Mar 2, 10

How to Write for the Blog You Want, Not the Blog You Have

Written by: Maren Kate // Comments
How to Write for the Blog You Want, Not the Blog You Have

I have found myself lately in a internet business/blog funk, not that I don’t love my blog (**self hug**) but because it is easy for me to get maniacal about the number of comments, page views etc Escaping the 9 to 5 gets. The number of page views has only been growing, but I want reader interaction to grow as well and since with all things in life it takes a lot of hard work… I get frustrated. Today I heard someone say an old colloquialism “don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want” and I thought… presto, that’s it, that is how to excel at writing a blog… you write for the blog you want, not the one you have.

Too often with our blogs we get into funks and think “no one is reading this” so we just kind of churn out crap because we’ve read Problogger & Copyblogger and 1000 other sites that preach for you to constantly put out content. I myself have made a goal to blog 6 days out of 7, but what I forgot in my goal was to blog only about the most EXCELLENT stuff I can think of. Not crap like “Steps to starting a small business” or other generic internet business bunk. Instead I (we) need to get back to our roots, to blog for other’s benefit and not for search engines, to blog to build communities of like minded people all going towards one goal, to really strive to start a revolution with each post!

So here are some ways I am going to start writing for the blog I want not the blog I have…

  • I am going to only share things that I think are cutting edge and/or INCREDIBLY beneficial to my readers. Nothing generic, link bait-y or search engine (over) optimized will come from these fingers anymore.
  • I am going to still blog 6 days out of 7 but now I am going to DOUBLE the amount of time I spend in my blog prep instead of just going through my list of keywords and being like “yes, you, come here and be my keyword to build a blog around” from now on I’ll build keywords around the blog posts instead.
  • I may (i said MAY) start proofreading…
  • I will start reading my own posts before publishing to make sure they inspire you, the reader, the reason I write this thing in the first place. I want you to read my blog and say “Geez, I have GOT to get out of this 9 to 5 job, NOW, this girl with the weird writing made me literally giddy with excitement about starting the next chapter in my life and becoming an extraordinary entrepreneur, and by darn I will do it!”
  • I want to start publishing reports on my income, my blog stats, etc. so I can become even more transparent to others in an effort to help motivate the few that matter to really dive head first into this crazy life of entrepreneurship.
  • Every time I sit down to write a post I will imagine 10,000 people will read it and thus I will write with all the gusto I have to try and move those readers into action and towards the path of escaping the 9 to 5 for good.
  • I will write for my core group, my reason WHY, my “tribe” which are the few that truly are passionate about living life on their own terms, are crazy about entrepreneurship and are dedicated to building an extraordinary business that brings them joy and fulfillment.

How can you write for the blog you want, not the one you have? How can you apply this principle to your job, your relationship, your hobbies… if you treat everything like what you want it to be not what it is, you’ll be surprised at the number of times things change to fit your perception.

Action step:

  • Start wring for the blog you want, not the one you have
  • Start living for the life you want, not the one you have

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  • I think it takes bloggers a while to find their own little corner with what they feel comfortable with. It took me a while, but working hard on improving and improvising.

    Great post Maren.
  • Phil Magnuszewski
    I agree. If you're just starting out it does take a while to find your "voice".
  • Agreed as well, I still feel like I'm finding mine and it is 'growing' each month
  • Sounds like you're committing a number of high ideals. You have a lot of good points here which all bloggers could learn from.

    From the moment I started my blog (almost 2 months ago), I tried to imagine that I was already a top read blog and that everything I produced would be scrutinized by thousands of people. This helped me get through that painful period when it was only my mom and dad reading my stuff. Lol.
  • That is a great thought :) I love that you did it from the beginning, I just now adopted to that concept of writing for the blog you know your site will be.
  • Phil Magnuszewski
    I've come to find that success does come from writing for your tribe. It's kinda like having/running a niche business vs a department store.
  • Absolutely Phil, great insight! I do agree... I need to focus on defining my tribe as well it seems :)
  • cadilacjax
    Powerful message here. I need to bookmark this page and refer back to it for a reminder every now and again.
  • Thank you! Hope you do :)
  • hahahaha, good luck.

    I mean, I can relate but... If you update all the time it's so hard to do all that stuff. Some people post so infrequently it has to be good. I dunno, you sound very ambitious madame.

    I'm supportive but just saying.
  • I think if I combine it with interviews & case studies I should be able to, but I'll let you know, because you are right it is VERY difficult to keep up that amount of content & keep it awesome at the same time!
  • Awesome post Maren!

