This post is about 3 years overdue. It’s not that I’ve finally figured it all out, or even that I get all these right myself, but rather it’s just time to begin to put my thoughts down on a post and see where it goes. There really is a serious lack of good Blog Etiquette posting on the blogosphere. I’ve seen a few that I really like, and I’ll link to them at the bottom of this post. I’ll just cover the big hitters and let you finish the rest in the comments, as well as encourage you to check out the other links provided.
Rule #1 – Don’t blog about something that will get you fired, or cause you to lose a relationship. Unless, of course, you’re fine with losing said job or relationship.
Rule #2 – Link Love. Link to those you read, as well as provide relevant links in your posting so people don’t have to look stuff up on their own.
Rule #3 – Comments. If you read someone’s blog and enjoy it, it’s good form to let them know. But don’t let the comments validate your blog. Simply allow them to enhance it. Anonymous comments suck. Don’t leave them. Also, don’t be frightened by dissent or bad behavior in your comments either. The dissent is actually doing you a favor, and if someone is acting improper, simply give them a warning and then ban them the next time. I could really type so much more on this topic, but I’ll hold back for now.
Rule #4 – Be Regular. Nobody likes to visit a site only to see the same post from last month sitting there. Eventually they’ll just stop coming.
Rule #5 – Don’t be long winded. At least too often. There are times when it’s alright to expound a bit. But let that be the exception, not the rule.
Rule #6 – Do all that’s in your power to have proper punctuation, spelling, paragraph returns, etc. Run on sentences and thoughts are so annoying for your reader.
Rule #7 – Mix it up. Don’t get typecast. Make your readers have no earthly idea what you are going to post next. Make this a place for visual, emotional, and intellectual stimulation. Use pictures, videos, articles, links—but use them well.
Rule #8 – Be controversial, but be real. Ruffle some feathers. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be wrong. But don’t put on a facade.
Rule #9 – Do it for yourself. I covered this slightly with the comments and validation, but don’t be driven by the stats or comments. Put stuff out there that is important to you and let the chips fall where they may.
Rule #10 – Rules are made to be broken. So break some. Make it yours and be happy with it.
Good articles on Blog Etiquette. Read all the comments as well!
• Ten Tips for a Firmer, Slimmer, Sexier Weblog!
• Blog Etiquette – rocksinmydryer.typepad.com
• Blog Etiquette – candence90.com
• Blog Etiquette – cafemama.com
• Etiquette for the Blogging Nation
Filed under: Blogging, Blogosphere, Etiquette
Thanks for the tips puppy and in reference to my post today, I don’t care! Just thought you’d like to know. Great post though. B4T
Good advice!
I’ve added a link to you on my blog.
I just post what strikes my fancy.
Good tips, tho!
RULE – Give credit where credit is due. Don’t take credit for something you found somewhere else.
RULE – If someone asks you a question, acknowledge it with a response. (Unless of course it was rhetorical).
I beg to differ about not good etiquette blogs. Please check ours and make a commnet as to what you see and like.
I would also appreciate if you can tel us how we may be able to make our blog on etiquette more present in the blogosphere….
We love to be able to assist people with questions on Etiquette.
Kind regards
Africa zanella ( real name!)
http://www.kenvale.edu.au.
Excellent stuff. I never seem to be amazed at what some people are willing to post to the web. Way too much information sometimes.
[...] to a blog with a comment or question, and there is complete silence on the other end. There is an etiquette to blogging, and responding to those who comment (especially frequent commentators) is one of them. I have to [...]
You’ve posed some really great ideas. I featured a couple of them over on my blog. Thanks for taking the time to clear a couple things up.
[...] Tip Junkie used a little of my Blog Etiquette post yesterday. It may be more appealing to the ladies, but it’s a fun site and I’ve [...]
[...] of the top blog etiquette writers agree that standards of journalism should be kept in blogging as well as every [...]
[...] of the top blog etiquette writers agree that standards of journalism should be kept in blogging as well as every [...]
[...] online – questions about blogs, comments, flaming, and more – I defer to the excellent advice of The Original Mud Puppy and Lisa Williams’ [...]
Skunny referred me. Thanks for the hints and advice! It will help me get started much better.
Thanks. I linked to this in my Computer Apps. class!
J. Patty
As a newbie to the world of blogging (even though I myself am also 33 years old) this article was very helpful. Also, your site is well organized and devoid of annoying Google ad’s, flashing riff-raff, and other miscellaneous stuff.
I also checked out your portfolio and am impressed.
Merry Christmas
FW
[...] are three blogs with tips that I found particularly helpful. Mud puppy Cadence90 Rocksinmydryer [...]
Thanks for your post. We recently started several blogs and are trying to navigate the whole etiquette thing while at the same time continuing to post regularly. Its been a lot of fun but more challenging than it appears. I’d be interested in learning more about using trackbacks.
Thanks again — Brian
[...] Mud Puppy policies: » Bad Reception » Blog Etiquette Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Newly discovered fun stuffIn the spotlightAnd all [...]
very good list.
if i may add…
rule #11 click the ads if they have one.
I’ve got a fairly new blog, and I’ve been looking at blogging etiquette to try to learn what is acceptable. I found this post to be very informative. From what I’ve seen, your article makes a great deal of sense, I would just like to add that I have no respect for slander or plagiarism. If you’re going to post something on your site, make sure that its your own, even if you do link. As well, most of us are adults, and we need to conduct ourselves as such. It can be difficult sometimes, but sometimes the best way to deal with negativity is to not give it an audience.
Thank you so much for this post! I was looking for the proper etiquette for linking to other blogs and this gave me that and more!
[...] a brief google search, I discovered a number of sites who offer their opinions on blog etiquette and blogging [...]
[...] Blog Etiquette @ The Original Mud Puppy Leave a Comment [...]
[...] for. However I found they did have some great advice for this post. Thank you Stupid Church People, The Original Mud Puppy and Rocks In My Dryer. Posted in General « Diggin’ [...]
your blog is great! i just started blogging havent quite figured it out your rules have given me a clue thank you!
bianca.
p.s your right new moon is fantastic! like the book
Thanks for the validation. Great article, wish more would follow your guidelines!!
[...] http://mudpuppy.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/blog-etiquette/ [...]
Thanks for this info. I read blogging etiquette from other site and I found this one of the best guide.
[...] Blog Etiquette from The Original Mudd Puppy (I hope I follow these pretty well) [...]
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