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- Writing is Easy; Editing is Hard
This guest post is by Greg McFarlane of Control Your Cash.
People regularly say to me, "I can't write." Sure you can. The process of writing – getting words down on the page – is mindlessly simple. Transcribe everything you say and/or think and eventually you'll have something down on the screen in front of you.
Which is precisely the problem.
Any blogger who wants to can bang out a 1000-word post a day. Just write whatever's on your mind, without filter or organization, and press "publish". Unfortunately, that's how far too many bloggers do it.
Greg's computer, after loading one too many uninspired blogs
Taking care while crafting your words is what distinguishes a blogger from a mere muser. Unless you've got an extremely captivating story to tell—about how you climbed all Seven Summits or fed starving Sudanese in Darfur—merely sharing your day-to-day experiences with the rest of us isn't blogging. It's narcissism.
There are too many homogenous bloggers living lives similar to yours and expressing like opinions for your blog to be noteworthy. Oh, you're a mother who's juggling child-rearing with holding a job? Congratulations. No one in the history of the universe ever had to sit in an office all day and come home to her kids before you did. Tell us more about how exhausted you are every evening, and what hilariously precocious thing your 4-year-old said that put a smile on your face and made it all worthwhile.
Yes, you want to find commonalities with your readers, but saying nothing bold or different is no way to build an ardent, devoted audience.
You've got to focus your ideas. It means bringing something unique, whatever that might be. (The harder you have to look for it, the less reason you have to blog.) On the mechanical level, it means not relying on phrases that come to mind easily. If they do come to mind easily, they're likely either clichés (horrible) or plagiarism (worse). And if you're a native English speaker, but can't bother to use proper grammar and spelling, why should I spend my time deciphering your ramblings?
Have consideration for your reader. Assume he'll take it personally if you waste even a millisecond of his time. God knows I take it personally when I'm reading an unfamiliar blog. Trim the excess foliage from your writing, and cauterize the cuts so that nothing useless or repetitive ever grows there again. The form of what you say is at least as important as the content, because no reader's going to be exposed to your groundbreaking ideas if she has to trudge through a verbal peat bog to find them. Job #1 should always be to present something clean, sharp and interesting.
And do you know what magical thing will happen when you take the time and effort to craft something original, incisive and provocative for your audience?
People will hate you.
Yes. Hate. They want to be comforted, not challenged. They'll be expecting the simplistic three-chord riffs of traditional blues-based rock ‘n roll that they've heard 1000 times before, and here you are giving them the shocking wild feedback and distortion of Jimi Hendrix. Readers are conditioned to understand the traditional way of interpreting the universe: if you dare to go full Einstein, telling them crazy stories about how matter and energy are two forms of the same thing and that space-time can stretch and warp, I guarantee the enemies you make will outnumber the friends.
My own blog illustrates the point. I started my blog with a mission that I thought any rational person would approve of. I wanted to show people how to take whatever money they're starting with, however modest, and foster its growth by performing certain basic, straightforward activities and avoiding others. And I wanted my readers to comprehend the complex financial jargon that affects their everyday lives, by explaining it to them in an understandable way. When my partner and I began the blog, we thought we'd have millions of people patting us on the back, nodding knowingly and thanking us for telling it like it is.
Boy, were we wrong. Every strong opinion we espouse is met with various commenters telling us we're mean, insensitive, or unrealistic. A couple of our blogging colleagues—people who run sites more popular than ours—banned us outright for challenging their positions. We were polite in our outspokenness, yet they still wanted us silenced.
But regardless of what anyone wants to hear, the fact is that you shouldn't blame VISA because your credit card payments are high. You owe zero loyalty to your employer. If you buy a house with an adjustable-rate mortgage, you are playing with gasoline and a lit match.
Virtually none of the blogs similar to ours take the same positions. Instead, most offer the same easily digestible advice that's resulted in a society of overextended consumers.
What keeps us going is that the readers who do like our blog, love it. They bookmark it, they subscribe to the RSS feed, and most importantly, they actually read it. Our readers know that three times a week, they can come to us for a long, detailed, carefully researched post. And that that post will challenge assumptions, inspire action, and use undeniable premises to reach conclusions that aren't obvious. Our readers also know that every post will be written in an uncompromising and hopefully interesting style. After all, that's what I look for when searching for a blog to read.
