As regular bloggers, one of the main issues we have is the continued generation of new and original content for our readers. New blogs are appearing every day, and this means a massive generation of content which is getting published to the web continually. The pressure to come up with interesting and informative materials for our site becomes tougher, as the number of blogs multiply, and people seek to carve a niche within the mass of information out there.
Finding an original angle for your blog
In any industry or field of business, you can guarantee that there will be hundreds of internet entrepreneurs jostling for space and attention when it comes to blogging about it. Only a very few manage to create a site useful and interesting enough to put themselves ahead of their competitors and become an authority in their field.
This means that you have to select your topic of choice carefully when first setting up within your industry. For example, while celebrity gossip sites are notoriously popular globally, you’d have to have a real link to the industry to produce valuable content which is ahead of all the other sites out there. Similarly, technology blogs on SEO are hugely popular, which means that once again you need to come up with an interesting new take on the many ideas out there related to the industry.
This means we have a choice as bloggers. We either pick a niche market which has yet to be saturated, which is tough in itself, or we have to remain within a popular industry and try to make ourselves that little bit more competitive than everyone around us, who is doing the same thing. The disadvantage of blogging to a niche market is that you have fewer readers who will search out your content. This is where you weigh up the pros and cons of going mainstream, or selecting to target one single area of your industry.
How do we gain a competitive edge?
There is one simple way of ensuring you produce original content, amid a sea of other bloggers writing along similar lines. This is by choosing to write about things which you are passionate about. When you sit down to produce an article, you can only get really enthused if you care about your subject. When we feel enthusiasm, this transmits to the reader in the form of lively, passionate and engaging articles.
People who outsource the majority of their writing tend to lose passion on their blog. I am the first to recommend outsourcing some work to make your load easier as a business owner, but it is only by staying close to your blog and fueling your passion for your industry that you can create completely original work.
How good writing happens online
Good writing is intelligent, informative and interesting, and some of the best posts I have read have been produced by people who really really care about what they are saying. They want to inspire you, change your opinion about something, sell a product which they firmly believe in, and show themselves to be experts in their field.
What does this mean for you, as a blog owner?
If you are feeling disillusioned about the prospect of writing for your blog, the chances are you are not writing about something you feel passionate about. It may be time to change tack and go down a different route – the thought of which gets you flexing your fingers ready to pour out some words. This will ensure you stay lively and engaged with your blog, encouraging your customers to feel the same way.
“If you are feeling disillusioned about the prospect of writing for your blog, the chances are you are not writing about something you feel passionate about. It may be time to change tack and go down a different route”
Yes! Sometimes change is a good thing. Often people get stuck and don’t realize that it’s okay to make a change.
While I do like the status quo sometimes,change is often fun and refreshing!
“If you are feeling disillusioned about the prospect of writing for your blog, the chances are you are not writing about something you feel passionate about. It may be time to change tack and go down a different route”
Yes! Sometimes change is a good thing. Often people get stuck and don’t realize that it’s okay to make a change.
I wrote several blog posts on different blogs for a couple of years and burned out. It’s hard to stay passionate about something for that long writing so much. That’s when I switched to video, and now I do a mixture. It helped my passion so I can keep it up. Thanks for the reminder.
That’s a great point Michelle, I need to do more of that myself and mix it up more. Thanks!
Share your stories as if you are talking to a friend. That’s how I remain original online. 🙂
Good plan, thanks Raymond!
Very few things are new – it’s a question on being original and have a great voice.
Great post Joel!
Krizia
Agreed, thanks Krizia!
I strongly agree with this quote:
“There is one simple way of ensuring you produce original content, amid a sea of other bloggers writing along similar lines. This is by choosing to write about things which you are passionate about.”
But it has to be something your target audience wants to hear and that means more than cursory research and dilittante writing. Look at this blog, you have passion but you are passionate enough to pay the price.
You’re right Bruce, that’s true. Some people try to, but I don’t think you can fake passion.
Share your stories…share your experiences…share your successes…share your failures.
No matter what subject you write or video or audio about…someone somewhere has covered the subject before.
