Constructing an effective blog demands tailoring the blog
to the intended audience. Although this may seem simple, customizing an entire
web page requires the modification of various minute details. Everything from
design and advertising to the post content and participation can shape the
audience’s perception upon viewing. To effectively analyze how these elements
interact, we will take a closer look at the MMA Mania blog.
To customize a blog one
must first identify the target audience. MMA Mania’s target audience are males
between 15 to 25 who avidly follow mixed martial arts (MMA). To appeal to this
audience, MMA Mania creates an ‘alpha male’ theme whereby viewing the blog resurrects
a feeling of masculinity.
When first entering the blog, we
immediately see an octagon cage bleeding out. The site uses an octagon, which is
the official shape of mixed martial art’s rings. The use of the octagon gives
the appearance to MMA fans that this blog knows the intricacies of MMA and will
yield important information. This
expertise is furthered by the blog’s title, MMA Mania, reflecting the extreme
priority that is given to the sport.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8XpLksKd-CTxLRzu8uCvpX625vYq2OnvqBZmVDZvdfpvOKuF0LJ-42dmBxc6_tP2b6d748WJgbuhYrb_xz9YqO7CEEwXcPpEiY4ZbFn9zW8F-Tf5sD83KKX47iN0n6t1UXAP5bKEhW8/s400/MMA+Fight.jpg)
Advertising on the side of the
page also appeals to the target audience as commercials range from Bruce Lee kung-fu
breakdowns to attractive blonde women wearing videogame t-shirts. These advertisements
were placed on the blog as they convey masculinity and reassure the target
audience that they are in the right place.
This clever use of colour and
advertising create a theme that delays the target audience from exiting and
thus allowing time the target audience to browse the various blog posts. The entries
are comprised of pre-fight hype post-fight analysis. One such entry named “UFC146 results recap” is riddled with facts and an in-depth look at how each
fighter in UFC 146 was victorious. The descriptions that the blog incorporates (“Rosario’s
lethal kicks versus Miocic’s crisp punching combinations”) stirs the
imagination and gives a feeling of excitement. After reading the post, the
audience is left with strong opinions regarding the fight's outcome and a greater
loyalty to the blog itself for the thought-provoking commentary.
To express these opinions, the
blog allows readers to debate what they feel after reading the post. The post
is a continuation of the alpha male theme as reader’s square-off against one
another to prove their MMA expertise. In this way, audience participation facilitates
engagement in discussions and ensures the blog's success as readers often return to see if their comments face opposition.