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getting noticed

Zigging When Other Bloggers are Zagging

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zig-zag-landscapeEverywhere you turn, we bloggers see?articles?telling us how to stand out from the crowd.

“Write great comments.”

“Publish epic content.”

“Read and follow that handsome Kevin Duncan guy from Be A Better Blogger.”

It’s good, well-meaning advice.

With so many bloggers out there, you have to stand out if you want your blog to be noticed. Right?

So, that’s what we try?to do. We try to be unique. We try to be memorable. We try to go the extra mile.

There’s only one problem…

Everyone else is standing out from the crowd, too.

And when everyone else is standing out from the crowd, you find yourself right back where you started: in a crowd.

It’s a challenge isn’t it?

How can we stand out when conventional wisdom is telling all of us to do the same things?

Defying Conventional Wisdom

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking there is only one way to be successful. When it comes to blogging, believe these truths:

  1. There are no shortcuts to success.
  2. You need to know your purpose for blogging, otherwise you will fail.
  3. There is no one right way to do anything.

To that end, I’ve been doing something different here at Be A Better Blogger the past month. While conventional wisdom says I should publish infrequently, I’ve been publishing daily. While conventional wisdom says my posts should be epic and long, I’ve been publishing short, compact blog musings.

Since everyone else is doing their thing over there, I’m doing this other thing over here. If they are going to zig, I’m going to zag. 🙂

My challenge to you is to do something that goes against conventional blogging wisdom, too. Find a way to zig when everyone else is zagging. Find a way to mix things up.

Start using a social media platform your competitors are ignoring. Maybe sprinkle a little humor into your writing. Maybe do something others will think is crazy.

It doesn’t have to be big, and it shouldn’t be something you believe will be detrimental to your blog’s mission.

But if you hope to stand out from the crowd, you need to find something that goes against the crowd.

Originally published September 4, 2014. It has been updated. Creative Commons Image via Crystal.

Make It Count: Why Your Blog is Forgettable (and What to Do About It)

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Creative Commons Image via Aaron Jacobs

We all do it.

Sometimes, we’ll pour our blood, sweat, and tears into a blog post.

We’ll spend hours getting the headline just right. We’ll spend days fine-tuning our esoteric references to pop culture. We’ll tweak, revise, edit, and refine the post over and over until it’s perfect.

Other times?

We’ll publish just for the sake of publishing.

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Be Memorable: Why I Wrote An 8,000-Word Blog Post (and Why You Should Do Something Just As Crazy)

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be_memorableIn the time it takes you to read this sentence, Gwyneth Paltrow will have done something?pretentious, Taylor Swift will have broken up with another boyfriend, and 21?new blogs will have been created.

You see, supposedly, a new blog is being created somewhere in the world every half second.

Every half second.

How can you succeed?as a blogger when approximately 172,800 new blogs are created each and every day?

How can you compete?

How can you get noticed?

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How I Went From Unknown to Boost Blog Traffic Writer in Six Months (and How You Can, Too)

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fist-pumpSix months ago, this blog didn’t exist.

I had 30 followers on Twitter.

I had a measly 22 followers on Google Plus.

I had zero email subscribers.

In short, I was about as popular as a guy who understands every obscure reference in a Dennis Miller rant or MST3k episode.

And yet, somehow, I just wrote a post for one of the most popular websites in the world. (Update: Make that TWO posts!)

Scratch that…

I was asked to write for one of the most popular websites in the world.

They contacted me and I said yes.

“How the heck did that happen,” you ask?

Great question.

Many Bloggers Are So Discouraged By What They Lack They Fail To Appreciate What They Have

I might not have had a blog, a following, or any subscribers; but I had a supportive wife, a knack for writing, and a little know-how.

My background as a website developer provided the necessary technical skills, and my years as a high school teacher and humor blogger gave me an interesting (dare I say unique?) writing voice.

No blog? So what… I’ll create one.

No followers? Big deal. I’ll go find some.

No subscribers? My wife will subscribe, and that’s a start.

It wasn’t easy, but nothing really worth having in this world comes easily.

And guess what?

Now it’s your turn…

The 2 Deceptively Simple Ways To Earn An Invite From Boost Blog Traffic (or Any Elite Site)

It’s going to sound overly simplistic, but do you want to know how I managed to receive an invite to write for Boost Blog Traffic? I did two things:

  1. I devoted time each week to getting onto the radars of the people in charge, and
  2. I made sure that, when they did notice me, there was something worthwhile to see.

Told you it would sound simplistic! 🙂

In practice, these two points require lots of time, dedication, and hard work.

Of course, it’s nothing you can’t handle.

Let’s walk through it, step by step.

We’ll start with the easy part: getting onto the radars of Jon and Glen.

