So the other day I was surfing the web and came across a blogger’s site which made me stop and read for a minute. The headline read something like, “Stop Fucking Writing the Same Shit”.
Okay, I’ve been online for quite a while now and blogging for about three years and without reading any further, I already knew what this post was going to be about. Ironically, that post itself was a post similar to three or four other posts I’ve read before, but those were put in a much more elegant way… and I’m sure if you’ve been blogging for awhile, you probably know what this article was about as well.
In case you’re new to blogging though, let me explain.
Every now and then you’re going to come across some seasoned blogger’s blog and see an article telling you the following things:
- Everything that needs to be said has already been said online
- Stop writing what everyone else has already blogged about
- Why don’t you come up with your own ideas once-in-a-while for an original blog article
- I hate blogs about blogging tips–there are 10 billion blogs out there about it already (same for making money online blogs)
…you get the idea.
Aside from the more seasoned and successful bloggers being extremely limited on time because they are busy making money online, realize that one of the reasons why they typically won’t stop by and comment on your blog is because chances are if you blog about blogging tips, they are way ahead of you in that game.
But I’m here to tell you that it’s okay. If you want to blog about making money online or blogging tips, then blog about it.
Let me tell you, in my 35 years of life on this Earth, I’ve learned a few things. Such things as:
- Follow your heart, but be mindful of the logic in your brain
- It’s impossible to keep everyone happy, especially if you’re trying to make money
- People don’t always know what’s best for you
- To be successful, you need to discover your true self and build from there
If you’re blogging about blogging tips, these seasoned bloggers aren’t going to be your target readers anyway.
I’m not saying what they are saying doesn’t have merit, because it does to some degree. Unless you’re coming up with something really unique, then many of these bloggers are just going to skip you by and read someone else’s blog.
But so help me if you don’t write an article on using banner ads on your blog simply because blogger A tells you not to.
New Blogger’s Game Plan
The first thing you need to understand is that unless you’re writing on a very rare subject, like Keeping a Healthy Bearded Dragon, it almost doesn’t matter what you blog about, somewhere online someone has probably already hit on the subject and the only way you can “be different” is by mixing your own experiences into it.
Also, realize that you’re not going to make everyone happy, so brush that off your shoulder right now. In fact, I can’t think of anything really that will make everyone happy.
Here’s the secret ingredient for being successful online. Are you ready for it? Okay, here it comes…
The secret ingredient is, good research and planning.
Yes there’s more to it than that, but without that… that “secret ingredient”, you will work really really hard and probably get somewhere really really slow. It’s only after you’ve done your due diligence in researching your target market that you can move on to pissing off the people I mentioned above and moving on to being a success.
Good research and planning might include:
- Clearly defining your goals
- Getting a clear understanding of who your target blog readers (and customers) are going to be
- What your blog is going to be about (create a quick elevator pitch)
- Researching forums and taking a look at the kinds of questions and concerns your target readers are asking
- Going to Amazon.com and searching for best selling books in your target market. Look at the Table of Contents and be sure to hit on those topics on your blog
- Using the Google Keyword Tool to see what kinds of things your target market are searching for
The list goes on, but I think you get my point.
To be successful online, it takes having a good attitude, planning, strategy, heart, tools of the trade, and execution. I’m sure there’s some A-list blogger out there who has a better list, but that’s mine.
So to those bloggers who tell new bloggers, “Stop F’n writing the same shit”, I say to them, “Stop F’n telling people what to do with their lives”.
Okay… so there’s my rant for the day.
June 7th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Personally, I don’t read those successful professional blogger’s blogs, so chances are, the only way I am going to see some of these tips is from a blog I like. That’s one more reason to do it anyway.
Plus, sometimes the professional know-it-alls speak in terms I don’t understand. The more novice blogger often explains issues in a way that is clear to me and I actually understand what they are talking about!
