I wake up in middle of the night. Wow! This is the best idea I ever got – a niche that no one has even touched, a niche that everyone would like to talk about. In other words, it is the perfect niche to blog about. I am so excited that I buy a keyword rich domain, start writing articles and plan the perfect launch.
I buy ads, start creating hype, and start tweeting about my new blog. I follow the best SEO practises. I even hire a designer who could give me best SEO theme. I write articles with perfect keywords that Google can’t help but rank higher. I start building back links. I research my competitor’s website and see where they are lacking. I create a personal army of Stumblers and Diggers who’d bookmark my stuff right away.
Bury Your Blog
Sounds like perfect blog isn’t it? This cannot fail. This just simply cannot fail.
Wait a minute. We forgot something. It’s supposed to be a blog, right? Whom are we writing for? Are we writing for Google? Really? Are they paying us to write content? StumbleUpon? Digg? Google Analytics? Our Web Server Bandwidth Usage?
If that is so, I request you to shut-down your computer and bury your blog in a graveyard for that is what’s going to happen anyways. For you don’t even know what a blog is.
Blogging Is Communication
I am sorry to say but no Wikipedia or Oxford dictionary can define what love is, what a book is and what a blog is. It’s not a collection of articles arranged in reverse chronological order. A blog, my friend, is a means of communication.
You communicate or ‘talk’ and ‘hangout’ with your friends, beer buddies, play hide and seek, share secrets, have fights. Blog is supposed to do the same for you, the only difference being that with a blog you have 1000s of buddies, 1000s of hangouts, 1000s of secret sharers and 1000s of awesome people in your tribe.
It’s like chatting with 100s of friends, and making new friends and having a lot of fun, And making sure that both, reader and blogger, learn every time they interact. That is the power of a blog – A True Blog (Just like True Love).
The plan that looked so perfect in above lies was nowhere near hanging out. Don’t you think Blogussion is a cool place to hang out? Don’t you think Seth and Alex are the nicest common friends that we have? Don’t you think Blogussion is blog power? Now evaluate your blog in the same way.
A True Blog is a Nice Place To Hangout
Ask yourself this question “Where’d I like to hang out, interact, learn or be entertained?”
I’d answer this question, “At a place where I can find nice people with similar interest, a place where I am heard and given importance to, a place where my questions are answered and I feel good answering to others, a place away from this competition oriented world for I want to feel safe when I make new friends.”
Now, does that sound like your blog?
Define Your Niche For People With Similar Interest
So is your blog a place where you find people of similar interest in other words is your blog defined by niche? Are you talking about a wide and wild niche like Computers, Internet, Movies etc.? If you are than your audience is of wide interest and you won’t be able to create strong community. People are looking for everything from PC to MAC, from Blogging to Optic Fibres, from Hollywood to Bollywood, from Brownies to Curry – you get the point. I’d suggest you run a magazine rather.
Or is your niche very well-defined like ‘Productivity Tips’, ‘Blogging Discussion, Tips and Tricks’, ‘Windows 7 Tips’. All the people who will follow these blogs will be looking for similar things. You have a targeted blog.
The Interactive Content
Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers. -
Brian Clark, CopyBlogger.com
You posted the best articles that will be useful for your users (not search engines, they can’t blog- can they?). You encourage people to comment and they do! Now are you acting like a self-righteous and self-proclaimed authority or being honest with your readers. Are you shamelessly promoting yourself or genuinely helping?
If you are helping them, you will not have to promote yourself and if you are just promoting yourself then no one can help you.
Sound more like “Yea Sean, I’d love to help you out with that. Just let me know exactly what error code is Windows giving.”
Than: “Yes, we offer all kinds of tips and tricks to handle that sort of errors in our ebook. Buy the ebook here it’s just for $10.”
Hangout With Expert Friends
Will you go on stage to give a lecture or suggestions on ‘How to Pet Cats’ to 50 cat experts? Probably not, it feels absurd. That’s what you do when your language sounds more like a Congressional Bill.
I’d love to talk to 50 of my friends about ‘Petting Cats’ even if all of them know about it. So be more like friends than lawyers (Lawyers aren’t reading this, are they?)
Sound more like “Our cats love sleeping, cute little things.”
Than: “Cats are sleepy by nature.”
Your users love cats, talk like them, be one of them. Make them feel safe. They are not here to read science journals they are here to communicate on a blog. It’s all about blogging with personality.
No, seriously if you are sounding too cold thinking that it’s professional than read this and you’ll get my point:
This English woman is so refined. She has no bosom and no behind. – Stevie Smith
Make Friends
This is the best part. I have made so many friends since I’ve started blogging. Make friends, introduce people to each other. Help them connect. Give them credits for inspiration.
