Wow, I just realized it’s been over a year since I started this blog.
I’m seeking feedback on the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I’ll also select 1 person (who I feel gives the most helpful response) to receive a box of goodies that will include: A Napster Ballcap, A Napster hoodlum hat, a We Build Pages polo shirt, a We Build Pages wall clock, and some other trinkets I’ve got laying around.
Also, I’ve been thinking of breaking a cardinal rule, and posting, at least once, on my political views….do you think that’s a bad idea?
27 Responses
definitely.
“do you think that’s a bad idea?”
If it differs from mine, yes.
I’m an entertainment junkie, sometimes I post about it because I want to, sometimes it’s to conduct an experiment. Even though I’ve said 90% of those post are experimental it was the single largest complaint I got not staying on topic.
I finally felt so creatively boxed in I created a subdomain on my blog for it. I’ll probably create another one for technology. Thats my solution.
There are two things that I’ve enjoyed most about your blog…
1. Quasi-tutorials like this one: http://www.jimboykin.com/tips-for-finding-the-best-pages-to-get-links-from/
2. Reader Invitations/Feedback like this one: http://www.jimboykin.com/whos-your-favorite-website-hosting-company/
Things I like least? Posts that are short and random. You don’t really do much of that, which is what I think makes your blog so interesting.
Hi Jim,
I like the blog as is… Don’t change a thing. I like the cat posts. You and Matt Cutts have about the right mix of valuable information and personal goofiness. I believe it helps the subscriber get to know you as a hard worker and a fun person, not an SEO information robot.
I would assume you and I would have a similar political POV. However… I would stay from posting political opinions. (IMO) Ironically… Many people who have the strongest political opinions have done the least amount of research on the issues they are so passionate about.
The best politicians frame complicated ideas into simple to understand one-liners. These one-liners are often nothing but sarcastically named programs and Orwellian “Doublespeakâ€
Clear Skies initiative = Allows more industrial air pollution
Healthy Forests Initiative = Allows increased logging of protected wilderness.
Security contractors = Mercenary troops
Pain compliance or Stress position = Torture
Patriotism = Unquestioning loyalty to other peoples’ interests
Many people don’t realize the sarcastic irony of these things and take them at face value. This can create a situation where some idiot is grandstanding in your comments and you need to make the difficult choice of censoring the idiotic comment or giving the idiot a voice.
Good people can sometimes freak out and compare others to terrorists or Hitler or the enemy when their simple minded beliefs are challenged. It can get ugly.
I like Seth Godin’s theory on blogging…that if you are like Bob Dylan and are willing to get booed off stage in the long run you are going to do far better than those who fear audience response for going astray occassionally.
Unless you watch FoxNews and are a card carrying member of the VRWC then I’d hold off on the political views until after the next election to see where you stand with the majority of the populace.
Why does it matter where the majority of the population is? Be yourself. Those who like you for you will like you more. Those who do not…screw em. IMHO 🙂
Tsk tsk Aaron, you know as well as I do that expressing political or religious views can cost you business.
Just not a good idea IMO.
Yes I’d agree 100% with Bill – keep the political stuff off the blog as it always tends to alienate a sector of your audience.
Ah forgot to answer your other question Jim 🙂
1) I really like the CEO posts – seems there are quite a few of us in that situation and I’d rather you tell it like it is than read some faceless blog on management techniques.
2) Ditto for the link/tutorial posts, I always learn something new there. Does make me want to corner you at the next conference with beers… (or maybe kidnap you to Russia for a month, that can be arranged /evil laugh).
Overall you put a lot of effort into the posts here, I’d always take quality over quantity anytime and you seem to keep true to the former.
I think you have typecast yourself as a strictly business-only blog. People come to JimBoykin.com to learn about SEO and link building.
While I am definitely a fan of speaking your mind, regardless of “where the majority of the population is” I don’t know if this is the place for you to be doing it.
I’d love to see you post your political thoughts here, though Nick may be right about alienating a portion of your audience. But on the flipside, you are bound to bond with some of your readers more as well…
It’s your blog, and ultimately your decision. What’s it gonna be?
Suggestion:
Better format your blog to work better with mobile browsers. 🙂
I like to check out blogs and forums between meetings and during lunch, but it is impossible to read yours properly… Please help feed my addiction!
