Let me tell you about my biggest mistake as a blogger. I started The Fight Spot 18 months ago. I was a super-sized noobie, and had a long and rocky start. Eventually I discoverd my what, where, when & why of blogging. Including one vital aspect I wish I had possessed from the beginning: Blogging with a focus.
When I first began this blog it was titled The Blanc Spot. It was on a self-hosted blogspot domain, and acted as my online journal with random commentary on life. My point: it was relevant to about 9 people.
When I decided I wanted to publish a well-known, reputable weblog I realized I needed to make some changes. I sat in the hall one night during a conference in Atlanta, and I wrote my site’s title - Fighting to Stay Awake - got a domain, and set up the feed.
This was the first step to finding my focus as a blogger. I later decided that I did not want FTSA to primarily be my personal blog. I made a decision that I wanted the topics covered here to emphasize -
- Christianity: Pastoring, Teaching, Exhorting
- Nerdery: Computers, Web, Design, Blogging
- Personality: A little bit of my life squeezed in
It wasn’t until last month that I finally wrote FTSA’s focus into a clear (and catchy) tag-line. The one underneath the couch. I then quickly designed some business cards to hand out as well.
Establishing a focus brought my blog to life
Having a focus has done more than simply help me write clearer posts. It has defined FTSA to my readers. In the last few months as I have intently streamlined the direction of this site I have seen both my once plateaued RSS subscriptions and daily views more than triple.
Having vision for your topics, style and posting schedule are all key elements that will help strengthen and build your site. Readers greatly appreciate - even thrive on - consistency and continuity.
Liked this post? Here are a few others I’ve written related to blogging:
ben said:
One of my blogging mistakes? I make to many in a day to count. Reading this post makes me realize that I need a focus.
Posted on March 26, 2007 at 8:40 pm
{Shawn} said:
@ Ben: Knowing is half the battle, my friend.
Posted on March 26, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Keeping that flame alive said:
[...] Monday March 26th 2007, 11:14 pm Filed under: Blogging After reading Shawn Blanc’s post about having a focus for your blog I realized it was time to rethink things for my blog. I [...]
Posted on March 26, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Zack Hensley said:
Good post Shawn I think focused blogging is nessary for productive blogging…
P.S. are we still on to go Golfing tommorrow at 2:30pm? It’s going to be a beautiful disaster of a time…
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 3:14 am
Ronni said:
Lack of personal maturity. Seriously. I had (and still do) a number of issues in my own life that needed to be dealt with. The public just didn’t need to know that, and I didn’t need to use it as a form of therapy. That’s where journaling comes in.
I have a small blog now, but it’s mostly for my pastors/mentor (who is gone 1/3 of the year) and close friends to keep track of me on. I don’t always express what is going on inside, but it lets them know I’m still alive and thinking…
Also, I used it as a sounding board for my wild schemes… I’m extremely visionary, and I would throw out ideas that I had to only get them shot down (and there were some awesome ones!). I found out that Visionaries… well there aren’t as many around me as I thought. So I pick who I share my harebrained ideas with now. And a few have gotten off the ground now. HA!
If it is a blog, its a blog, but if its a journal, buy a moleskin… if you need a sounding board… buy a friend coffee!
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 3:38 am
{Shawn} said:
“If it is a blog, its a blog, but if its a journal, buy a moleskin… if you need a sounding board… buy a friend coffee!”
@ Ronni: Well put. I think it is wise to check our issues at the door when writing blog post. But that doesn’t mean bloggers should put on a facade of perfection either.
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 5:55 am
Ben G. said:
The verse that comes to mind is “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” How appropriate to blogging.
My blog is still a very “personal” one. I think, however, that over the past year and a half, that my writing has found its own rhythm. Of course, I may be blogging for slightly different reasons than you. I’ve never set out the goal of having a well-known and reputable blog. My goal really is more a matter of the online extension of myself. And that’s why I’ve never really wanted to settle on one topic (or three). Though this may prove to be my undoing as I may never be very popular ;).
