One of my most popular blog posts is the 5 reasons I leave your blog and never come back.
Seeing as so many people liked it, I wanted to do another, similar post.
When scrolling through someones blog to see what post I might want to read, there are things that will make me click through and things that will make me scroll right past. I figured it might be useful to see what type of stuck gets me click happy. Of course, this is just my personal preference so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
See let’s see why I might skip your blog post.
The title is boring.
It’s really tempting to give your blog posts titles like ‘Naked 3 Palette Review’. After all, it’s a pretty accurate description and is good from a SEO point of view. But for a hooman bean, reading it doesn’t make me want to click on it.
I like titles that are clever, different and give away not too much about the post. Intrigue me, please.
I don’t like the featured image.
The quality of the featured image is an obvious one, but other things that put me off is text in the featured image that looks a bit tacky or using stock photos I’ve seen on dozens of other blogs.
For putting text on an image, picmonkey seems the obvious choice but I always think it looks a bit pants. Like it’s been done in paint on windows 95 or summink. So check out a site like Canva that has loads of templates you can customise.
I can’t tell which is your most recent post.
I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll mention it again. Not being able to find which post is most recent can be a pain in this arse.
This can be hard if the posts are displayed in categories first, or there are sliders/instagram widgets and generally just a bit too much going on.
It can also be hard to tell if the posts are in a grid formate of varying sizes without the date on them.
I love viewing blogs with the newest first, so make this clear!
It’s unoriginal.
The same titles seem to circulate blog posts. Those trending type topics and if I’m honest, although I understand why people want to do them, it gets a little boring. It’s fab to get inspired by things like that and I understand it’s not always easy thinking up new ideas, but try to switch it up a little bit so you put your personal touch on your post. Even if you just reword the title.
It feels too formal.
Funny, clever titles are the best. These are the type that get my attention. But if it sounds like the title is from a news paper article, I’ll probably skip it.
Blogs are fun because they can be written by anyone. It’s like the opinions of every day people. I like that to come across in posts. Not an overly formal article that reads more like a text book.
The lack of the recent post puts me off too. The blog should be user friendly. I also agree with you about stock images, everybody can use them and I don’t find them appealing.
Great tips! I like reading these kind of posts as it really helps me ‘think’ about what I’m doing with my own blog! Thanks for the Canva tip too! I’m off to take a peek at that!
Heather xx
I hate when you can’t tell which is the most recent post! I don’t know why it bothers me so much but it does. To be honest I don’t think my post titles are that interesting, maybe I need to think about that haha.
Amy xx
http://www.callmeamy.co.uk
Great tips! I always find it hard to decide between an interesting title and one that is better for SEO.
I guess interesting content should always be key!
Ash | Liakada
Aside from these, another thing that deters me from reading peoples’ posts is if the font makes things awful to read. Like font that’s too close together. I think the terminology is kerning in typography. Or font that’s too small that I have to either sit close to my computer to read or zoom lmao. It will just be like, “Listen, your text is not clean and easily readable. I want to read this while lounging in my desk chair. It may be a good post but I’m skipping it until your website changes.” 😛
I hate it when the blog’s layout makes it confusing for me to know which is your latest post, I just don’t have the time to figure it out so I’ll usually hop to the next blog. I do understand why some posts can be boring though, I’m starting to find my own writing is starting to sound boring….but at the same time there’s only so much I can write about beauty. :-/
I love your honesty! It also irks me when I have to hunt around for the latest post on someone’s blog. Sometimes I want to skip reading when I keep getting annoying popups while I’m trying to do so.
It is true, I have lately seen many blogs with a complicated template to find the last post, I must admit that I am using simpler headlines lately, I hope to improve that detail in the following post and get a little more creative! Nice post Corinne.
I don’t click on blogs with stock photos, I find them lazy. I want to know that someone has seen the product, felt it and bloody used it when reading their reviews. Alice xx
Anniewritesbeauty.co.uk
Totally agree with this, I find it so hard when I can’t find the most recent posts, if it’s not right there infront of my face, I skip and move onto the next blog to catch up on!
