Undoubtably the biggest debate throughout the Blogging Tips world revolves around the most important element of blogging. The question is whether or not Content is the most influential element of blogging? Today I plan on killing that debate by describing the arguments being made and declaring a final resolution to this long blogging debate.
Needless to say some of you may disagree with me, but if so you had better at least explain why in the comments section. I want to flush out this argument once and for all right here on this post and in the comments section.
Here is the Outline for what I am going to be doing in this post:
- Defining the Debate
- Exploring Content as Most Important
- Exploring Other Elements as More Valid
- Exploring an Idea of Equality Among Blogging Elements
- Stating My Conclusion
Defining the Debate
I would like to first say this argument in my opinion is a debate about little differences and general misunderstandings in the logical progression of blogs. I am not saying anyone is dumb, stupid, or ignorant, but rather just that the debate is largely just misunderstood because of bad communication. I really think there are only minor disagreements if everyone could effectively get on the same page figuratively speaking.
The entire debate was started anciently at the dawn of blogging. Great bloggers were being thronged by other bloggers attempting to replicate their success with the question, “What is most important?” and “I want to be a problogger, what should I do?”.
Rather than describe the details of every element of blogging and how it is used, the great blogging masters officially declared “Content is King”. Since the day of the declaration, other bloggers have either accepted this phrase or fought against it in the “Content is NOT King” revolution.
Today in order to provide peace between the warring sides, some bloggers have become peace makers with the adage of “all elements are important”. I should note at this point that content is easily defined as posts in the form of writing, video, audio, or other features which teach, entertain, interact or encourage site visitors. Content is not sidebars and footers, but rather posts and articles. Now let us explore what really is right and wrong in this age old debate.
Content Is and Always Will Be King
The argument for why content is king is simple. The purpose of your blog or site is to provide content to the reader. The content can be free, paid for, restricted or in different mediums like written or video, but none of these change the blog’s purpose.
You might be thinking of how you started your blog to make money, make friends or do something else rather than just provide content, and perhaps YOU did. Your purpose for blogging is not the same as your blog’s purpose for existing. Very simply, the only value your blog produces primarily is its content. Thus, if your blog cannot do this it will not fulfill its primary purpose will FAIL.
There are many other values your blog produces like an income or a community, but all other values are based upon the presence of your content. Visitors do not come to create an income for you or to produce a community. Rather they come for the content and then the other values are by-products of the content. Do not get by-products of content confused with the content itself.
This is the simplest way to describe why content is and always will be king of the blogosphere. The purpose of blogs is content.
Other “Most Important” Elements
The argument for other elements being most important other than content is really a matter of evaluating the process of production and by-products again. It goes back to the idea of the chicken and the egg, what came first.
Most other bloggers would say if content is not king, which many argue then promotion is. Promotion, Marketing, and Social Media fit into this category to contribute to the concept of building influence to get people to visit your site. The argument for this reasoning is…
Who cares if you have great content if no one will ever see it? You have to promote to be successful!
Let’s turn that around, say you promote extremely well and suddenly thousands of visitors are coming to your blog, but you have only a few poorly written posts. Who cares then about promotion. Promotion only matters when you have something that is worth reading, watching and listening too. The purpose of blogs are to provide content. Everything else is a by-product.
“Package” Blogging Elements
Recently I read an article I understood and which I think the author might really agree with me, but not yet know it! 
Nicholas of SiteSketch101 recently wrote an article about the total “package”. Nicholas is a fantastic writer and blogger who also is a reader here at Blogussion and I love his blog (I’m a subscriber), but I must say that his analysis of the total package is right in the big picture for success, but wrong for the Content is King debate.
Like I said, Nicholas made a powerful argument I agree with in context of successful blogging, but I am not fully persuaded that Content is not more important than all other elements of blogging. The “package” creates the idea that design and influence are equal with content based upon the pretext that without influence and design as equal content is valued lesser.
The reason I disagree is that design is only important because it is the means for showing your content to your readers. I think its most essential role is to maximize content availability and minimize its distraction. Additionally influence is not existent for low quality content. I would never trust a “credible” authority on finance if everything I read on their blog was wrong or poorly written.
Conclusion
Content is and will always be King of blogging. It is the purpose for blogs and the only reason anything else exists. We would not need designers, social media experts, seo services, wordpress code specialists and the thousands of other job descriptions if content did not need a place to be displayed, an audience to see it, and people to share it. All things are not equal, content rules to web and the sooner bloggers accept it and keep creating quality content then the better their blog will be.
You might be asking me right now, so if content really is king, what do I do now? Here is my answer, produce more content! I would rather have a blog with 100 high-quality posts and no links then a blog with 1 post and 100 links. It’s easy to market great content and you do find (although it is a debate for another day) quality content sells itself! (A current project is getting visitors with absolutely zero promotion from us, but lots of content). So go and write, produce videos/audio, and start producing the best content you know how.
