Sucky is the new awesome
I recently read a post that ‘helped’ me to determine if my blog content sucks. I try to take articles like this with a grain of salt. They often say the same thing: ‘be the expert in your field’, ‘be useful’, ‘offer something no one else does.’ It’s just not always possible. As a Mom Blogger (or Mommy Blogger – I have no issue with the term) I just don’t really fit within the realm of traditional blogging advice. Be the expert: In what? Diaper changing? Cleaning up puke? Macaroni and cheese?
One of the first points of the post was to suggest that your blog does, in fact, suck, if your posts read like journal entries. Isn’t that what this is? An online journal? A way to record and remember (and share) all the stories about our lives and families? It is for me. This is a journal. All of my favorite blogs read like journals. Some of the best and biggest blogs out there read like journals.
I continued to read. It turns out, the answer to ‘Does my block content suck?’ is a resounding yes. Out of the 20 areas of suckiness that the post discussed, I sucked in 10 of them (and I may have been fibbing in some of the others.) Let’s discuss a few points:
Your posts read like journal entries
I’ve touched on this. My blog would suck if it didn’t read like a journal, because, trust me, there are very few areas where I’m an expert and you usually shouldn’t take my advice.
You spend less than an hour on each post
What is this, a term paper? I can’t do anything for an hour. Except sleep. An hour on a post? You mean, with research and important points? Nope. Not on MMP.
You’ve never received hate mail
Ok, I admit, I like a bit of controversy. I’m always willing to jump into the debate. I just don’t post much that is controversial. I once received a comment that told me I didn’t know how lucky I was to stay home with the girls and should stop complaining about it. I don’t think that counts, though.
You don’t know the benefit
The benefit of what? Of laughing? Of relating to stories? Essentially, because I can not quantify how my blog makes my readers’ lives better, I am setting myself up to fail. I can assure you, the only benefit I get from most blogs I read is a good laugh or the ability to say, ‘I hear you…I’ve been there’ which is exactly what I’m am hoping to get out of reading them.
You’ve never read a book on copywriting
…and I probably never will. Until this is my full-time, high-income job. So, never.
You write less than 1,000 words per day
As in, a post that is less than 1,000 per day? As in, a daily post? No way. I have a hard enough time coming up with 300 words that my posts are usually comprised of. I can’t be wordy. I edit to a fault. I also can’t read posts that are too long, with few exceptions. I stop halfway through, defeating the purpose. This point really gets to me because you can’t quantify how many words it takes to get your point across. It could be 2. It could be 2,000.
I know it’s not cool to admit that you like traffic and you are supposed to blog for yourself, and blah, blah, blah. I’ll admit it. I like traffic. I like visitors. I love subscribers. I would keep a diary if I didn’t care if someone read my blog or got some enjoyment out of it. I don’t want it to suck. But I can’t promise that my next post will be any more useful than a poop story. I just can’t make a story about waking up at night into something unique. I don’t want to be the expert in food throwing.
So please, continue to just read and laugh at my journal-ish blog, thank you very much!
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Posted by LZ on June 22, 2010
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: blog content, blogging
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June 22, 2010
Twitter: BOREDmommy
BLOG SUCK FTW!
Maria @BOREDmommy´s last blog ..Little Gems – The Gas Man
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June 22, 2010
Guess my blog sucks too!
Sucky bloggers unite! 
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June 22, 2010
I read all your blogs…LOVE them all, as I can usually relate to most of them….makes me laugh most of the time cause its a lot of the same situations we encounter here…don’t change anything…I enjoy knowing I am not alone in this ‘parenting’ situation!
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June 22, 2010
My blog definitely sucks. If I spent an hour composing each blog entry of 1,000 words or more, I’d be lucky to post once a month. I don’t have time to read something that long, let alone write it.
C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..You’re My Favorite Deputy, Usually
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June 22, 2010
Yay! I suck! WOOOO!
Burgh Baby´s last blog ..I Have a Problem
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June 22, 2010
Guess I can join in the suck parade! Bring on the suck!
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June 22, 2010
Team Blogs That SUCK! Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s obviously working for you. That is the one thing I love about blogs… for each of the ‘rules’ out there I can name 10 bloggers who break them and are successful. My only advice ever to bloggers who ask is to use your own voice.
My blog is a mix of all kinds of things because that’s the way my brain works. I have everything from journal entries to parties to recipes to family stuff. No expert, just a mom that loves to connect with readers. It works for me. Right now I don’t consider myself a writer {though maybe in the future that might change} now I am a mom and a blogger.
Michelle´s last blog ..My Brain Function is Nil.
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June 22, 2010
Wow I didn’t know we had rules to follow. I’m just trying to figure out all the technical stuff.
My name is Katharine and I have a 12 year old daughter. I’m way past the poopy stage. I’m at the stage where my daughter is one minute a child and the next working toward being an adult. She’s old for her age in how she dresses and looks but miles away in how she acts. To me that is ok because it’s all part of the growing up process. Some are shocked that I let he wear makeup. To me that is no bigggy, it makes her feel better and when you are in middle school that’s important. One day she wasn’t wearing makeup and I thought I like how she looks naturally. I think it’s sad but when she is natural I know she is comfortable in her own skin.
