What Makes a Good Blog? Merlin Mann Knows.

Merlin Mann of 43 Folders writes on “What Makes for a Good Blog”:

1. Good blogs have a voice. Who wrote this? What is their name? What can I figure out about who they are that they have never overtly told me? What’s their personality like and what do they have to contribute — even when it’s “just” curation. What tics and foibles fascinate make me about this blog and the person who makes it? Most importantly: what obsesses this person?

I think the foundation of the success that Geek Force Five is seeing (as opposed to the limited success I found with previous blogs) is in its voice and the way that it very clearly reflects my obsessions. Most of the really good bloggers that I read are focused on just a couple of topics and have a very clear authorial voice. Most of the so-so bloggers I read could become great bloggers by narrowing their focus a bit more, and by being passionate about every sentence they publish.

Kottke quotes point #8 on Mann’s list instead of #1, but we’re both in agreement that Mann is offering the kind of advice that new/young/uncertain bloggers should be following.

Read the full article here, and add your comments.

Telling a Story Through Your Video Player (Video)

Did you know that Viddler allows you to brand your video player now? If you’re publishing video content on the Web and you’re not using Viddler, you really should be checking them out. Not only can you add your own custom logo, as I’ve done, but you can also customize the color scheme of your video player to match the look & feel of your Website. Check out Wine Library TV and Tasty Blog Snack for examples.

Oh, and while you’re at it: watch the video I’ve embedded above. If you can’t see it there, check it out on Viddler.

Read the full article here, and add your comments.

Ira Glass on Sucking as a Storyteller (Video)

I listen to the podcast version of This American Life every week (and you, if you’re a storyteller of any kind, should be listening too). So, I found it extremely comforting that the host of that show, Ira Glass, was willing to admit, in the video embedded above, that he once sucked as a storyteller, too. His advice to those of us who know that we can be good, but who feel like we are not yet there: keep at it.

Thanks to Merlin Mann at 43 Folders for linking this up.

Read the full article here, and add your comments.