38 Discussions
I absolutly 100% agree with you that content is and always wil be KING. Just think about when you read a new blog you first see if the content is useul or interesting, If thats not the case you’ll proberly leave right? The content on blogs or websites is the deciding factor of whether visiters wil return to come visit your blog again, oke there are also other parts like design and navigation, but content is most importent. Without great content you’ll never be able to creat a succesful blog.
Great post by the way absolute spot on.
Teen Blogger´s last blog ..You Have To Stand Out From The Crowd To Be Successful
Right, without great content you’ll never be able to create a successful blog. Thanks.
Anyone else agree or disagree?
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Would you even take the time to look at the content if the design is so ugly that you can’t stand it? In the web design world, there is a huge principle of the effectiveness of landing pages. Web designers work so hard to design a home page that will catch the eye of readers and draw them into the content. They want to convert people into subscribers and readers.
Why do you think that major companies redesign their websites and upgrade their usability? Because they know that their content will be accepted by more people and that it will be more widely interacted with than with an old, stale design.
Let me share with you a quote from ‘ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett, “As I like to say, content might be king, but without posh clothes and an army to back him up, what is a king but an arrogant bloke in a funny shiny hat?”
Hmmm?
P.S. Just so everyone knows: Seth, Alex and I are all good friends. This whole debate is out of good fun so that we can all learn and grow as bloggers so please don’t be upset with our answers to each other. Although we are making our disagreement seem large, it is actually very slight and we’re just having a good time learning together as we challenge each other to think and grow.
Nicholas Z. Cardot´s last blog ..5 Strategy Cycles of a Successful Blogger
I think the problogger quote is quite clever, and I partially agree. The key though is not what supports the king, but what is the king. Have you ever met someone that demands respect because of their expertise, character, and manner?
Good kings are chosen because they are the best to lead (ideally). Sure there are puppet kings supported by their image and a large army, but they are not the best kings! If you want to be the best, you will spend the most time producing content. Other elements matter… this is not debated, but content is by far the most important element.
What I am arguing is that if bloggers focused first on the importance of great content, then the other things will naturally increase your blog. If you worry about everything else without lots of great content, then you are just spinning your wheels with no movement.
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Seth,
I think it might be better to call content president, not king. A king has exclusive importance over everything. I’m with Problogger and Nick on this one completely; if you have amazing content, but don’t have some of the other important things like a well designed/attarctive blog that is highly usable, no one will find it, and if they do, they won’t read it. Wow that was a long sentence..
Content is more like the President. He has a lot of power and makes huge decisions, but without the senate, house, and courts support, he is unable to do what he sets out to do.
Strong content is the cornerstone of a good blog. If you love what you’re writing about, solid content should come naturally.
Blake @ Props Blog Ideas´s last blog ..10 Guidelines To Making A User Friendly Website
I agree with Blake. The president gets all the press, but he can’t act alone ^_^
Tamahome Jenkins´s last blog ..Why is Something Rotten in Denmark?
I see what you are saying about this topic Blake, and I really can say that what I am saying agrees with you… You see I just view content as “King” meaning it is most important, but it needs the support of its subjects to do anything else. Just like the President. We can call it different names but in the end all of the other elements support the Content.
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
This is a topic that has always been debatable and I think each and every one have their own piece for it and a reasonable reason to depend themselves.. The article is right but I had a different in taking it..
anyways I just thought this article from my friend Carl would spark some debate here:
http://www.carlocab.com/i-have-a-secret-content-is-not-king/
Melvin´s last blog ..Do You Appreciate Your Readers?
Melvin, thanks for the link. The issue is up for debate that is sure. What are your reasons for agreeing with the article even though you do so differently?
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Well I think it’s fact that basically you can’t market blogs w/no content and thats well understood.
But on the other side of the boat, you see a lot of blogs that provide superb content yet they are under the limelight. And also a lot of blogs w/not so great content, yet they’re flourishing a lot and that testifies a lot! I mean this is a debate that has been talked about for about a decade and of course 90% of people would be on teh content side (you may include me, you may not) and the remaining would be on the other side. But you see just creating a superb content alone isn’t enough (w/c makes it not really the KING). Even promoting it to thousands of people is not enough if its marketed to the wrong audience.
My point is (just my 2 cents), in a scale of 100%, no one would get the highest percentage based on importance among all of these. Am Not saying that content, clothes (design) and marketing are all equal but its kinda like that case
Melvin´s last blog ..Do You Appreciate Your Readers?
Kings can’t rule the kingdom alone, that is apparent. But the key is that a good makes the rest of the kingdom more successful, peaceful, and prosperous.
Write more content that is superb quality and that your readers really want to read and focus on distractions far less….
