It's not what you write

Apr 25, 2012

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It’s the when that you post it. And where you pimp it. And how much of a hook you get in the title. Oh, and if you can climb on some sort of bandwagon, or popular wave…

Sorted. Sometimes (often) it can feel like you’re only as good as your last blogpost. But really what counts is continued quality writing. Being yourself, staying true to your message (which can change as you change, we’re not carving anything in stone here) and building a relationship with your readers. Tricking ppl in with sensational titles will work a few times, but you’ll also irritate the ppl who read regularly (sorry about the toaster post, I didn’t think anyone would worry!)

I’m worrying a little about the ppl who feel they can go on a workshop and come back knowing how to blog. We don’t need a whole load of cookie cutter blogs out there, we need real ppl. Snark if you must, but only if it’s really you, don’t try to be someone you’re not just to build the numbers. It won’t work anyway, and you won’t enjoy it.

What’s this all about? Oh nothing much. Just something I needed to get off my chest. Normal waffly service resuming soon.

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Comments

11 responses to “It's not what you write”

Kate
25 April 2012
I do go to conferences but I never come away with feeling it taught me how to blog. If anything, I come away thinking how little I know. I think the sessions are interesting but if you attended them, you’d know that it doesn’t so much as tell you how to do it as offer some tips and start a discussion. If you try snarking and it doesn’t work for you, I’m guessing most people would stop doing it again pretty quick but a session like that could give you the confidence to try.
Regardless of what I get told at these conferences, it doesn’t fundamentally change the way I blog. Sometimes I don’t agree with the tips and advice given so I just ignore it. Maybe it’s just me; I saw a few worried faces around the room at some of the advice – and I say if it doesn’t work for you, don’t act on it – and said so to a few people. There is always more than one way to “do” blogging and I like to have my perspectives broadened by listening to others. I won’t walk out of the door brainwashed tho. And I suspect most don’t. Some will but I suspect those aren’t that won’t stay the course.
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1. Kate
  25 April 2012
  Last sentence should read Those are the ones that won’t stay the course.
  Reply
The Daily Mum
25 April 2012
That is the best advice I’ve seen so far about blogging.
I’ve never been to one of those ‘learn how to blog’ workshops. There were times I came close to signing up for one, but I just had the niggling suspicion that blogging’s not something someone can teach you. You just have to dive straight in, try it out and work it out yourself.
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Kelly Wiffin
25 April 2012
I try and be who I really am! I blog for me. I wouldn’t mind going to a few conferences though as I am interested in how to make my blog better.
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geekmummy
25 April 2012
Great thought-provoking post Jax. I’ve just come back from one of those blogging conferences, and I have to say the message you give in your second paragraph was the message I picked up very strongly from the conference as well. The blogging community is rich, varied and amazingly diverse, and often then only thing we have in common is the fact that we blog.
My main take away from the conference I attended was a resolution to work to develop my voice and my individuality further, not a desire to become a “cookie cutter” of anyone else. From reading other people’s reports and comments, I think a lot picked that up too.
Yes I’m sure some people will be looking for the “secret formula” to a “successful blog” (however you define successful!), and may attempt to reproduce things that are working for other people. But I agree with Kate, I think those blogs are the ones that won’t stay the course.
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Becky
25 April 2012
great post. I started blogging for me, and if it takes off then great, if it doesn’t they I will still enjoy writing it. Enjoying doing your thing
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Firefly Phil
25 April 2012
What beats me is statements in the vein of “Right, that’s it… washing-up done, ironing done, blog post done…” For any sake people, don’t give yourself another chore! [whisper] Blogging is supposed to be FUN!
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Emma
27 April 2012
I also blog for me. There have been times when I have wondered whether I should post something, but then I have thought will I want to look back on this one day? And if the answer is yes, then I press that send button!! 🙂
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northernmum
29 April 2012
Good points jax, however I do tend to write outlandish titles but hopefully some enjoy the content…
Blogging should be fun not so focused on the metrics
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Sally
29 April 2012
Hmm. Kinda, sorta, yeah.
I’m a massive believer in individuality in blogging. And I’ve said more than is probably interesting to most people that the only ‘rule’ in blogging is do what makes you happy.
But, it’s very easy to sneer at ‘how to’ content and sessions if – guess what – you already know HOW TO. When you don’t, it can actually be really reassuring for someone to hold your hand a little bit, and show you the tools, and the options, and the opportunities – not to say you must use them, but to give you a bit of confidence if you want to try.
What I’ve learned from talking to other bloggers over the past year is that for some people the learning about new tools and techniques is just as much a part of the fun of blogging for them as the writing. Whereas other bloggers love writing but couldn’t give a stuff about Pinterest or metrics or SEO.
I think providing people are happy – and not hurting anyone else – it’s not for me to say what’s right or wrong.
As someone who organises a blogging workshop obviously it’s disappointing to see them being dismissed. But I do like to think BlogCamp is a bit more than a prescriptive list of things people must to in order to be a successful blog. What we try and do, in an informal, not too stuffy way, is just bring people together to share ideas about their hobby. And there’s cake. Don’t forget the cake.
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1. Jax
  29 April 2012
  Just went back and reread the post, and yes, I said I’m worrying about the ppl, not the conference. What I worry about is the ppl who hear the headlines, not the discussions, and who come back thinking that there is one right way, and that way is snark.
  It’s late, I’m tired, I’m commenting on a phone while wrangling a two month old and a two year old. And I still haven’t had any of this blogcamp cake.
  Reply