If you write a blog, the bad news is you have millions of competitors.
The good news is most of them suck.
The same problems come up again and again, keeping bloggers from building a real audience for what they have to say. So how about you? Do you commit one of these seven deadly sins with your content?
1. Selfishness
This is the big one.
Here’s how making money with social media works:
You give away information of value. Maybe it solves an important problem. Maybe it makes people laugh. Maybe it makes life a little less boring to millions who are getting through a day of cubicle hell. Whatever.
You give. And then tomorrow, you give some more. And the next day, you give more.
After a heck of a lot of giving, you make a terrific offer and you get to ask for something in return. And a small fraction of your audience will respond.
How can this possibly work? Because if what you give is valuable enough, it will attract lots and lots of people. It’s roughly the same amount of work to give terrific content to a million users as it is to share it with one.
But to each individual reader, you’re giving much more than you’re asking for.
This is why so many “get rich quick” schemes don’t work, and why they’re particularly ill-suited to social media. They’re about taking. They’re not about giving.
2. Sloth
Here’s why I don’t do much social media and content marketing consulting any more.
The 1,000th time I heard a client say, “But that sounds like a lot of work,” my brain exploded.
You know what’s a lot of work? Running a bricks and mortar business. 12 hour days, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Maybe after a couple of successful years you’ll let yourself take a weekend off.
By contrast, running a content-based business is a lot of fun, with wonderfully low overhead, few to no employees, not much stress (by comparison, anyway), and yes, less work.
Not no work. Less work.
3. Impatience
I don’t think there’s a blogger in the world (ok, except Leo) who hasn’t been frustrated at the three- or six-month mark when things just aren’t moving as fast as we want.
It takes some time to build an audience, and momentum is your friend. Most of us don’t take off like rockets. We build slowly at first, then the snowball starts to grow.
If you’re not finding the audience you want yet, ask yourself:
- Is my topic actually interesting to someone other than my mom and my cat?
- Do I give my readers more than I ask to receive from them?
- Am I working on cultivating a network of like-minded bloggers, and supporting their work as much as I hope they’ll support mine?
If the answers are yes, you’ll need to cultivate a little patience. Maybe even a good dose of stubbornness. Trust me, I know it isn’t easy. Read The Dip to keep yourself motivated while you get there.
4. Lameness
Blogging isn’t like traditional advertising, where you spend more money to reach more eyeballs. In social media marketing, the currency you pay is being totally amazing.
If your content is lame, you don’t find an audience and your message doesn’t get through. If your content is fantastic, you’ll find a nice-sized audience who love what you have to say. Many of those folks will be happy to give you additional money to get more of what you offer, whether in the form of an ebook, consulting time, a comprehensive membership site, or just a snazzy t-shirt.
To paraphrase the sales and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, lame bloggers have skinny kids.
5. Identicality
Some may disagree, but I think it’s totally fine to start your blog wanting to be someone else. That might be because I started my first blog wanting to be Seth Godin.
I didn’t become Seth (the hairstyle wouldn’t suit me anyway), but I did find a wonderful audience and a niche in which I could make real contributions.
It’s great to be inspired by a big blogger. But in order to create your own audience and your own place in the blogging world, you’re going to have to find your own voice.
Why not instead be:
Maybe you’re Problogger for drag queens, or the Chris Brogan of healthcare.
Be inspired by others, but find your own place.
Interestingly, that place is often defined by the people you serve. Think more about them.
6. Irrelevance
It’s lovely to put your heart into your content, to infuse it with your personality, to come across as a real and likeable human being.
The game still ain’t about you, baby.
Some people are naturally attracted to topics that other people care about. Others aren’t. Don’t try to sell broccoli ice cream, even if that’s your favorite.
7. Boorishness
Boorishness usually comes from one of the other deadly sins. Selfishness being the most common.
You know that guy at the party who just refuses to shut up? The one who lectures you for 45 minutes about his Warcraft collectible figurines, without ever noticing that you’re desperately wishing you had a cyanide pill so you could quietly end it all?
Don’t be that guy.
About the Author: Sonia Simone is Senior Editor of Copyblogger and the founder of Remarkable Communication.
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Wow! Wish you’d written this piece some 8 months back. I learned most of the points you’ve mentioned – the hard way! Anyways, there are people that still start blogs, and look for new ways to get inspired, and posts like this will always be there for them
Great minds think alike
http://performancing.com/sloth__the_7th_deadly_sin_of_blogging/
This is a great read!
I especially love your 5th point. I hear constantly that you need to be unique and find your own style (which is entirely true), but anyone who tells you they aren’t like any other blogger is just flat out lying to you.
There’s not a single blogger (other than maybe the first one ever) who doesn’t have influences from those who came before in their niche. I would imagine most of us started blogging because we read other blogs and thought it would be good to try for whatever reason.