If you are helping them, you will not have to promote yourself and if you are just promoting yourself then no one can help you.
That was my answer and how I was going to make my blog a living example of what I believe in. What’s your answer? Is your blog a nice place to hang-out? Is it Article 32 in the Constitution of a country or article awesome like one on Blogussion?
Conclusion
So I will pack up all this by saying that your Blog is a means of conversation as in ‘chit-chatting’ which results in both – reader and blogger – learning more than they knew earlier. Make your blog a nice place to ‘hangout’, make your readers feel at home and be friends with them. Talk to them rather than lecturing them.
And yes let me know what you think of these concepts. Do you agree? Or do you want to throw this away? If you do agree, what will be your next action?
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Blogging of course has it’s own “textbook” definition. But that remains to be technical that bloggers couldn’t care less. Blogging is something definable by our own meanings, experiences and levels into it. This might sound cliche-ISH- yet at the end… it’s just something we have to figure for ourselves.
Btw. that little kid on the bigger bike looks familiar- is that you Alex?
.-= Liane´s last blog ..Sorry Mom, Dad, I Don’t Want To End Up Working For A Boss =-.
Hey Liane,
Indeed. Our blogs, like our lives, have the meaning we give to them and indeed we figure it out ourselves. So let’s make our lives and blogs by humans, for humans.
LoL, that’s not Alex. That’s an Iranian kid. From here.
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation Rocks´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Oh I see. You have to admit, it does show some similarities (lol).
.-= Liane´s last blog ..Sorry Mom, Dad, I Don’t Want To End Up Working For A Boss =-.
LOL, Can’t say.Maybe the style? Yea!
Hey, Read your post: Sorry Mom, Dad, I Don’t Want To End Up Working For A Boss and loved it. You blogged my heart. Cheers!
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Couldn’t agree more with your post Sidharth
Writing articles that can help others and maintaining an open channel in which people can hang out with is what I truly call blogging ^^. And yes defining your niche is another very important point too! Looking forward to more articles from you!
.-= chubbybots´s last blog ..Sd Taishi Ci Dom WIP 7, prime but not ready!!! =-.
Hey!
Yup! I always analyze everything I do to my blog with this question. Will I hangout at such a place? Will I like another advert banner? Delay? Sundays closed? And it gives me all the answers.
Thanks for appreciation! Cheers!
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Totally agree with this. I begin every post by thinking, will my readers think this is interesting? Will this impress them?
.-= Eric C´s last blog ..On Genocide =-.
Heya Eric!
That’s a good way to go about it. We are writing for our reader after all. I even try to read it as my reader before publishing it.
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Hey King! I like calling you “King”! This is a great article. It reminded me of something my roommate told me yesterday.
I was featured in an interview on Muzi’s site and I mentioned my roommate in one of the later questions. He’s like, “that’s cool, but how many people actually read that far?” It got me thinking.
Some blogs waste your time with their content (not referring to AlreadyInspired, Muzi has a great site). While other blogs entertain and teach with their content. The main difference between the two is personality in the writing. If I wanted to read something dry, I would be reading my textbooks. I like spending my time here because I can relate to Alex and Seth.
On another note, I’m not sure if you meant to do this, but by replying to so many comments on a post a couple days ago, I’m sure lots of Blogussion’s readers feel like they know you. When I came to the homepage, I saw your guest post, and really wanted to read it!
.-= Nick Tart | JuniorBiz´s last blog ..Don’t Buy a Book Without Finding Where It’s Cheapest =-.
Hey Nick!!!
Great to see you man! Yea call me King, a lot of people do. (That’s my pen name kinda) LOL Thanks for appreciating!
Your room-mate presented a great insight. That is so true, I’d rather take my textbook if I loved dry writing. Now I wish we had blogs instead of text books. Can’t that be next big change in education system?
Alex and Seth are totally awesome guys and they put so much of effort in writing all that good stuff for us. I, too, totally relate to them.
I love that! Thanks!! Wow, that’s a huge compliment.You spread smiles wherever you go
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Thanks King! It’s probably just my goofy-lookin’ face…
.-= Nick Tart | JuniorBiz´s last blog ..Don’t Buy a Book Without Finding Where It’s Cheapest =-.
Haha! Or maybe your awesome presence?
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
Hey Alex and Seth!
Thank you so much for giving me a chance to post on our awesome blog. Yea! It belongs to us all. Doesn’t it?
Let’s be awesome!
