Are you interested in people reading your blog? I read a few blogs on a regular basis. I also try to branch out and explore new blogs so as not to limit myself or allow myself to get into a box with my writing. In exploring a few blogs recently, I've come across a few things that really turned me away from these blogs. I wanted to share them with you so you could analyze your own blog and see if it's reader-friendly. The top 3 things that turned me away from other blogs in the last month: 1. Music . I have clicked into more than one blog in the past month that immediately starts blaring music. I find this extremely annoying for a number of reasons. #1, I often work on my computer during our school hours, so my kids are studying at the same table where I'm studying. Music starting unexpectedly is disruptive. #2, I often play my own music when I'm working on my computer. During non-school hours, I like to have my own playlist going and find blog music too intrusive...

Here are five simple blogging rules that I follow: 1. No music.  I don't have music playing on my blogs because whenever I visit a blog which plays music, I become agitated and usually click off immediately. This is because I'm usually playing music of my own when online and someone else's music interferes.  If you insist on having music on your blog, make it optional by installing a music button. Make sure your music button is easy to find and at the top of the page for quick access. 2. Have a front page profile picture.  You can have another picture or two on another page if you have an "about" page, but a head shot of some sort on your front page is a must.  Whenever I visit a blog, one of the first things I look for is a profile picture of the blog writer. I want to see who I'm reading! 3. Have a short front page bio .  Just a few lines about yourself will do.  Just like a profile pic, a short bio is another of the first things I look for when I ...