With that said, I agree that its important to find your own place through those influences.
Always good stuff, thanks! I especially agree with your first point about giving and then giving some more. So many people miss this point. At my company we give tons and it does pay back, sometimes without us even having to ask.
nice piece – I agree with all the points – particularly the one about the work involved, for some reason so many people want to have it all happen with no work! I mean come on – if you have ever worked for a terrible boss in a bad day job, even the most difficult work in the online world doesn’t compare – IMO
As the writer of a brand new blog with a highest-traffic-day of 9 whole views, I really appreciate the tips! Thanks for consistently writing interesting, funny helpful stuff.
Can I be Copyblogger Jr.?
Wow, it seems like I may have read something very similar to this before…
http://www.webranking.com/blog/seven-deadly-sins-of-company-blogging#more-31
Great pieces of advise. Certainly would help a newcomer like me! Thanks!
Thank you thank you! I love brief succinct blogging tips. I’m going to print this out and put it right next to my monitor. I still haven’t gotten more than 4 views per day on my new blog, even though my non-broad keywords make me #2 on google most of the time. These will def. help!
I worry sometimes about falling into the morass of being “just another geek blogger,” and being overlooked because of it. I do what I can to make my blog more academic than ordinary, and I think I’m doing a decent job of carving myself out that little niche. I’m working very hard at establishing my own voice, while still being something that your rule #5 advocates: I want to be as good as some of the main bloggers in my field, but not them.
My main worry then is that my subscribers (via Feedburner) and my pageviews have held steady with very little growth or decrease at a small number for a while now, and I wonder if there’s anything else I can do to promote it and make people see my blog as more than, like I said “just another” one. I know there’s the waiting period, and I’ve really hit the 3 month slump, but I don’t know where to actively go to get new readers without breaking the first rule you mention by not seeming selfish or like I’m spam.
Loved it! Especially the bit about the Warcraft figurines. Hey – how about a blog for drag queens that are into Warcraft? I think I’m onto something…
Why didn’t you write this about a year and a half ago when I started my blog? It sure would’ve helped me get over some of those initial stumbling blocks we all face
Seriously though, this is a great reminder not to give up too soon! Thank you!
I have a friend who’s like Warcraft party guy
In fact, I work with him. Talking to him on the phone, you can never find an exit to the conversation. I’ll say “I gotta run. Talk later.” He’ll say “Ok, let me ask you this…” If I were that way on my blog, people would exit my site the same way I hang up on my friend when he doesn’t get the point. Someone once told me that we’re here to serve others. To me, blogging is one manifestation of that belief.
That could even be the seven deadly sins of social networking in general.
Great list. Nothing worth while comes with out work.
@Lex, I agree, I had a tough time deciding what it would be the sins of. Could be social networking, social media marketing, content marketing, or a host of other overlapping categories.
@Angela, my bet is it would be a small niche, but a fiercely loyal one.
@Professor Beej, are you working on building relationships with other bloggers writing about similar topics? A good, systematic plan to guest post on relevant blogs can be great for growing your audience steadily.
And I’m laughing about the other “7 Sins” posts around the web. I did do a little Google search, but it doesn’t surprise me that there are others out there. Something irresistible about that framework.
Sonia,
I am totally telling Seth that you called him Problogger for drag queens.
Funniest. Mislink. Ever. (:
@Sonia Simone: I am trying to, yes. I have already written a series of guest posts on one major blog in my area, and I am consistently commenting and Twittering with other bloggers to actually become a member of the community rather than an outsider.
Great points. #7 made me laugh, it brought to mind the Ted Striker character in the 1980’s movie Airplane!
I found your tip on “patience” to be encouraging. I’ve been working at this for a few years and although traffic is increasing, not nearly as fast as I would like. Reading these deadly sins has made me want to try even harder.
Excellent, and your comment: “Don’t try to sell broccoli ice cream, even if that’s your favorite.” Priceless. Easily worth a retweet.
Great stuff. I’m just about to start a blog, and these clear, concise tips of what NOT to do will be a big help. Plus, you made me laugh!
#5 Identicality: Its great to observe and learn from what others are doing. Take what you like and leave the rest.
The sin is losing or not giving your unique spin or voice to what you do. Most have a great Identity/Persona already but choose to believe it is not good enough so they become a poor quality duplicate of someone else. Putting yourself out there is the only way to know what works for YOU.
