We’ve been talking a lot at SPL and ASC lately about finding your voice for your blog. As you might have noticed there is more “me too” blogging going on than “me new” blogging. A lot of people are taking my frequent advice to look at what others are doing successfully so literally that they seem to think I mean to “copy” the successful, unique voice bloggers.
I don’t mean that, of course. Seeing what is working for others is one thing, but a blog that copies the look and feel of an A-List blog as well as the types of content and even the messages and writing style of the original – that’s just cheating and lazy. And completely ineffective.
Finding your voice and making a blog unique is a crucial step on your way to high traffic and lots of links. Until you can set yourself apart from the rest of the “pack” in your niche, people will find it easy to leave without subscribing. They will notice you’ve done about the same content as a favorite blog of theirs already, so why subscribe to yours?
Your “voice” is what makes people decide to subscribe and stick around. If you are too much like the current A-Listers in your niche they won’t have any need to subscribe.
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Well said. ;o)
“As you might have noticed there is more “me too” blogging going on than “me new” blogging.”
Much too true unfortunately. The get rich/fame quick crowd permeates all markets and finding ones own unique voice is key for standing tall amongst them.
I love that quote by the way. Thanks for the shout Jack.
Jay F.H.’s last blog post..Does Your Blog Have a Voice or Are You Just a Mime, Mimicking the Shapes of Others?
The more I write the more I find my voice.
Original thought, eh ? I love this little poem by Dr Seuss.
Said Conrad Cornelius o’Donald o’Dell,
My very young friend who is learning to spell:
The A is for Ape and the B is for Bear.
The C is for Camel and the H is for Hare.
The M is for Mouse and the R is for Rat.
I know all 26 letters like that ……..
Through to Z is for Zebra, I know them all well.
Said Conrad Cornelius o’Donald o’Dell.
So now I know everything anyone knows.
From beginning to end, from the start to the close.
Because Z is as far as the alphabet goes.
Then he almost fell flat on his face on the floor
When I picked up the chalk and drew one letter more !
A letter he never had dreamed of before !
And I said, You can stop, if you want, with the Z
Because most people stop with the Z
But not me !
In the places I go there are things that I see
That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z.
I’m telling you this, cause you’re one of my friends
My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends !
I’m finding that as I write more, I’m starting to relax and “find my own voice” as you say. I was looking through some of my first blog posts yesterday, and I can see that I’m sounding more like me now, and not somebody else, like I did at the beginning!
Darlene
The first thought that comes is, “Is the world ready for me?
The second thought is,”Who cares! I am ready to be me.”
You can’t be all things to all people. However, in your true voice, you can be something to a good number of people.
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Hi Jack,
Love the quote and it’s timely in my own experience.
Speaking of voice….
I find if I try to write something people will like it’s a struggle, but if I flow with the message from my inner voice and not the ‘radio voice’ in my head, it works.
It’s really an issue around authenticity – really being who you are.
People are attracted to an authentic voice, even if you’re voice cracks every once in a while.
Good post, Jack.
Michael Barrett’s last blog post..To Be Healthy We Need to Laugh More
I think one of the best ways to walk away from “me too” concept is to concentrate on delivering what you personally know the best. It might not be the freshest content but doing a small research you can always introduce an unique angle to any topic that provides you with that need for uniqueness and keep the readers.
People respond well and even willing to ignore grammar issues (as in my case, where English is only second language) as long as you deliver information they need and solutions they look for.
Another great post Jack
Alex,
You write in your second language a lot better than many of people for whom it is their first!
Also, people forget that most people in most niches are just hearing information for the first time and that we “cutting edgers” are constantly making it harder for people to follow us because we are always so far out in front assuming everyone knows the basics of what we are talking about.
There is so much room for “back filling” and helping newbies get up to speed on the basics and we all have to remember that breaking news and the latest cutting edge info falls on deaf ears for newbies and can run them off your blog.
Jack,
You are so right about the “unique voice” of your blog being a necessity.
It’s just like a U.S.P. when marketing a product…you have to separate your blog from the rest of the “noise” out there and rise above, to gain respect and readership.
You have to also integrate that “unique voice” into marketing efforts as well, so there is a common theme to your blog’s marketing, as well as the unique voice at the blog itself.
Joseph Ratliff
Author of The Profitable Business Edge 2
Joseph Ratliff’s last blog post..Why Readers Will Subscribe To Your Blog…