Many blogs out there write one random post after after another. Each entry seems to be something just to get them to their next one. Tell me if I’m wrong here but I bet you and your friends would rather read a weblog that has something more than just black pixels on a white screen.
Put yourself into the writer’s shoes (if you haven’t already). If the vision for your site is to write golden posts then how to you get there? How do you solve the blah blog blues?
People will flock to something real.
- If you have something to say they will subscribe to your RSS feed.
- You will get better commenter participation if you move their heart.
The best thing you can do is to awaken hunger in your readers hearts. Let them leave your site hungry for God and a little more passionate about Jesus.
Encounter always trumps Hearts
Your vision for building an apostolic site will only happen post encounter (no pun intended).
How personal and how spiritual you want to make it is up to you. But you have to fight for that secret place with God. You have to fight for time with God. Time in the Word. Time in Prayer.
This is your only hope for so much more than just a good weblog. You have to live a life of encounter.
13 comments
Ruth said:
what’s cool as well is not to just leave your readers hungry..but to leave them thinking is cool..that will resolve in searching the word like Bereans..it’s just like listening to H&B
Many many times i hear things that i don’t understand at all!! And then after a while i encounter a verse in the bible and then suddenly there’s a melody and rhythm to that verse..so months after hearing that line i’m like…”ooohh..that’s what they were singing, it is actually in the bible for real!!”
For example, i guess Misty has this line about “momentary light afflictions” and I found out today that Paul actually called his afflictions LIGHT and MOMENTARY! cool huh?
anyways..that’s just a little bunny trail..but it can be like that with blogging as well!
one question: “no pun intended” what does that mean???
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 11:47 am
Heba said:
Shawn – I meant to brag on you yesterday at the prayer leader’s meeting but I didn’t get a chance. I wanted to say so many things, but for now, I’ll just say a few
First – your blog (akkhemm – wordcast) is not only very solid content provoking the readers (I check your site often), but also such cool graphics that are really eye catching. The Lord has really gifted you on both dimensions, which is such a rare find.
Seriously, I have been so blessed by your site and always look forward to coming back again.
Bless you and your amazingly beautiful wife – I love Anna!!
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Theresa said:
I agree with Heba, you do a great job of blending depth in an attractive format with a little humor or life experience thrown in.
to me,(and this is no news flash for Ihoppers) Sliker’s blog epitomizes what you are describing. He continually flows in revelation and wisdom. By putting the time in praying, fasting, worshiping, God has blessed him in his writing. I believe there is a forerunner spirit on him for what the end-time blog world will become.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Shawn said:
@ Hebs: Thanks. I’m glad you dig the blog (ahkemm wordcast).
@ Theresa: Dave’s blog is outstanding. It’s almost funny how the way his blog is growing. I will get vision for somethingthing and then he will end up articulating it without us ever talking beforehand.
It is cool to see what the Lord is doing with the online platform.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Stephanie said:
I have no clue how to get people to comment on my blog. Sometimes hundreds of people will read it and yet no one EVER comments. What’s the secrete? People I know say that my content is hard to comment on, but I try and write about Jesus. Anyways, the purpose of my words are to provoke people to go deeper in Christ, I would just like a comment every once in a while from someone I’m not related to.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Jared Diehl said:
Shawn…this is good…I have been blogging the past month and I feel that most of my blogs have been random and funny short stories of the present and the past…I like this but I really want to find my voice as a writer and keep my blog centered around God things….This is good to hear
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Dennis said:
I really need to work on this area of my blog. I find myself often posting just for the sake of posting. Also I have a broad topic range and I dont know if that is good or bad.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Shawn said:
@ Stephanie: Comments is not a fair judge of a successful blog. Comments simply mean people are commenting. Some a-list blogs don’t even have comments.
However, a quick way to get more comments is to talk “to” or “with” your readers instead of ‘at’ them. This way they feel part of a conversation by the end of your post.
Also, asking questions and opening your post for feedback will help people want to respond.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Shawn said:
@ Jared & Dennis: I’m glad that you guys are wanting to get more focused on your site.
I think there are many Christians out there who have a calling to proclaim God through media. I’m just trying to touch those of you who have that vision and help you streamline it.
Thank-you for reading.
Posted on February 20, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Scott said:
Since you asked Shawn, I think your wrong about your perspective on what people want in a blog. Your ‘golden post vision’ is great. Some people will write a blog to communicate about God, (what Dave S is calling, “Apostolic Blogging”), and this is a great medium to do that in. Yet, a lot of people have a blog to just communicate with their family and friends. That’s the vision. They don’t care if it has an eternal impact or if they get lots of hits/comments, they just want to keep the people they care about in the loop. Being able stay in touch is invaluable, and to using technology to do so is to one’s advantage.
Is one vision more valuable?
What is more valuable?
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 10:59 am
Shawn said:
@ Scott: I hate to dissapoint if you were looking for controversy, but I totally agree with you. Not all people will blog for the sake of ministry.
Nor should they. It would be like saying you should never have a casual conversation with someone.
However, I know that there are people out there called to the media. In one aspect or another they feel that they can worship the Lord through TV, Radio, movies, Music, designing, and web-sites. Those are the people I’m primarily honing in on with these ‘apostolic blogging’ posts. I’m hoping to spark something in a few people that say; “you know what, I think this is for me. I think I want to use my site to teach and share the truths that the Lord is putting on my heart, and hopefully I’ll impact a few lives in the process.”
I don’t think one vision is more valuable than the other.
The vision isn’t the issue, it’s the question: Do you feel God leading you into something bigger than yourself and is your website an avenue for you to express that leading?
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Scott said:
@ Shawn: Great feedback. I’m not looking for a controversy, just clarification. I am new to your site, so I was not sure who your main audience was.
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Shawn said:
@ Scott: I don’t mind controversy at all. My main audience is anyone who reads. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hopefully I’ll keep seeing you around.
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 6:17 pm