(Note: The examples in this post will focus on Boost Blog Traffic, but the tips relate to all influential bloggers and any influential site.)

Getting Noticed By The People In Charge

Boost Blog Traffic is owned by Jon Morrow, and its managing editor is Glen Long.

Both men know their stuff. Both men are excellent writers. And both men, thankfully, are active on Twitter.

STEP 1: Follow Them

That’s assuming you aren’t already following them, of course.

Takeaway: If you want someone to notice you — and this goes for influential bloggers as well as the cute girl in Apartment 4b — start small. Follow them on their preferred social media platform.

(Subliminal Message: Follow ME on Twitter by clicking here.)

STEP 2: Subscribe to Their Mailing List

bbt-optin-example
No, their RSS feed isn’t good enough. You need to be on their email list.

In many cases, bloggers will encourage subscribers to respond to their emails and ask questions. This gives you a direct line of communication!

Takeaway: Becoming a subscriber is the best way to stay up to date with announcements and updates. Plus, you will benefit from knowledge shared only with subscribers.

(Subliminal Message: Subscribe to MY mailing list by clicking here.)

STEP 3: Share Their Stuff

No matter how big or small they might be, every blogger enjoys having their content shared.

When a great post was published on Boost Blog Traffic, I shared it.

When Jon or Glen shared a post elsewhere online which caught my eye, I shared it.

When Jon shared a great post written by Glen, I shared it.

And when Glen shared a great post written by Jon, I shared it, too.

I didn’t share everything they wrote. That would be overkill (and kind of crazy).

But whenever Jon or Glen shared something I really enjoyed, I shared it.

Takeaway: It doesn’t matter if you have ten or ten thousand, if you hope to catch the attention of an influential blogger you need to share their content with your followers.

(Subliminal Message: Tweet this post by clicking here.)

STEP 4: Leave Them Comments

Don’t just leave any ol’ comment, though…

Write comments which expand the conversation.

bbt-comment-3
Write comments where it’s clear you read the post.

bbt-comment-2
If possible, be one of the first people to comment on a post.

This is where being an email subscriber and Twitter follower comes in handy. When a new post goes live, you’re ready to pounce.

If you consistently leave insightful comments (and you’re consistently one of the first to comment), you may just get replies like this one.

bbt-comment-5
When this happens, you know you have made a positive impression.

Takeaway: Don’t think of comments as platitudes no one bothers to read. Pretend you’re an actor, and comments are your audition tapes. Write great comments, and people will be interested in what else you have to say. They will click the link to your blog. One of those people could be the individual you’re trying to impress.

(Subliminal Message: Leave me a comment at the end of this post.)

STEP 5: Link To Them In Your Posts

A wonderful thing about following authority bloggers is you are introduced to awesome content you can feel good linking to and sharing with your readers.

I’ve linked to Jon and Glen numerous times the past six months.

When I wrote a roundup of some of my favorite blog quotes, I included a great one from Glen.

glen-long-quote
When I wrote about effectively using anecdotes in your posts, I featured an example written by Jon.

jon-morrow-anecdote
And when I mentioned them, I let them know about it.

Sometimes I would tag them on Twitter.

Sometimes I would tag them on Google Plus.

sharing-on-google-plus
And sometimes I would contact them via carrier pigeon.

carrier-pigeon
Admittedly, some methods were more effective than others.

Takeaway: Don’t force links. It doesn’t matter if it’s to a popular site or a site no one has heard of before, your links should be relevant to your content. But when you do link to relevant sites — and you should in most every post you write — link to influential bloggers sometimes. And then tell them you did so.

(Subliminal Message: Link to Be A Better Blogger in your next blog post.)

STEP 6: Be Cool

Don’t be “that guy” or “that girl.” Don’t follow, share, comment, or link just so you can immediately hit up someone for a favor.

Sure, it will get you noticed. A tattoo of a spider on your face will get you noticed, too. Doesn’t mean you should get one.

True, asking for backlinks is a proven method for getting them. It’s a numbers game, after all. But that’s not what we’re doing here. This — all of this — is about building relationships.

Takeaway: Don’t be cynical. Yes, you want influential bloggers to notice you. Know who they tend to notice? People who genuinely appreciate the work they do. When you hit someone up for a favor, it’s impossible for them to know if you shared their content because you liked it, or because you wanted something in return.

(Subliminal Message: Please don’t ask me to drive you to the airport.)

“Wow. That wasn’t so hard, Kevin.”

I know, right?

Who knew getting onto the radars of influential bloggers was as simple as reading, sharing, commenting, and doing all the things we bloggers should be doing anyway! 🙂

Of course, that was the easy part…

How To Make A Positive Impression

What do the influential bloggers see now that they’ve noticed you?

Do they see a blogger not worth their time…

Or do they see a blogger worth getting to know?

