Lesson 25: Blogging Strategy

I entered the blogging world with a vengeance. I got the idea one day, created the main page, wrote an entry, and posted. I then began to research blogs. Turns out I did a fair amount of things wrong. It's ok. I'm learning, and I can make changes.

Since being in the blogging world, I've begun reading way more blogs than I ever have before. I think this is natural. I read them to be inspired, see what succeeds, and critique in order to avoid pitfalls.

I have noticed two characteristic things in my recent blog research about successful blogs.

1. A lot of times successful bloggers don't post original content. They simply link you to something they've found. At first this really irritated me. It feels like cheating to me. These bloggers are getting credit (and blog traffic) while someone else does all the work.

However, Mark informed me that these are some of his favorite blogs. He likes to find a blogger who typically links him to things he's interested in. This blogger does all the work of scouring the internet, and Mark simply benefits from it.

Point noted.




I have added a "Sources of Knowledge" to the side of my blog. These are blogs that I like to keep up with. Most of them are similar to my own blog in that they are written blogs. These bloggers actually write. They are my professors, friends, and extended acquaintances and they discuss a range of topics. I'm a girl who likes a range of topics and so that's what you'll get. The top blog listed is the one that has the most recent post.

I can't see how doing this will actually increase my own traffic, but at least I can help them.

2. Bloggers often spread out one idea over multiple posts. Rather than cover an entire room as I did here, successful bloggers would have made this like twelve posts. What this does is it enables the blogger to post more often without having to think of new content.

Number of posts matters because, the more a blogger posts, the more hits the site gets. The more hits means the more potential for incurring revenue.

I struggled with this as well, because I like it best when a blog post has some substantial content. I feel let down if I only see the pictures for a bride's hair, but learn nothing about her dress and shoes. I want it all.

Which is exactly the point. I want it to know what else she wore, and so I will continually return to her blog until she posts the rest of her bridal attire. This equals traffic.

There is also wisdom in that, this typically means shorter posts. Shorter posts are able to hold readers' attention longer. Readers' attention is key to a successful blog. If readers are entertained, they will return.

I read that a blogger should not expect advertisers to take her seriously until she posts every other day for at least four months. I have been contemplating whether or not I am capable of this amount of blogging (and maintaining a loving, happy marriage).

The amount of time required for me to write a coherent (hopefully interesting) post makes me think it's not likely. However, if I link other people, have guest bloggers, and spread out some of my content, perhaps it is a more plausible goal.

Should I employ a blogging strategy or stick with what I've got? Perhaps, both?


Lesson Learned: It seems as if others do a lot less work, and yield a lot higher results. Clearly this is something I am interested in. Perhaps, I need to make the internet work for me as well. Hmmm.