Thanks for the blog post
i loved the last point the most i visit that many blogs that bore me to tears and dont have any charm, wit or personality. It doesnt matter whether the information is good we want to be able to read an article on a blog in full without getting bored.
kind regards
sam
X
Sonia, this was great – and I really needed to read it today. This whole week I’ve been angsting over my blog not growing fast enough (okay, not as fast as Leo’s Zen Habits, which I seem to have unfortunately picked as a blogging benchmark…)
I *knew* I was being stupid and I’ve got loads of positives chalked up already: some lovely comments and emails, some content I’m proud of and that pushed me as a writer/person, a much nicer looking site (Thesis!!) than previous attempts … it’s just so easy to think of my goals and then look at the current reality and wonder why I’m not there instantly.
So big big thanks, I’ll be bookmarking this and coming back whenever I feel a bit discouraged.
@Ali, you really are a masochist, aren’t you?
You’re doing great. Glad I could provide some encouragement when needed!
@Pace, ah, yah.
Aww, you fixed it. Good thing I have a screencap for Seth blackmail purposes. *evil grin*
Hey, you stole my post!
OK, so you didn’t really steal my post, but I wish I had written it!
Good article!
Even though my blog is currently in a coma but someday it will rise reborn like a phoenix, I do not have the time for it at the moment as I am doing too much consulting between my house in Hell and Redwood City.
1. I like broccoli ice cream. It is certainly more flavorful than icky old green tea ice cream.
2. I don’t collect World of Warcraft figurines, but I do play WoW. I don’t even talk about WoW, but since you brought it up, my Alliance paladin, Snowcup on the Icecrown server reached level 70 last night in Howling Fjord. It was pretty cool and I let someone else take this great axe that dropped during our questing. Then this pickup group and I bombed the pirate ships from a zeppelin and pretty much cleaned out the UK catacombs. We also killed some proto-drakes and those cow-like things for quests as well as collecting lost cannon balls.
So when are we doing lunch? You can bring Brian but only if I am not picking up the liquor tab.
Got this throught email..read it. loved it. Left it.
Went to MSN and found this almost “identical” article..
Interesting..
Your article was the better one.
http://channelizer.ie.msn.com/windowslive/Windowslive_article.aspx?cp-documentid=147714448
Perhaps if we adopted the same attitude of a non-profit, it might help refocus our thinking from “it’s all about me” to “it’s all about you.” That doesn’t mean you can’t make money (non-profits do – they just reinvest it back into their organization).
BTW: Loved #5. Thanks for the helpful post.
haha Good Blog!! Will keep those in mind, thanks
Wow Sonia, what a great summary and “refresher mini-course” you just gave me here!
I kinda slowed down and drifted, but your 2nd and 3rd points really woke me up again. I need to keep going and stay on-course.
Thanks for your (funnily ironic) inspiring article!
Nice list.
On “boorishness,” it’s hard to prevent that in a blog format isn’t it? Since you’re the only one speaking?
Is it enough to invite discussion in comments or are there more interesting ways to involve other people and other ideas?
I think sloth should be numero uno. In anything that we do really, its the deadliest sin. We won’t be able to do anything, go anywhere if we’re lazy or avoid any kind of work.
ooops… Sorry I got the email wrong!
I think sloth should be numero uno. In anything that we do really, its the deadliest sin. We won’t be able to do anything, go anywhere if we’re lazy or avoid any kind of work.
An appropriate post from someone who uses an avatar that sports a halo.
Great blog, but what can we do without a little sin?
I love to add to posts with links to artists and friends and with pictures that say it all.
http://telltalesouls.com/blog/proof-you-can-write-memoir-anywhere-anytime/ SEE WHAT I MEAN?
Sonia, I just have to say that your style is awesome. I love your posts, but this is one of my favorites.
You are so right, I loved this post. I think that blogging is all about personal style and keeping your readers in mind, first and foremost. And then your audience will find you. Not everyone will like you, but many people will.
I just started a blog because I’m fascinated with the idea of creating something of value and getting that to people. This post helped me learn what I should look out for while I pursue this new endeavor. This was great stuff. Thanks.
I was beginning to think I was missing the receptors that enable you to appreciate what people are saying. It’s nice to get confirmation that the problem isn’t with me.
Well — Not like a lot of us are LAZY that have Junk Websites/Blogs
In my case it’s just a hobby that I don’t care if I make any money.
However, that being the case – I am not running out and paying for services.
I spend countless hours just keeping my FREE stuff operational (example: PC’s, Linux, Apache, WordPress)
So it’s more of a challenge just learning how to keep it all working.
So time runs short on the actual creating content aspect – All part of it being a hobby I guess.
My last system crash I lost all of my content – I have a few LLLL.COM’s for sale HERE if interested.
Great article, love it. Just to let you know, someone has already copied it onto their blog w/o reference and in full – http://www.satus.cn/2009/08/the-7-deadly-sins-of-blogging.html/
Too bad people can’t come up with original content. Or maybe that’s a good thing for real bloggers.