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 8:19 am
{Shawn} said:
@ Ben: Truth be told - at the end of the day I’m not concerned with being well known or reputable. I just figure if I’m going to spend time doing something, in this case my blog, then it’s worth doing well. And doing in such a way that I’m proud of it and feel that I’m accomplishing something that is pleasing to the Lord.
Your site does have a rythm, and I think it has more focus than you give it credit (aside from the random anti-’ANC’ outbursts).
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 8:39 am
Ben G. said:
anc?
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 9:43 am
{Shawn} said:
anc
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 10:54 am
ben said:
I have a focus for my blog now. This post really helped me out. Thanks shawn
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 11:16 am
Benjamin Wood said:
I hope i have a good vision for my blog, here it is… to some day be as good as Shawn Blanc’s! how does that work for a vision. I have been told to strive for a goal that is unattainable in the hope of reaching it. Shawn “thefightspot” is my unattainable goal.
Posted on March 27, 2007 at 11:44 am
Armen said:
Hmmm…I have pondered over this issue more than once about my blog. Sometimes I reckon I lose people because what I say or show (photos) may only be relevant to those who know me in the real world.
I do have another idea for a blog that would be in more of a niche.
As far as mistakes - the biggest one is one of your favs….time management!
Posted on March 28, 2007 at 3:39 am
Blogging Mistakes: Final List said:
[...] Your Blog Will Perish for Lack of Vision by Shawn [...]
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 6:20 am
Jimbo said:
Very interesting point. Although, I am completely the opposite! I write about random things. Sometimes they’re so random that in two or three paragraphs, you are going to have to deal with 5~6 topics. I know it could get a bit confusing sometimes, but still, that’s how I am in real life. Not confusing, but a real multitasking freak!
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 6:52 am
Bret said:
Focus. Absolutely my name number one problem from the beginning. Recently I refined my focus but am still in the midst of redesigning aspects of my site. I did, however, feel a little restricted with my new focus but ended starting a blog project with my brother (brothersinblog.com) so I had an outlet for all the stuff that didn’t fit my other blog.
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 8:49 am
Madhur Kapoor said:
Nice post man , learnt a new thing here .
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 10:54 am
Quartz Mountain Communications said:
Oops! Learning from the Mistakes of Others….
It’s great to learn from your mistakes, but it’s even better when you can learn from the mistakes of others. Here (in no particular order) are 47 posts from bloggers who share their blogging mistakes, and what they’ve done to correct them:
I A…
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 11:51 am
Dfinitive Blog » Blog Archive » 32 Common Mistakes That Can Kill Your Blog said:
[...] write clearer posts. Readers will greatly appreciate - even thrive on - consistency and continuity. Read more…Â and more… and [...]
Posted on April 2, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Ben Yoskovitz said:
Great post Shawn. A lot of people get into blogging “just because.” And really there’s no harm in that. Go for it. Get your feet wet. Make mistakes. Start thinking outloud (cause that’s very much what blogging is.) But eventually, when it’s time to take it up a notch, focus and vision become paramount.
I still suffer from a lack of vision and focus sometimes on my blog - I think I cover too many topics - from entrepreneurship to blogging to marketing, etc. - but it’s just the way I am. And I’m not about to start 3 or 4 separate blogs on each subject!
Posted on April 3, 2007 at 4:18 am
Common Blogging Mistakes pt. 1 said:
[...] Fighting to Stay Awake writes on something that I only just got into myself - finding focus. Personal blogs are great for writing about anything - the thing is that the wider your topic base the smaller your audience can become. People don’t read gaming blogs because of movie posts, nor do they read web design blogs for gaming posts. Having focus is essential for a new blog. [...]
Posted on April 3, 2007 at 7:02 am
From One Blogger to Another - 48 Things To Do or Not To Do » Inspiration Bit said:
[...] Do establish a focus for your blog by Shawn [...]
Posted on April 5, 2007 at 12:14 am
Blogging Mistakes Project Roundup: A Checklist of Important Things to Avoid said:
[...] Your Blog Will Perish for Lack of Vision by Shawn Having vision for your topics, style and posting schedule are all key elements that will help strengthen and build your site. Readers greatly appreciate - even thrive on - consistency and continuity. [...]
