In a recent post by Darren Rowse of problogger, he talked about how he nearly killed an early blog because so few people were reading it despite all his efforts. Luckily he didn’t as the blog grew to provide him with a sustainable income. First appearances can be deceiving with blogs. But instead of killing it, he focussed on writing stuff that interested him.
This is a universal theme isn’t it? And it applies to all content you write regularly for the internet, whether it’s a blog or a website. Ask yourself what interests and inspires you? What are you passionate about? Don’t choose topics because they are ‘hot’ or get millions of searches, or everyone else is doing. Do what you want to do. Often you’ll write off the top of your head, because you know your subject so well, and you’ll be passionate, which will shine through in your writing.
Chris Brogan is another very popular blogger. When he is thinking about what to write, he asks ‘what do you have you feel is worth saying?’ And more times than not you get a feeling about this. This is where reading widely and learning about your topic is so valuable. I read widely every day and share articles with my social networks. And I find an article, statement or point will inspire me. I have something to contribute; something to add, or a totally different perspective.
Chris also recommends spending time on the headline and lead-in paragraph. This is where you lose readers. Pose a question as your headline. Evoke curiosity in your reader. Edit your writing so the best paragraph is the first one. Grab a photo from the creative commons area of flickr. They are free to use. And before writing a single word, ask how you can be helpful. What ideas can you use? Is there a discussion you think is worth starting?
But whatever you wirte about, make sure it’s for you.
