Comments on: How Do You Define ‘Great Content’?

By: Mlinar

Mlinar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:59:49 +0000

It’s when you write about something you like and know well, without imagining that everyone likes it; it’s about sharing the information and passing the thrill to the readers without assuming that they have more (or less) mental capacity to grasp it. In essence, respect the reader and share things about what you know the best.

By: Serge

Serge — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:28:15 +0000

Great content is what I go through my browser cache to re-locate.
Therefore, it’s something that is memorable, which may not immediately appear useful or relevant.

By: Mel Menzies

Mel Menzies — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:43:09 +0000

Mmmm! This is quite challenging. Especially after reading what Mike Smith had to say (incidentally, the link to his site wouldn’t work for me so I was unable to read his blog about burning the house down). I was asked, sometime ago, what drives me. It took me sometime to answer and, in the end, I decided that the conclusions I reached summed up my ‘brand’ – so I put them on the Welcome Page of my website. In essence, they were exactly what Mike Smith was complaining about. i.e. content which changes people’s perspective on life.

And I have to agree with him. At least in part. Good content is something which, as an author, I’m concerned about. I don’t always achieve it in my blog because of the time constraints. But I think I would define good content as something which engages people. After all, a good belly laugh (which I blogged about yesterday) can be ‘life-changing’ for anyone – at least for a moment, when it’s uplifting. Equally, my bereavement poem (an excerpt from my latest book, which recently ranked No. 1 in Google searches and continues to be in the top ten) engages people – but in a different way.

Isn’t this what ’successful’ blogging is all about? Trying to reach out and ‘engage’ with other human beings in the same way that you would if meeting them face to face? Perhaps we ought all to ask what it is about other people’s content that engages us?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:47:37 +0000

For me, great content is finding an interesting subject, and writing about it in a way that hasn’t been done before.

Structure, presentation and actual writing skills are all important, but I reckon it’s putting a personal spin on an already strong subject that defines great content.

By: Mike Smith

Mike Smith — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:51:16 +0000

After reading a few comments I find it funny how some people think “good writing” has to be world changing. “When your words touch somebody’s soul.” Whatever man, clam down Cyrano. So my story about almost burning the house down while making Pop-tarts isn’t good? I don’t just write about my incompetence but it’s unfair for my blog to be ruled out because I’m not trying to change the world.

Blogging is like comedy. Many comedians look down on physical comics and I’m not a big fan of physical comedy but sometimes it’s funny when Chris Farley jumps out a window or a dude gets kicked in the balls. These comics view physical comedy as childish and they prefer to be witty because they are sooo grown up but to me funny is funny. Physical comedy isn’t my bag and I would never do it but I do enjoy it, I’m not above it.

To me “good writing” is anything I don’t regret spending my time to read.

-MFM

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:10:35 +0000

Great content is great art–it cannot be reduced to a formula.

By: Mark Nagurski

Mark Nagurski — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:47:34 +0000

Great content solves a problem.

People read blogs (or consume any other content) for a purpose – it could be to be entertained, to learn or to be inspired. The flip side of those purposes are ‘problems’ – ‘I need a giggle’, ‘I’m not getting the best results from my x’, or ‘I’m feeling uninspired’.

Great content fills those need and so starts with understanding what the reader is actually looking for – and then serves it up.

By: timmyjohnboy

timmyjohnboy — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:45:02 +0000

Good content is content that truly inspires. GREAT content inspires someone to act! One may act by beginning to track your site, tell others, be curious enough to study out a subject more, perhaps even continue the topic in a post of their own (and hopefully quote from you and add a link!).

Just as “charity” is having love so true as to elicit action, GREAT content should elicit action, of some sort.

By: Edit My Text

Edit My Text — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:16:09 +0000

Great content is well suited to your blog’s target audience; in subject matter and through the use of appropriate language.

Great content is engaging, informative, concise, and well editied to ensure that it is error-free.

Passion, creativity and credibility are also key elements of great blog content.

By: pearlin

pearlin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:50:22 +0000

As a writer, I am drawn to blogs with good writing that is succinct and catchy. Of course grammatically, it has to be correct and nothing is more tedious than never-ending sentences with no punctuation. Humour always works!
Content is subjective as what may be interesting to me may be boring to others. I guess the universal themes of money, business and sex has its fair share of fans.

By: Holly

Holly — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:59:20 +0000

Great content is definitely key and what I personally view as great content is anything that I can relate to or enjoy reading. It’s different with anyone, so when finding a niche to write a blog about, you should surely see that there is a market for it, especially if you would like to gain readers who can relate to it or at the very least be introduced to something that they will eventually be interested in. Great content sparks interests as well as conversation.

By: Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:30:48 +0000

When we say that content is great, it can also be treated as a king. This is the analogy I tried to apply when I made a post to answer your question, Darren. When to say that Content is King. But to give you ideas on what is inside, here are my thoughts.

1.0 It is powerful.
2.0 It is invincible.
3.0 It gains a lot of respect.
4.0 It can rule a kingdom.

Thanks!

By: Scott Chanaway

Scott Chanaway — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:04:02 +0000

Actually, I am one of those sites looking for great content and some of the responses below can be added on my site if you wish. In fact, I invite all bloggers of all topics to my new site started this month to post lists of information that are short, to the point, and best of all give YOU the blogger the opportunity to promote your blog or website for free as a thank you. Blog now at showmealistof dot com. I’ve started it, now you can help build its content.

By: Dennis Lowery

Dennis Lowery — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:05:53 +0000

The writer should know what they are talking (writing) about and the knowledge should come from (at least some) practical experience. Specific experience, that addresses or discusses a specific topic in a way that will be of help to people, put to paper and done well … is great content.

“write things worth reading, or do things worth writing”

~ Benjamin Franklin

By: Shaun Connell

Shaun Connell — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:54:27 +0000

Great content changes lives.

By: Shanker Bakshi

Shanker Bakshi — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:12:39 +0000

For me -Great Content means a content which is unique and well presented – The things you are talking about has been never said before. Impressive, Inspirational and origanal and not a copy of already written scripts.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:48:25 +0000

@ Elizabeth. I somewhat disagree with the posts you linked to, since I am a new reader here and appreciative being able to contribute to discussions relevant to me that didn’t happen 3 years ago.

So we come back again to fulfilling a need. Some readers have the need to receive content at certain times, and their need may be time-dependent – they need to see it dsicussed now.

By: Frank C

Frank C — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:24:28 +0000

Content that achieves the goal that you want it to achieve when you write it. The goal may be to engage and entertain readers or it may be to bore the reader so much that they find clicking on an ad more interesting. The important thing is that each post achieves the goal that you want. That’s what makes it great.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:22:46 +0000

Great content is what you quote or link to without expecting anything in return.

By: thomson dawson

thomson dawson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:47:01 +0000

Of course great content inspires the reader. Great content provides a real exchange of value… one comes away with a sense that there was a connection…something gained by the exchange of ideas… nothing new here but the medium.