Again, thanks for the wonderful post.
Awesome… Love your insights, and I’m looking forward to upgrading my own content. Thanks for doing what you do.
Having the right blogging platform (one that inspires you to find your true voice) really helps. I’m guilty of more than a few lame blogs in the past. Get out of the doldrums, it helps!
Wow, inspiring post I have to agree with everyone else.
A lot of it is common sense, but sometimes common sense is so hard to figure out. This list will help a lot.
The link that says “Problogger” puts you on Seth Godin’s blog again, I thought maybe you meant to link it to problogger.net. But I could be wrong, and in that case I apologise.
Thanks for another wonderful post.
Excellent advice! Sometimes, it’s hard to take some advice to heart, but everything here sure hits the nail on the head. Great post – thank you!!
“Weirder than Dooce”. That would totally be my new tagline if I knew how to change my tagline.
Weird’s good. Weird kicks the crap out of normal any day.
I really enjoyed this list, and will have many takeaways, and still I wonder – WHATEVER HAPPENED TO “WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW”?????????????????
@ Jenny — She really meant “vulgarer” but she didn’t know how to spell it. Silly girl.
Nice list, every blogger should print it out and keep it in sight whenever s/he works on his/her blog! SY
If Broccoli Icecream is your favorite. Sell it. Be a little different. Promote the broccoli, be the broccoli authority. It helps versus the bad news.
too much true you just listed…But it is good, somebody sometimes needs to kick your ass, as otherwise your blog really starts to suck…
Btw just came back from interesting seminar here in Sydney about internet marketing and want share it with other copyblogger readers. It is free 2 days geekversity seminar and may be there is one close to you, as geekversity organize them not only in Australia, but also in US, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia and couple other countries (sorry, don’t remember names).
, but it still doesn’t cost you anything).
http://www.geekversity.com/geeks (it is affiliate link, first day’s homework
Hi Sonia, great article. I’m a new blogger myself and I am working on providing as much value in my blog as I can for other new bloggers. Teaching what I learn as I learn it. I can’t wait until I find my own place. Everything is so new to me right now. I have a few boggers that really inspire me and I visit their blogs often. I know it’s just going to take some time … and work!
Okay my kids are skinny. At least they’re not obese! Maybe my blog is a little lame and I need to work on it. Thanks for the ideas!
Awesome, awesome and more awesome! I really liked the point about finding your own voice! I have so many of those that it is hard at times to do just that…lol…
With the many virtual assistants now days, (me included) I’m thinking my voice may be something along the lines of Sports and NASCAR. That’s one thing I have not seen in the VA industry…….so, what do you guys think…..VA of Sports?
Any suggestions? Thanks and will be coming back for more!
Great Post. The give and then give some more is what I keep hearing – and what I have started to try and do on my blog. I am a newbie at this so if you have a minute could you take a look at my blog and leave a comment. Any comments good or bad are always constructive.
“Webwinkel weblog August 15, 2009 at 4:56 am
If Broccoli Icecream is your favorite. Sell it. Be a little different. Promote the broccoli, be the broccoli authority…”
This one is priceless, funny, but straight to the point! SY
One of the best posts I have read so far on Copyblogger. Thanks for the inspiration Sonia.
I love your writing style and comparisons.
Igor
this article was worth my time … I think that behind this article is “hiding” a professional
As long as you know your niche and the subject to you isn’t deathly boring, you shouldn’t have to much of a problem writing a blog about it.
The problem comes when you write the blog simply for the money. Then these problems show and you are dead.
What a killer post, Sonia! I’m amazed at how you can pull such fresh, relevant stuff out of your hat after having written so much fresh, relevant stuff already. Consider yourself retweeted. Best regards, P.
I can related to impatience. I was OK at the 3 month, 6 month, 12 month mark. When I got to the 18+ month mark, I started to get impatient. I’m learning that I need to change things up a bit more if I want more/different results.
I like your third point impatience which does keep into a blogger , getting audience is long term process than happens just in a night.
Great post. Isn’t it interesting how this can be applied to every day life and not just blogging. If you avoided these sins in your every day life, you’d be a pretty amazing person. The qualities that go a long way into making you a good and interesting person also go along way into making you a good and interesting blogger.
I’ve probably done all the seven deadly sins, but the one I’ve been doing over and over again has to do with impatience.
I just can’t wait for my posts to get published. I can’t seem to write a post, not publish it, but wait a few hours or a few days and get back to it and see if it needs a rewrite. If I could do this, I think that my posts would be a lot better.
I usually just come up with an idea, write the blog post (15 minutes or so) and publish it as soon as I finish writing.
