In my post Feedback, I published an email a friend sent regarding the direction the blog is taking. I’m finding this conversation to be extremely useful, so I’m posting the continued conversation. I know this particular friend doesn’t usually comment on blogs, so it’s extra cool of him to take the time to give such insight.
Hey Jeremy,
I’m glad you received my words in the spirit in which they were offered.
The bottom line is that I believe your potential is greater than the dumbass stuff. To hell with the lowest common denominator!
I learned a few things from having my blog a few years ago. I never told anyone about it while it was active because I wanted the reaction to be as objective as possible. Here are some of the things I learned:
1. Consistent postings eventually lead to consistent traffic
2. Images are a must (a lot of people found my blog by searching images on Google)
3. Building an audience takes time
4. A link from a popular site or message board can come suddenly and yield dramatic results
5. You must clearly understand why people visit your site, understand your reader’s expectations and meet or exceed them
I suggested the slice of life in China because I think it’s a potential gold mine, even if you just post interesting pictures of Hainan Island or if you come across some Engrish. I’d bet that people would visit your site regularly to read about what living there is like. One of the blogs I check regularly is about a guy who deliberately moved from San Francisco to Detroit – now, I would never move to Detroit and I don’t really agree with this dude’s beliefs but I still find his site interesting enough to visit regularly. People like personal, slice of life stuff; it’s genuine.
Back in 2005 there was some early talk about putting those virtual strip search x-ray machines in airports. I blogged about it and it included an image of what the machine does. Someone on a message board linked to my post and KABOOM! I got over a thousand visits and several other links from other sites. It was a short post with an image, a link to a news article and my comments but it was the most successful post I ever wrote and I had no idea it would be so popular. That’s the cool thing about having a blog.
Since you’re looking to grow an audience you must get a clear idea of why anyone would visit your site but more importantly, why they would return. I know it’s a cliche but variety is the spice of life as well as the spice of a blog. I think a mix of short stories, vignettes, life in China, images from China as well as your opinions on things will help grow your blog.
One last thing… when I started my blog the purpose was to explore the ways in which the USA was devolving into Oceania of the novel 1984 (hence the address freedomisslavery.info, an address I no longer own by the way). Everything I posted fit into that box – every news article, every image and every one of my comments served as evidence that the USA was turning into Oceania. The purpose of the blog was crystal clear and I understood exactly why people would keep coming back. That kind of clarity is absolutely essential.
Ciao!
Thanks Bro,
And now you need to start a blog that teaches people the essentials of blogging. It really helps to have people with experience sharing lessons they’ve learned.
I’m taking stock now of what directions I want to go in. I hear what you’re saying about variety. So some kind of mix of stories and travel journal is likely what’s going to happen. I don’t want to get started on my rants regarding news or governments of any form. I may end up isolating myself and having no country. And I find it temporal. I’m trying to look beyond this temporary existence, using my quirky stories as the vehicle of that examination.
The purpose of the blog for me, as the writer, is to use it as a lab. So this kind of exchange is essential.
Thanks again for your earnest review and insightful comments. JT
Anyone else want to jump in on this please feel free to post a comment or shoot me an email.