There’s so much talk about blogging. What makes your blog relevant? I have some ideas.
Blogging 101 has a few excellent tips http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/blogging.mspx
I offer the following:
1) Write with passionate interest about your topic.
2) Back your posts up with substantive reseach backed by empirical data http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-177553710.html
3) Read blog posts written by the thought leaders in your field. Study what they say-take a lesson from their play book (don’t steal their data-cite your sources carefully.) http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/citing.html
4) Collaborate with the thought leaders in your industry.
5) Write about what you know. Stay within your knowledge base.
6) Demonstrate your competencies with your articulate voice.
7) Ask for feedback from mentors and people you trust.
Offer a unique idea and a fresh perspective.
9) Ask your followers to read your blog-encourage them to comment.
10) Frequently read other posts by the top 100 on this site. Check your twitter stream for repeating patterns of information. Do your homework.
Not everyone will agree with the posts you present. Opposing viewpoints are healthy for debate. I recently learned this tough lesson by being overly protective on a colleagues blog. I butted heads with his critic. What I learned from that experience is to pick your battles wisely. Ask yourself, how important is it? Is being a contrarian worth the effort?
Respectfully submitted
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Very well articulated and right on target Margo.I will keep this in mind when I write my next post.
In my view, we need more contrarians on the blog scene. Readers are typically more attracted to the blogs/writers that speak “their language.” If you look at most comments on most blogs, there’s a lot of “I agree…” (There are obviously exceptions). I’m trying to spend more time with blogs/writers who don’t necessarily speak my language. It’s the only way I’ll get really good diverse perspective. So stir the pot, spark a debate, piss some people off. Just be prepared to butt heads (as you did – you go, girl.) I’ll respect you more any day of the week if disagree with me and speak up about it than I will if you cowar behind your opposing view.
Let me add two comments, based on my own experience.
Visiting the top 100 blogs in your field and getting feedback from friends and mentors is good. But the people who matter most to you as a blogger are the people whom you write for. In my case that’s “bosses at every level.” Visit the blogs they read, good and bad. That will give you a sense of the audience that you can’t get anywhere else. Comment on other blogs that your readers also read. That will help you 1) build visibility; 2) clarify your own points; and 3) help you learn how you’re similar to and different from other relevant bloggers.
It’s more important to be yourself than it is to be “contrarian” per se. Your posts and comment should reflect your knowledge and experience base and your personality. Being contrarian is one way to be interesting (as long as you make sense), but being helpful or being clear are also good ways.
Wally, I am deeply grateful for your feedback. Please know it means the world to me.
Margo
Good points. I think it is important to understand the value in other people writing and blog. I don’t believe in regurgitating the same message across multiple blogs. As long as someone bring an individual, inherent and sincere voice will be able to move mountains with their words.
I also believe that if I have one person that agree and 4 that totally disagree (especially if they are in my field) chances are I am challenging the status quo. I love disagreement almost as much as I like acceptance.
Thank you, I completely agree, and appreciate your feedback. Ben, your blog is excellent, and I always enjoy reading your posts.
Charlie:
Thank you for your support. You are so kind, and I love reading your “fresh” perspective on twitter.
Thanks Dave:
I’ve enjoyed our friendship on twitter. Your posts add value to my life.
Hi Margo
Great blog and thank you for the resourses you highlighted. Developing a blog is a huge commitment. I agree with all your points but also agree with the other person who made a commit as well you have to nake sure your developing conent for your audience. Coming up with ideas are hard to do but leverage and listening to others can help in this effort.
Best
Chernee
Chernee-your blog is always amazing. I agree, customizing the blog to meet the needs of others is extremely-will add a bullet point. Thank you.
Great Blog Margo! I’m a huge fan! Keep up your enthusiasm,and Passion. Love reading it! I am so glad we have met and become friends!
Cheers.
Shennee:)
Margo, I like your tips and will follow them, as I am planning to launch a few blogs on different topics, including an observer’s view of the recruiting industry. Thanks for the link from NCSU (my alma mater for my master’s in English) about citing blog posts.
Margo, I am drawn to fresh perspectives. If everyone shares the same ideas + tips where is the real value? It’s more challenging to create your own niche perhaps. As I embark on launching a blog of my own I certainly have your valuable thoughts + ideas on my radar.
There are many ways to be visible in the blogosphere. I’m simply hoping to see more of you = genuine + interesting + passionate + giving. Embrace this journey! Look forward to your next post.
I agree with everything you said and also with Meghan’s comments. I’ve been blogging for a short time (since June)and I’ve learned that having fun is most important. No one wants to read a clinical, textbook sounding blog. If you write what your excited about, interested in and even angry about, your base of readers will grow! Thanks for the post!
Great post, Margo. Well-written and excellent tips for bloggers!
Good points all. My own experience blogging says the first consideration must be ‘who is the audience?’ and the second, ‘What do they want to read about?’
We assume we know what our audience wants to read, but the only way to know for sure is to see which blog entries get traffic.
I love this blog I wrote: http://bit.ly/4Bqd8u, but it received half the traffic of the blogs I wrote on dealing with recruiters. http://bit.ly/4eTnYz
It’s just data but it is important data if I want traffic.
Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach
I think the 10 you mentioned are good “101 er’s”. I love the idea that you wrote a blog entry that is designed to help other bloggers. Social media is based on this very idea of collaboration. Great post.
And here are my additional thoughts:
11. Be prepared to debate & don’t respond in a personally hurt manner.
12. Don’t be afraid to moderate comments
13. Being contrary is fine as long as you are being genuine about it. (Dissent is the fuel for progress). If you are not genuine, you are just a characture of your real self.
14. Inject your personality, this will lead to originality.
15. There is no formula to success. Choose a theme. Choose your comfort level for writing: are you academic, entertaining or somewhere in between. Let your influences go beyond the bloggers. Think about a classic book, movie or album. What made those successful?
16. Blogging is work. Consider yourself a writer. Unless you are one of the lucky ones where it requires little effort, write, write and keep writing.
17. Don’t always publish what you write.
18. Don’t feel you have to comment on everyone else’s blog. An RT on Twitter means a lot. Chances are you are very busy & don’t have to time to reply to every blog posting.
19. Be patient. The blogosphere is growing. More people are starting blogs. But more people are reading blogs. So don’t worry, you will find an audience.
20. Get on Twitter!
Thanks, Margo. I found the insights about being a contrarian particularly helpful. Enjoyable reading and I learned a lot – thanks!
Some really good stuff here Margo…and it sent me straight back to edit the draft of my next blogpost!! You make a good point about being contrary…it’s great to have different views and be passionate about them, but if you are going to take them into a public forum then you need to be sure that you can support your views because sooner or later you will come up against someone who will challenge you.
I do agree with Meghan and others…we need blogs with different perspectives, it encourages us to think and challenges the way we see thingsin our industry.
You’ve already written some excellent posts, and I look forward to reading more!
Margo –
I truly think knowing why you are writing is the most critical. Your tips are good…but really it depends on what your goal is with your blog. Some blogs promote companies/products, some are voicing opinions and others are to pursue hobbies/interests.
I’m also not sure that the top 100 blogs or “thought leaders” are always the best source of info. Often someone truly passionate about a subject with real-world experience in it can run circles around pundit/professor – types.
So know your goals, know your audience and write to that. The rest will take care of itself.