I admitted it, impatience is my biggest sin when it comes to blogging
Jens
As always great thoughts. I guess in my world impatience is the thing that I struggle with. However, lookin back is always good to see what I’ve achieved by just sticking to the task and being absolutely consistent all the time
Unless bloggers take seriously the important points you have writen here, there will be no chance for them to succeed. The truth hurts and it is fact that we are oftentimes not aware of our selfishness.
It is important that we first be aware of ourself. Success in blogging requires reflection of our self.
Love the insights. I’d also add, don’t take yourself too seriously – being able to poke fun at yourself shows your human side as well.
Hi Sonia,
As a relatively new blogger I think that these tips are absolute gold. Far too many people just want to take, take, take. You can’t expect visitors to trust you and to come back to your blog if all they are getting is sales pitch after sales pitch.
And not only that but giving information and wanting to help others actually makes you feel better as well. We all want to make money but if you do it morally and without selfish motives then the rewards will be greater and last longer.
Best wishes
Andy Michaels
This was ridiculously helpful. Thank you. Although my cat isn’t smart enough to read. In fact, my cat isn’t even smart enough to pee in the appropriate location.
This was exactly what I needed to hear. It pretty much covered all the issues I have been dealing with, and I have to say thank you for this. Great post!
Good stuff, I think my brain exploded too when I heard “but that takes too much work” from people I was helping out. I don’t know why people think they can do well by doing nothing.
Sure, once you’ve got things running smoothly you can work a lot less, but you’ve gotta bust your ass to get there. Same thing with the first point you made.
Too many people seem to think that the way to make money with any social media is just to spam as many people as they can and pray for a few sales.
Why not just do the same amount of work, build a following and generate 10x the cash? I hope this actually sinks in with people.
And it’s always good to remember that most of our competition sucks, so it’s not THAT hard to stand out
Cheers,
Sean
I’m really glad this has been helpful, thanks, all, for such kind words.
@Julie, I have a cat who is actually too dumb to use a scratching post. Poor dopey little guy.
@carti, who said I was hiding?
@andabwa, great point. Sometimes I forget that life exists outside of blogging.
@Barbara Ling, oh, one of my favorites! I’m a fan of Paul Newman’s maxim, “Always take the work seriously, never take yourself seriously.”
Hmm… I think #4 is the big one. Seems to me there is far more lameness than selfishness.
This is a GORGEOUS post. Totally office wall material. (Or in my case, uh, the wall next to the living room table I’ve been using as my desk…)
That’s a good point, but I think selfishness makes me more angry than lameness does. It’s also easier to do something about.
“lame bloggers have skinny kids.”
Love it.
@ Jens — When you publish the secret to getting your posts written in 15 minutes or less, THAT will make your blog take off like wildfire.
I’d read that post.
@ Dave — I’ve never been so happy to have fat kids before.
Great article! I do think it raises some important questions. For starters, it’s SO important to recognize when “finding your own voice” that being unique needs to still be valuable. I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and I also love business & marketing, but does that mean I should start a blog for Springsteen fans who also happen to be entrepreneurs?
I also think its important to present your blog content in such a manner that the reader feels as though you are talking directly to him or her. I guess that’s called engaging. “Bounce” rates are so high for websites or blogs that frustrate the reader with discussion that appears above the reader’s head. It takes a certain amount of skill to engage a reader, whether your topic is about puppies or network infrastructure. Write like you talk and people will listen (or read).
I can’t believe I hadn’t found this website before. It’s going right in the favorites.
This article is great seeing as how I have two new blogs, http://www.dwellupon.net and http://www.healtheadvice.com that I’m working on. When I get to it there will be a third http://www.sightsjournal.com.
When I wrote a plan out for these blogs and what I want them to achieve, I realized every single goal had the words “Help people…” at the beginning. I think this is a great way to look at the sites you are making.
Awesome piece..yes I completely agree that it takes some time to build an audience..my own experience speaks
Excellent way of putting things in perspective Sonia, you’ve written a great post! There is a lot that people can learn from and the first point really hits home. I think it’s natural to get carried away selling your products but that’s not what successful blogging is about, it’s about connecting with your audience.
This post rocked so hard, Sonia.
I personally love the 7 Deadly Sins because they can apply to freelancing (and blogging and business and anything) so much, in so many ways, that it’s fun to write about them – and fun to read about them too.
Up with Sloth!
Hey Sonia,
I like your comparisons and analogies.
I’ll bookmark this post and share it every time someone mentions that blogging and social media is too much work.
Thank ya!
George
The worst part about these sins is that they’re NOT deadly. If they were, then the blogosphere would be a whole lot less crowded.
Of course, I also wouldn’t have any consulting clients. Hmm…
Great post, Sonia.
@Jon, laughing, you are so evil.
@James, totally. The 7 Deadly Sins of Baking Muffins! The 7 Deadly Sins of Database Design! It works for everything.