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Seth Godin has a crappy looking blog but his content is King. It’s one of the most read blogs in the world. He’s a perfect example showing that content is King.
Gordie Rogers´s last blog ..Review: Free Ebook- Breaking Free.
Right, Seth Godin’s blog is so basic! But the content is valuable no one cares. The design does not enhance content as much as not distract from it! Look at Boing Boing, Mankiw (an econ professor who gets insane traffic on a default blogger template), and even Drudge Report. Google itself is so simple. Look at their design, you go there only because their content (search function) is so stellar.
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Content is king and will always be, even for an eCommerce site. If an eCommerce have a well developed content on its site, detailing the products and categories can make consumers more comfortable with their online shopping.
The information on a site is its content and the more useful and interesting a site’s content is, the more successful it will be. Though others such as design, links etc is work with the content to make a perfect website!
Web Hosting Blogs´s last blog ..Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) free security software goes live
Ecommerce, or any other blog or website all depend on content. So learn to write better titles and articles for more fantastic content.
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
Personally, I feel that Content is not the only king!
), in fact everything is important for a blog!
Design is also a king, reader is also king(or Queen
While I agree that Content is very important, design is also important. Put good content on a bad design and 50% readers will just bounce because they do not like first appearance!
As you said:
So here, reader is the king!(at least for me!)
Content, without a good design and readership is next to nothing!
You only can have one King, but that does not mean that the others are not important. All of the other things you mentioned are just by-products of creating content. Without content you would have no need for any of them. Everything else would be completely useless. But I could start publishing excellent content, like Seth Godin, on a plain and extremely boring design and get incredible traffic.
Content is King, long live the King!
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
There are a number of identified elements that a blog must have. We can’t deny that all the elements are important. A successful blog wouldn’t be successful at all with the absence of even one essential element. Yet, although all are vital, each element will bear a specific weight over the achievement of a blog. In short, I definitely agree with Seth. The content bears a greater weight over any other elements. The content is your product, indeed, without a product where else will you start?
Alex Lim ´s last blog ..Before You Purchase A Domain Name Availability
Exactly, my argument for why content is king is because it is the foundation for the entire blog. Your blog’s purpose is to produce a product which is your content. All other things matter only based upon the content.
You promote content, design for content, and influence with content. Anyone disagree with this?
Seth´s last blog ..The Content Debate: Finally Put Out Once and For All
I have to echo what Alex says…several elements are needed to have a successful blog but the most important is the content.
It’s the engine that runs the blog…the exterior may be dented and rusty but that’s secondary to having an engine that’s well tuned a running well.
Cheers,
Rod
Rod Macbeth´s last blog ..The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee
I agree with you, many elements make up a blog, but content is what drives it. Very good way of putting it.
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
Why does there have to be a king at all? I see blogs as an egalitarian society where content, promotion, and design are equal. Content is important, but a blog without readers is just a journal. And an ugly blog without readers is just sad.
Tamahome Jenkins´s last blog ..The Sad Story of Student Loans
And an ugly blog with no readers and no content is just tragic!
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
This is the key:
“You promote content, design for content, and influence with content. Anyone disagree with this?”
A successful site is based on three key pillars: content, design and promotion. If any of the three pillars are disproportionately bad, the site is more likely to fail. Sure, good content can prop up bad design, and make up for poor promotion. If the content is that good, people will put up with some bad design, and they’ll find it regardless of your promotion. Does that work the other way round? Try saying these out loud, and see which you really believe:
“This site tells me nothing, but it’s just so pretty I’m going to come back again.”
“This site tells me nothing, but everybody’s talking about it, so I’m going to come back again.”
“This site is so ugly, but the information is so good I’ll put up with it and come back again.”
If you have no content of value, you can promote it like crazy, and make it the most beautiful empty shell of a site in the big wide world, but all you will get is one time visitors, come to see what the fuss was about, or come to see the pretty pictures.
Jon Wilson´s last blog ..jonmwilson: Big Business Catchphrases – collect them all: Number 2: Yeah, you’d think so, wouldn’t you?
I can see your point, I am not saying there is nothing else but content…. just that content is what drives the rest of the blog forward. Long term, successful blogs are built on centering themselves around their content. They promote their content, design for it, and do everything they can to make it the best. Content is what makes it happen though. Everything else just supports it!
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
I think I’ll have to agree with Jon (should be the comment above mine). You need a balance of content, marketing, and design. The excess of one doesn’t create a great blog. But the perfect balance of all three creates a perfect blog. Or at least that’s how it works in theory.
Whenever there’s a debate between content vs marketing, I always left with a lot of question unanswered.
Do you consider a post with a catchy headline, but mediocre writing, a great one or just a mediocre one?
So what do you classify the headline as, marketing or content?
What if the writer have a fantastic writing style, but the information she presented is tad inaccurate or outdated. Is it still a great post…?
