In the past, we've had some advertisers mention requirements for certain types of blogs, or blog categories. Now that it is a part of segmentation, we wanted to provide you with some further direction here. I realize it's been mentioned in other threads, we'll continue any of those communications here moving forward, tho.
In short, category means a focus or principal topic within a blog. What the reviewers are looking for is the main theme of your non-PPP posts within your blog. They look for the topic of the majority of those non-PPP posts. Unfortunately, there is no one formula to be provided because the beauty of blogging is that you can write about whatever you want. But fitting it into categories, well that's where we'd like to help.
Before we delve deeper, let me just say, we are considering adding more categories, and would like your input.
Ok, maybe some examples would help?
1) Blogger writes about every day life, interesting news articles, the last place they traveled, dinner at an awesome restaurant, needing to buy a new car, book they've read, and what movie they saw this past weekend. Well, that's kind of . . . life, and those are all great things to blog about! This type of blog, though, does not fall under categories of autos, movies, nightlife, recreation, shopping, & travel. While the blogger touched a little on each of these, there's no one focused topic.
2) Blogger (like us at PPP!!) has decided to lose a little weight. They document their progress while talking about what their plan of attack is. Starting out their doctor gave the ok, next they share stories about exercise classes they've joined, discuss a great new fitness magazine they've subscribed to, report on progress, & compare different exercise, stretching, diet, sleeping habits and approaches they've tried. What's worked, what hasn't, what would they recommend? If that's the purpose of the blog, and now and then the blogger discusses other things, their category would be Health & Fitness.
3) Can blogs ever have more than one category? Sure, sometimes two or more categories are intertwined. A blogger may be a photography aficionado, and also must have the best of the latest and greatest software for digital photography. If the blog informs the readers about just as many photography hints, pictures, great subjects, etc. as it makes mention of the software, hardware and equipment needed to get the best shots, this one can be categorized as photography and technology.
How do bloggers choose a category? Well, what is the focus of your blog? What do you find yourself writing about most times? Maybe an analogy would help. Think of the recipe for rice krispie treats:
4 Cups marshmallows
6 Cups rice krispies
3 Tablespoons butter/margarine
1 tsp vanilla
If this were your blog, marshmallows and rice krispies would be your categories. Butter & vanilla would just be some extra filler posts.
Remember, PPP always encourages you as posties to blog about what you find interest in. If you have a blog about Cooking, new recipes, visiting Paula Dean's restaurant, family night where everyone joins in making dinner . . . but you get a new ipod for your birthday, and you begin to realize how much you've been missing in the world of music. Maybe it's time to start a new blog about your new music interest. Or maybe you write about every day life, and you've decided to become a secret shopper. By all means, start a new blog with your awesome shopping stories! That's a specific focus!
And remember, there are still many, many advertisers that don't specify categories because they can benefit from all bloggers
Advertisers: An additional note when choosing categories . . . we'd like to encourage you to think beyond the bloggers taking the opportunities, and consider their readers, too. If you sell emergency kits for the car on your site, some of the obvious categories may be: autos and travel. But folks who read blogs about parenting, recreation, shopping may also be interested. Parenting: interested in keeping the family safe; Recreation: most people leave the house for things we consider 'recreation' so they will be spending a lot of time in their cars; and Shopping: readers of these blogs may be interested in finding news and reviews of useful products.
We'd like to hear what Posties and Advertisers would like to see as categories and why. Thanks!!!
Karen
If we choose a category, and a reviewer disagrees, then we get a rejection and at the end of the mess everyone ends up frustrated. I have both general and niche blogs and this category system isn't making much sense for any of them right now.