    We can use this kind of information in just about every possible way in life even. If we just start doing things for the life and things we want and not for what we already have, we'll have what we want eventually.

    It's just another way of saying reach your goals by envisioning things but other words are sometimes more useful than the norm.

    Great content and good message here.
  • Thanks Eric, glad you liked it!
  • Very well said! I find myself moving towards writing for the blog I want instead of what it already is. It's a tough thing I tell ya, it's like going against the current when you're rafting. Yet I know it's the right thing to do, it's part of learning from what works and what doesn't.

    Looking forward to your new blog! +)
  • THanks & be sure to let me know when I slip back into writing for "the man" i.e. Google!
  • Since I just started blogging, this was a quite important read. All these blogs about money and related matters, who would have known that there are so many of them! B
    ut anyway, blogging what you want is obviously very important.. How else can you keep doing it for longer than two weeks, that's just beyond me really.

    I'm not like Tanner though, blogging doesn't serve a purpose for me if noone is interested. If that was my goal, I'd keep one of those diaries with a lock on it. Getting appreciation for what you do is a big motivator.
  • Hi! Glad you liked it :) thanks for stopping by and saying hi, there are entirely too many blogs out there that say the same thing, just like there are too many books that do and too many people that are all the same... being your own person whilest blogging, even if you ostracize others, honestly will draw to you the crowd that you were meant for.
  • Completely understandable Experimentaly...Looking back on the copious amount of notes I took about my blog, from "How to blog" blogs and books, I had 11 different purposes and many of them still stand.

    Yes, I would still blog if I did not have one subscriber, you are right. Writing has helped me in so many ways, that I have found out more about myself in the past a little over 2 months than my previous 23 years probably. So that worth it to me? Yes.

    I do not want it to sound like I write solely for myself and do not think of my audience. I have a targeted psychographic and demographic persona that I tailor my writing to...But it can get sidetracked sometimes as blogging right now for me is an experiment in finding out who I really am and "Where is your life heading?" Where do I want it to head? Life Destiny started out solely as a Personal Development blog, but as I wrote and garnered Personal Development readers and fans, my passions have become more uncovered and I have convened off the PD path. Yes, I am losing some interaction on my blog as of now and yes I will lose subscribers and readers, but I just felt not seeing myself writing solely about PD for the rest of my life. It was not a career path, something I could see myself doing everyday.

    I am willing to sacrifice a good portion of what I built up in the past two months as I continue to truly find out where I want my life to head and what I can see myself writing about my entire life.

    Who knows, maybe I will be writing about something completely different in 10 years from now, losing tons of readers in my experiments and transitions in life. Live, learn, grow, repeat. Its fun.

    I gotta quit ranting on and probably should write a post about it.
  • You should write a post Tanner, it seems like you have got a lot of AWESOME stuff to let off your chest & I think if you do you will see who the loyal readers and the ones you want are because they will band to you if you really express yourself like you have here... your comments have been very motivational to me and others so I think it is time you blow the lid off your blog & make an 'announcement' in no small way about true calling.
  • This post is a reflection of what makes you a great writer IMO Maren, because you were clearly stating something that was on your mind, not looking to appease the search engines, but rather get something off your chest that's obviously been bothering you. Knowing all the projects you're involved in, it has always(since I've been a loyal reader) surprised me your thirst to post daily. I would imagine that is an extension of your driven-like-a-mad-woman personality. But if I'm being frank (which I seem to always be), I'd suggest that you ease up on yourself. Be these best Maren Kate, not the next anyone else. Compare yourself to no one. Set your own rules, do not let 'best practices' and 'search engines' dictate the spirit in which you write. Again, that's why I really enjoyed this post. It was obviously from the heart, not from a checklist........Keep up your greatness and thanks for all you do.
  • Thank you soo much for the encouragement Marcus :) I truly, truly appreciate it. It makes all of this worth it, the interaction after a blog post I mean... this is community building at its true heart, and isn't that what it is all about? I want to be part of a group (Tribe) that sees the world the crazy way I do. That thinks it isn't unreasonable to say "I'm going to make a million dollars in a year, starting from scratch" or "I am going to drop everything and travel the world" etc. I may ease up on myself, but not right now... I am just crawling out of the 'dip' that Seth Godin refers to in his book of the same name. I am so close I can taste it, and feel the difference it is making in my life. So as much as I don't get to bed early enough, I do love, love LOVE where I am at :) Thanks again for participating so much & encouraging me!
  • Thanks for sharing this Mary. I started changing the way I write also. I didn't enjoy writing rushed articles due to the fact that I was trying to keep up people post many articles during the week. Now I focus more on creating the best content that I can, but with a topic that I would like to write about. I wanted to write about people and how they related to personal development instead of just personal development itself, but I was afraid of doing because it was a change. But like you say, I'm doing this because I want to write for a blog I want and not a blog that I have. Thanks for the motivation. :)
  • Glad you liked it Hulbert, It is so important to write with what motivates you... because then your community & you share the same vision.
  • Yes, I needed this post. Thanks Maren!

