Die Formulaic Blogger, Die
I’ve probably spent the last eight months extensively reading and researching about blogs. I know all about Technorati, SEO, Dooce and Seth Godin (although I did know about him before). I realize that I don’t really know much when measured against the big players, but I’ve done my homework and feel I’m a pretty well schooled beginner. Anyone that is following what I am talking about also knows there’s a formula that can be applied to help build a blog’s success. Marketing strategies and methodologies are available and mostly explained within, where else, the blogosphere.
Sites like Copyblogger and Problogger give amazing advice to those that are looking to jump on the blog bandwagon. They lead by example and as they follow their own guidelines, they demonstrate how to find monetary success, which even further encourages the use of the formula. These men offer a wonderful service and it isn’t there fault that their sites create big dreams in the blog world. There is purpose for it and it furfils a substantial need, but it doesn’t mean these writers can (or should) filter out the mediocrity caused by it. Just as American Idol auditions can’t stop the delusional singers from joining the line, Darren can’t stop bad blogs from being written.
Bear in mind that I am not talking about the fifteen year old posting her poetry or the parent ranting about the terrible twos.
You know whom I mean – the 675862 personal finance blog that offers no insight and is just a sad regurgitation of information already better spouted by predecessors.
Yes that blog needs to die.
This stuff runs on the capitalistic dreams of people who are trying to apply processes in order to make some money but it devalues and dilutes the legitimacy of blogging. The influx of crap these people are writing makes it amazingly obvious that their clear intention is to build adsense income. This is usually picked up by the educated eye and thereby explains why some readers feed into it and possibly become misinformed.
There’s nothing wrong with doing something well and then finding the best way to make an income off of it (actually if possible try to live by that) but these mediocre sites are keeping the authenticity of those that are posting valuable, original content to be lost amongst all the muck.
The last thing the blog world needs is another site filled with linkbaiting top 10 Lists. It does need people thinking for themselves, because just because something has always been done one way, doesn’t make it better.
So go ahead and start a blog, integrate the knowledge and wisdom of those who’ve found success before you, but don’t copy your way to sheepdom.
Hell, at least aim for the billy goat.
[...] Original post by Makeitbetter’s Weblog [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm[...] presents Die Formulaic Blogger, Die posted at Makeitbetter’s [...]
February 9th, 2008 at 11:25 amHeh. I read this and wonder if you’re eyeing blogs like mine. Mine is focused on frugality, but I do try to bring some value to what is a VERY crowded field. Admittedly, I’ve been known to make a list or two, when the topic lent itself to one (10 Things to Do With an Empty Tidycat Container, Five Reasons to Skip the Gym Membership), but that’s because I want people to be intrigued by the titles and read them and comment. I don’t have any ads on my blog – like you, I’m very anti-consumerism – but man, do I want people to comment.
My main purpose in keeping a blog is to find other interesting people and to tell stories/give information that other people find interesting/useful. I think that’s enough, but sometimes I’m not sure.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:17 pmHey Lise,
If you blog with authenticity and merit, then it’s more then enough. I write lists, as do many great bloggers. This was more of a rant about the produced junk that fills up the web, not all of it.
There’s nothing wrong with monetizing a site and reaping the benefits of your work, but when one’s only motive is capitalization without value, I want to gag.
Mostly because there are many people out there that don’t recognize the fakes from the real ones. They’re the ones who lose out the most, eh?
Thanks for commenting – love the conversation!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pm