Sarah 🙂
Some blog layouts confuse me too! I prefer to read blogs that do not look too professional, some that may have mistakes because it’s more personal to someone! Also everyone has marbel backgrounds on images and makes a picture boring to me now Xx
http://louiselovesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/
Totally agree about the pictures one. I’m always put off if a featured image isn’t that great. It’s kind of like, judging a book by its cover. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. I must admit, I often use quite boring titles, because I find the title the hardest part! I get so stuck for title ideas sometimes. x
I agree with most of this post, I have to say! I don’t really mind about the images though as for about seven out of the eight years I’ve had my blog I’ve not used them myself… it’s a relatively new thing for me!
Paula http://insertmyblognamehere.blogspot.com
Hey Corinne,
Greetings.
One more reason which I would like to share with you that is ‘slow opening of the page’. You are absolutely right that if the title of an article is like news paper, I skip this too. Actually, I prefer to wait a while in interesting post which is relevant to me. These are really a wonderful reason, to avoid reading article.
Sometimes, it is difficult to find out the recent post in site and it boring for me. Also, I have found many blog, where the author’s name is not and I feel uncomfortable to mention in twitter and comment by their name. I’m a also huge fan of Canva where thousand of templates is available to customize image.
As it is seen in many blogs where there is lack of meaningful article, sometimes it is too difficult to understand their purpose and motive of writing.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
– Ravi.
All of these sound like the same things that make me decide if I want to click or not, tbh.
Ahrgh, yes, I can’t stand it when I have to hunt for the latest post.
I was paired up with a blogger for the ‘Blogger snail mail’ post and her blog was awful for finding recent posts- it was SOOO difficult to know what to buy for her. And then she’s never actually ever sent me anything despite the fact that I sent her’s in June. She was ill and then moved house and has said she has it to send but it’s a mystery to me where it is? Or why she hasn’t replied to my email!
I have realised post titles definitely make a big difference for me as a reader but I don’t know why I don’t bother with them too much as a blogger! I need to step it up for sure!
These are great points. I normally look past a post if I don’t like the content or if like you say the title is boring. I loved this post by the way because these things I skip posts for as well 🙂
These are great and definitely some that I will consider!
I really loved this post and found it super helpful. Glad I found your blog. Great to hear what could be a reason ppl may not always stop by ur blog. One thing that annoys me for sure which u mentioned is when I can’t figure out what someones most recent post is.. i’ve come across quite a few blogs like this and just end up leaving because of how poorly the design is to navigate.
Great post! I appreciate ur honesty!
http://www.wunderbliss.com
hahaha I had a laugh reading this. I love the honesty here and I must say, I feel the same but for me it’s terrible colour scheme is a huge turnoff too! it just hurts the eyes..
http://only4feet9.blogspot.com/
Great tips Corinne, follow your tips and you’ll go along way as a blogger, but I think the best tip is to blog drunk after a few glasses of wine…..your bio made be laugh…..keep drinking and writing 🙂
http://www.thedietsupplement.com/
I agree about a good featured image. I love Canva for editing – they have some nicely polished templates perfect for blogging and social. Also, big YES on the latest post. Some blog layouts are confusing
Dora
I love these kind of posts. They really give me an insight to what people prefer to see. I love when people get their personality into a post, if someone can do that I’m hooked.
Stacey
Your blogging related posts are so awesome and inspiring. I’ve been binge reading them all evening!
I love your posts and i agree with u!
Those are definitely the same reasons why I don’t read a blog post. Though most of the time I still skim a post for the good information. I like to give it a second thought because first impression isn’t always right.
I think everyone should be original in their own ways especially with Titles and just have fun 😀 Good points.
Such great tips!!
I’m so glad I found you blog 😀
Have a love weekend
Xx
Loved this post lovely! I agree that recent posts and beautiful photography really captivates me when I first start reading a new blog! I also love witty titles 🙂 xxx
The stock image image also annoys me so that is why I always dedicate time into picking my images right. When something has been done a lot, it tends to get too much.
I also agree with posts sounding too formal. I read blogs to escape the formality so I never read those
Some great reasons there- I’ll have to try to be more clever with my post titles!
I find these posts so helpful when I’m writing my posts, my blog titles are definitely something I need to work on!
Jess x
I found this very helpful, as I’m just starting my blog! Thanks for the advice!
xx, Kris
https://dreamingofpink.wordpress.com