Tuesday, September 16, 2003

More New Fun Please

I was thinking about blogs I read on a regular basis and why I return to visit them again and again. Many people have documented this, but weblogs that publish a lot of posts win out over those which are more modest in posting new content.

If the experience of reading a good weblog post is fun, consumers of such seem to be saying, "More new fun, please." A good blog is like the new pop song of the band who just had a monster hit. You want a new song, but you want it to be as hot and hummable and danceable as their last.

If I go back a number of times -- say 3 -- to see if there are new fun posts and there are not, I ususally move on to a blog that publishes more stuff. I want more new fun, more and more and more of it.

Even if there's not that much fun to a site but it's full of new content each time I visit, I want to go back again and again.

Blogs are developing brand experiences for sure. The best blogs deliver a predicable and familiar experience -- like Diet Coke -- you don't want to open a can and find Fresca inside. You want to have the consistency of a good brand, but new content as well.

You know when you go to Doc's blog you will be probably going on some great trip of his -- whether it be a Geek Cruise to Alaska or a trip to the roof with his son to look at the stars. You'll get into Linux, you'll learn about computers, you'll feel happy and content like Doc feels.

You know when you go to Rageboy's blog, you're likely to get some insanely funny, sexy, irreverant shit. That's why you go. He is especially disappointing when he hasn't been blogging on a regular basis, because when he's good when he's on it -- he's so damned good -- and when he's not around, it's a big drag.

With JOHO, you get a little more solid and deeply thought out stuff to engage your philosophical side, but laced with pretty amusing craziness every 4 or 5 posts.

When you go to Scripting, you expect funny anecdotes, industry goings on, a little crankiness, a little wisdom, a front row seat to the Blogosphere.

When you go to Gnome Girl, you get ... well, you know, indescribably delicious. Love you Chey!