Unless you want influential bloggers to think “that’s so adorable” while they give you the proverbial pat on top of the head, your blog needs to be worthy of the attention being given to it.

First, The Basics…

no1Your Blog Needs To Look Good

Looks matter (with blogs at least).

All the “great personality” in the world won’t do your blog much good if it isn’t pleasing to the eyes.

With so many great WordPress themes available for free (not to mention the amazing premium themes available), there’s simply no excuse for your blog looking like a Kardashian without makeup.

no2Your Blog Can’t Be Covered In Ads

I’m not saying your blog can’t have any ads.

Have an ad or two or three if you like.

But if you have more than that, at best you are distracting your readers from your content and your opt-in form.

At worst… Well, remember the fight scene in Anchorman?

Influential bloggers probably won’t throw tridents at your chest, but it’s a possibility.

And they’re definitely not going to want to read your blog content.

no3Your Posts Can’t Be Littered With Grammatical Errors

For argument’s sake, let’s say an influential blogger will look past your many typos.

Let’s say they will overlook your use of “there” every time you should have used “their.”

Let’s say they will turn a blind eye to all of it and focus on your untapped, diamond-in-the-rough storytelling skills.

They’re still likely to think:

“Gosh… a guest post from this cat would take a lot of time to edit. I’ll just email that Kevin Duncan guy from ‘Be A Bitter Blabber’ and have him write another guest post instead.”

No blogger is perfect (this one included).

But don’t be so imperfect influential bloggers decide you’re not worth the time commitment.

(In short, make sure your posts are proofread and edited before publishing.)

Now For The Hard Part…

Blogging is easy.

Blogging well is the thing which trips up most people.

typing
Creative Commons Image via Kiran Foster

You can have a nice-looking blog free of advertisements and grammar mistakes, but it means little if you can’t write.

You can have the full and undivided attention of Jon Morrow, Brian Clark and Darren Rowse, but if they’re unimpressed with your writing skills it won’t matter.

You see, I can give you pointers.

I can guide you in the right direction.

I can tell you what others have done to achieve success, and how you can hopefully emulate them.

But I can’t turn you into a great writer.

The good news?

You can.

If you’re willing to put forth the time it takes to improve as a writer, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.

So, practice. Try to write every day.

Read the posts of Glen Long,?Henneke Duistermaat, Shane Arthur, and Stefanie Flaxman. Study their writing tips and techniques.

Learn from the best, but be sure to develop your own voice:

God made each of us unique. There might be billions of people on the planet, but there is only one you. You have unique DNA. Your hopes, thoughts, and dreams are unique. Even the face you make when you accidentally walk into a spider web is unique.”

Once you’ve found your unique voice as a blogger and honed your skills as a writer, you’ll be unstoppable.

Are You Ready?

A lot can happen in six months.

You could train for a marathon. You could learn to play a musical instrument. You could read most of Moby Dick.

Or, you could?put a check mark next to?half the?milestones on the blogger’s bucket list.

Want to?write for one of the biggest, baddest blogs on the web?

Get them to notice you, and make sure they like what they see.

Now… go.

Go be the person influential bloggers?never knew they always wanted to write for them.

The Horrors of Repetitiveness (Or, Do All Your Posts Sound The Same?)

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scared

As I walked down the hallway towards my college dorm, I could already smell it.

“Not again,” I thought to myself. “Please, Lord, not again.”

As I reached for the door, I took a deep breath. I knew the horrors which awaited me on the other side.

Fred, my roommate, was a psychopath. I didn’t want to admit so at first, but I couldn’t deny it any longer.

I had seen too much. Endured too much. Smelled too much.

Oh, that smell. That horrible, nauseating smell.

If I was lucky, the worst would already be over. The stench would remain, of course, but at least I wouldn’t have to witness the horrible deed.

Night after night, Fred would drag his latest victim from the bottom of his closet.

As he gathered his tools, I tried to be somewhere else. I would whistle to myself. Sometimes I would put on my headphones and listen to music. Sometimes I would study for an upcoming exam.

But I couldn’t look away. Heaven help me, I couldn’t look away.

All these years later, I can still see his big, evil grin when I close my eyes. Fred had a hunger which seemingly could not be satisfied.

I tried to stop him. I really did.

I told others what he was doing, but no one believed me. Everyone thought I was joking.

I would free his victims while he was away, but for every victim I freed he’d come back with two more.

Eventually, I became numb to it. I told myself, “this is my life now.”

I was just happy it wasn’t me.

As I opened the door, there was no doubting the horror show which had taken place moments earlier.

Fred was sitting in his chair. In the small garbage can next to him, I saw what remained of his feast.

I said hello and he gave me a big, creepy smile.

“Oh my goodness,” I screamed inside my head.

“He still has some of…it in his teeth.”

I snapped.