@George, love that, spread the word. Thanks!
Marvelous piece, Sonia. those i consider the biggest challenges in the blogosphere that will simply elevate bloggers to the next level.
Great advice! Now only if I can follow it all the time – on all my blogs. Any idea how to make insurance interesting?
Thanks! These are amazing points. I really wish I would have read this a couple of years ago. All of your points make sense and are helpful with a sense of humor, rare in blog.
@Linda, geez, don’t you have any easy questions?
My guess would be to create a relationship that lets you make insurance less scary and less intimidating, given that right now trust levels for insurance companies are, well, not too high. That, and decoding the insanely complex language the actual companies use to tell you what they sell.
I’m with you on the ‘months of hearing nothing.’ This is the most frustrating thing trying to explain to clients I build blog enabled sites for… Three months on they ring saying, “when am I gonna make money from this?”. The first thing I ask them is, “How are you measuring your leads now?” And then if they’ve been clever enough to integrate a feedblitz database mailing system with their contacts, they notice they have seen an increase of repeat biz or referrals.
Thanks for this great article. I found it on the Pro Bloggers group on LinkedIn. I’m a new blogger and loved your advice!
Excellent post! As way of social media mention, I came across the post via a Linkedin.com recommendation. I agree with the point on value propositions. Just sometimes hard to be patient to see the ROS(Return on Sharing).
Peter
Amen! Excellent tips, insights and candor – Right on target. The snowballing and patience things really hit home for me. I just started new ongoing webinars for blogging content and story ideas (http://budurl.com/g7nz). Give, give, give, and the universe will pay you back in abundance. Great job!
Susan (@sueyoungmedia)
Sonia,
Thanks for the insurance tips. I learned long ago to speak English, not Insurance. I’ll work on chunking it down to easy, basic stuff to be less intimidating. Best, Linda
@Peter, “Return on sharing” is a good expression, thanks.
Not finding the audience I’m looking for the points are right on and give an insight as to intent from the readers view. Great information.
Sonia
Love the post. I am pretty much a new blogger and constantly ask people ask me how much time does it take each day. How can you keep up? Aren’t you afraid that people will not come back and read it? I also get asked why give out so much information for free. This one I love as my response is always the same – if I am not giving it out someone else will.
Patience is something that people need to remember in social media. Unlike traditional media where you run an ad and people come right away, social media is takes time and getting people to read your blog consistently is being awesome. Not every post will be awesome to everyone but it will be awesome to someone.
Thanks for the reminder of having your own voice. We all have our own style and pushing hard to be someone else is never going to give you your own blogging identity.
Nice article. It can be hard to keep blogging when it doesn’t look like anyone is reading but I guess it’s just soldier on and keep putting something there for people to read and if it’s good enough it’ll work in the end.
again, great post! Your style influences me. Humor just makes anything easier and more fun to read. Sharing useful tips among the humor makes it even better!
Very educational and useful ideas for personal blog
Great post. Makes me think not about what I’m saying, but what the BENEFIT of what I am saying is. Ok, must now plug this into the good blog equation.
I do have some reader fans that start off sites to be like my own………. but the problem with them is they didn’t press on long enough to make it.
In my 2 years+ of blogging, I’ve done very little marketing compared to many others. When the content is good, it somehow markets itself.
I just started a blog and really appreciate the excellent information given by you. Thanks a ton.
Yes – the joys of blogging …
Patience they say is a virtue and so it is, as good things come to those that wait. Taking massive action has always reaped its rewards the only struggle is that after great effort one hits a wall …
Advancing from such hurdles determines the level of success, so along with patience one needs persistence and as humans most unfortunately fall short.
Living examples as yourself give inspiration to soldier on in search of the light at the end of the tunnel … many thanks!
Take Care & all the best
rod f.
Great insight, Sonia.
I appreciate the inspiration. Blogging to the top is surely an exercise in perseverance and determination.
It’s post like this that motivate and keeps it all in perspective.
fantastic post, Sonia. Your blog follows your own advice. A great reminder for bloggers to not give up or give in! Thanks! Very motivating!
Nice list! i appreciate the excellent information given by you. thanks.
I have to agree with the idea of emulating others with your spin on it. There are people that are doing it right, you being one of them. And of course Seth Godin. Now I just have to find my inspiration. Maybe a little Carrot Top mixed with Ben Stein. Little funny little boring and to the point. Make my audience laugh themselves to sleep.
That is a great article. It is so true.
From now on it is a must read, twice a month, for all my students and partners.
Thank you so much for exposing these principles so clearly.
Great article that makes good inspiration. Thanks for writing such a great blog – have just discovered it and I will definitely be a regular reader
So true and helpful.