    Since I have started blogging, I have discovered my true passions a little bit more and they have strayed off from my original topics at LD. I actually was thinking of writing a post called "Why I Don't Bother." and then talk about everything I do not bother to do in blogging that all the "ProBloggers" say you have to.

    I do not bother witha lot of thinks because frankly I just do not care to do most of the boring work. I honestly do not care and it is not a priority for me to make money from my blog(probably for awhile). I hardly bother with checking stats because the first person I write for is MYSELF. Yes, I am selfish and greedy sometimes. I write for myself and if I find it good enough for me then surely someone else in this world (at least 1 other person) probably will feel the same way.

    People will find my content. No, I do not bother scheduling tweets all throughout the day with my blog content. No, I do not post comments just for comments sakes. No, I do not research keywords. No, I do absolutely no SEO work and actually have a plugin that fills in my tags. No, I do not go through my post making sure keyword density is good. No, I do not usually proofread (as you can tell)...Yes, when I write a long post, I think the entire world will read it.

    I do not want to be a data entryist.

    Unfortunately, since I have gradually changed over my niche from Personal Development to more Entrepreneurship for Gen Y, my interaction has been down, which I feel is fine and understandable. I recently made a video and will be letting my newsletter subscribers and readers about my progress in my own life and where my passions truly are, that I WANT THEM TO UNSUBSCRIBE from my blog if they are not getting the same content that they signed up for.

    Oh well, interaction will come back once I attempt to get more. At this stage, I just do not bother with the things I do not want to do. Readership and subscribers has grown, interaction is down, partly to my blame. Once again, I started this blog to help myself first, then others second, greedy & selfish? Maybe. But we all have a little greedy and selfishness that we just do not like to admit.

    I am fine with whatever visitors come and stick by as blogging is a developmental hobby for me right now.

    Things change, passions change, things come an go, people come and go. Those that stick are the true fans.

    Some reason, some of my best and most read posts do not have any comments, and some of my garbage, throw it up there posts have gotten tons of comments.

    Some of my posts that have gone "viral," in my small blog terms, have been passed around a tons of times with no commenting.


    When I start pulling my hair our of my head and fretting over the boring mundane stuff I do not want to do is when I know this:

    “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”
    -Winston Churchill

    Thanks again Maren and sorry for the rant, haha!
  • Very inspiring comment Tanner, that was a blog within itself. Thx for sharin!
  • Haha thanks man. Glad you enjoyed it and I guess it shows some of the power of interaction in communities. Everyone can share, not just the host (blogger).
  • Heck yeah, I agree with Marcus that was amazing & DEEP :) i got a lot out of it thank you! You shouldn't write for anyone else in a way and you should in another... I think it is totally amazing that you don't care, that you only want those who line up perfectly with your vision to read. That is how a 'tribe' is formed and that is how it should be, I guarantee as you hit your own note more and more on your blog you will start bringing in a solid, life long tribe to follow you...
  • ralphcarlson
    Serious stuff! What I see as a change is you forming a clearer idea about who you want to be and what you want your blog to be when it grows up. As I struggle with that, it is helpful to watch others grow and mature.
  • Thanks Ralph, I gotta say I have been asking a lot of WHYs from my life lately.. trying to define exactly what I want so I can draw a road map to get there :)
  • BTW, I think you have the most share options of any blog I have ever seen!!
  • Its this awesome free plug in called 'Sexy Bookmark'
  • Great insight Maren. Act like you're already there. That philosophy could apply to so many different things in our work and life (act like a strong woman/man, act like the best mom/dad, act like a best friend, act like a successful investor, etc.) For me, it boils down to building up a little courage and taking a leap of faith.

    thanks for another thought-provoking post!
  • It really does apply to EVERYTHING, I was thinking about it late last night... relationships, jobs, businesses, finances, lifestyle... :) glad you liked it!
  • Excellent!

