My First 45 Days of Blogging
March 18th, 2010 by
After publishing 25 posts, It seems harder to find unique topics to write about.
This challenge made me think some more about writing exclusive content versus popular content.
I think that learning from popular blogs in your niche is one of the best ways to become a better blogger.
As a blogger in the web design/development niche, I find that 90% of popular blogs (including parts of this blog) write tutorials and tips that somehow can be found elsewhere.
What I mean is – if you take an advice, a tip or a hack from one of those posts and look it up in Google, you’ll get more than one result.
That’s perfectly fine, as long as the content is original, at least in some aspects of it.
Writing articles on popular topics has advantages, especially if your articles present a different point of view, more comprehensive or clearer than articles in other blogs.
However, at this point, one of my most important considerations is providing content with an added value. A content that readers cannot find elsewhere.
This has proven to be successful more than once.
For example, I found out that one of the most popular search terms that lead visitors to my blog, were various combinations of the words jcarousel (lite), different and size/width/images. Those searches made the post jCarousel Lite for multi-width images an asset to this blog in its first days, because a lot of people where looking for a solution for a specific technical problem, and found that post in Google’s first search result page.
Unique content is hard to come by, and it is legitimate to write content inspired or somewhat based on other resources, as long as the content is not nearly a copy of the original (in addition, linking to your resources is always a plus).
The question is, however, is it smart for a blogger to write about topics that were already discussed?
The answer would be yes, for websites that are already popular and have a PageRank higher than 5.
On the other hand, new blogs may reach less people, unless they present new aspects to that topic, or their post contains unique keywords that people may search for.
This is the part where you put your blood, sweat and tears into, in order to make your blog popular.
To conclude, I definitely recommended going for topics people are interested in, but while your blog is new, it’s even more important to bring something fresh and unique to your content other than just repeat what others are saying.
So, what do you reckon?
Hello Omer, I came to say hi, and congratulate you for this nice blog you have!
Actually finding ideas to write about them is a big challenge, but there is so many inspiration ways around us on the internet and out of the internet than we can take new fresh ideas to write about!
I have worked so many time on old ideas but I had to take from another angle, you don’t have to worry so much about it on this stage of blogging even if you have to publish something that will never ever be found on search engines (for example), bu think about the value that you can give to someone on your blog already and has arrived by another way!
For you, I think it’s only a matter of time, you have all the good elements to be a successful blogger, so… keep up the good work!
Hesham, thank you so much for the good words
You are absolutely right about the benefit for people who arrive at your blog in different ways.
Regarding inspiration for new ideas, I agree, there are tons of it! just gotta keep our eyes open.
I agree finding content is getting hard. I try and publish new content everyday. But I run out of ideas or come up with new ones, it takes more time to research and write them up than before. So from time to time I come across an article that I think I can add on to or explain it better I will write up a post on it.
James, for me the good thing is that sometimes there seems to be nothing to write about but in other times I get several ideas at once, so I can save a few draft posts in in a row.
Does it happen the same way for you as well?
In addition, like you said, getting inspired by content across the web is the best way to come up with ideas or give your own point of view to existing ones.
yes all the time. The worse for me, is sometimes I get several great ideas at night after the lights have gone off and I can’t sleep, but when I get to write the ideas down or wait till morning, I forget the subjects.
I have like 5 or 6 posts I am working on right now. I try to space them out, but sometimes I just like to post them all in one day.
I get that too
When it happens I try to write all ideas down (in pen and paper even) so I won’t forget them.
Hi Omer,
Finding an idea to write blog post is difficult task. But always remember this business philosophy from COKE. Although there is already coke on market, they can still make diet coke and they can still make vanilla coke. The main idea is to twist the idea to suit your style and deliver it with your style.
Cheers!
Fazreen
I like the metaphor, Fazreen.
We can definitely learn from great companies to reinvent ourselves.
Thinking out of the box is the way.
I reckon that you’re on to something!
Yes, you definitely need to bring a unique view – but that’s good news, because everyone has a unique perspective that can be used to their advantage – no one has the same experiences and background as you – so refer to those things when you’re writing.
I guess I’ve finally learned to accept my own quirkiness, I’ve found that it helps me stand out from the rest. So go ahead, find ways to be different – you can still write on popular topics, but give it your own twist.
Thanks Keisha, you’re right. Each one of us have their own specialty and way of thinking, to find and put it into ideas and words so all sides can benefit from it.
By the way, I like your blog
(Blushing) Gee, thanks!! That’s a great dose of motivation for today! I’m glad to be able to help. Feel free to chime in any time or send me questions.
Have a super awesome weekend!
Thanks Kiesha, you too!
Hi Omer! I enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Netkit, I’m glad you enjoy it!