Given the rambling nature of this blog, you might presume that I really don’t care what comes of it…that I’m just here spouting off and hanging out with my keyboard (and although that’s partially true), mostly…you’d be wrong.
- I try very hard to write three times each week (Content is King! Provide lots of Content!)
- I try to connect it to my Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter account (Social Media is King! Connect to Everyone!)
- I read other blogs and look at other examples of how to build an audience (Learn! Work! Don’t Assume!)
- I comment on other blogs, join in on Twitter ‘conversations’ and pin my images wherever it makes sense (Try to get more ‘Likes’! ‘Shares’! and ‘Pins’! )
My goal with all this is to be a sort of narrative-travel-life-magazine, somewhere that readers can go to read and/or have conversations about life, travel, writing, reading, living well, simplifying, seeking, sharing and discovering groovy ideas.
As well, I hope that tourism boards and destination PR people will see that I have an engaged, informed and intelligent audience…the kind of people that would want to read about my latest travels because these smart readers (that’s you!) often explore the same questions about life and travel and other big stuff that I do.
Recently I wrote to a big-name blogging expert who was offering free advice about blogs. As instructed, I sent him the link to my site and here’s (in part) what he said…
If you write about a number of different topics for a number of different audiences it can be difficult to build a popular following for your blog. The reason is that no one single group of people will feel it is totally relevant to them.
To build a sizeable audience you generally need to make the shift from “what do I feel like writing about today?” to “what do my audience need me to write about today?”.
In spite of the typo in his last sentence (I’m sure he meant to write ‘does’), I’m sure he is quite right.
But the idea of building a ‘popular following’ by sticking to only one subject or niche, is akin to asking me to stick to a routine for the rest of my life; a suggestion that sounds nullifying, soul-destroying and somewhat akin to ingesting bloggy kryptonite.
However, I asked for his advice and got it, so I feel like I should take what might work for me and ask you, dear (and hopefully-not-so-gentle readers) what would you like me to write about?
And then, if I may be so bold as to ask for something else…
– If you like what you read, would you please subscribe to my blog, and make it a habit (hell, even a routine!) to hit that Facebook ‘like’ button, or go to Twitter and tweet the post, or hit the Share button and add it to StumbleUpon, or add it to Reddit or forward it in an email, or tell your friends face-to-face (imagine that!?) or any other way that you can think of.
I would like to think that there are still enough of us out there that don’t fit neatly into a tidy demographic box with interests focused solely on a one-track trick. I believe we are people with divergent interests, ever curious to learn about how to live in this mixed-up whack-a-doodle world.
In other words, we are people who aren’t interested in a one-note song.
Ultimately, I suppose I’m looking for a quasi-tribe, but a tribe filled with individuals who aren’t interested in being identified as a group. How’s that for an oxy-mostly-moronic statement?
Instead, I’m looking for those of us who believe in that old Groucho Marx joke, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”
Is that so wrong?
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I like what you write, the variety, the content, the ramblings. I love your style and can easily relate often. Plus when you write about travel, I Want To Be There Too!! which I think is a travel writers goal.
I like to read about your Dad and how you tackle what life is all about.
I think you could expand your topics. I think you could write more about vodka and water pistols. And, of course, chocolate.
Dear Miz Warkentin. Thank you for your topical suggestions:
1) Vodka is the basis of many fine drinks and according to the ads, I will live in a never-ending party filled with beautiful young people if I drink it. I will also, according to Stoli Vodka, be more original. I’ll let you know if it works.
2) Chocolate is part of a balanced diet and is key for a healthy, happy life.
3) I have been struggling with your water pistol suggestion. Guns, even fake ones, were verboten when I was a child (though, thrillingly, I once had a potatoe gun).
Let me think a little more about how I might work with this topic.
Thanks again for your thoughtful suggestions!
It is rather ironic that TheMennonites ((which auto correct wanted to change to ‘therm Monitor’) are suggesting booze and guns, but then I don’t know if Sharon is actually a Mennonite or one step removed. I think water squirter would be a more accurate term in our case 🙂
Perhaps a squirting therm monitor? Then again, that doesn’t sound that good either. Sharon is Menno-by-Marriage which is about as much as you can ask of anyone!
Colleen, surely the point is for your audience to be entertained, engaged and to RELATE to your posts. Your style is genuine and the topics are REAL. What more could any audience want. I, for one, love settling in with your blogs and discovering something new each time. There are plenty of “vanilla” travel blogs out there to read–And in the words of the prolific Dr. Seuss ““Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Keep on keepin’ on, my friend.