Anyways, I saw your blog while blog hopping and the messy part caught my attention.lol
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June 22, 2010
I don’t think I want to read a blog that doesn’t suck. I read them for the enjoyment of knowing that some else out there has a life as crazy as mine. With kids that do silly/dumb things and that it is ok to laugh when life hands you lemons. If that makes all of us suck then there is no other way I would rather be.
Carrie´s last blog ..Homemade Strawberry Jam
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June 22, 2010
Wow! Yeah for the “sucky” mommy bloggers! I wouldn’t have much to read if I didn’t read blogs that under those rules, don’t quite make it. I love your stories about your kids. I understand that getting it all out helps to make it more tolerable in some cases & yet, helps to share the funny things that have happened in our days!
And fyi? Someone is totally smoking crack if they think most mommy bloggers can spend more than an hour on a blog post! Are they nuts?!
Sues2u2´s last blog ..Our backyard visitor or there’s a skunk out there!!!!
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June 22, 2010
I’m right there with you!
I’m an expert at making purees, building houses out of throw pillows and holding a baby while unloading a dishwasher and supervising a 3 year old cutting projects.
Kristin @ Ellie-Town´s last blog ..He’s Here!
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June 22, 2010
I guess I’ll suck right along with you. Don’t tell me people don’t want to find others to relate to and that’s not enough??!! I don’t really read a lot of “professional” blogs because, quite frankly, they annoy me! No one is an expert on parenting and who the hell has time to write a post a day? I suppose if it were my job I might, but I still doubt it!
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June 22, 2010
I totally suck, too, according to articles like that one. I try not to pay too much attention to them. Because it’s not like I’m about to change.
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June 22, 2010
Your blog doesn’t suck!
Oh wait, it sucking now good? Because then it sucks. I’m so confused.
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June 22, 2010
Twitter: CoffeesCommutes
, as is evidenced by both my own blog posts and some of my comments. I just like to go on and on…
LZ, I LOVED this post. Thanks for keeping it real. Cause really, I’m with you, though , I think I tend to be wordy, oops
But hearing, I know this, or I completely understand on my blog. Really I can’t get enough of it!
Christine LaRocque´s last blog ..Balance is worth it
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June 22, 2010
I strive to be mediocre.
ggs_closet´s last blog ..My New Book Review Is At Smexy Books
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June 22, 2010
Twitter: sarahcasm
GO YOU!
I proudly suck, too. I was thinking of writing a post in response to that “article” but you have covered everything for me.
I’ve been thinking about my content and that “article” and I think I will take his advice re: spending up to 10 hours on a post! Hahahaha! (yeah, in whose lifetime).
Sarah´s last blog ..A Lesson in Affecting Change
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June 22, 2010
Hmmm, mine sucks too then.
You’re an expert at relating mommy stories and making us all laugh
Amanda´s last blog ..Cali’s Rockin’ Her First Giveaway
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June 22, 2010
Twitter: jodieansted
Now see, I read once that you should keep your posts *under* 1000 words, otherwise, they’re too long and people will give up and not finish it (unless, I guess, it’s really REALLY good).
Personally, I don’t think your blog sucks, and I kinda like it!!!
x
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem´s last blog ..Ask Mummy Mayhem – One Wedding and A Baby
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June 22, 2010
Twitter: hereslizz
My blog sucks harder than a $10 crack whore blow job.
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June 23, 2010
Funny, I read that article as soon as I saw it pop up on Twitter and as I read each bullet point, all I could thing was how shitty my blog must be to read! Thankfully I don’t typically have time to read any of those fancy blog-tip site, or I would have thrown in the towel many years ago.
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June 23, 2010
Twitter: jenniferspeaks
Well if those are terms of sucky blog content then my blog is in the shit hole. LMAO
Jenny´s last blog ..I’m an artist again!
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June 23, 2010
Love The Post !! Love The Blog !!! the sunny side !! apparently we all suck
shafeena´s last blog ..Blog by a Mum… a Mlog?
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June 23, 2010
Twitter: azlb
What a great post. Couldn’t agree more. I suck but hope people enjoy me just the same
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June 24, 2010
Twitter: MyPixieBlog
If those are the rules for a sucky blog, then I guess I’m right along there with the best of them. I also like blogs to read like diary entries, personally. I can relate to them, and really, isn’t that part of the reason we all do this?
Anyway, don’t be discouraged by this article (though it doesn’t sound as though you are which is good). We just have to keep doing what we do best. Your readers will continue to follow if you are true to who you are
Charlotte´s last blog ..the past has vanished in the air
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July 9, 2010
Twitter: janatude
This article you read sucked. Your blog is awesome!
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July 21, 2010
Twitter: fromtracie
Based on that criteria…mine sucks too.
Heres to sucking!
Tracie´s last blog ..Sometimes Kids are Sticky
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July 22, 2010
Twitter: the_damsel
Found you on the BlogFrog SU group. Love it!
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July 26, 2010
Do you have the original article? That sounds interesting… and I think I suck too! Sucky is the new awesome. You are so right.
Gina´s last blog ..Weekend Showdown- Batman
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