If Your Blog Is REALLY Your Home, Then:

Everyone knows Chris Brogan’s analogy: a blog is like your home, where you invite people back to, and your Social Media profiles are outposts where you meet people in the first place.

But if your blog is REALLY your home, the implications run deeper.

1. When people go to a dinner party, they ask “who here is like me?” It’s a safety thing. When we design experiences, we are always aware that when people enter a room of unknowns, they immediately ask this question. Faces are a great way to virtually show that people like them are here – which is what Facebook’s social plugins are doing.

2. People want to know: “why am I here?” You need to show them what is happening and what is next, as any good host does. Signpost me. Lead me. Guide me. This is safety – because I can relax if I know you are taking care of things.

3. People want to talk to you. You don’t invite someone to your house and then not entertain them when they talk to you. This is why I can’t stand people who ask “What do you think” and then don’t reply to their comments.

4. People want it to be about US, not you. A good dinner party is social. You don’t go to someone’s home to stroke their ego and hear all about how wonderful they are.

5. Diaries: when are you coming over next? If you’ve provided a good experience, how are we taking it further?