I spent much of the afternoon reading about how to attract more readers to my website. I opened accounts on de.licio.us, Technorati, and thisisby.us. I left comments on blogs that had similar audiences as mine and I tagged my previous entries with vague promises of subject matter that is enticing to the general population- Entertainment! Health! Food! Britney Spears!
I won’t lie – it felt a little weird. Like writing about how great you are for the About Me section of an online singles profile or talking about the awesome diversity of your hobbies and volunteer work at a job interview.
And then, when it was all over, I wrote a long introspective post about blogging, audience, marketing, the internet, and what it means to be successful. About how I have to resist letting my traffic stats effect my subject matter and how content should create audience and not the other way around. About life, death, sex, and my stupid blog.
In the end I came to the conclusion that no artist wants to self-promote or market. Or, they don’t want to have to. We talk about getting discovered, and getting discovered is a very passive thing. Diamonds get discovered — there they are just sitting there, waiting! And that would be nice – very Field of Dreams, very if-you-build-it-they-will-come. But that’s not exactly the way things are. People have to find me before they can read my stuff, and to help people find me, I have to put myself out there. Fin.
The whole thing was all very meta and pensive and super self-indulgent (and long). It was blogging about blogging, and you totally owe me one for erasing it. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure that this new post could be described as blogging about blogging about blogging, which is much, much worse. What buzz words can I even tag this entry with? Sadly, the word “brooding” comes to mind.
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October 23, 2007 at 4:57 pm
John Feeney
In most cases, a theme is needed. Something not too broad but still open ended. Justing reporting subjective news won’t do it. Adding personal commentary on an overlook angle creates uniqueness.
In my particular business, Piracy/RIAA/MPAA has moved forward from the halls of blogging into main-stream media outlets. We always review the numerous comments donated by the wana-be’s. It will also give you a good indication of the audience it has attracted.
It may take awhile to find that magic pill, but stay at it…..
November 4, 2007 at 8:41 am
emberglow
This seems to be the woe of every other blogger. As for signing up I’m the record holder. Get this: http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/lost-in-the-cyberspaces-darkmatter-and-vast-nothingness/
And even as I finished writing this piece with utter despair. I have signed up with at least 4 more websites. It just happens that many sites would let you comment only if you’re signed up. How deceptive. They actually even let you type the whole comment and when you press post, they ask you to sign up or get lost.
It is a sad state of affair how some real good bloggers get buried in the Cyberspace. I just read one blogger’s post. He was writing good stuff. And then he just stopped because no once was commenting, and maybe no one was reading.
I believe continuity is the key. I find the times when I keep posting one of two entry every week, I get hits. Or otherwise, there is nothing, no matter how many promotion websites you sign up with.
The above commentator also made an interesting point. Having one’s own opinions in the long term establishes credibility and respect. And I think it’s also about finding what is your strong point. After sometime of blogging you get the idea what people like about your posts.
But alas, in the end, Blogging seems like a voluntary public service to me. I hate this part. NO INCENTIVES.
But maybe, someday. Until then we will keep paving the road to blogging heaven and once we’re there, who cares.