There are two ways to write a blog.
The first is to sit at the computer and type up the first thing that comes into your head.
If you have interesting ideas, fun experiences and can write well, that can certainly work. There are plenty of bloggers who make a good income writing about themselves, their lives and their families.
But it isn't easy.
The other option requires a bit more thought but it's more likely to be successful: treat your blog as a business. That doesn't just mean following the stats carefully, optimizing your ads and making smart business decisions about buying and selling traffic.
It also means producing the sort of content that delivers users, creates a high profile, wins loyalty and generates plenty of conversions.
That might mean creating different types of content on a regular basis.
For example, if you were running a blog about video cameras, you might know that your users are particularly interested in posts that explain techniques.
But you also know that whenever you put up a post about video trivia, you get lots of links on other video blogs, and a stream of new users.
And when you write a critical opinion piece about some new camera, you get plenty of mentions on forums.
So which post should you write?
All of them. They might all be different but a bit of variety on a blog isn't a bad thing. You could make sure that you write one of each type of post at least once a week. That will help you to plan your week's content out... and it will let you satisfy your users while still bringing in plenty of free traffic.
You can think of a successful blog as a bit like an orchestra. There's certainly a place for soloists but when you have a whole symphony of different content instruments playing in harmony together, you can get a much more powerful effect.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 7, 2008 08:38 AM
Thanks Joel:
I for one (probably should say one of many) start a blog and then get overwhelmed with keeping it up with new content. Thus my blog bogs down, becoming the blog of good intentions.
Thanks for simple reminders of how to blog successfully.
Onward with Purpose,
Chaplain Paul Slater
December 7, 2008 01:07 PM
Well said Joel. Writing a blog or article now and then keeps you in the fore front. It is important when you are into internet marketing. Learn to write or out source the material.
December 7, 2008 01:10 PM
Blogging is the way to go. But still there is a lot of competition and it takes to be in the forefront.
December 7, 2008 06:41 PM
Excellent thougts, Joel. Thanks for sharng your good information with us so freely and regularly. We appreciate it!
Merry Christmas!
December 7, 2008 06:55 PM
Neat post!, especially for me its what I needed, I swear I have bloggers block!, this is how Elton John must have felt after writing "you're song".;)
December 8, 2008 05:12 AM
Hi Joel
I would not like to put everything in an article,like you mention- eg an orchestra, it will be too confusing for different readers. I would prefer to break it to 2 or more articles to provide focus & clarity.
Cheers
Alwin Chuah
http://www.globalblogincome.com
December 8, 2008 08:26 AM
Thanks Joel,
It's important to keep ypur blog updated on a regular basis but sometimes life gets in the way. I like the idea of posting something related but not the main focus of your blog
December 8, 2008 10:29 AM
As 'they 'say, "Variety is the spice of life".
We use three approaches when we submit anything to our blog:
1- Original stories & testimonials, written by the servicemen & women themselves. In their stories, they get to express their gratitude to the military at to how it strengthened their characters by making them better leaders, managers, organizers, etc.
2- Then we also look for PLR articles that we write by-lines for.
3- Original, short blurbs by us. These are all pre-written & then edited.
We do not write anything "off the cuff" for our site, as we try to stay on message. That is to honor the men & women of our Armed Forces by letting them tell the readers their stories of gratitude to the military.
In return, we promote what they are currently doing. So, if they own their own businesses, we provide links to those.
We also have a shopping page where 10% of the after-tax proceeds gets donated to military charities. This is where the fun part of this site comes into play. You see, we have no autoresponder to opt into. So no e-mail marketing efforts as we do not want to "bother" our audience, military personnel.
That said, the content gets mixed up, not by style, but by origination.
Best,
-K
http://www.for-the-troops.com/?page_id=136
P.S. The only "non-planned" writing I do is when I comment on blogs.
December 9, 2008 02:01 AM
God ideas, thanks. Mixing the content keeps the blog interesting, it is little the same as have a variety of foods you eat instead than just the same food everyday. Variety is the spice of life.
December 11, 2008 10:02 AM
Great post Joel. "Mixing up" your blog posts is a great way to not only keep generating traffic but keep your audiences attention too. I can't wait to hear your predictions for 2009 on the 2009 Prediction call
( http://www.predictioncall.com )
December 13, 2008 02:25 PM
Very god ideas, thanks
December 17, 2008 03:19 PM
This is great information, and a great reminder. It's good to be intentional about creating varied content that stays on message with my purpose. I will definitely keep this in mind as I blog on!