    "Dress for SUccess" did not become such a popular saying (cliche-ness aside) because it didn't work. If you market yourself and your work towards what you want to be and do, then you will gravitate towards that end.

    In the niche of escaping your 9-5 job, this is especially relevant!
  • Haha, I've been telling myself that exact saying "dress for success" as I go on shopping sprees lately to look more 'branded' (note: I didn't say business like), I am trying to brand my entire persona by the way I dress, talk, etc. But it really is true, the way you come off is all dependent on your attitude not where you are at in life.
  • I'm curious to know what your brand of dressing for success looks like. Definitely not pajamas and bunny slippers, nor 3-piece suits. But 'business casual' seems a bit too mundane for Maren Kate. :)
  • its like funky, girly, business chic :) haha, kind of, I have got to do a video on my crazy biz wardrobe.
  • Maren,

    This is a really good post. I need to keep this in mind. I think posting 6/7 times is a LOT, and you seem to pull it off, along with James (TheInfopreneur.com), so hats off to you.

    If I feel like my message might be generic, I try to put my own twist on it. Perhaps the reader can walk away knowing more about you or relate to your story/experience and start a discussion.

    I don't live a "fast" life style where everything I do is a relevation or full of an adrenaline rush. People are at your blog to learn about how your ventures are going and how to succeed, hoping to get some advice.

    I'm no expert, I'm new to the whole thing, so I can sit up there and say "do this, do that, and then bam! You got it". More like 'I tried this this month and I had moderate success. Got ideas to make it better?"

    You might be doubling your work. Would it help to post 4 times a week but make sure it's awesome content? You don't want to burn out ;)

    My $1.00. Btw, love your blog in general. Keeps me on my toes!
  • Thanks Moon, you may be write about posting 4 times instead of 6, it would help me not burn out... but one unique thing about the way I work is that I am very all or nothing, it is actually a fault. I love you with all my heart, or I couldn't care less about you... I go to the gym 5 days out of 7 or I don't go at all... even when I try to 'pace myself' I can't. I will lose interest in blogging too easily if I take it down a notch... i have to keep myself at a juggernaut pace to keep motivated. I really hope I don't burn out, but if I do I'll switch tactics :) I love your blog too Moon I think your killing it!
  • Marenkate,

    A very thoughtful post, thank you for sharing this. Your philosophy is great!

    When I left my 9 to 5 job a number years ago, my thoughts centred around 'right now I'm in charge, I'll do want I want when I want'. How wrong was I?

    All I ended up doing, was the same as when I had my 9 to 5 job, the only difference was I had to do my own books and all the other exciting tasks of working for yourself.

    Then I moved into blogging with more big ideas; intially I followed the crowd. Guess what same results.

    Now I write from my heart and whatever's there at the time. What fun I'm having too!

    Regards

    Paul
  • Thanks for sharing Paul, I truly LOVE hearing others escape the 9 to 5 stories... others learn so much by watching someone really do it, succeed and fail in the process :) I agree you MUST write from your heart with passion or your blog will die..
  • James Ward
    Your post is spot on. I have read so many Blogs that all they do is post and post and post. But as a reader you really get nothing out of it. So, I must extend a "Thanks" for your pledge to make your Blog different.

    I have only been reading your Blog for a short time period, but am finding some great content here. I am very excited to actually see your results.
  • Thanks James, be sure to keep me honest & help hold me to it... and I will dedicate myself to only putting out the best content possible :)
  • That's so right what you said here. You sound like you've had an AHA! moment and you are being so so real right now. I can wait to see the results of what you want it to be like.
  • Thanks Wilson hopefully they are spectacular, I also had an 'aha' moment today when meeting with a client where I said "ya know, I am not taking ANY b.s. from anyone, anymore..." so I am now raising my prices so only the most serious people will inquire, serious, rich people :)
  • I sold kirby's door to door for 3k I am telling you we had to close so hard the people that had less means of buying one, but the rich people if you did a good presentation and you asked for the order they were like OK. My favorite close was "would you like to put it in a credit card or just write a check" lol. I won't ever go back to that business, but I appreciated the lessons it taught me.
  • That is an important lesson for all of us. And I will join you in the possibility of proofreading!
  • Yay go us possible proof readers :)
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My name is Maren Kate. I'm an entrepreneur, aspiring internet marketer and avid writer. This is my journey of escaping the 9 to 5.

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