Blogging, at its worst, is just one lone person typing away with no responses and can feel like yelling into a fog with no echo.

Some blogs are more technical than others. Some have topics that make conversations easier. Not all blog posts get many, or even any, comments.

I think it is a sign of a healthy blog when there are lively discussions, lots of feedback, different opinions, and a community where people feel free to express their opinions and experiences.

Darren has that kind of community at ProBlogger.net, and I applaud him for helping the rest of us find new ways to make our own blogs more inclusive and open to feedback.