So one way to be difference is:
Share your stories…share your experiences…share your successes…share your failures.
There I have said it twice.
People like to get to know the person behind the blog…so tell them a little about yourself.
Andrew
I like that, quite a lot actually, perhaps I should take your advice!
I’ve gone through this recently, finding the advice to narrow my niche meant I wasn’t blogging on things that always interested me. I came to the conclusion that unless I had the interest, it wouldn’t work. Time will tell how it works out, but the bottom line is I’ve rekindled my passion for my blog!
Choosing a very narrow niche can often have this affect, it does help to broaden that niche sometimes and if it has helped you rekindle passion for it, then fantastic!
The reason most people fail to get what they want is they simply don’t know what they want. I’d say – largely based on personal experience 🙂 – it’s true in blogging, too. In that sense, “original angle” very much depends on whether the blog is a business, a passion or a hobby. Chances of “crushing it” are greatest if the three are all wrapped up in one – in which case blogging most likely won’t be the only arrow in your quiver.
– Beat
I’ve never really thought about it like that, but you’re right, knowing what you want goes a long way. Thanks for stopping by Beat.
Hi Joel –
This is a very important statement –
” Good writing is intelligent, informative and interesting, and some of the best posts I have read have been produced by people who really really care about what they are saying.”
I picked the topic of personal growth because you can literally go all over the map with it. You can “care” about something you saw someone do at a gas station to address your version of spirituality.
Being organized is a death sentence. I do not understand how bloggers talk about planning their blogs out for weeks in advance. Suppose something interesting happens in between?
I don’t know what I am going to write about next week. Something will come up.
Staying strictly in your niche is boring. Taking a flyer to something slightly off can be intriguing.
You’re very right in your statements. Often people run out of steam when writing and clearly they’re not that passionate. people can talk no-stop for days about some subjects – they’re the ones to blog about. “Something will come up” – I like the attitude!
You are so right Joel. You have to be passionate. I can’t seem to hit it out of the ball park like Cheryl states but I am enjoying the videos, so maybe one day working with words and videos I’ll have a home run. I think what i am trying to be right now is unconventional instead of conventiona when it comes to my niche.
Your videos are great and very natural, keep it up 🙂
You are so right Joel. You have to be passionate. I can’t seem to hit it out of the ball park like Cheryl states but I am enjoying the videos, so maybe one day working with words and videos I’ll have a home run. I think what i am trying to be right now is unconventional instead of conventiona when it comes to my niche.
You are so right Joel. You have to be passionate. I can’t seem to hit it out of the ball park like Cheryl states but I am enjoying the videos, so maybe one day working with words and videos I’ll have a home run. I think what i am trying to be right now is unconventional instead of conventiona when it comes to my niche.
I can really tell when I’ve written a post I’ll call “ordinary” vs one that is about a topic I’m passionate about. Night and day difference. I don’t expect myself to hit one out of the park every day. I do expect to write about things that interest me. If I’m interested, then hopefully I’ll attract other people who are interested and passionate about the same things as I am.
You can’t be a superstar 100% of the time, well maybe you can but I can’t! If it interests you to write about it then that’s 90% of the battle I think.
Understanding the importance of running a blog is one of the most important things. This focuses on your target for which you have created a blog. And how to handle it to make it popular. A very good writting and thanks for sharing.
Demonoid back online? Best news I'd heard today! Thanks
I agree with the commentator above. Understanding the importance of running a blog is one of the most important things. Be sure to make a thorough research if you want to be aware of everything.
A contributing blogger will always stay genuine in providing useful information. To become a contributing blogger we should first understand the importance of running a blog in the massive blogosphere. Also, most business blogs miss the point of being original as they ignore the fact that their intention for blogging is to be for users and not for machines!
I agree with the commentator above. Understanding the importance of running a blog is one of the most important things. Be sure to make a thorough research if you want to be aware of everything.
A contributing blogger will always stay genuine in providing useful information. To become a contributing blogger we should first understand the importance of running a blog in the massive blogosphere. Also, most business blogs miss the point of being original as they ignore the fact that their intention for blogging is to be for users and not for machines!