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.