What does content stop and marketing start? Does choosing the title for your video considered as content or marketing? How about when designing the looks and feel of your video?
The line between content and marketing is just so blurry that I just feel it should be part of this discussion as well.
Andi | Web Marketer Depot´s last blog ..What’s Wrong With Your SEO Keyword Research?
I think that what you described is a question of whether the content is quality or not. A quality post/article or piece of content is developed, researched, planned, edited and worked on until it is just right. So in essence, content is so valuable that it begins to be valued without promotion, design etc. Because it is great content, you and others will then begin promoting it and working on presenting it. Thus content is the main platform on which everything else lies.
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
Content maybe is the king, but without SEO, good design, and some promotion, who will read your post? Either all of them are really important but still the first very important thing is content and the second is promotion. Both of them must works at the same time.
Reza Winandar´s last blog ..5 Tips to Increase the Number of Subscribers for Beginner
Exactly, that is why I have never said that the other things are not really important!!! They are all very important and must be done properly to support your content.
Seth´s last blog ..5 Easy Blog Improvements in under 5 Minutes
Seth,
I agree with you completely! There are other good additions to the discussion here, but bottom line – content is king. Otherwise, it’s the same thing as a Neiman-Marcus or Nordstroms storefront with cheaply made, used merchandise inside. The discerning shopper may stop by once, but will not return. Our world is so crammed full of junk for sale that I, for one, don’t care how well you try to sell me – if you’re not giving me something that has real, intrinsic value, I’m not interested. If I see that you’ve lured me with a couple of nice lines (like a lot of Tweets), only to find a sales pitch with no meat when I get there, you’ve lost me for good.
I’m such a newbie blogger (http://kimbrowncain.typepad.com/naked-prayers/) & I’m having to do my own websites right now, so I’m certainly not one who can weigh in from a very technical or business angle. But, I do have heart & soul. I’m looking for that from others.
P.S. Go hogs! I’m a transplanted Arkie. Have fun in that beautiful state!
Your blog looks great and I think you are so right (like the Nordstroms analogy). By the way, watching hogs football is the best!
There has to be a base for everything, and content is that base. Once I start reading something of great interest, I forget what the design even looks like. In fact, lengthy posts run into white space, sans design you can see. I can think of several fine blogs that have minimal design, and wonderful, readable, sometimes important content.
This reminds me of a line from “The Dirty Dozen.” Inspecting the troops, Donald Sutherland said, (paraphrasing) “They’re pretty, but can they fight?”
Thank you for another great post.
I look forward to many more entries with high quality info.
I’m a marketer myself and your information always seems to get my business brain going!!
//www.facebook.com/CraigslistSoftwareForRealtors]Craigslist Software For Realtors
I agree that content is still the king. It is true content can not give optimum result if there are no support from others element but other element is nothing if there are no content. That’s my opinion regarding this old adage.
Dana@Online Knowledge´s last blog ..Install Favicon and make difference
Amazing Post. Simply amazing. I’m totally on board with you that design doesn’t play a major role in blogging. Folks like Grizzly Brear and Courtney Tuttle in the MMO niche has loads of readers and their blog designs are simply plain if not boring
.
Content as king is what is keeping them relevant to the search engine and their loyal subscribers/readers/commentators.
Udegbunam Chukwudi´s last blog ..How To Get A Visa or MasterCard In Nigeria
I agree that content is king, if your blog does not provide useful information, it will not matter how pretty or how many images you have, visitors will simply not return. Your headlines are also as important as your posts, without an attention grabbing headline, nobody will bother to read any further.
Joseph Mancia´s last blog ..Acme-People-Search Endorses Wealthy Affiliate University
Content is king, but all the other things are important and have to be on the money also.
Just as first time visitors may say Ugh if you have a butt-ugly design, first time readers will say Ugh if the content is not first-rate. Great content will get you more readers than great design. You may get referrals for your design, but probably not. You will get referrals for top-notch informative posts.
As noted above, Godin and Google are proof that design is not as important as quality content. A minimal design actually can serve to highlight the content.
You will certainly get a lot of reader participation when you rekindle a debate like this!
Keith@Norman Rockwell Art´s last blog ..Oct 26, Norman Rockwell Museum: Making Vacations Memorable
“Content is king.”
It sounds good in principle. Produce a truly great piece of content, and you’ll get all the links you could ever hope for.
Maybe it worked too, several years ago. The Web used to be a fairly quiet place compared to what it is now, and it was easier for people to notice great blog posts.
But not anymore.
Now great is no longer good enough. The Web is full of so much remarkable content that bloggers don’t have enough time to read it all, much less link to it.
If you want links now, you need to be more than great. You need to be connected.
http://arthur-internetmarketing-guide.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-content-really-king.html#more
5 trackbacks