Recently a client posed the question “What makes a blog good or bad?”

On the surface this seems like a simple question. But when we reflected on the long list of answers that our team offered the client, we realized how challenging it could be for a blogging newcomer to know right from wrong.

So we set out to create a few simple guidelines to help our clients be good bloggers.

Good blog:

• A clean face – the design of the blog should be easy on the eyes and easy to navigate.
• Give freely – Be a source of good/helpful/valuable information. Demonstrate your expertise.
• Be committed – Set a pace that can be maintained. A steady stream of postings is always better than floods and droughts.
• Be authentic – pretend bloggers attract pretend audiences.
• Invite participation – Ask for comments and respond to comments.

Bad Blog:

• Cluttered or confusing – Bad design can only be trumped by world-class content. Hire a world-class writer or just get a competent web designer.
• Poor quality – Content that is not good, helpful, or valuable. No hard sells allowed.
• Road blocked – full page ad overlays or opt-in forms are types of roadblocks.
• Bad writing – Too many typos or ramblings just do not work.
• Ghost town – This is the end result of a blog run by an uncommitted author. There is nothing new to see here. Please move along.

Do you have more tips to offer? Please post a comment.

For more inspiration check out Time Magazine’s Best Blogs of 2010 report.