10 Changes in the Blog World I'd Like to See

I love blogs, and not just because I write one. It is a joy to discover new and helpful writers in this format. I subscribe to 116 feeds through Google Reader. Some post daily (or even more), while others almost never post. That’s one reason I like a feed reader like Google, you don’t have to scan through dozens of websites to see if someone has updated, you just get the updates when they come. If you’ve never used Google Reader, click here for a video (less than 3 minutes long) that will show you how to set it up. (By the way, you can do the same for our blog by clicking on the letters “rss” on the right-hand side!)

As much as I love blogs, I have certain things I’d like to see change. Obviously, any person will have a different list, but hopefully these thoughts will inspire more to use this medium, either as a writer or a reader.

1. I’d like to see more female Christians who blog. I subscribe to a few, but there need to be more. This is a wonderful medium for Christian ladies to use to share their thoughts on the Bible, life, and other subjects. Some of the best blogs I read are from Christian ladies, and I’d love to see more.

2. I’d like to see more families who blog. Leah has mentioned that she might like to write some on here, and I hope she does! It would be great to  have a few well-written blogs that are done from the different perspectives in the family, instead of just one person. (Also, it would make updating the blog much easier, since one person wouldn’t have the full weight of it.)

3. I’d like to see more high school and college students who blog about life and spiritual matters. There’s nothing wrong with blogging about funny stuff, but these  young adults have so much to say about God, the Bible, and their life serving the Master. College is a very busy time, but sitting down a couple of times each week to write 300 words or so would bless many people.

4. I’d like to see more Christian organizations blog about “behind-the-scenes” information. What is it like to publish a Christian book? What frustrations does a Board of Trustees have? While I understand certain issues of confidence, it would be great for more organizations and schools to do more than just publish pictures of the “finished product.” In the leadership world, maybe no one does this better than Michael Hyatt, who is able to blog about what goes on at Thomas Nelson without breaking confidence. Others could learn from his example.

5. I’d like to see Christians start a blog, and stick with it. It is a commitment; there is no doubt to that! (Yes, I know, I started one and stopped it, too.) Of the 116 blogs in my feed reader, I don’t even want to count the ones that haven’t updated in 6 months or more. One of the best steps you can make before you blog is to pray, think, and plan. If you don’t have enough energy, motivation, or content for more than a couple of posts, it’s best to guest write for someone else and not start a blog of your own.

6. I’d like to see more “ideas” blogs. Several good ones are out there, sharing ideas for youth ministers, preachers, and Bible class teachers, but the more we have, the better things will be.

7. I’d like to see more guest posting. We had a multi-part series last year with guest writers, and it was one of the most well-received set of posts in the history of our blog. This is not just about “getting numbers” to the blog, it’s about others getting to read from some talented people. You may not want to read dozens of blogs, but, by allowing some guest posts, others will at least be introduced to the thoughts of others.

8. I’d like to see more Christians reading good blogs. I know we are busy. I know we read hundreds and hundreds of words daily, but many of them are “fluff” (as Leah likes to say). Much of our reading isn’t all that important. Find a handful of good blogs on different topics. Most write brief articles (1000 words is long in the blog-world), and some only update once or twice a week. If you have time to read a morning newspaper, you have time to read 10 or more blogs, most likely.

9. I’d like to see more Christian writers making money from their blogs. Thankfully, no one I know gets into this area to make money, but it is something that takes time and effort. We don’t have a single ad on this new site, but we have thought about adding Google Adsense to make (literally) a couple of dollars each month. Some have “monetized” their blog, and I think it’s great. They put a lot of work into it, and they deserve some financial gain if that is a goal of theirs. If you visit a blog of a fellow Christian, take a moment and click on the ads. It will help them out a little(usually with 10 cents or less), but every bit helps.

10. I’d like to see every Christian blog writer pray that his/her blog is used to the glory of God. This isn’t about the writer, it’s about the Author of Salvation.

What changes would you like to see?