Gwen, how can I doubt the wisdom of a woman who quotes Dr. Seuss? He is one of my true gurus. I really mean it. That guy packed more wisdom into deceptively simple and whimsical lines than most revered teachers…so thanks for that and all your other kindnesses. You’re so right that I do not want to be a one-flavour-vanilla gal. Kinda partial to mango and pistachio or chocolate with peanut butter.
Colleen, I may have interacted with that same blog advisor and gotten that same advice. Phooey. Those formulaic blogs are repetitious and boring, and I’ll never understand why they have such a big following.
Stick with the authentic, the topics that are important to you. That’s how a person sounds like a person and not like a robot. You have a following of real people that you are able to connect with.
I subscribed awhile ago but don’t do any of the other “musts” on Social Media. However, when there is something that reminds me of someone, I do email the link.
Jana, have I ever mentioned that I love the word ‘phooey’? Especially, in this context.
Thank you for weighing in…your thoughts and ideas mean a lot more to me than the blogger dude.
Thanks too, for sharing in whatever way you’re comfortable with. It is very appreciated.
Even more than that, thank you for being a reader.
It’s funny how we ‘met’ and continue to have these off and on ‘conversations’…I really value that the most.
I am thrilled to belong to your tribe! I just hit “like” and as you know that causes all kinds of angst for me but i did it for you LOL. Seriously, love you and all your eccentricity. xo
Wait! I’m eccentric? Oh dear.There is so much one learns in a day…
Thanks for hitting the ‘like’ button (in spite of your angst) I’m feeling and appreciating the love!
On the plus side, I’m pretty sure he’d approve of the title of this post!! I actually don’t think he’s right– of course you can’t ignore your readers and churn out dribble, but if you’re writing engaging copy, I think readers will join in on the journey; that’s why memoirs are so popular, as are “mommy blogs,” as are magazines that cover a range of topics. I subscribe to the theory that if you do what you’re passionate about well, you’re in the best position to succeed. Time will tell…. but personally, I like your musings!
Lynette, I’m glad you think he’d like the title of this post.
Thanks for your thoughts. I am going to keep reminding myself to follow whatever looks interesting and keep my fingers crossed that enough people will enjoy coming along for the ride.
You’re right…time will tell.
Colleen you wrote: “When I write my posts, I’m hoping that what I’m finding curious and interesting, is the same stuff my readers find curious and interesting.”…YES, YES and YES again!… totally resonate with your “varied” posts. So just keep on keeping on!…and …I have now subscribed!
Bless you for all those YESes, Renee. Thank you SO much for subscribing. I’m so glad you like the VarietyPak posts. I know I have a tendency to serve up more Froot Loops than anything else, but it is what it is. Thanks for hanging in with me 🙂
Why would I want a one trick pony blog when I can’t stay with a single focus myself? If you wrote about only one thing, I would have to take you out to the back 40 and shoot you. With a water pistol. Filled with vodka. Infused with bitters.
Ah blessings Miz Brown. I just let out a long sigh…yes, I did. One of true relief and recognition that of course, YOU get it 🙂 You always do.
But now, I’m thinking maybe I should write about only one damned thing because I’m loving the idea of imbibing, what would only be called the truest definition of a bitter vodka shot – ever.
Hi Colleen! I feel you with this post. I have a loyal, engaged audience but I’m not crushing it if you look solely at the numbers. And then if you look at the people who comment, they outwardly seem quite diverse. I really like it when I think of myself as my own niche (I got that from a blogger I love, Karen Walrond of Chookoolonks).
Monday, I was a table coach at a networking event (my topic was writing a successful blog), and I told the group that we need to answer for ourselves why we are blogging and what we want to get out of it (you’ve done that).
And the other part is what do we want our readers to get out of it? So it’s not just writing about whatever we feel like (as the person who emailed you suggested) it’s about generating content we feel might resonate with our readers in some way. It doesn’t have to be one dimensional… at least I hope not.
Good stuff Angie (and thanks for the Chookoolonks suggestion).
When I write my posts, I’m hoping that what I’m finding curious and interesting, is the same stuff my readers find curious and interesting. I’ve had people tell me (in person and in comments) that I am often writing about stuff they had been thinking about too. That’s what I love…it’s this whole synergistic soup of commonality. Of course, it also means that I’ve never had an original thought in my life!
I guess I want it all. I want to write about whatever I want, but when I do, I am also thinking that the people reading my blog are interested in those same ideas and conversations…And look! Here we are, so many miles apart from each other and yet, you and I are talking about the same stuff 🙂