Comments on: Using Examples to Give your Posts Depth

By: alanw

alanw — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:09:39 +0000

I’ve been writing a series of articles about being more creative when writing music, mainly a set of hints for avoiding writer’s block. When I include audio and screenshot examples, I get hits than when I do not. From that perspective, it’s definitely worth it. And when I read them a month of so later, the examples help refresh my mind as well.

The problem I’ve found is the time. Preparing a piece of music to show an idea can take a couple of hours or more, especially if I want it to sound just right. It depends what I’m trying to show. A simple idea can just take 10 minutes to compose and record. Some need a lot more time to get a finished product.

However long it takes, I’m in the process of going back and adding examples for as many of the articles as I can. I think the examples add so much more to an article.

By: Garg the Unzola

Garg the Unzola — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:00:02 +0000

Since my blog is mostly a review blog, I have to come up with colourful metaphors all the time. Opinions are highly subjective, so my opinion is largely irrelevant.

However, if it is entertaining I believe I can engross a reader, even if they don’t like my subject matter.

I try to come up with my own unique images as often as possible. It adds a little uniqueness to my blog readers can’t get anywhere else.

For image editing, I don’t use Photoshop, I use The GIMP, which is FREE. Yes, it does run on Windows.

http://necrofiles.blogspot.com

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:16:21 +0000

I often use analogies and/or short stories. If I write what could be considered as controversial, I tell my readers why, by providing examples.

When I wrote my latest post on why RSS feed reader numbers can be a farce, I provided at least 10 examples in an attempt to teach new bloggers that “things aren’t always as they appear. To some it was an eye opener. .

By: Ruchir Chawdhry

Ruchir Chawdhry — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:56:29 +0000

Examples and illustrations sure are helpful for providing the depth to posts. It makes great posts all the more greater. And it also help readers to understand the concept much easily and fully…

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Of course, you can use video alongwith pictures to further exemplify the effect.

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:48:24 +0000

I use video and sound files as well as personal experience – useful for information on language learning. Also, I think this is important because people can be a different types of learners – auditory, visual or kinetic. Kinetic is a bit hard to do on the net but I guess you can write in ways that appeal to that learning type such as encouraging them to try out something for themselves or ‘get their hands dirty’. Even the language you use can reflect the different learning types. Being aware of the different types of learning can help to make you vary you’re writing style or the things you do to add depth.

By: Black Zedd

Black Zedd — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:08:16 +0000

Well, my blog is a humor/satirical themed blog, therefore examples are less significant.

However, when I’m using a particular topic as a background (like current event or or post from other blogs) I usually include the links to give a picture to my readers on what I’m talking about.

By: Sangeeta Sinha

Sangeeta Sinha — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:53:16 +0000

Giving examples to students while teaching does not take much time but in writing, one has to frame them correctly so that the readers understand them.

By: David LaFerney

David LaFerney — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:19:39 +0000

Great examples of posts with examples. Almost like a mirror in a mirror kind of thing.

Also, a great example of productive links to unrelated sites. I’m sure you’ll get subscribers to the photography site with this post. I’m not really into photography, but my wife is so I emailed her the link.

“Leveraging Synergy of Unrelated Blogs for Fun and Profit” – I really need to work on my headline skills, but I bet lots of us are working two or more unrelated web properties.

By: Monetize

Monetize — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:54:32 +0000

My choise would be the video examples – for example, the ones you host on youtube or video.google that will also attract traffic themself. One thing I’m not sure if Flash video allow placing links inside..

By: Wayne Liew

Wayne Liew — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:47:30 +0000

Examples helps to make things clearer sometimes. However, when I use examples in my blog post, I have the fear that I will sway away from my main theme of the blog post or making the post goes way too long for the digestion of my readers.

