You can learn a lot from both the success and failures of the competition.
[This post is part of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series.]
31 Days to Build a Better Blog is an eBook thousands of bloggers are reading and following together in an effort to help each other become better bloggers. Written by Darren Rowse of Problogger, the workbook is divided into 31 easy-to-follow tasks that not only have you doing something to your blog, but teaches you the importance each task and provides links to further reading.Analyze a top blog in your niche
The task for day four was to observe a successful blog in the same niche to identify ways to improve my own blogging strategy.
Why bloggers read other blogs
A blogger can learn a lot by spending time on other blogs—particularly those that are doing well. You can pick up all manner of ideas, strategies, and tips.
Analysis
I found this particular task challenging (not the analysis, but deciding which site to review), but in the end I decided to do an analysis of Lifehacker.
Content
Lifehacker covers technologies commonly used by its reader base (Windows, Mac & Linux) as well as time-saving tips and tricks. Posts range in length depending on the origin of the content. Posts sharing content found elsewhere on the internet typically provide a brief synopsis along with a click-through link for readers, while original content tends to be lengthy and fully detailed. Lifehacker also employes multiple authors, allowing them to post multiple posts each day.
Reader Engagement
Based off of the pageviews (Lifehacker displays this statistic) for a sampling of posts, Lifehacker appears to connect best with readers on broader topics (independent of any specific platform/device). Examples of this:
- How a Regularly Scheduled Phone Call and a Little Research Can Reduce Your Monthly Bills Twice a Year
- Get Up to 4.5GB of Extra Space on Dropbox for Uploading Photos and Videos
- Top 10 Ways to Travel Smarter, Safer, and Cheaper
A common theme when readers ask questions in posts is to troubleshoot why the goal of the post isn’t working for them. These questions appear to be quickly answered by the reader community.
Design
Lifehacker utilizes a webapp-like design, one which I personally am not a fan of. The updated site design is a radical departure from what you would normally expect for blogs, and can be challenging to navigate with point & click devices (otherwise known as computers).
Monetization
As part of Gawker Media network, Lifehacker appears to utilize a variety of monitization methods, including advertising, sponsored posts, social media, and newsletters (to name just a few).
Traffic
According to Alexa, Lifehacker has a global traffic rank of 664, which makes it one of the top visited websites in the world. By comparison, TheAccordance.com has a global rank of 4,385,020.
SEO
In terms of search engine optimization, the first thing that I always noticed with Lifehacker is its use of post titles in the post URL. Example:
- How Paranoid Should I Be About Trusting Companies with My Data (URL: http://lifehacker.com/5882865/how-paranoid-should-i-be-about-trusting-companies-with-my-data)
Feedback
What are your own impressions with Lifehacker? Do you concur with my analysis? I’d like to hear your perspectives! (Also, if you haven’t checked out Lifehacker before, I suggest you do!)
[Image via Creative Commons, vancouverfilmschool. ]