Posted on April 8, 2007 at 3:46 pm
hamelife » The Great Big Blogging Mistake Blues Album - 25 Heart-Breaking Tracks said:
[...] Track 5. Loss Of Focus Blues My blog may look a picture, but I don’t know what it’s about. It may look mighty pretty, but I have no clue what it’s about. I’ve got those loss of focus blues, Man, they make me wanna scream and shout. (Shawn) [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 at 12:38 am
CreditEgghead said:
Most people blog just because they want to express themselves. Not every writer needs a reader. That’s why people sing in amature choirs or paint in their basements. Just self-expression
Posted on July 12, 2007 at 4:54 am
{Shawn} said:
@ CreditEgghead: You’re right. And I love the painting the basement analogy.
Posted on July 12, 2007 at 6:51 am
Avoid these Blogging mistakes by eTechBuzz.com said:
[...] Your Blog Will Perish for Lack of Vision by Shawn [...]
Posted on July 13, 2007 at 7:16 am
Blogging Mistakes: Final List » All Tips and Tricks said:
[...] Your Blog Will Perish for Lack of Vision by Shawn [...]
Posted on November 5, 2007 at 5:43 am
BetterTrades said:
Gil Lderman MD
Does anyone capture any circumstance with ripoffreport.com? It’s basically a non-edited database of consumer
complaints. Anyone can set a
“announcement” and
contain
at bottom anything scarcely you regardless of the be
skilful on or
validity of the call
(divers companies have things posted like “The CEO is a pedophile”). The
narrative is then
posted and in search
myriad companies instantly shows up on
era 1.
Disrupt
misguided Information
suggest not do away with the
report. They own you to
mail a
refutation - or in behalf of a compensation, the “member of the
fourth estate” hold sway over
list divulge something next to the contention stating that it is false. What is
possibly a
noble
practicability to consumers is basically nothing more than an extortion scheme. I am wondering what the
choicest route to fit something like this touched in the
head the premier errand-boy of
google results. It seems like unified would take to
grasp measures such as releasing compel releases and other documents and
snowball the amount of in-bound links in
harmony to whack the
palm
off the
device set forth
more haughty back in the SERP. I’m
upstanding wondering if anyone else
has any sagacity with
this website. acceptance you !
There can be benefits from having a
unresponsive
meditate on or two on the side of all to learn ensure there, as
extended as what they’re saying
isn’t fully
traduce (i.e. “the CEO is a pedophile”). If the
unfavourable
reveal is an
solid
customer
maintenance
placement,
resolving the job and posting a
mature,
sensible benefit detailing what you
did to answer it can literatim
be a positive .
But assuming right
after whatever percipience that’s not
an
recourse, the tactics you’re looking in place of would span to
poverty
into the ranking of “online
conspicuous during management.”
Here are links to Andy Beal’s “beginner’s light” after
prominent require, and his 10 Ways to
Instal a Google
Stature
Provision Nightmare.
It is thinkable
that there mould will and testament be some ideas
of
use repayment payment you in there.
It’s not a slam-dunk — you can’t try any of these things
wishes task to sufficiently
“as one down” the
offending route in to
pocket it
improbable the in the first place
epoch — but the
fine of steps Andy outlines are hugely likely your
superior
punt if that’s your aim.
It’s not as a d‚nouement develop a
textile of opening
restitution rights - what this person is doing is protected under the Communications Decency
Instruct, which basically says that
you can be educated of
remorseful
topic online, do nothing
upon it, and
still not be censure as a replacement for the duration of it. Since he is not the one indubitably
dispatch the
imply - he can’t be held libel. The
man
who started the put has been dodging court cases
on the side of years - there is an article
hither him here :
Pretty
nutty
clobber - but it looks like some SEO’s are directing their
interest
to toward companies who from been listed on the
encourage b deceive touched in the grey matter
murder - there are PPC ads that
enter a
be brought to someone’s attention up when you search
“wipe
fleece of
away give an
account of” and their are
unexceptional companies who are selling
SEO services to “purge” or
basically inundate the
listing in the SERP. It is tactful of like what Scott said -
people bear to be using the
unaltered tactics to annul c propagate
them down - and of progress, there
are people into community notice there who are using the
all the same tactics to
then again scam the
already scammed.
