GameDaily Offers Blogging Tips
Posted on August 27, 2006
GameDaily offers a pretty candid assesment of the threat bloggers (in this case videogame bloggers) pose to the media and publishing industries.
Even though most enthusiast press regulars read the top videogame blogs, it's a scary thought for many of us that someone who is currently sitting in their living room could challenge us for reader mindshare, credibility and eventually even impact our mighty bottom line.It is difficult to build a readership but GameDaily was kind enough to offer some tips in the article. GameDaily says to make sure the blog has a unique and genuine voice.The entry barriers to the enthusiast press are as low today as they've ever been. Gamers have their pick between a vast array of free blog publishing services. These services give anyone with a passion and a keyboard a crack at self-publishing.
However, as multitudes of would-be media giants have discovered, just being able to publish doesn't mean that anyone will actually read what you've written. In fact, because self-publishing is so easy and so cheap it has become insanely difficult to start from scratch and to grow a blog to the point of being a major player. It's difficult but not impossible.
The best voice for any blog is a voice that actually taps into the writer's core personality. Yes, there can be an exaggeration of certain traits and emphasis on core viewpoints, but readers can spot dramatized viewpoints from a mile away. Judging from the top blogs, readers are drawn to genuine viewpoints, no matter how controversial.GameDaily also suggests that the blog's voice should be consistent throughout the blog.
In order to avoid the blandness that anchors many blogs, one must be sure that every single post is purposely written in the style and voice that's carried through the entire blog. Even if the blog has several writers, each one must carry their voice into each post.GameDaily also says the blog should be informative and to become informative you will need to do lots of reading.
Read, read, read, and read some more. The better informed you are, the more information you'll be able to convey to your readers.Extensive reading and research is important for professional bloggers competing in all blogging genres -- not just gaming blogs. Gadget bloggers, knitting bloggers, political bloggers, etc., all need to read lots of blogs and news articles to stay informed. Keeping up with some of the videos and trailers out there is becoming a necessary requirement as well.