Enough was enough. This was ending. Right then. Right there.

“Fred,” I began. “I just got back from the doctor.”

“Oh,” he replied.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news. The doctor said I’m allergic to the smell of tuna fish. You’re going to have to stop eating it.”

I could see the wheels trying to spin in his tiny, psychotic brain. We had been roommates for a little over two months, and every day for those two months Fred would eat the same meal for lunch and dinner:

Canned tuna and mayo, with canned cranberry sauce on the side.

Our dorm room constantly smelled like tuna. The hallway smelled like tuna. Our clothes smelled like tuna.

So, yes, I lied. I faked an allergy.

I walked over to his closet, picked up his dozen or so cans of tuna, and told him I was going to donate them to the campus food bank.

As I left our dorm, a beam of sunshine peaked through the clouds.

“I think we’re going to be okay,” I said to no one in particular.

Are You A?Repetitive Blogger?

I’m not asking if you repeat points within your posts. Emphasizing important ideas is a good thing, and oftentimes this means repeating a point you’ve made earlier to ensure your readers take note.

No, I’m asking if your posts blend together.

When someone reads a post of yours, can they differentiate it from other posts you’ve written? Do each of your posts stand out in their own way? Are your messages clear and distinct?

Or, are you offering the proverbial tuna and cranberry sauce to your readers day after day, week after week, month after month?

Bloggers try so hard to be memorable and find their unique voice, they often make a crucial mistake:

Their posts are interchangeable.

The titles sound similar. The topics are similar. The tone is similar.

Visitors will check out their latest post and think: “Didn’t I read this a month ago? I’m pretty sure I read this a month ago.”

This is a problem.

But Is?Repetitiveness Your Problem?

Here are a few things to ask yourself…

no1“Do my post titles all sound the same?”

How-to and list posts are effective, but they can easily sound similar if you aren’t careful.

This is also true with the “curiosity gap” style of headlines popularized by Upworthy. Take the following two titles for two completely different articles:

  • “See Why We Have An Absolutely Ridiculous Standard Of Beauty In Just 37 Seconds”
  • “Watch The First 54 Seconds. That?s All I Ask. You?ll Be Hooked After That, I Swear”

Besides being insufferable, these titles are indistinguishable.

no2“Do I tend to write about the same things over and over?”

This is a tricky one because obviously your blog should be about what it’s about.

If you’re a food blogger, all your posts will be (or should be) about food.

But if you’ve written a dozen or so posts about omelets, chances are they’re going to blend together to your readers. Right?

This isn’t to say you should never write about omelets again. Some topics need ? nay, DEMAND ? repeated visits. But you?ve got to make sure you?re revisiting them in interesting (and unique) ways.

The same holds true regardless of your blog’s topic. If you’ve written about something before, and you want to write about it again, you need to present it in a new way.

No one likes reruns.

no3“Do I close all my posts the same way?”

Back before I knew better, each of my posts would end the same way.

The words would be changed here and there, but for the most part each of my posts had the same closing.

In addition to being a lost opportunity to reemphasize points I made, this caused posts of mine with no other similarities whatsoever to feel similar.

Don’t end all your posts asking readers what they think. Don’t end with the same corny joke. Don’t end with the same closing you used last week.

Challenge your readers. Compel them to take action. End on an inspirational note.

Besides… know what happens when you tend to end your posts the same way each time? Readers catch on and skip the ending. So, when the time comes where you do alter your closing with an important announcement or a new call to action, some of your readers will miss it.

Don’t let your closing turn into a blind spot. Keep your readers guessing. Give them a reason to read until the very end.

Being Unique While Still Being You

Tom Cruise can be seen running in practically every movie in which he’s appeared.

Brad Pitt is eating food throughout his movies.

John Cusack is seemingly always in the rain.

john-cusack
“This scene would be better if it was raining.”

And yet, for the most part, their movies don’t blend together. Tom can run, Brad can eat, and John can boycott umbrellas, but their movies are still unique.

How?

Because their movies aren’t about the running, eating, and getting your socks wet. They’re about espionage, fighting zombies, and holding boomboxes over your head while Peter Gabriel music plays.

It isn’t always easy, but we bloggers need to strike a similar balance.

The things which make us unique — our wit, our empathy, our knowledge, whatever — can be prevalent without our posts becoming big globs of sameness.

Are you up for the challenge?

Creative Commons Image via Capture Queen.

The Howdy Neighbor Technique

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feature_howdy-neighborIt’s difficult to believe for those of us under a certain age, but people used to be nice to each other.

It’s true.

Back in the day, people would actually return their shopping carts to the designated areas. Sure, it required them to walk an extra ten feet. But the alternative was leaving their carts in the middle of parking lots where they might roll and hit other vehicles, and what kind of jerk would do such a thing?

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