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
I think you should call this the Blogger’s Manifesto. It really got to the heart of blogging and in an entertaining way, a great read.
.-= Koi Fish´s last blog ..All Koi in the online catalog are newly harvested! =-.
Thanks! I am glad I succeeded in doing what I was teaching.
Cheers!
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
You got at least one lawyer here…and we aren’t all bad people
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Advanced Charitable Giving using Life Insurance =-.
Haha its true.. I am going to law school right now! Lawyers are not all bad – but sometimes they do have a tendency to talk to technically.
Dang! It’s like going to a Lawyers house. 2 lawyers and I said that? No I didn’t must be typo! I meant Lawrence, yea! LOL
Anyways, I belong to the jargon speaking clan. Science student you see.
You should hear us talking, “Hey did you hear this? Tom has got new girlfriend in the third orbit. He really get’s his girlfriend in excited states and then they fall back emitting sear words. I don’t know when that guy will reach equilibrium “
So yea, with lawyers like Seth and Evan (who run and read Blogussion) we’ll be awesome.
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Nice article. I do not even know where to start. You have nailed it. Blogging is about communication and building releationships. It is about writing for people and discussing your ideas in life. It is always great to find people how really “get” what blogging is about.
Thanks for the post King
.-= Blogging Handbook´s last blog ..Three Ways to Make a Succesful Blog =-.
Heya!
Wow! You just won my heart in blogging. LOL
Many a times I see people calling themselves ‘bloggers’ when they don’t even know how to interact with people. They sound like Gadget Manual and we ‘bloggers’ are soul touching species.
Cheers dude! Thanks for awesome appreciation that made me smile so wide that I could eat banana sideways.
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Yeah, agree with you. We can just create static website instead blog if do not intend it to conversation purpose.
.-= Dana @ Online Knowledge´s last blog ..Online Knowledge Blog Disclosure =-.
True! And that’s why we, bloggers, should keep checking ourselves time and again.
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Great blog post! This is the main reason why I have opened up my own blog in my niche so not only to fuel my love for writing about a video game that I love and have played for year, but to build discussion on what I was talking about.
I am still in the early days of my blog but I am looking forward to talking to more different people that arrive at the site and like what I say and hopefully want to add there little bit. I have found Twitter such an amazing tool to build a connections from away from the site.
.-= Levo´s last blog ..The Importance of Keeping You Squad Happy =-.
That’s awesome! Blogging is a great way to take your learning to the level of expert. I love this quote and would like to share:
When I first created my blog, it is my intention to express my thoughts and share it with the world. I did not know about SEO, Google ranking and stuff like that. In my five months of blogging, I have learned a lot about many things and I have shared some thought provoking articles to my readers. I wholly agree to what you have written here. In fact blogging is more of connection than communication.
I cannot agree more, blogging teaches us so many things. I ,myself ,have learned about SEO, Wordpress Templates, Thesis customization, APIs and God knows what. And it is so exciting to see yourself progressing.
“Blogging is connection” I love that! Wow! Blogging is connection between students and teachers who keep taking each others’ places sometimes learning, sometimes teaching. Awesome!
Thanks for adding value to the post
Cheers!
.-= King Sidharth in Meditation´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Yes you have mentioned nice point here about blog hanging out. Blogging is not only for making money, blogging can help us for learning different things. It increase our creativity while we invlove in different work like article writing, link building etc.
.-= chandan´s last blog ..How work at home data entry scam work? =-.
Yes indeed Chandan. It does teach us a lot. So let’s learn.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
A blog gives a business a human touch. I believe in giving most of my business secrets away.
A blog post about how to solve a common, or not so common problem says that I know what I am doing, that I have nothing to hide, and says to people out there that I can be approached for help and it isnt going to cost them to find out. I also aim to surprise them by just how much thought goes into my “mundane” work.
Being open and communicative is a time old way of getting business! Most solutions are too much trouble for non-professionals, so by demonstrating that you know what to do, you can often get the job to put your own advice into practice.
Most of my competitors dont have a blog, and keep things close to their chest, and miss out on that potential source of business.
.-= traditional painter´s last blog ..Attention to detail masking up =-.
Very True, In fact, when we share those secrets, more ideas come start coming in and moreover people start seeing you as an expert.
Solving problems is the core reason why readers are reading you (most of the times). Entertainment is second, a nice blend of both could do wonders.
That is so good! I bet your blog is awesome place and you are getting a lot of business already.
Ha! They are missing all the new adventures, you have nailed it! You have done it man!
