What makes for a good blog about ink? I have been in this industry for a long time and we all know that the main reason people come to these blogs is to review products and save some money. However, I am convinced that an ink blog can be a niche topic with a strong following just like any other type of blog.
Just like in any other blogging genre, personality is king (yes, even more than content). You will read about any topic imaginable if the right storyteller is the one writing it. For example, at least once a week or so I see articles bouncing around twitter about typesetting and typography. I thought my industry was boring in printing and toner, but typesetting? Seriously? Who even does that? Yet there are geeks who specialize in it and a few of them have a strong, interesting personality that comes through when they write about it. Boom, their content goes viral and makes the rounds.
The other thing about a good blog is spreading out a little. For instance, if your blog is nothing but reviews, that is helpful, but you will only see one-time traffic. People come to get info on product X and then they leave. A good rule in blogging is 80/20: about 80 percent of your content should be on your core topic (ink) and 20 percent can be on whatever strikes your fancy. Since people are reading for your personality, they will stay with you and even like it when you stray onto other topics.
I am not saying that content is not important. Always make sure you know your industry, but put some personality into it and you will go far.