I think thta those who run a personal blog can’t make it to high traffic blog.
you should focus on what people search for and not your personal thoughts.
Yep, guilty on a few of those. I also like your writing style; quick, to the point, and filled with quips of humour.
Will continue reading your blog.
Great post. I will try to remember these tis when I write my blog. Thanks
lol number 7
Thank you for the great read. I shall keep your tips in mind when I start my blog.
I think my blog is guilty of a few of these. I’m having a hard time deciding on an audience. My subject (article marketing) is so general.
thanks for these tips i have found on this blog. it will really help me.
cheers
Thanks for a great read.
Not rocket science, but since common sense is not very common, this stuff needs to be said. All of us have been guilty at some point, I’m sure.
Keep up the good work
Thanks a lot! That´s helpful to overcome blogging-frustration
) Sometimes I was not far from giving up that blogging-thing. But at last: it´s fun to share content and ideas. patience is needed.
Clear, simple, and direct. Thanks for revitalizing the classic deadly sins for our often too superficial blogging era.
Just the opening paragraph made me laugh. “Most Bloggers Suck”
Always good stuff, thanks! I especially agree with your first point about giving and then giving some more. So many people miss this point. At my company we give tons and it does pay back, sometimes without us even having to ask.
Great Post.
I agree with almost every single point. If you just care about your blog and are only focused on your blog you won’t get that far. if you dont appreciate your readers then you wont get that far either.
It takes hard work and a lot of patience to build a blog it doesnt happen over night or in 1 or 2 months.
I agree with often every single point. If you just care about your blog and are only focused on your blog you won’t get that far. if you dont appreciate your readers then you wont get that far either.
simple, and direct. Thanks for revitalizing the classic deadly sins for our often too superficial blogging era.
Lameness? I’m really gonna have to work on this one. I’m suffering from a severe inferiority complex stoked by my teenage son who never misses an opportunity to tell me just how lame I am. Personally, I think I have my moments. I can only hope that my organic traffic flow isn’t coming from 17 year old teenage boys looking for something they most certainly won’t find on my blog. If this is the case. I’M DOOMED!!
Roschelle, just remember, there’s a reason we don’t give teenagers the vote.
Great post. I’m about to put a blog under my main URL and I’m out learnin’ what to do and not to do.
Sonia,
I’m not sure that my mom knows my blog exists, and my cat falls asleep everytime I start to blog. Probably not a good sign, eh?
Great post, but many of your points require an objective point of view. I am sure that Warcraft guy doesn’t realize that he is lame, but at least he could see you digging for the cyanide capsule for some sort of clue.
Any suggestions on how to step outside of yourself to get that objective point of view?
Brad
Hey Sonia,
In order to have a successful website you need to give incredible value and be irresistibly remarkable.
Just look at the most successful blogs. The ones with the most passionate followers and the biggest profits.
You need to:
- Give 10x as much as you take
- Recommend, don’t sell
- It’s about them, not you
- Make stuff that’s great, not ‘good enough’
- Be remarkable by being an amplified yourself
Thanks for the 7 reminders of what NOT to do so that we can turn our mild-mannered websites into Superblogs,
Oleg
This post really helped me a lot thanks. I am a blogging newbie and I want to learn not to make these mistakes. Also love this blogg look and feel..
Jana
Hi Everyone,
*Sighz* im basically what you can call the new kid on the blog (block)… im starting to feel really down because ive been putting so much work and effort into my blog and watching the google analytics has made me very depressed however after reading this article i do feel much better! i really related to sin #3, my blog started off slow but now im at the point where i want to take it to the next level, I’m doing everything i can to make my blog succeed but it is hard, its very hard, emotionally and mentally… ive even enrolled for probloggers 31DBBB, hopefully the next time i comment here, it will be a happy one!
Cheers for this article
Why didn’t I read this before?
Thanks for sharing this. I guess I might have just done some of those sins in my previous blogs…but with a new domain and new host, I think I can do it right this time (anyway, it’s only now that I’m turning into a serious blogger..:P)
I’d just add one more sin: boring. I’ve read so many posts by bloggers who are caught up in their own thoughts. They might right a post like, “Today I walked my dog around the blog. I noticed the beautiful weather. [Insert details of every tree and flower encountered.] That me realize …”
Personal is good but if you can’t be interesting, just write about something else.
Great blogs are edgy.
This made me think more clearly about the my goal of my blog. Your last sin was funny…. and so true.
I love the points that you have made and noticed that in my own writings and have changed gradually. Think I still need work but getting there. I love the personality you can inject into your own articles, great job!
Many good thoughts in your post. Many bloggers are just lazy and put obstacles in front of themselves. But we must always work on ourselves.