As I write this, my blog’s Alexa rank seems to have plateaued around 122,000. I still want that rank to improve, but I don't obsess on it like I once did. Quality and quantity don't always overlap. Given the choice between having x devoted and demanding readers, and having x+y readers who are just looking for reassurance and nice stories, I'll take the former every time. If you want your ideas to resonate, you should too.
Greg McFarlane is an advertising copywriter who lives in Las Vegas. He recently wrote Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense, a financial primer for people in their 20s and 30s who know nothing about money. You can buy the book here (physical) or here (Kindle) and reach Greg at greg@ControlYourCash.com.
Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
Writing is Easy; Editing is Hard
Переслать - The Yummy Goodness of Laughter on Your Blog
This guest post is by Angela Severance of Wonder Divas.
As a blogger, connecting with your readers can sometimes be a challenge. If you're new to blogging or you haven't quite "found your groove" you may even be struggling. You want to make an impact on your readership, but the “how” of it kind of escapes you.
The answer often lies in giving your readers a good laugh or even just coaxing a smile from them. Once you've managed to do that, you've also managed to connect with them on some level, engage their interest, and hopefully make them excited for more.
copyright laurent hamels - Fotolia.com
So here are a few tips on injecting a bit of humor into your blog and giving your readers (and yourself!) a few tickles to the proverbial funny bone.
Duh! Find the funny
It may sound oversimplified, but injecting humor into your blog means finding the funny events happening in your life around you and finding a way to tie them into what you're trying to say in your blog post.
Maybe you use a funny story to illustrate a point or a funny example to showcase "what not to do". Maybe you just share something funny you heard on the news or tell that witty joke your co-worker told you at lunch yesterday. Look to the experiences happening in your own life, whether they are positive or negative and try to find the humor in them. Then share those humorous (and human) moments with your readers!
Choose your words—literally
When you polish up your vocab skills and use different words that may mean the same thing but carry different connotations, you increase your ability to write not only effectively but with humor if you so choose.
Often something that might not be construed as comical at first glance becomes comical if you use the right language to express it. A thesaurus is a great tool to help you in the "wording" department, by the way.
The upside is that, as you increase your vocabulary, you increase your ability to communicate and find your true "voice". Or even "voices" if you desire! And sometimes using colorful adjectives can throw a reader just enough off-guard to incite laughter!
Don't be bossy
It's not your job to tell your readers something is hilarious. It's your job to tell the story, describe the situation or express the character, and allow them to come to their own conclusion that something is hilarious.
You can do this by using words to paint a picture for your reader. Pull them into your world, immerse them in your words, and allow them to discover the funny all on their own.
Dress it a little differently
Sometimes what you're saying might not be smashingly unique. That's fine, but you can still make it witty by finding a way to say it a little differently than the next average Joe. You can also use things like metaphors, similes, silly clichés, and irony to inject humor as well.
Just remember that when you're using metaphors, similes or silly clichés to choose ones people can relate to on some level, that engages their senses and creates a "picture" in their minds. Don't use some obscure cliché that almost no one has ever heard before or you'll be shooting yourself in the foot. People find the most humor in things they can relate to, not things they've never heard of!
Get up and flow
Finally, remember that to write with humor, whether it's a blog post, a novel, or a letter to your friend, requires a certain amount of cahones. (It's okay if you've only got the proverbial kind, ladies.) No subject is taboo and when you start writing you shouldn't censor yourself too much.
Sure you can go back later and edit if need be, or if you don't want to be quite so "balls-y" you can censor a bit after you have something written … but don't let it be your first impulse. Write what you think and feel, let it flow freely and worry about who you may or may not offend later.
And remember that you don't have to be a stand-up comedian to write funny material and make your readers laugh. Often you just have to be you and be willing to let your guard down a bit. Now get out there and tickle some funny bones people!
"What if you tell a joke in the forest, and nobody laughs? Was it a joke?" – Steven Wright
Angela Severance is a Certified Holistic Life Coach, image consultant, writer, and Chief Happiness Officer at Wonder Divas. She enjoys dance parties with her daughters, baking cupcakes, roller skating, traveling, learning, inspiring, and laughing. Subscribe to her blog, and join her on Facebook.
Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
The Yummy Goodness of Laughter on Your Blog
Переслать - ProBlogger's Guide to Blogging for Your Business
Today I’m really excited to announce a brand new ProBlogger eBook - ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business.The idea for this resource came from regular emails that I receive from business owners and employees within businesses who want to start blogs to assist them in achieving their business goals.
Their problem though is that they don’t know where to begin.
Business owners don’t have the time to take the trial and error approach and often need help from someone who’s done it all before and can show you how to build a successful blog for your business, right from the start.
As a result – I got in touch with Mark Hayward – a blogger that I’ve known for a few years now who not only coaches businesses in blogging strategy – but a bricks-and-mortar business owner himself who has used blogging and social media to build his business.
Mark has put together an A-Z of blogging for your business eBook that is going to help a lot of people move from being convinced that a blog is a good idea – to actually have one up and running with a great strategy moving forward.
Step-by-Step Advice to Save Hours of Time and Endless Frustration
By the time you’re finished this eBook will have helped you:
- Set up a WordPress blog… without any technical know-how.
- Conduct targeted keyword research… even if you've never done it before.
- Understand your online competition… whether they're next door, or on the next continent.
- Build a strong social media footprint… even if you don't know the first thing about finding "followers."
- Set a successful business blogging strategy… no matter what your product or market.
This eBook is over 140 pages in length and full of practical advice with exercises to complete at the end of each of its 12 chapters – so you’ll not only learn but you’ll immediately have opportunity to put the theory into action and move towards building a fully functioning blog for your business.
For more information on what is covered in this great new eBook check out the ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business information page – or order your own copy below for just $49.99 USD by clicking the ‘download it now’ button.
Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
ProBlogger's Guide to Blogging for Your Business
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This guest post is by Matthew Setter of Malt Blue.
Recently I read a post by Jeff Goins on ProBlogger, called Finding Your Blog's Unique Voice, which talked about having a distinct voice for your blog. Something that is uniquely you, original, and distinct.
That post resonated loudly with me, because for some time I’ve been working to achieve that on my blog. I’ve been forever reviewing the tag line, writing style, and writing frequency in a continuous attempt to get the right voice and sound for it.
Then I read another post, How to Prevent Blah Blah Blogging, about overcoming writers’ block. That resonated with me as well because of my feelings of being yet another blog in the tech sector; that I’m just another voice in an over-crowded space.
For some time I’ve been trying to find where I fit in, and what I bring that’s original and fresh—something I’m sure you have felt more than once as well. Nobody wants to be a "me too" kind of blog. That’s not interesting to anyone! Wouldn’t you agree?
Your greatest asset right by your side
During the reading of these posts I remembered reading a great book, Acres of Diamonds, by Russell Conwell. In it, the author related a series of short stories about a series of people, all in a similar predicament.
They all sought success, whether that was money, fame, or wealth. Yet each made the all-too-common mistake of looking everywhere for what they sought, except at the source of that thing. They all went out and expended energy, money, and time, only to find that the reward they sought was right in front of their faces. How shocking is that?
As I read both these blogs and book, it struck me that there’s a simple way of writing in a voice that’s completely all your own. And each of us can start right now, without delay.
Remember the child inside
Consider this scenario: as we grow up we learn so much, whether in school, from our parents or guardians, on the job, and with friends and partners. We take that learning and we apply it day by day as we grow as people. Now a lot of the time, it works just fine; but occasionally we make mistakes—sometimes embarrassing or painful ones.
Maybe we ask out a girl we’d admired for months, to the school formal, only to be unceremoniously turned down. Maybe we did something at a job, which for all the best of intentions seemed right, but was a poor decision to make.
Sometimes we take these experiences on as battle scars that we wear with pride … but sometimes we wish they’d never happened. I’m not sure about you, but there have been times over the years where I’ve wanted to be able to talk to that younger self of mine, first-hand, to give him the wisdom I have now, to give him clues about how to do things better, and in so doing, to speed up time. Maybe you’ve felt the same?
Would I listen to me?
Well, what if you could talk to your younger self? What if you could share some of your life’s accomplishments, share some of your wisdom and experience? What would you say? What would you tell them? How would you talk with them? In what voice or style would you communicate with them for maximum affect?
