Do you like doing it wrong?
Or marching in lockstep?
This post is only 83 words long, but I love his 1.5 year old message.
Why?
Since I’ve started blogging, 92.15% of my focus has been on content. So, it’s nice to hear Seth preach to a choir of one. (A kid needs a little validation from time to time).
I rather like people who blog incorrectly too.
Plus I think getting too caught up in best practices and blogging mechanics often means your content suffers.
Of course I’m focused on SEO, conversion and readership, but only to a point.
I’m still more dialed-in to the content. And I believe embracing that gifted oddball inside is essential to really good content. When you start to break the rules I think your content gets even better.
It doesn’t matter if you’re behind some gray cubical wall authoring a corporate blog, selling Flemish harps, or offering consulting services – writing with a bit of fire helps. Your appetite for writing comes from some passion within and this is when words flow.
Pay attention to the flow because this is what attracts eyeballs.
So, developing and practicing a persistent rule-breaking habit (basically doing things your way and letting some honesty and emotion into your writing) is key, at least I think so.
Offering great content is a must, of course. BUT what about your reading habits? Don’t you want a dose of personality? A spark of emotion? A peek behind the curtain?
And how about your blog?
What are you more focused on? …
Search engine traffic and keyword rankings?
Or creative content?
Are you working the system?
Or refusing to work it?
My thoughts?
Inject your own special form of genius into your online property, but be focused, determined and relentless.
It’s okay to emulate others up to a point (we ALL do). But rattle the old brain and think about what you can bring that no one else can.
What irrational, unreasonable, off the wall idea is burning away in your cranium?
What can you do better than someone else?
What do you really want to write about?
Well, let it out. It just might be the combustable material you need to really blast off. Bring it and be unwaivering in your mission. Then you might not have to worry about those confounding numbers any longer.
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Ok. I’ll start today. I missed the last post so I hope there isn’t a confluence issue. Seth Godin can do whatever he wants. He IS a search term. Easy peasy. The rest of us need SEO to ensure we increase the chance our awesome content gets read.
Gini D has posted some very informative info lately for bloggers to help them with all things search. In no way is her content anything but sticky. At least to me but I bet to a few others. I am simply advocating for playing the game so you at least give yourself as much of a fighting chance as you can. So many factors play into getting eyeballs and your point is also well taken. Its a staple. Without good content the battle becomes that much harder.
Great ideas here Craig. I do enjoy your passion. It keeps me coming back.
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Well there is no finer blogger than the big D. Loved the post on long-form content. Now if I only had her stamina.
I am focused on SEO and all that fun stuff, actually now more than ever – playing the game as you say. But you gotta love writing game … I would say Gini D has that covered … entertaining and following best practices.
I’m workin’ on it partner 😉 Thanks!
Break the rules? That used to be the tagline of my old blog 😀
Great image by the way 😀
I like breaking rules, going out of conventional theories/practices and testing out new things. It has worked really well for me. Instead of focusing on content, I focused on how my content was presented or how it was perceived (the perceived value of our content vs actual value) – I want to control how my reader sees my content. Okay, that might have sounded a bit creepy 😀
But, when I look back now, I think I could have done better. I could have broken more rules, but I chose not to.
Maybe I could do it when I start my new blog 😀
Hey Jeevan,
You are back in the game, huh? Glad to see you.
That did sound a wee bit creepy, but I’ll forgive you 😉 On the topic of perception, well, all bloggers are filtering out a bit of reality so we have a bit of control there. I just wonder how much you are filtering, Jeevan 😉
Seriously, I’m working hard over here, but want to allow myself a little fun … thus the rule-breaking.
Good to be here 😉
Well, I wonder that too 😉 I tend to spend too much time thinking philosophically – like what is reality, what is perception and what all of us are in a matrix. Ah, life. It is simple and yet so complex.
As for blogs, I mainly look at the design, the content and the community. If none of these are at par, then there is not much use of reading/commenting on the blog 😀
😀
Craig,
Rhythm…
…it’s all I have. If it wasn’t for rhythm I’d be an unbearable writer.
Thank you for the validation my friend.
Hanley
Ryan Hanley recently posted..Creating a Person to Person Business with Chris Ducker | #42 Content Warfare Podcast
Hi Ryan,
Yessir, you sure got the rhythm.
Thank you!
Hi Craig
I could never write for the search engines and I am sure I miss a lot of traffic because of it. I always hope when I find a subject to write about and the post is done that there might be a few keywords that could actually be searched for. I don’t look at the “keyword search” but just randomly pick what might be, sometimes I get lucky.
I only write what I feel strong about or what I find might be interesting, if it works and I get readers then that is icing on the cake! I was never much for following the rules, that is why I was never any good with an exercise program, to boring and disciplined; equals “no fun”.
Thanks for confirming what I always believed, if you want to write could content you need to leave SEO out of it.
Mary
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Hi Mary,
I’ll be honest, I’m certainly not ignoring it, but I don’t focus on it too much because I think it stifles creativity.
I like what you’ve written and I do think the more passionate and entertaining stuff will continue to rise to the top as the Google masters get better at this thing.
I don’t like boring and no fun 😉 Thanks!
Hey Craig,
Even if you focus too much on the SEO writing, a too well optimized blog will still get penalized by the search engine, did you know that ?
if you have your website optimized 100% to your keywords , all your links are anchored with your keywords, you get a penalty.
I guess what i’m trying to say is, even search engines are looking for that genuine human touch, the genuine mistake, the rule breaking, the doing it wrong.
also breaking rules if a nice way to get noticed, people can read a whole post and don’t get your message but they will spot a tiny tiny spelling mistake,
I guess looking for wrong things and criticising them is part of our nature.
doing things wrong will sure get the spotlights on you!!
Many thanks and Best Wishes!
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Hi Mitch,
Thanks for stopping in. Yes, I understand that Google dings you for a variety of reasons. But I really do think as these algorithms get more complex a certain type of content will continue to rise to the top … the genuine human kind 😉
I think a mix of unique, entertaining, and helpful content will be the way to go, but that’s just me, and breaking rules is standing out 😉
Have a good one!
Write the write things right and good things will happen, period.
Josh recently posted..Why Is Blogging Important For Business?
Enjoyed your latest audio, and as you stated, there really is ” no single path to success in blogging”
Breaking the rules sounds like fun. But what are the ten commandments of blogging? Does anyone know? [grin]
I read somewhere that thou shalt not let thy blog go stale … when you’re breaking a few rules this isn’t so hard.