Sep 08 2008
Muckbeast: Blog Issues
The purpose of this post is to discuss a few functional things with my readers here to try and make Muckbeast a more enjoyable blog.
First, I will ask if there are any things about the blog that particularly annoy you or detract from your ability to read and enjoy the blog. I am very interested in that. I cannot change ads and such, as those are put there by Today.com (the kind people who pay me to write here in the first place). Also, I know the inability to have blank, “white space” lines in comments is a pain. For main posts, I have gotten around it by using a spacer graphic (but that’s a pain). I will continue to post in the Today.com VIP blogger forums to look for a real solution. In the meantime, we are stuck with those . on a blank line I fear. Suggestions for remedying this are very welcome!
Second, how often would you all like to read new posts? Assuming I could post every day, would that detract from the comment discussions? Sometimes I think it would. But on the other hand, are more frequent main posts something you feel is more interesting?
Third, are there any useful widgets you blog experts out there suggest I should try to use?
Fourth, any suggestions for improving traffic? More readers and more diverse opinions and feedback would be extremely valuable.
Fifth, what do you think of the comment area? Sometimes I find it hard to follow when it gets long, but then I read the posts right on the site rather than through a reader. What are your opinions on this?
Sixth, thanks for reading and posting. 
Woo Hoo! I guess the blog is perfect then, eh?
Cambios wrote: “Second, how often would you all like to read new posts?”
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I think if you posted three, maybe as many as four, new articles a week it’d keep it fresh without being overwhelming.
Well, my one complaint about your blog (this isn’t really just yours, this is everybody who does this- the Dilbert Blog does it, too)- I like to get the whole post in my RSS reader!
Now, obviously, there are two things issues surrounding my very selfish desire.
1) This would mean putting the whole post in without that break that puts part of the post on the front page, causing people to “read more”.
2) I don’t get ads. (not bad for me, this one :p)
Also.. I wanted to point out that you -are- getting a blank space in your posts. See my post? I put blank spaces between mine and they show up.
This is in your stylesheet:
p, blockquote, ul, ol {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
margin-bottom:0.5em;
}
This is why! Margin on the bottom, but very small. Perceptible, but not overtly.
I don’t have any complaints besides the obvious you allready mentioned. I am not reading through some reader program so I would hate for the whole post to be on the frontpage.
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I have been enjoying the posts and the discussion back and forth and I think you are right in keeping it at 2-4 new topics a week.
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I am looking forward to some posts about your experience as a developer, designer and the customer interaction you must know first hand as a MUD owner.
Ok good. Sounds like 3-4 topics a week is good, while still allowing for discussion. I might throw an occasional “minor” or “news” on in there in between, that doesn’t affect discussion but might be interesting to you all.
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Gesslar: Yeah, the “Continue Reading” thing is a tough RSS issue. I would love to make the blog more accessible to people using RSS readers, but I don’t want to make it crappy for “regular” people. And a 20 mile long front page makes it hard for people to see multiple topics. I personally read blogs the “old way”, and hate blogs that have humongous front pages like that. Sadly, I think for now I have to stick with the “Continue Reading” thing. Maybe RSS readers will eventually get advanced enough to resolve this issue?
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The blank space: So that’s the problem eh? Its a crappy stylesheet entry that makes the “blank space” miniscule? That’s good to know. Maybe I can get today.com to fix it.
3-4 solid topics a week is more than enough, but feel free to put up a thought on “off” days. So far, they’ve all been interesting ideas that have led to a lot of discussion.
Agreed on the 3-4 posts. I’d even be happy with 2-3. Then again, I do a fair bit of rambling here, and on my own blog, so perhaps I just say that because I’d have a hard time keeping pace with a daily post complete with discussion. It may make me more concise, though…
Whatever the case, I agree that some more theory of what to do, rather than what not to do, might make for some good reading and discussion.
As a person who’s been writing articles for a few years I am still a bit reticent about the terminology of the whole “blogging” thing. I find that a lot of bloggers tend to blog about everything and anything just so they can appear to have a busy blog. Note to some bloggers: I don’t really need to know that your cat had babies yesterday or that you just saw the latest Batman movie.
Speaking from my own personal experience I tend to write about 2-3 articles per month unlike someone like Tobold who seems to blog and share about every thought he’s ever had about MMOs, gaming, etc. Don’t look now but now we have Twitter to content with as well…
Of course it’s great to have lots of articles from the point of a reader but it’s tough to research them and polish them if you want to have a quality article. I’d be happy with one article per week to be honest. Bottom line: Just publish as many as you feel comfortable with.
I would say 2-3 doesn’t hurt, that what I try to maintain. it keeps it new and helps build your reputation. I say keep up the good work my friend.
Thanks Azwriter2008.
thats it, man
i am gonna show this to my friend, man
Sorry for the lack of posts for a while. We made our annual trip to Disney World and just got back.
I wondered about that Cam. Good to hear that the Apocalypse didn’t claim your house.
Was it a good trip?
Yes. It was an awesome trip. The kids had a blast, the adults are worn out, and a good time was had by all.
Cam,
I finally wrote up the article that’s been stewing in the back of my mind regarding subscription models. It’s a bloomin’ wall of text, and it’s probably best to cross reference the Tobold post that jumpstarted it… but man, I did what I could to open up with both barrels.
If nothing else, I got it out of my system. Now, to distill the commentary after it’s had some time to kick some other people and their ideas around. I may yet get something under 500 words that kicks in the head of the “subscription cult” that seems to have claimed this generation of MMO designers.
http://tishtoshtesh.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/free-to-pay-to-play/
Writers block?