Another great post – Unfortunately the selfishness of people is built into their construct, but as you so aptly stated, this just helps the rest of us
Cameron
When I started blogging in late 2008 I was a sinner. I was selfish and very assholeish, today I care for my visitors and give them (great) content for free. Some websites pay me back, some don’t. My feeling is my guide today, if I feel like writing a post, I’ll do it. If I realize that I want to write a post solely because “I have to” I quickly discard that and go on with other things…
You did a great job in mentioning those sins. Everybody should read this and follow suit. But that would be boring and steal your chances to write precious re-minders like this
I have been blogging actively since 2005 and I am happy to say I already blog in a manner that avoids most of the sins. The most deadly seems to be ranting on-and-on about one’s self without passing across meaningful knowledge or entertainment.
In this blogging business, it is critical not to be selfish.
Excellent post!
I’m like guilty of all of these blogging sins.
sometimes, coming up with an idea for a blog is so depressing because it’s like everything is out there already.
I just printed the post and taped it on my desk so I can be reminded every day to not commit any of the sins.
Great post…I agree on the client issue:-) Most people want all this stuff, like blogging, done for them. They do not get the idea that blogging can help them become a better business.
Great information and I thought, “this is a keeper.” Pressed print, and turns out it is 34 pages long. That is one long tail. Good job.
Geez, what if your next one is the 8 Deadly Sins….
What a big world of bloggers I’ve never know existed!
See you all at Financial Samurai one day!
I love your writing style – straight to the point and no fluff. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and am looking forward to reading your others. Consider yourself re-tweeted and re-posted. Thanks for sharing
Getting off my ass and writing a blog post everyday is a tough one, but then I think it’s better than watching hours of mindless telly and being a couch potato! Also it builds up your blog (which is an asset after-all) which may snowball like you say in the future
This is a great list for bloggers. Well thought out. Thank you for this. I often see blogs with many of these mistakes or showing signs of all of them. It is important to do things right for the success of a blogger.
A great list for bloggers, something really helpful, especially for me. Confidence building as well…in a weird kind of way!
It makes sense now. I’ve loaded my blog with my personality but it’s IRRELEVANT to most people. But at least I don’t eat broccoli ice cream. I wonder if there’s a site I can visit that can critique my blog. And what does this mean to my constant thrust of being myself?
Excellent. Thanks. I like the graphic too.
Thanks for this article. Very Timely
Brian,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Your first item on the list “selfishness” really struck a chord with me. It is amazing to me how selfish and promotional people are.
It seems to me that most people on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. are advertising their business, their products, or their services right off the bat.
It’s very refreshing to see people providing educational information initially. After building a relationship with the reader seems to be the best time to provide some promotional information. But this must be followed up with more education.
Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for the tips.. I’m a new blogger looking for advise and i think i’ve found the best place on the net..
thanks again
Hi, point #5 is a very good one. It can be difficult for bloggers in very competitive industries to find their own unique tone and slant on relevant issues and topics, but it’s worthwhile putting serious thought into it in order to stand out.
This is an awesome list. I think I am being a little impatient right now as I am trying to build up my snowball right now, but it is not working.
Trafficke Website Promotion Blog
Totally agree with you on the ‘you have to give’ thing. People just want good accurate information presented in a wonderfully witty and amusing way. I can do that, well sometimes, and when I don’t, I really find out fast.
Still its not a lot to ask, but I have made the mistake of spreading things a bit thin and not getting enough good stuff out in a timely fashion, that really can undo all the good work because people get bored of waiting and go elsewhere.
This is one of the best posts of yours Sonia! Great job.
I can honestly say that within the 5-6 days that I have been reading CopyBlogger, I have learnt so much about writing and blogging that I am trying to change all my previous crappy blog posts.
There was something about them which said “Dont read me!”
Persuasive, to-the-point copy rocks!
Yes. I think the reminder that it may be less work–but not NO WORK is to the point. A different ride maybe but not a free ride.
I want a cyanide pill everytime I read my post one day after
Hope it will get better. Nice thought here. I’come back definitely.
Good luck to all of you with blogging
Just browsed around a bit and was very impressed. Loved the article about the surefire headlines and the 7 sins of blogging. I’ll be back for more
This site rocks man
hope to learn something from here .
Wow I am glad that I read this post on my early stages of blogging… this will gonna help me a lot….thanks
I’m so very glad I found your blog! You have fantastic advice and resources, especially for those new to the game. I’m trying to find focus for my blog so my readers will enjoy my content more. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Thanks for this article on helping me start my own blog. I am sure dedication and motivation will help me, when I need to grow my audience and quality content!
Love this! Although I do disagree with the broccoli ice cream thing – if you find your niche, doesn’t matter how small, and get the broccoli ice cream lovers to read your blog, you should see it as a success.