I’m sure it would be different from how you write now.
If you’re struggling to find your voice, your sound, or your approach, then I encourage your to forget everyone else! Forget trying to picture your ideal audience and trying to anticipate what they want to hear or not hear. Make your audience one person—your younger self. Write as though you could talk to them, guide them, and teach them.
As you’re writing that way, ask yourself these questions:
- Would I take this on board?
- Would I listen to me?
- Have I communicated worthwhile knowledge/experience/wisdom with true passion and conviction?
- Would I learn and grow from what I’ve just written?
- Would I be left confused or wondering by the post?
Through taking on this approach, I’m confident you’ll see the following changes in your writing:
- You’ll take more care with what you put out.
- You’ll pay more attention.
- You’ll write with more genuine passion and conviction.
Finding your voice
I’m confident that in taking this approach, your enthusiasm cannot help but show in every facet of your work—not only your writing, but your promotional activities as well. I believe that you will develop a tone that resonates with a much richer and more vibrant note. Through that, you will attract an audience to you for the new-found quality and depth of your material and conviction.
So if you’re stuck, desperately trying to find your voice, trying to find your audience, stop! The only person that matters is all too ready to listen and they’re right here. No go, write, teach and inspire them!
Matthew Setter is a passionate writer, passionate Australian and software developer. He’s also the founder of Malt Blue, dedicated to educating PHP professionals. You can connect with him on Twitter and Facebook anytime.
Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
Stop Looking for Your Blog’s Voice
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This guest post is by Chris Martucci of WhatBlag.com.
For those of you who work from home, lethargy can be your greatest adversary. It's not always easy to get your head in the game when you're sitting on your couch in your tighty-whities eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. But don't be so quick to blame the Fruity Pebbles—Fruity Pebbles are delicious. The problem is something psychologists call Languid Attire Syndrome.
Copyright Andres Rodriguez - Fotolia.com
All right, I made that up. Jokes aside, the truth is that I can't find any good research on the positive effects of wearing business attire (please let me know in the comments if you can hunt down some relevant studies). What I can give you is my own personal experience.
Get a routine
I recently graduated from college where I studied, among other things, pre-law. I currently spend most of my time writing for my blog and preparing for my Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). As you may have guessed, and you would be correct, I do all of this from the comfort of my home.
Sometimes, a little too comfortably.
I found that it was difficult to roll out of bed, flip on the tube, and hammer out some advanced linear logic games. So here's my new and improved morning routine:
- Get up around 9am, grab my Macbook and scan RSS feeds. Send intriguing articles to Instapaper for later reading.
- Brew my morning coffee. Start making breakfast.
- Hit the gym for at least one hour
- Shower around noon and get dressed—that means button-up shirt, tucked in to jeans, sleeves rolled up, optional tie (half-Windsor).
- Sit at my enormous desk, and turn on some classical music: it’s business time.
Now of course, you must find a morning routine that works for you. What's important is that you develop a routine and make it a habit. The same way that hitting the pillow signals to your brain that it's time to go to sleep, making a habit of getting dressed in the morning, even when you've got no where to go, signals to your brain that it's time to get serious.
I heard a story of a man who would get up every morning, put on a suit and tie, leave the house, get in his car, drive around the block, and come back home to "work." When his day's work was completed, he would pack up his things, get back in his car, drive around the block once again, and return "home." Perhaps this is an extreme example of breaking up the day between work and play, however, it is not entirely absurd. Assuming that this man actually exists, he has found a routine that works well for his needs.
So try this. Get out a pad and paper and dash off a morning routine for yourself. Specify times for each task and stick to them as best you can.
Don't overburden yourself—start small, otherwise you may never make a habit of such a daunting schedule. My routine consists merely of waking up, eating breakfast, going to the gym, and taking a shower. Easy stuff, but it makes all the difference. Oh, and it's marvelously rewarding by the end of the day when I get to loosen my tie, unbutton my collar, kick back, and relax.
Fruity Pebbles, here I come.
Chris Martucci is the creator of WhatBlag.com, a weblog dedicated to the liberal arts, technology, and organization. He currently lives in Saint Augustine, Florida, where he recently graduated from college.
Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
Blogging at Home? Fight Lethargy With a Solid Morning Routine
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