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Four Questions a Blog’s Home Page Should Answer

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Four Questions
Since I teach writing to college students, you would think that writing for a blog would be a natural fit.

After all, I love words. And I know the rules of grammar fairly well. How hard could it be?

Needless to say, when I started blogging five years ago, I committed just about every “blogging sin” possible.

  • I wrote long paragraphs.
  • I wrote even longer posts.
  • I followed all the grammar rules I learned in school.
  • I covered three to four different points in each post.
  • I neglected to engage my readers with a call to action.
  • And I never bothered to include a picture.

Basically, I treated online writing the same as regular writing — with black words on a white background. I didn’t see the need for a header or a tagline or even an About page. I’m a word-girl, so I wanted to write words. Lots and lots of words.

Yet, in my earnest effort to focus on the craft, I made the most critical error of all:
I failed to connect my words to a larger message.

Without a core message, our words float adrift on an endless sea of meaningless syllables.

As writers and bloggers, our words should have a destination. They need to lead somewhere.

This is why it’s so important for blog-writers to have a header and a tagline and an About page. A reader wants to know who we are and what we’re about and where we’re going.

As a reader, whenever I visit a blog for the first time, I instinctively ask the following four questions. And I look for the answers to these four questions on the home page, preferably “above the fold,” which means I shouldn’t have to scroll down in order to find the answers to these four questions.

1. What is this blog about?

The theme of a blog should be apparent. Is this a food blog? A DIY blog? A mommy blog? A faith blog?

Since our eyes are naturally drawn to the header across the top, it makes the most sense for our blog’s theme to be evident in the header. I realize, of course, that many bloggers (including myself) use our name for our blog’s domain. When this is the case, the tagline becomes especially important.

A reader should be able to glance at the top of a blog and know immediately what the blog is about.

2. Who is the writer behind these words?

When I started blogging, I loathed the idea of putting a picture of myself on my blog, much less any information about me. I wanted my blog to be about the writing, not about me. It dawned on me, though, that when words are divorced from the context of the writer, they are nothing more than mere words.

A person and a person’s words are inseparable. How can I expect a reader to take my words to heart if I’m not willing to put a face to mine?

Every blog should have an About page that introduces the writer. However, it’s wise to briefly introduce yourself on the home page too. The sidebar is a good place for this. Then invite your readers to learn more about you by providing a link to your About page.

3. Why should I come back?

This is the most important question every first-time reader asks, and it’s the content of our writing that makes a reader come back.

A blog is more than an online writing space. It’s a doorway into a writer’s life.
<Tweet this!>

With a blog, we can share our lives and experiences. We can encourage others who may be in similar situations. We can help people know they’re not alone.

Readers come back when they feel like they connect with the writer and they benefit from the writing. <Tweet this!>

4. How can I subscribe?

If we want our readers to come back, then we need to invite them to join us on our writing journeys. So we should make subscribing easy.

For further connection, invite your readers to connect with you through Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media venue works best for you.

Blogging is at its best when it’s about connecting with people through great messages. <Tweet this!>

●  ●  ●  ●  ●

As a writer, my own blogging journey meandered awhile. And that’s okay too. But once I was able to address these four questions on my blog, my online writing experienced a major course correction. And my blog-writing all of the sudden had a defined destination.

Does your blog answer these four questions on your home page?

Comments

  1. Thank you for this post. I am in the process of moving/switching blogs and making changes along the way. One of the biggest for me has been to put my picture on my sidebar. This process took a mini photo shoot with my daughters behind the lens and I sought input from readers on the best profile picture. It actually turned out to be a fun process.

  2. Denise, this is excellent, cogent advice, and it makes perfect sense. I’m new to blogging (reading them!), and you’re right: It’s a different writing world. It’s good to be personable and relatable and to engage your readers. I think if you are going to open the comment box, and the reader takes the time to comment, she is attempting to engage in dialogue. So I prefer when the author comments back. Also, just in the sheer mechanics of the blog, I think it is important to be able to read the blog easily: typeface that is bold and big enough to see at a glance, a way to leave a comment that is quick and easy without having to go through all kinds of password gyrations and typing in codes to get it to publish quickly. Just some other thoughts to add to your blogging grist. =]
    Thanks, Denise. This was great counsel!
    Lynn

    • Hi, Lynn. You’re absolutely right about all of that. I definitely prefer darker, plain letters on a white or almost white background — rather than a pretty script. It’s just easier to read. And the comment system should definitely be as streamlined as possible (without all those extra password steps). You’ve inspired me to write another post just on the ins-and-outs of commenting. 🙂

  3. Thanks, Denise. I needed these words today. I’ve been blogging for awhile, but I have very little traffic. I’m learning, though. Time to revisit my theme and revamp my home page, perhaps.

