Alexandra Kovacova on Google +
This is a very controversial topic I think. Some bloggers pray storytelling, the others information rich content only. I guess it is the same problem as many printed magazines and newspapers have as each one of them has different rules and they consider their own way to be the best way.
” My blog has it’s own brand which is very important”
So here it depends only on you and what you think fits more your blog idea. My Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler blog has its own brand which is very important. It means that most of the time I have to write about my own experience, own stories to fit with the brand as it is not just a general blog. Here storytelling plays a big role as the readers visit my blog because they want to find out what I have been personally doing and it makes more sense to put it all into a story. The audience can personalize with it easier.
”Maybe because of my provoking sexy photos”
But storytelling is more for those readers who have been following me on my trips because it is me, because I do silly things, or maybe because of provoking sexy photos from different beaches and swimming pools I often post. Storytelling shows my own experience and many tourists when planning a trip rely more on a personal story of a person who they kind of ”know” online than of a Tripadvisor review of a stranger.
” For me this kind of writing is a bit boring”
However, if you want to play nice with Google algorithms and get as high as you can in Google search, it is harder with simple storytelling posts. SEO works much better when you write posts, such as ”10 things to do in …” which are not that interesting for you to write. These posts take usually less time to put together as it’s just enumeration of things or places with a few details about each plus a photo. For me this kind of writing is a bit boring. But it will work better with all those readers who find my post in Google as they are not there to find a story, but to find the information to use when planning or visiting the mentioned destination. I think they will appreciate more information rich content as they couldn’t really use just a personal story where the only info about the destination you provide is when you wake up and what you eat.
” My most popular posts in Google are..”
For example, my most popular posts in Google search are ”20 things to do in Cebu City and surroundings”, then ”15 things to do in Malta” and ”11 things to do in Bohol” all within the information rich content posts. They do get a lot of RTs, likes and shares but not many comments as those who find them in Google do not comment.
But for example the post ”My 16 favourite things to do in Kuala Lumpur” is oriented more on my experience, my opinions, and also what I liked in the city and not only on enumerating of the best things to do in KL. Here I applied information together with a very bit of personal storytelling.
” I cannot really enjoy posts where there is no personal aspect”
To be honest, I personally try to do both things in most of the posts. I write about my personal experience, use storytelling method, but also add a lot of information so everyone can find in the post what they are looking for. I cannot really enjoy posts where there is no personal aspect but they are just full of facts. That style is good if you want to make money with it only and you don’t care about your audience but I think it does not belong to personal blogs that much. Or at least I believe that the personal blogs should not be just written as ”10 things to do …”. However, information guides and any other review websites should be packed with all the necessary formal information but personal blogs in my opinion should have some storytelling and very informal experience too.
I do a bit of both. But like I said, it really depends only on what you want to provide to your readers. Maybe just try to do both and see what kind of response you get. Both things do work but they have a very different purpose.
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