> Also, I’ve been thinking of breaking a cardinal rule, and posting, at least once, on my political views….do you think that’s a bad idea?
Hmmm… maybe not the BEST idea for biz… but I hope you do… I find that I usually agree with and enjoy hearing the politics of other entrepreneurs, regardless if they seem to fall on the “right ” or “left”
Hey Jim… Here is my honest and objective feedback.. I personally feel that you are losing me with many of your recent (non-SEO) posts. I come over and read your blog every day for one reason and that is to see what you are posting about SEO & Link Building.
I agree with everyone that says post what you want to post but for me you seem to be moving off topic of why (I guess) most users are visiting and reading your blog. I can’t speak for others just myself.. but in the past I have found your blog to be one of the best spots to hang out and get the latest info on link building and SEO…
My favorite posts are the (Jim’s Favorite Posts) area…. I bet most would agree… They are very good on-topic posts that provide much more value then what type of Webmail do I use or a list of best antivirus software… No offence… but I don’t want to read your political views on your blog unless you are running for office 🙂 Jim for President?? Nope… I want to hear your views on Internet marketing, SEO, running an Internet business etc. My biggest suggestion is to post an online survey and get everyone’s feedback that way. You are doing an awesome job, thanks for asking for feedback!
Well Jim, there ya go, they don’t want to be your friend they just want to take take take so back to link building only and kill the cat’s posts.
Now where’s my damn polo shirt?
You know what, I do like it when you throw in the odd personal posts, but like most people above, I’d advise steering clear of the political posts, you’ll just end up upsetting someone, or heck if your views are far enough out one way or another, you may end up upsetting everyone 😉
Now as for what are my favo(u)rite posts, there are quite a few to choose from, but given some issues I’ve had lately, the damned-to-google-hell-supplemental-results post has proven to be quite useful, and heck, to support my earlier statement, I thought the post where you asked Where are you from was interesting as it showed just how widespread this industry is, you have people from all over the world reading this little site ;).
As someone who is still fairly new to this field (just over a year) I’ve found that between your blog, SEW, SERoundtable, and Screenwerk that most topics of interest to me are covered, and with fairly different styles that make my bloglines reading more interesting – heck thanks to you I have my ‘Official Yorkshireman‘ seal on my blog 😉
I would like to see a new design for the blog and maybe make it part of the cssreboot.com fall edition.
I would like to see nicer and bigger fonts and a wider layout.
Jim – I think talking politics is a bad idea. I know that you and I agree on that subject, but I’ve never seen a positive long-term effect from being open with that particular part of my life in the professional world…. probably deserves a post on why 🙂
As for the blog – I’d love to see you get some linkbait here – get on Digg, Del.icio.us/Popular, etc. – you totally deserve it 🙂
I agree that posting your political views -here- is something that could/probably would cost you in the long run.
As it is, your blog is SEO informative with just enough personal stuff thrown in to make it real and kinda fun. I think its a good mix. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Keep your blog a ‘must-read’ w/o politics 🙂
Well, there is one thing I would change – forgot this in the last comment. I don’t like being automatically subscribed when I leave a comment – my email is slammed enough and getting a notice each time someone else comments is annoying. Small thing but one I would change.
I’m a political junkie who’s been blogging on business for over 3.5 years and running a message board for almost 5.
The business blog is all business, but I do blog on hot political topics, health care and Wal-Mart and business ethics now and then. I just don’t do the politician thing on the blog. I leave those kinds of threads for the message board.
And I do my incendiary posting on other people’s blogs and message boards where I post under a couple of “handles” rather than under my real name. That way, when I’m Googled, my business killers don’t show.
And as mentioned above, you develop an audience that is after news and opinions related to your primary mission. It’s easy to offend with political and religious comments and posts, and that makes no sense.
While you and most business bloggers have tremendous credibility in their specialities, few of us have credibility as political commentators, and we should blog accordingly, or start a political blog/message board.
Sticky part about politics is:
No matter which side you come down on, you end up alienating approximately half your audience.
Have more contests like this! People love them.
Name my new free tool
Guess the exact time of birth
Final score for the Super Bowl
Etc…
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