MAGAZINE navigation:

INFO

ISSUES [currently viewing]

AUTHORS

SEARCH

Currently viewing:

Issue 1 > Thirteen blog cliches.

Thirteen blog cliches.

Jeff Atwood with 'don't, x13'.

I started out in early 2004 as a blog skeptic. But over the years, I've become a born-again believer. In that time, I've written and read many blog entries.

As a result, I've developed some rather strong opinions about what makes blogs work so well, and what makes blogs sometimes not work so well.

Before I start, realize that these are my opinions. That should be a redundant statement, but I'm putting the disclaimer out there anyway. Just because I run my blog a certain way doesn't make it the right way—or even a very good way. These are preferences, not beliefs.

Please don't be offended if your blog, or a blog you enjoy, commits one of my so-called cliches. I'm not trying to single any one person or blog out here. It's your blog, and you don't have to answer to me. I'm just some guy on the internet.

Run your blog as you see fit. These are nothing more than broad observations formed over the years where I've been deeply immersed in blog culture.

You may not agree that these are cliches. You might even feel very strongly that I'm wrong about all of this. That's what comments and trackbacks are for. Use them.

1 The useless calendar widget. This list isn't in any particular order, with one exception. There is nothing I dislike more than the redundant blog calendar widget. It's like a recurring canker sore we can't quite seem to rid ourselves of.

I can't think of a single time I have ever found the blog calendar widget helpful. My computer already has a calendar function, so it's not like I need another calendar displayed in my web browser.

Every post carries an obvious datestamp, so I can easily discern when it was published. But knowing whether someone posted an entry on the third tuesday of the month? Utterly useless.

The calendar widget is the vestigial tail of blog engines, evidence of our primordial ancestors. But we've evolved; it's time to lose the tail. Surely there's something more useful we could put in that space.

2 Random images arbitrarily inserted in text. One of the cardinal rules of web writing is to avoid large blocks of text.

  next page »

Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  | all pages

« PREVIOUS ARTICLE  NEXT ARTICLE »

ISSUE 1 CONTENTS »

Currently viewing:

MAGAZINE > issues > 1 > Thirteen blog cliches.