Before I get started, I want to draw your attention to MoonDog's article called Earning Your Way. It talks about his perspective on his attitude as a blogger as well as advice, too.
Now, this is my view and MoonDog and I are very simular on this. So if any of what I'm about to say makes you mad, I don't care. Just to be 100 percent crystal clear here -- this isn't to tell anyone how to run their blog, and it's YOUR choice as to whether you read the rest of this, NOT mine.
I started blogging three years ago on Sporting News, and built my blog from the ground up. How so? I didn't do it by talking about sports. I didn't do it by posting links all over the internet because at the time, those blogs weren't even in the search engines, so you had to go to your own blog to access others. I did it because of being different and being active. I thrive on being different.
I started doing Today Show formats with blog commercials and the latest news with opinions three years ago that helped promote other bloggers. Also, I commented on other blogs which helped me to get noticed because many of them returned the favor. They respected the fact that I took the time to stop by, and then they noticed I wasn't your average sports blogger that talked about JUST sports.
For the time I've been on there, I've been questioned and criticized for posting non-sports related entries. In fact, I made it to where I only talked about non-sports stuff for a long time, and used creative parodies as well as new formats which people latched on to. And you know what? It worked.
I started on Blogger with several sites about sports, but I admit, I overwhelmed myself with it. Maintaining one site alone is tough, but more than one got to be too much for me. Furthermore, I wanted to create something where I could combine the elements of sports as well as creative posting and anything else I wanted to talk about. I grew really tired of just sports and fantasy gaming. Fantasy Sports Depot drew way more traffic than my other sites, and I wanted to go back to the way I was on Sporting News. So now you know why Basic Bloganomics was created.
Folks, I'm one of the most caring people you'll come across on the internet. Also, I'm naturally a competitive and talented individual, too. I still play sports when I can because I like competing and it's for fun, so that should tell you something. As those of you on the internet know, I don't post an article anywhere just for the sake of posting something. If it's not like I want it to be, I won't post it until it is. I don't care if it takes days or weeks to prepare, I won't post it and will put something else out in the mean time. In other words, I don't post entries half-assed. I'm not perfect, but I want my posts to be good.
I know what it's like to post without much attention being drawn to it because of how Sporting News was before without being in the search engines. Anyone that remembers that knows what I'm talking about. I went out of my way to promote bloggers that were trying to establish themselves as well as those who wanted to get more traffic.
I only bring up the success I've had on Sporting News because of the fact that it doesn't necessarily translate to anywhere else on the internet. You still have to pay your dues elsewhere, too! I'm still doing that myself.
It's alot of work to build a site up, and garner attention for it. I'll be the first one to admit that I've asked those to link me, but I've always said that it's their choice to do so because I don't run their blog. I don't care if you link me or not because guess what? I built my blog on Sporting News from the ground up without you, and I'll DO it here, too!
I'm thankful for the friendships I've made on Sporting News and around the internet. It's helped me in so many ways as well as make a transition over to Blogger. I'm more thankful for that than any of you on the internet know.
For those who blog just for fun without advertising, I salute you and respect your wishes on that because again, it's YOUR blog. I'm just one of those types that would rather make money at this instead of taking up anymore valuable time posting for free. That isn't to say I won't post for free in communities, but I want to make better use of my talents while making money at it.
One of my best friends once told me, "People don't care where you've been. They only care where you're going." Remember that when you go somewhere else to write.
Am I making much doing this? No, not yet. However, I've been a success at blogging once, and I WILL AGAIN. My posts will not be as frequent as before starting in mid-January, but I will still do everything I can to make it a success.
So, you want my advice to being a better blogger? Stand out, be counted, respect others, and WORK at it. As MoonDog so eloquently put on the last line of his article, the blogosphere and/or community will let you know when you have arrived. So if you make the choice to want to be noticed, then get busy and earn it.
12/30/2008 08:58:00 AM
David Funk
5 comments:
Great stuff Dave! Well said and thanks for the advise.
One thing for sure, good posts take time ... and unique posts take extraordinary amounts of time. So I applaud both your commitment and uniqueness.
I can't emphasize the roll that kindness & respect play; and I very much appreciate what you've given me. Thanks.
Frank- I agree about kindness and respect.
I want to clarify my comment about linking because I was asked about it not long after posting this from a real-life friend.
First off, I ONLY ask those I've known from previous communities or in real-life to link me. And at least 80 percent(if not higher) came from those I associated with SN.
Second, linking only gets you so much traffic because you still have to put out quality and worthwhile material.
Third, I made the comment about not actually needing someone to link me because it's unrealistic and completely naive to think that every single person you contact will link you. It's also to be expected that some will unlink you for whatever reasons especially if you change the topics and elements of your site(which I did recently here) or if it becomes inactive(which has happened before with me). I've had quite a few unlink me because of this site not being totally sports related any longer, too. But I have picked up a few others with topics simular to what I have now. I have no problem asking people I know to link me, but I don't expect everyone to do so. It's completely vain of anyone to think that.
Life also happens, and not everyone can post as often as others. I've had my dry spells of not updating on here, and it will happen from time to time with me again, too. And I understand that not everyone will like what you write or that you're entries won't always be the best. But I try to put out the best stuff I can everytime.
Also, I'm a strong advocate on freedom of choice, and I don't get into this "You need to do this or that" gig because I don't run their site(s). When it comes to blogging, I don't work for anyone and neither does anyone else. Essentially, we're all independent bloggers which includes those with advertising and those that don't use them. Suggestions and advice are fine, but wanting to control what another does with their site isn't the way to go. That's what is so great about democracy.
You put out good posts, so I commend your effort as well. Thanks for the continued support and the comment!
Good points. In terms of traffic (and after mulling it over), I believe Moondog said something as if you're good, you'll be found.
Well, we keep plugging away ... plus supporting one another helps keep one going.
Great post.
I've really enjoyed Basic Bloganomics...I like a blog that mixes things up...That's why I got started on blogger...I wanted to be able to write about whatever I wanted, without people complaining about me getting off topic.(sports)
I love sports, but there is more in my life.
The last thing I wanted to say is thanks....I started blogging back in July and I've gotten a great deal of support and learned a ton from many great bloggers...Yourself included...It means alot to me...Thanks.
Frank- Totally agree. It's easy to be noticed by those you know, but it's a different ballgame with those you don't. Like you said, the people you don't know will let you know if you're good or not. Great point about supporting one another, too.
BEEZE- I totally agree with you as well. That was part of my reasoning for coming over to Blogger, too. That's why I'm a big fan of your blogs because you're not afraid to standout, be different, or speak your mind on any topic you post about. I really like your point about loving sports, and there being more to life than that to write about. Your support as well as adding to debates on here and elsewhere is appreciated by me, so thanks buddy.
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