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
You have very inspiring posts here Sidhart, and I must say I like them very much! It’s true, blogging is a form of communication, of teaming up. And if you blog with passion for the subject, and passion for your readers, things will work out just fine I believe
.-= Bjorn @ iCan’t Internet´s last blog ..Blogging: 8 Elements for Grabbing and Keeping Attention =-.
Hey Bjorn,
Thanks for words of appreciation! I am pleased to know that I could help and that bloggers could relate to me.
Yes indeed passion takes the whole process to another level. Passion does wonders and not only will things work out fine but they will work out wonderfully.
Let’s be awesome.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
You say that a blog cannot be defined and then you continue to provide the absolute best definition I’ve read thus far, “A True Blog is a Nice Place To Hangout.” Thank you for utilizing the Sesame Street method of teaching.
(I misspelled my email on the last comment).
You say that a blog cannot be defined and then you continue to provide the absolute best definition I’ve read thus far, “A True Blog is a Nice Place To Hangout.” Thank you for utilizing the Sesame Street method of teaching.
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Thoughts: On Going to Hell =-.
Thank you so much for those awesome and inspiring words of appreciation! Let’s be awesome!
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
I forgot something after reading this post, making friends. I never contact bloggers for asking a help or even build a community. Thanks for reminding me
.-= Reza@Blogging Guide´s last blog ..100 Adsense Tips – Part 4 =-.
You’re welcome
Let’s make this world a better place to live in, we bloggers can.
Go and make friends
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Mindfulness Meditation Guide =-.
This post rocks, King Sidharth! If we don’t understand what a blog is and what it’s supposed to do, we’re not going anywhere no matter how perfect we get everything else. It’s about focus, on what matters most; the readers, subscribers and visitors. Once that comes first, then everything else will fall in place naturally.
It’s a pity that some bloggers get it all wrong and want it easy. The blogosphere is a tribe, a community, people. Without the time, patience and passion involved in ‘growing’ a blog, nothing will work.
Rome was not built in a day and neither was any blog. I think I’ll go hang out at kingsidharth.com for a while. Who knows, I might make an awesome new friend
.-= David Walker´s last blog ..Live Webinar – Thursday 10 December 5pm EST =-.
Howdy David!
Thanks you so much for the appreciation! <3
Exactly man, if you're gonna blog – blog from heart. GIVE! GIVE! GIVE! (not just throw) Give with open heart and care for your readers as friends.
I love that! 'Growing' a blog. I mean yes! that's exactly how I feel. Our blogs grow like a seedling to plant to tree and then give fruits. Not just plant a seed water for 2 days and digg up shouting, "What's happening ? What's happening?"
Rome wasn't built in a day, and that's the beauty of it! Our blogs will be built over time like wine and we shall be proud of it. Always!
LOL, kingsidharth.com will be silent for few days as I am busy with shooting. But we can hang out and be friends for sure (I'd be honored). Drop me a mail (contact form on site).
So nice to meet you!
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
(I just commented and it disappeared into thin air).
Howdy David!
Thanks for appreciation! Yea, people (readers) and our relation with people (as a blogger) is very very very important. I believe in GIVE! GIVE! GIVE! (not just throw). And if you are wondering, you will be paid back heavily.
I love that! ‘Growing’ a blog. That’s exactly how I feel. Our blogs really grow out from seedlings to plant to a tree and then gives fruits. We don’t plant a seed and dig after two days shouting, “What’s happening? What’s happening?” then why our blogs?
So true and relevant, Rome wasn’t built in a day and that’s it’s beauty and rich culture. So shall be our blogs, built over years with love and care. With rich history and awesome community.
LOL, Kingsidharth.com is silent for few days as I am busy with shooting. But let’s hang-out. Mail me kingkingsidharth.com
Awesome talking to you dude.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Whoops! I meant king(at)kingsidharth.com
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Namaste Raja
Thanks. This post is one to get people thinking, especially if they spend more time tweaking their blogs than ‘hanging out’ with the tribe.
Your sites are awesome; you have to be really good to have all those colors exploding so beautifully without being too hard on the eyes. Keep up the great work and have fun shooting with your friendz.
I’ll be in touch..
LOL, Lemme know if Google Translator is to be blamed for this funny translation.
You really did research my ventures. I am honored! Thanks you!
Anyways, thanks for the appreciation
Yea, we’ll be in touch for sure.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
Cool article, King, really enjoyed reading that!
I think you nailed it with this post. A load of newbies do just post up articles to rank highly in Google, but they never comment on their articles, connect with other bloggers, or even connect on Twitter. To build a successful blog, in my opinion, you need relationships and connections with other bloggers!
.-= Simon | Teenius´s last blog ..34 Amazing Premium Wordpress Themes =-.