Debbie Yost´s last blog ..Alphabet Confusion
June 8th, 2010 at 4:28 am
I totally agree with you John on all points!
Debbie’s points are great too.
I’ve sometimes run across the same information on different blogs but if it’s helpful information, I don’t mind that I saw it elsewhere. I can either look for a different post about something I don’t know, or it functions as a reminder/refresher for me about the topic being discussed.
Ultimately we’re going to gravitate toward blogs/bloggers that we like for whatever reason, and some topics are popular so why should bloggers avoid them simply because they are being discussed elsewhere? If people do good research – they know what people are searching for – it’s smart to provide it.
Also some bloggers focus so much on being original that it becomes tiresome and even unoriginal, ironically.
Lillea Woodlyns´s last blog ..Gluten Free Cake Recipes: 6 Good Online Resources
June 8th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Debbie… that’s a good point. Sometimes there is a little disconnect between more advanced bloggers or bloggers more advanced in key areas of a niche.
Lillea, that’s right, we gravitate to the ones who speak our language and the ones we can associate with. Good point.
June 8th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Thanks John. Your blog is the perfect blend for me with excellent content and a style that I can relate to. I’ll always remember how you are the only person who describes how to put Google Analytics into a site manually very clearly! Other blogs have described it, but they omit information or don’t do a good job with it compared to what you did. Finally it all made sense. That kind of thing can make a huge difference!
Lillea Woodlyns´s last blog ..Gluten Free Foods: How to Pay Less for Them – 5 Tips
June 9th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Thanks, Lillea. I do try to cover every small step when I do tutorials. So many people skip over those small details just so the tutorial won’t be as long. But what many of them fail to realize is just how important those steps can be for someone who’s new to the process.
June 15th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Hey John. You are totally a smarty-pants. Great, sage advice here. Folks need to have the courage to post and blog how their heart tells them to do so. Anything short of that, the blog owner is shorting theirself and their blog.
George
June 15th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
And all for the sake because some old timer blogger hates reading newbie blogger blogs.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Hi John,
Great rant! I like the part where you said, “If you’re blogging about blogging tips, these seasoned bloggers aren’t going to be your target readers anyway.” Isn’t that the truth? In fact, I wonder if the seasoned bloggers read blogs….
On that note, you’ll love my latest post (see the link in CommentLuv). It’s about profanity on blogs. How timely.
P.S. It’s great to see you blogging again, John. You’ve been missed.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..S*%$+#@*.!*)& B(*!$@&
June 16th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Hi Barbara, I’ll head over to your blog now. I know, I’ve been less seen around blogs lately. I try to post at least once a week, but sometimes I miss that as well. But hey, my aim isn’t to become an A List blogger anyway
I do still read blogs though, and I’m active in the WordPress community. But as much as it sucks, I often times don’t leave too many comments because of time constraints.
June 18th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
I love this because I had read Barbara’s post on the use of profanity in blog writing, and now your rant…
I read blogs within the same genre so there are days/weeks that a similar theme is going around, the same idea being said multiple ways. I believe that means I should *completely* get the concept after I’m done reading…and I choose what I read so I may not complain if there is nothing “original” I may just choose different blogs…
June 18th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Hi Joy. Yeah that’s funny how that works sometimes. I’ve even seen people get upset about it and complain that someone stole their post. I’m sure it happens, but it also happens when 2 bloggers write something very similar at the same time.
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Hi John – You tell them. I hate being told what I can and can’t write too. You can always find a different spin or angle on a story, no matter how popular it is.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Hi Cath. That’s right. It’s when we add our own stories and experiences that it helps to shed new light on things.
John Hoff´s last blog ..WordPress 3.0: Security Upgrades Overview & How To Install It
July 9th, 2010 at 8:46 am
There’s nothing wrong in discussing the same things over and over if they bring in lots of money right?
Ricardo´s last blog ..Online Jobs for Education Graduates – BS Education Graduates Can Find Internet Jobs
July 9th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Right!