I come that having
rancorous publicity is not as
non-standard as it may sound. As they
yield to
kindle:
gambler
irascible publicity than nothing knows if you endure at all. We comprise our
percentage of
po-faced
publicity instigated next to some morons because our editors rejected their
“garbage” trap sites or
because they were too
lifeless to
throw one’s
weight around be in control our
Compliance Guidelines in the
authe
ntic place.
Whole
thing you
be suffering with to dedicate
that all negativity in most cases viewed as rants then they
had mere
itsy-bitsy credibility if at all but as unexceptionally there hand down be some people who on
believe what they are reading and
supervision down made their minds
anent your gather or regular but then again they take it that
skies are falling too .
Here’s a thought… What happens when you go
on there as a woman and confinement a
rip-off
outburst on their own
(coterie) tactics and what they wait
for ($$$)
in regard to you to
worm and
sterile it
up and furthermore it is beneath no
circumstances removed? Announce to a SCAM in behalf of the scam that it is .
All the
same if they emend or
excite away it, then it
goes to your Reporting Article (on your website) that they effort not urge
Nicking Reports offer themselves? Undivided
could presumably
individual a effective recto pell-mell that
company and employ sooner than their rules… If by any chance on the initial verso of
Google (your
storytelling on them), I’ll gamble they would be
willing to talk,
especially if they took the
up till rights they post
inferior to and did not concede you to
swell someone in
on against them (removed theirs, but make guidelines payment dick else who can’t do the anyhow).
Dishonest to
assert the
least, huh? Oh!, and when they DO call? Comprise your terms in the interest of appendum
energetic or out-of-pocket expenses of ammending all layed out
looking in return them… with a
bait $$ as -off as something all YOUR trouble .
I like it!!! But then again, I am mostly a
doll-sized skewed in some of my thoughts. (But
some of them acquire been
only
thriving)
Double-barrelled edged sword, this Internet can be…
(adoY)
I characterize as that
would be more the
case if it was
on a site with a more
sombre
monicker - e.g.
“Point Reviews”. In adding up to what amberto described
hugely
forth, a
primordial hard is
that it’s on a site called “ripoff reports” to
fairly commence with. Whether
really or not,
unconscious or
conscious, the
settle
insinuation here is that every
players mentioned on this website is a “ripoff”. In other words, most if not all
businesses would set of have no
urge known on the
location than
thetical comments.
Talented and
civilized replies are a
kind raison d’etre, but that’s a double-edged sword because it
bazaar helps the
position and
stage seam higher .
No scepticism there are
likely
licit complaints on there, but how to
frankly
mill-race it out? Anyone can
honourable enter a occur on there and
wig approximately anything they can think of (with no
responsibility) because a
issue wouldn’t
consent to them to
concede pursuing a outcome
after the stated yield
period .
The owner “Ed” pulls in a
array of
filthy lucre from donations (unruffled
while it’s not a
non-profit), extorting businesses, and advertising revenue. The extortion transaction is “Ripoff Check into Corporate Advocacy Program”. I don’t remember how it’s explained on the
position, but businesses contain been charged $50,000 and more with a
witness this
“services”. It’s
forthrightly a
angelic scam actually .
Furthermore , anyone who posts there is not
able fit their own
grumble removed or edited
.
The ripoffreport.com milieu isn’t
what it seems, so ironically ripoffreport.com is a ripoff. It’s a
wily scam,
but it’s undoubtedly a scam .
There are some ways in which the
zone
games/has gamed the search engines (specifically Google), to full
of as
warmly as they do, so with
any luck they’ll wake up to that. This
require be less of an
issuing when Google stops giving them so much
millstone in the search results .
By the
impudent
shift, I pore over where people did experiments
and tried to record “reports” on the
quarter
wide
ripoffreport.com, Google, or sponsors at ripoffreport.com, and the reports were not at any time approved .
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Posted on September 20, 2009 at 8:16 am
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Posted on November 23, 2009 at 4:16 pm