I love Twitter it drives a good percentage of traffic to my site, but I also love it because I am talking to people, not necessary pointing them to my blog, but the presences on there really does help me connect with potential readers that I wouldn’t necessary have done so before.
.-= Levo´s last blog ..5 Ways to Develop a Football Manager Youth Team =-.
Twitter is really awesome for connecting. I meet new and awesome people everyday. What’s your twitter Levo? Wud love to connect with you.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
My twitter is http://www.twitter.com/tomadeira
.-= Levo´s last blog ..5 Ways to Develop a Football Manager Youth Team =-.
YAY! I am so honored to have a comment from Teen Genius!
So true! Connecting is Blogging. And I am so inspired by you because you do what you say. Your comments are everywhere and not just quantity but quality. You ‘actually’ connect not just build a link and walk away.
Relationship is indeed the name of ‘blog’ we grow.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
The article as a whole was fantastic. I want to really thank you for that first launch link.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..4 Plugin Package – 75% Off! =-.
Thanks! Tell me about it, I loved it when I found it so thought why not share it with bestest readers in world?
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Super Creative Mind in 15 Minutes =-.
Its true. However what annoys me is that I put huge amounts of effort into my site, writing quality content, but other sites with poor content but large quantities gets 2 or 3 times more traffic.
Frustrating.
.-= DIY Dave´s last blog ..DIY loving Brits ‘green their homes’ =-.
Yes it can be really annoying. But its time to look for what more can you do? Have your tried guest posting on similar blogs? Is your content ‘use and throw’ or something that hooks the readers so they keep coming back?
Who are your target readers? Will they visit you everyday, once in a blue moon?
Try answering those question and you will have a better perspective.
Ask yourself, why would you (as a reader) leave other sites and come to yours?
Last but not the least -> It takes time.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
It’s great how you say “a true blog is a place to hang out”. Because I really haven’t come across a lot of blog where I would want to really hang out and every blog should be like that, have a community around itself.
.-= Gordon´s last blog ..Branding Websites And Blogs =-.
I completely agree that blogs which are really nice place to hangout are pretty rare. One of them is, no doubt, Blogussion. I keep on taking inspiration from here.
Cheer!
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..World Aids Day – I Will Be Human =-.
Not Google King Sidharth, I did that all by myself
.-= David Walker´s last blog ..Live Webinar – Thursday 17 December 5pm EST =-.
Woah! Man, now you are scaring me! LOL. You don’t know hindi. Do you?
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Mindfulness Meditation Guide =-.
Hey, it’s a global village now
a word here, a word there. I know Aishwarya Rai (but I think everyone does) and biryani but that’s about it. I was trying to say ‘hello king’
Was that right or what did I end up saying?
.-= David Walker´s last blog ..Live Webinar – Thursday 17 December 5pm EST =-.
LOL Yea, Aishwarya is know to everyone, yea biryani is delicious!
Yea I got what you meant and you translated almost correctly. (Ok I don’t want this to turn out to be a language lesson but..) We use suffix ‘ji’ (jee) to show respect. So only that was missing.
Cheers mate, to the global village we live in.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Mindfulness Meditation Guide =-.
What a great analogy of a blog, hanging out! I love going to the blogs I read and see what is going on, and not just the articles and comments (sometimes the comments end up being better than the article, then you know you wrote a good one!) but to see design changes, new advertisers, etc…
Sometimes I do “hang out too much though”!
.-= Keith @ Business3.0´s last blog ..Free or Self Hosted Blog? =-.
Yes indeed, it’s always so pleasing to see awesome comments on the posts (and I love your comment
) and sepecially the comments which add value to the coversation (as you rigtly said they end up being better than the post). ANd it’s always so awesome to see the place you love hanging out at – evoloving with time.
Same here, sometimes I really hangout too much – but then blogs reward you so much for hanging out.
Agree with you blogging is so much more than just spitting out information. Blogging is about teaching and learning together with your readers.Your blog teaches us to hangout with our readers and there will be great friendship.Readers are our assets.Thanks for sharing lovely post,enjoyed a lot.
Right, blogging is kind of communication, you can even meet somebody in real
Interesting blog! I like it and this statement is so true”A True Blog is a Nice Place To Hangout”.I enjoy your blog and hope you will come with good blog and again.All the best and thanks for such awesome share.
Great post, King, really well written.
Every blogger should strive to make their blog a community, but most fail. I think it has to do with many things including: content, personality of the blogger, design of the blog, the people commenting, engaging the readers in a conversation and how often new content appears.
This blog pretty much does all of that. Congrats!
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