Via Lifehacker (though I can't find the exact post) I found a HOWTO that I never expected to see, at least not from Lifehacker: HOWTO: Achieve blog nirvana
The broadest of those [reader] responses are indignation, titillation, stimulation, and affirmation. Hitting any of the buttons is good. Ideally, you pack as many of those responses as possible into your content, even (and sometimes especially) if they're contradictory. Hitting the sweet spot in the center of all four virtually guarantees bloggy nirvana.There's a beautiful Venn diagram describing the interaction between the responses. Indignation and Affirmation intersect to form Outrage; Indignation and Titillation intersect to form Scandal; Titillation and Stimulation intersect to form Lust; and Stimulation and Affirmation intersect to form Novelty.
Likewise, Outrage + Scandal = Revenge; Scandal + Lust = Perversity; Lust + Novelty = Sex; and Novelty + Outrage = Schadenfreude.
Finally, Revenge + Perversity + Sex + Schadenfreude = Nirvana, complete with figure of Buddha. I leave writing The Ultimate Blog Post as an exercise to the reader.
Get on it. I expect answers by midnight tomorrow.
All I know is, Maxim is gonna be in there somewhere.
Actually, my answer would be something more likely found in "Penthouse Variations..."
If I could create a posting that would actually result in sex, I'd be blogging all damn day.
These are lofty goals and I am new to these endeavors. Heck, half of my posts are only one word long!