Be The First, Best Or PLEASE Be Different! Stand Out From The Blogging Crowd
I have about 200+ blog feeds in my RSS reader. What can I say, I can’t seem to resist the temptation of the orangie rss button! {blush}
Anyway, about 80% of these blogs are about blogging. On a “typical” day I come across about 5-10 blog posts which talk same “topic”. On non-typical day like today, I read through 34 blog posts; all were about “How to get more traffic”! None of these posts told me anything I didn’t already know. Should I unsubscribe from all these blog feeds?
Then there’s probably 453,876,123 more blogs (which I haven’t subscribed to.. thank God!), that might run a post on “How to get more traffic” today.
If you are guilty, you’ll say, “But Shamelle…, it’s ALL been done before!There isn’t anything new to blog about”
Should your voice be silenced just because it’s all been done before?
1. Being first is optimal
You are either first or you aren’t! As easy as it may sound, being the first is hard to come by in blogosphere. There are many established bloggers who started blogs about blogging even before you and I knew what blogging was! I am not saying that all of those blogs stand out, but some blogs have a sound foundation and you can’t shake that, no matter what you do.
does that mean the rest of us missed the bus? What does it mean to be the first?
- New ways of doing things that have been around for years
- Pioneer and introduce something of value no one else mentioned before
- Stay up to date on latest trends, technologies and be the first to use that for a blog post
for example,
I remember reading a post on “how to get more traffic using Google+” a few days after Google+ launched
This was still a post about “how to get more traffic”, but it added value by suggesting things that I didn’t know about… by being the first
another example,
By now you’d think that “how to create a Facebook fan page” is overrated. However, every time Facebook comes up with new features and changes their platform, “how to create a Facebook fan page” with this new version, becomes relevant again. Why? because when someone is searching for “How to make a Facebook landing page”, they don’t want the first (or “old”) post, they want the newest post, which which does not have outdated details.
Caution: If “better” and “different” comes along before you’ve established yourself, being first won’t guarantee standing out from the crowd.
2. Being best is subjective
Being the best is often determined by your blog audience. It’s mainly how you are perceived.
For example, reading a post about “How to get more traffic” from Darren Rowse has a different “authoritative” stand than a new blogger who writes about getting more traffic.
3. Be Different
In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different ! ~coco channel
“In order to be different you have to be unique” I’m fairly tired hearing how everyone wants you to be unique. In fact, by default, everyone IS UNIQUE!
The problem is it doesn’t SHOW in the BLOG/BLOG POST! Originality is harder to come by in the blogosphere. What’s even more alarming is that most bloggers want to copy others!
I use the Goldilocks Blogging Approach for blogging 
Who else in blogosphere does that?
ok, on a serious note, I did dedicate a entire post which details why Better Blogging Ways is different from every other blog on blogging.
I could have been discouraged by all the blogs out there on blogging and not started this blog. But there’s one thing that I can do, that other blogs can’t.
My hope is to get you thinking about certain things about blogging, which you might have not thought about otherwise. I have far too many ideas larking in my head, and my biggest challenge is converting those ideas into “finished” blog posts. I don’t always come up with newest topic, but I try to write about them differently. Basically, I won’t reinvent the wheel but I will add some new spokes and strengthen it
So what about you?
- Take a pen and paper, see whether you can come up with 5 reasons as to why someone should READ YOUR BLOG instead of others
- Come up with a short plan to “strengthen” or capitalize those things you identified.
There are zillions of books on almost all subjects imaginable to man. There’s almost nothing that hasn’t been done before. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t jump-in and dominate. YOU have your own unique blogging voice, personality and image. It’s up to you, to make that shine through your blog, so that people can resonate with you.
YOU HAVE the ability to reach zillimillions of people with the message you have to offer. It may have been written or spoken before, but NOT the way YOU can deliver it.
You have the opportunity to succeed…. be it first, best or different
How are you different from who’s first, who’s the best and everyone else in blogosphere? I would like to hear your opinion on this. Leave a comment. Let’s discuss.
true. i also believe in writing my opinion and standing by what i believe. There is no point in gathering followers if you cant put your thoughts in front. thanks for this wonderful article
Tushar@BloggersEthics recently posted..10 Things to Do in 2012 to Become a Better Blogger
Hi Shamelle,
You’re right, it’s been said that everything has been said, done, or written already and everything is just recycled or done in better or different ways.
I also encounter topics that are discussed over and over again but if the blogger presents it in his or her own interesting way, then I’m definitely interested.
These are good points to consider, Shamelle. Thanks for sharing and a Happy New Year to you!
Theresa Torres recently posted..Balance Transfer Game: What You Should Know
Yes Putting your own thought is the great way to show your effort and you can stand out.
Hi Shamelle,
It seems like most of the topics out there have been covered so being the first to write about it or at least being different would work best.
Justin Mazza recently posted..HostGator – 30% off Baby and Business Hosting Packages
The only way to add value to the blogosphere is to present the thoughts in your style. Truth is universal, no matter who speaks it. The only thing the blogger can do is to present the truth in light of his background and experience. But an important thing a blogger should ensure is to ensure the blog post has something useful for the reader. Else, the reader has no reason to come back…
Raj@Blog Writing Service recently posted..Link Building through Article Directories
Hi Shamelle you always go through some different and great ways. Brings lots of new ideas. However it will be your opinion related to blogging but I always find you are doing nice job. Its really big deal to survive there in between the stablished bloggers.
Prakash recently posted..Google Music Manager Updated
Great read! First to market is always a huge success factor and if your not first make sure you do it bigger, better and even slightly different! Sound advice!
be different, start something new
There are many Blogs that are being created daily and most of the Blogs have the same posts which you already know about or dont want to read. To bring the best to Readers its important to stand out of the crowd and write quality articles.
Mahendra Yadav recently posted..Top 10 Corruption Scams in India
Your post is both inspiring and
encouraging. I recently started blogging
and felt like it has all been said and
written about before and finds it hard
finding fresh subject, however your blog
has openned my eyes to a new possibility. because of this post my blogs will be
better and fresher.
isla roatan