- Huge graphics at the top of the page that take 3/4 of the screen. Sorry, if your content isn't worth putting at least some of it on the top of the page, I'm not bothering to scroll down.
- The inability to spell or use basic grammar. I'm not a English teacher and don't expect perfection, but if you are unable or unwilling to learn the difference between there, their and they're; cannot conjugate verbs to save your soul; and can't be bothered to learn how to spell "genealogy" or "cemetery," I'm gonna pass right on by. Occasional typos are one thing. Comma splices are one thing. Basic spelling shows an attention to detail and if a blogger can't pay attention to that, how can I believe anything they say?
- Posts that say something that essentially boils down to "I didn't really look at these sites or links, but they are probably good sites or things to buy. Oh, and by the way, I have affiliate links to these items. So if you purchase something I linked to, but haven't really read and don't know if it's crap or not, I'll get a pittance in return."
- Comments or discussion that indicates your logic and reasoning skills are lax.
- Prattling on and on needlessly.
- Copying and pasting press releases.
- Writing with lots of praise about every new thing that comes along. Usually if there's something I'm not a huge fan of, I email the person privately with my criticisms and simply don't mention it on my site. If there are pitfalls that users may easily fall into, I mention those.
Michael John Neill's genealogy website. Things that cross my path, general research suggestions, and whatever else ...with a little bit of attitude. I don't post "news" just to post it, never post a press release (edited or otherwise), don't feign excitement, and pretty much say what I think.
21 June 2011
Blog Reading
I'll be perfectly frank. I don't read many genealogy blogs. There are many reasons for this, but the following things cause me to click "back" fairly quickly: