Archive for March, 2009

A Bucket List for your blog

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

A couple of days ago on a lazy afternoon, I was busy woolgathering and an intriguing thought happened to cross my mind. What are the things that I wish to do before I die? The things that I would like to accomplish in my lifetime? In other words, what is my Bucket List? Now, it’s not everyday that you think about your death.

So the thought got me quite interested. I jumped out of the couch and got my scribbling pad and started to scribble away.

I jotted down a few things which I would like to do before I die. I cannot post them here for more reasons than one. At least not now! I might just post it in the future. But, that’s just a ‘Maybe’! :)

By the way, have you created your bucket list? Think about it! It’s quite interesting.

For those who didn’t know, ‘The Bucket List’ is a list of things that you would like to do before you die. The term became famous when a blockbuster movie of the same name starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman released last year.

What got me even more interested in the subject was, creating a Bucket List for my blog. Now that would be interesting. What would my blog like to do before it died? Not now, not in the next few years, but maybe when I got too bored of blogging and decided to bring down the curtains on it.

Maybe when I jumped on to a different profession. Quite possible.

Or maybe when I left god’s green earth for the unknown that lies beyond.

What would my blog like to do? Here’s what I could conjure up for my blog!

1) Have more than 30,000 subscribers via RSS – That doesn’t seem likely for two years at least.

2) To have two posts everyday – Now that one’s achievable. Hmmm. Did someone mention writer’s block?

3) Generate a 6 figure income for at least one month – :)  You see, my blog loves me and wants to see me filthy rich!

4) To become the holy grail for Freelance writers and Amateur Bloggers – This ‘could’ just work out.

5) To visit the Blog World Expo – I will be there at the Expo in 2011.

6) To win a Web Log Award – Cast thou votes!

7) To have a memorial blog created in my memory when I die – Any volunteers?

You see, he is an emotional fella, my blog! Now is a blog a he or a she? I dunno, but I prefer him being a ‘he’.

Now, most of those things are what my blog would like to do as of today. I will keep adding to the list as and when newer things come into the picture. And I will also keep scoring out each thing as I accomplish it. Maybe, I ought to create a different list for all the things that my blog has accomplished.

That can be a real morale booster on a bad day!

So, what’s the bucket list for your blog? Haven’t create one yet? Do it now and keep me posted! Cheers!

Photo Courtesy Flickr: Bucket List, originally uploaded by er3465

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Are you offering value with each post?

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Have you ever wondered why some blogs have a readership that only increases with time whilst others struggle to get even 100 visitors in a day? Problogger.net has 76894 readers subscribed via RSS. I don’t even have 9. :)  Of course, let’s not forget the fact that he had a head start way back before I did and has been a revelation of sorts since then.

(It’s amazing how Problogger manages to find a mention in most of my posts. But readers might agree that the guy is one of the icons on the blogosphere and we can’t help but analyze and emulate his success mantra.)

So, what is it about some blogs that make them stand out from amongst the rest of the crowd? What will it take for you to be the next Problogger? Is there some hidden strategy that isn’t being revealed by the big guns? Apart from posting regularly and posting quality content (Yes, we know the drill), what is it that some blogs lack?

In case you haven’t noticed, some blogs are out there just for the sake of existing on the blogosphere and despite doing everything else correctly, they are making the one biggest mistake of their lives in blogging. And it is this mistake that might well be the nail in their coffin.

They do not offer value to their readers in their posts! Do you?

Are you offering your reader something that a million other websites on the internet aren’t? Or are your blog posts out there purely because of the necessity to post thrice a week? Answer honestly. This answer might well help you make a significant difference to your reader base in the days to come.

‘How do I offer value?’ one might ask.

There are numerous ways to do it. Offer a tip or an idea that can bring about a small or maybe, even a significant change in their lives. Offer a solution to a simple problem that no one but you has thought of. If the problem has already been spoken about and you would like to add your own tidbits to it, then do it. A fresh perspective is always accepted.

Start a series of articles on a particular topic within your niche (extremely popular), give out a compilation of your articles as an e-book, share a useful link that you might have found, write a review, start a poll, accept feedback!

Readers are ordinary human beings, who are facing ordinary problems like inflation, lay offs and the recession. Connect, empathize, suggest, enquire, assign, or ask a question. There are hundreds of ways in which you can turn each post into something unique and yet, offer value.

The only way to build a community of readers on your post is to build loyalty. To make the reader come back everyday. To make him/her interact via the comments section and for this to happen, your posts must not be good. They have to be the best.

It’s easy to follow a winning formula. It’s hard to create one of your own. The least you can do is try.

Notes: Photo courtesy Flickr: special offer, originally uploaded by sindesign.

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