By: ArtShades

ArtShades — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:32:30 +0000

As a lampshade designer maker I am a ‘visual’ person, so find it much easier to communicate my design inspiration using images – an example is here

http://www.typepad.com/t/app/weblog/post?__mode=edit_entry&id=41848252&blog_id=1336894

I only started blogging last year and decided from the start to make my blog image heavy. However, your blog has helped me to take a step back and remember the purpose and structure. I printed out your ‘13 questions to ask before publishing a post on your blog’ post and have it pinned up beside my desk!

It looks like I should be subscribing to your digital photo school blog now too.

Thanks for all your help.

By: Sangesh

Sangesh — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:02:16 +0000

I am always enthusiastic about photography. Love this article too and specially “Twilight Photography Tips”

Cheers.

By: Andrew Chen

Andrew Chen — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:33:52 +0000

Good info, I thought this blog was written by one person.

By: jd

jd — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:24:45 +0000

As one of my mentors would put it, concrete examples are where the “rubber meets the road.” …

On one of my experiment blogs, The Book Share, I try to connect the dots. As I make my way through books and find nuggets of insight, I try to do three things:
1. chunk the insight from the book down into something actionable
2. share the insight in a way that’s more actionable and reusable
3. relate the nugget to my own experience or applied use at work

For example, in this post, Building Trust on Your Teams, I share a nugget from the book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable.” I first give context for the problem, then quickly summarize the insights, then share relevant quotes. Lastly, I share my key take aways in a way that is hopefully actionable for the reader.

Sharing insight in the blog is one way that I try to scale myself. I mentor several folks at work, so I’m using the blog as a way to share lessons learned and reach more than I can directly in person.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:58:25 +0000

Hey Darren, this is great advice.

I myself have been trying to do this more on my own blog. Although sometimes I do find it more difficult with the subject matter. Because my blog is based more on current events it seems like it might be more difficult to relate to myself, although even just writing this and thinking of my lastest post I have come up with two things that I should have added to make the post better!

awesome! thanks a lot.

By: JEMi @ InMyHeels.com

JEMi @ InMyHeels.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:05:04 +0000

My latest post http://www.inmyheels.com/when-your-husband-dies is directed to new widows .. providing them info valuable and exclusive to their needs. However it’s deeply personal because I filled it with examples- personal stories -to better illustrate the things they needed to know.

I did this simply because – other than me honoring the memory of my husband – I remember being in that position and all the books talking at me couldn’t resonate with me. *chuckle* at all actually. I needed the personal touch of someone’s story in order to relate.

For the most part, majority of my blog uses examples such as photos as well as little stories and anecdotes – most not as personal and private as that post but valuable nonetheless. I strongly believe you can give depth to your writing by being relatable or easier to understand by illustrating your point so that a wider range of readers can grasp what you mean.

Excellent post Darren .. but of course. :) (hmm.. Iong comment from me on this one lol)

By: Murad

Murad — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:37:37 +0000

Hmmm…very nice and cool things .
I almost always use stories (usually from personal experience) to illustrate the point I happen to be attempting to make.

By: Christi

Christi — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:01:15 +0000

There is some contrast between how you are saying that you would prefer that your bloggers write in more detail and depth, I have worked for some blog editors that insist on short, yet insightful posts. It’s caused me to be much more reserved than I’d like to be, and your post encourages me to be more thorough in my posting – as I naturally would have been prior to working for people who desired “brief” posts.

Good article once again, Darren!

By: Terra Andersen

Terra Andersen — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:46:46 +0000

I generally use stories and real life experiences. Since mine is a business blog, I really try using real-life examples from my own ventures to help others. If anyone one can learn from my mistakes and successes, I will be very glad.

I imagine I should use photos more… as a good amount of people are especially good at learning visually.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:44:25 +0000

I very rarely include examples – though I am definitely going to try to improve that.
I have mentioned things about myself (such as the effort it took me to ask a girl to the prom in my Just Do It post), and one hypothetical scenario (but I can’t remember what post that was in…)