Great stuff. I stopped subscribing to a blog because of #3. I also stopped subscribing because I couldn’t get a feed going and had to visit the site in order to see if anything new was written rather than getting a title off of a news feed.

You got awfully close to it being 500+ words there.

I don’t keep up with my blog feeds as much as I should. But I do trim the list of people I follow on Twitter and Tumblr for many of the reasons you list.
1) They post too infrequently and therefore I feel like the account is dead.
2) They post too often. Some users only show up on twitter once a week, but when they do, they post 50 messages in an hour, flooding my list. This is like the guy at the party who won’t stop talking and you can’t get away from him.
3) They talk about themselves and nothing but themselves. Never interacting with others. Never asking questions.
4) They never respond when I talk to them. My wall is just as interesting, I’d rather talk to that if no one is going to answer.
5) It’s one sales pitch after another.
6) You talk about one thing all the time. Like your kids. Or your book. Or your car. Whatever. I appreciate well rounded tweeple.
7) You come across with an attitude. This may, or may not be your fault or intentional, but I don’t need someone with an attitude in my life.
8) You don’t talk to anyone but your best buds. This isn’t high school. You can expand your circle of friends.
9) You follow 9451 people. Only 6 follow you. 5, if you don’t count me.
10) You tweet while drunk. Or your tweets just don’t make any sense. I understand the 140 character limitation, but aim for complete sentences. If your tweets read like one big inside joke, I’m outta there.
11) You overshare. I don’t need to know about your nose hair. Thanks.

You are invited to subscribe to my blog. Let me know if my titles and topics keep you awake at night.
http://www.davidspencer.ca

OUCH!! :) Just kidding…kinda…but that was a little harsh! I know from this blog post that you will not like my personal blog; however, I still love yours and it has helped me in many other areas of leadership/growth/professional writing, etc.

My personal blog is just my personal blog and I don’t actually care who reads it. But my Mommy Brain appreciates going back and reading about what life was like with 4 kids under the age of 6…sometimes via long posts where stream of consciousness takes over rational blog posting. Sometimes I post my college essays or articles I write for my own sanity. I make zero dollars with my blog and I’m OK with that. So, I’m also OK if people out in internet-space do not read the blog. And that’s the beauty of the net: we don’t have to have cookie cutter blogs pushing our image into the marketing world….if we don’t want to.

On the other hand, there’s another dude out there blogging his heart out on the Single Dad Laughing blog and he writes EPIC length articles… and the mommy bloggers LOVE reading his stuff! He doesn’t actually write about anything original – but the fact that it all comes from a single dad’s point of view is interesting to a lot of people. And he’s making money with that disorganized, discombobulated and dynamically confusing blog. :)

I think it all depends on what your focus is with the blog. Do you want to make money with it? Then you need a certain “Blog Type A.” Do you want a Mommy Blog to just chit chat with others who are in the same war zone as you? Then you want “Blog Type B.” Do you want to move out of being a mommy and become the CEO of Thomas Nelson? Then you better get on MH’s blog and start doing what the dude says and do it better than him. :) And you’ll know you’ve arrived as a professional grade blogger when MH subscribes to your RSS feed… :)

Great points. Thanks for sharing. I unsubscribe regularly from blogs. You listed a couple reasons above {boring titles, or way too long}. Sometimes the titles are “catchy” but the content is not as alluring as the title suggests.

Michael,

   Daring post! I started reading your blog on the recommendation of my boss (joepuentesblog.com) about  5 months ago, and I must say this is by far my favorite post by you.  I think the edginess is what is so drawing about it.  I’ve read several of your posts about how to write a successful post, blogging etc., and I think maybe you need a section about edginess.  Not for it’s own sake but because edginess that is truthful is quite powerful.  Nice job!

Since you end posts with a question I will end my comment with a Q:

I noticed that a vast majority of successful blogs are pretty simple, and more often than not… white.  Thoughts on this?

And perhaps you are too opinionated.

I will have to say, all of this blogging, tweeting, etc is very difficult for me. i love reading others input, but seem to have trouble with it myself. I enjoy being personable, but by the old school methods still, voice and face-to-face. I am learning and trying to be better and appreciate finding info that will help me succeed. Thanks!

Actually I have unsubscribe because the posts were too frequent… Cluttering up my email.

Usually because they haven’t posted recently. I want to receive something when I visit. These things are important.

Guilty as charged on all of these at some time Michael but still going after nearly 3 years so I at least have the opportunity to do something about it :-)

Many thanks for sharing this reminder again to help this blogger to retain his focus.

 Thanks! You just saved a blog title. Turned “Take a Break from the Kids” into “How I Sold my Child on Facebook”

I better get to work LOL…

Great post . (Your post are too long) I love that one. If there is one thing I don’t enjoy is a long blog post that doesn’t get to the point. If your post are going to be ridiculously long make a video. Even thou I got a few long post :) that isn’t the point thou lol

Have a solid day!

I normally stop reading such blog which carries pop up and more advertisements

I wish you wrote more on creativity, innovation and productivity like you used too. The focus has shifted to writing and blogging; the posts used to be more universally applicable.