  4. Denise, could you also comment a bit more about whether or not photos/illustrations on a blog are absolutely necessary? I’m no photographer! I realize there are stock photos one could use, but sometimes, they are not high quality. And though most blogs are obviously word-driven, sometimes I find that when tons of photos are included, one has to keep scrolling to get to the meat of the message: the words. So I think there is a balance. There are highly read blogs, like that of Tim Challies, which really rarely use photos, and yet, they garner a ton of readers. If you have a sec and could elaborate more on this, I would grealy appreicate it! =]
    Lynn

    • Lynn, the pros and cons of “no-photos vs. lots-of-photos” is a good topic (and worthy of its own post probably too). 🙂 Like you, I think too many photos are distracting, and I prefer to skip to the “meat” of the article. But then again, I also think it’s important to remember who our audience is. Some audiences actually enjoy lots of photos, and they may even prefer it to a more “text heavy” type of blog. So I think it’s a matter of “like is drawn to like.” Those of us who are used to reading lots of books are used to creating our own pictures in our minds while we read, so we’re probably less drawn to blogs that incorporate lots of photos. But I’ve also come to appreciate the beauty of a nice photo or two, here and there. And I think the blogging world is inherently more visual than other types of writing. So I think the photo-option is really up to the individual blogger and the kind of audience he or she is trying to attract. You’re absolutely right, too, that there are many blogs that are quite successful without the use of photos, and I believe those blogs offer something different, which is beautiful too.

  5. Great post!! Thank you for sharing this wisdom! It gives me some ideas on what I need to do with my blog:) Do you think you’ll create a follow up post about how you honed your blog writing and created just as meaningful content with less words? I would love to know that 🙂

    • Thanks, Lauren. Yes, I’ll create a follow-up post on creating blog content with less words. In fact, I’ll be addressing that very question in a workshop at the Allume Conference. I’l love to meet you there! 🙂

      • Oh Denise! I would LOVE to hear you speak and attend the Allume Conference. But I’m in the little toddler, no money stage of my life 😉 Maybe down the road! My friend went last year and was so blessed! May the Lord use you to encourage lots of women!

  6. Great tips for bloggers! These days my biggest problem is just sitting down and writing! Once I start writing the words just flow…and then I tend to get a bit wordy as well! Loved this post. Thank you!

  7. Excellent advice! Thank you for the food for thought–now it’s time to go and look at my blog through new eyes!

  8. Hi!. Thank you for your input. I value you. I took your post and on the side examined my own blog. Got three out four.I’ve been writing poetry lately and think that might be alienating my readers. I’m not too sure. Even using less photos because someone told me they’re distracted by it. I will be in your class at ALLUME and following your posting. Another suggestion. Why not ask for volunteers to get you to “grade” their website and pick the top five or so. Crazy but might just work. Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! lol

    • Chris, I can’t wait to see you at Allume again! Also, I know of some super great folks who do “blog evaluations,” I could send you their website addresses. 🙂

      • Please do. I think that would be a great help for me right now. Keep a seat for me for lunch.

  9. very helpful denise. i’ve been learning that over my years as a blogger. glad you put it neatly into words. funny how i break the paragraph rules all the time now…and sentence structure has changed too!

    i think it is much more converstional. with all the broken up pieces of sentences rather than the complete ones. i often have my husband take a look for typos and grammar. he often cringes at the structure now. but i think it seems to work.

    • You’re so right about that, Martha. The structure of a blog post is much looser in blog-writing than in formal writing. It’s much more conversational, which is part of its appeal. (It took some getting used to for me too.) 🙂

  12. Hey Denise

    Oh dear! I see so much of me in your post!

    And, honestly, I still don’t understand why visuals are deemed more important than words 😉 , but I shall definitely keep your tips in mind while launching my new blog (sometime before I leave this earth! )

    Much love
    Kitto

  13. I feel like Joanie-Come-Lately… but I took the advice here and my blog looks great and has taken on a new face with header and tagline and call to action. Thanks.

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