What Makes a Good Blog

I added a new post over at Where's Adam's iPod, it has been a while. Merlin Mann from 43Folders.com (and various other endevors) wrote about what makes a good blog. I applied his thoughts to Where's Adam's iPod and rated the site (no surprise- it scored low).

Regardless, I thought Mr. Mann's points were good, and worth repeating:

1. Good blogs have a voice
    
2. Good blogs reflect focused obsessions. People start real blogs because they think about something a lot. Maybe even five things.
    
3. Good blogs are the product of “Attention times Interest.” A blog shows me where someone’s attention tends to go...There’s a story here.
    
4. Good blog posts are made of paragraphs. Blog posts are written, not defecated.
    
5. Good “non-post” blogs have style and curation. Some of the best blogs use unusual formats, employ only photos and video, or utilize the list format to artistic effect.
    
6. Good blogs are weird. Blogs make fart noises and occasionally vex readers with the degree to which the blogger’s obsession will inevitably diverge from the reader’s.
    
7. Good blogs make you want to start your own blog.
    
8. Good blogs try...A good blog is written by a blogger who thinks longer, works harder, and obsesses more. Ultimately, a good blogger tries. That’s why “good” is getting rare.
    
9. Good blogs know when to break their own rules.