According to experts, good blogs have some things in common that make them successful. How do the blogs for Science World, Dollar Shave Club, and Full Sail fit into this criteria?
All three blogs build a strong online presence. Although none of them look the same in design, their layouts are similar. All have blog posts in neat, easy to read order with pertinent graphics. The blog writers are knowledgeable, showing each blog's expertise in their fields, thus establishing credibility. All three have entries interesting enough to encourage conversation with their audience.
Of course, they're not exactly alike, although they share similarities between them. Science World and Dollar Shave Club both have a similar design with the menu bars that drop down when scrolled over. Full Sail's menu bar also drops down, but it doesn't cover some of the blog entries, thus giving their stories better visibility. Dollar Shave Club and Science World both have blogs using science as a base, although Science World has more.
Full Sail and Dollar Shave Club both have eye-catching graphics. They do it differently, but the concept is the same: to create visual interest. Dollar Shave Club creates uses a lot of cartoon-like art and amusing animation. Full Sail does it with colorful and active pictures, not to mention the fantastic showcasing of student art.
The Full Sail and Science World blogs are a little more alike. They both have numerous entries spotlighting their respective fields. They both have industry news and information about industry events. There is no doubt they are credible sources for news and information. Dollar Shave Club has interesting information that ties into shaving, but it isn't really breaking news per se.
Although all three sites share similarities, they have their unique points, as well. Science World is all science all the time. Every blog gives information on the science behind the subject matter, from what scientists have learned from space dust to what makes a candle burn. The site itself is clean, sharp, and uncluttered. It is a bit of a shame that the same blog is listed twice, because it hurts its credibility. We expect a science site to be as precise as a scientific experiment. A double entry shows a lack of precision that might then make consumers question the validity of the science within.
Dollar Shave Club is more diverse in their subject matter than the other two. Thank goodness. They obviously recognize there is only so much that can be written about shaving and facial hair and remain interesting. Even so, the posts all tie into their industry such as the entry about vitamins, something which can effect hair growth and health. From the random blogs I looked at, more people commented on this site than on the other two.
Full Sail has the most news and events stories that cover the important people and companies that visited the campus over the year as well as posts outlining the awards and successes of school alumni. Full Sail is far more about "what's happening" than the other two blog sites. This helps to put the sense of Full Sail's industry expertise and credibility in the minds of the readers.
These three sites show that, although all good blog sites share certain criteria such as expertise and visual presence, they also have to be uniquely interesting in order to catch--and keep--readers' attention.
No comments:
Post a Comment