As of February 2008, Technorati was tracking somewhere in the region of 113 million blogs, and that number no doubt does not include the 72.82 million Chinese blogs which are tracked by the China Internet network information center. These enormous figures indicate that the blogosphere is expanding at an exponential rate, and becoming more and more popular in all levels of society.
With the blogging community being so huge, it naturally prompts a sobering question: How do I make my blog presence stand out from the crowd?
That is the million dollar question isn't it, and unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to achieving this goal. However, there are techniques, methods and strategies that you can implement and develop, that can elevate your blog to new heights, and get the recognition your looking for.
The one thing that can have an amazing effect on your blog presence is killer content, content that is so good that people are drawn to it, like bees are to nectar. So If you want your blog to stand out from the crowd, then it is crucial to have content that will attract people who are looking for an authoritative resource, answers to particular questions on a given subject that are both accurate and valuable.
For example, where do most people go online when they want a quick reference for a particular subject or term? Wikipedia perhaps? Attracting almost 684 million visitors a year, Wikipedia has become the authority reference for a large portion of the planet. Imagine having that kind of influence with your blog. Imagine that when people are looking for information on a specific topic, they think of your blog and become loyal visitors to it.
Some may think that is the stuff that dreams are made of, but many have made it a reality. There are many authority bloggers who have gained world-wide recognition for their knowledge and expertise.
It stands to reason, that to gain the kind of reputation that will put you in the league of top bloggers, your going to have to put a lot of work hard into it, however, the benefits make it well worth it as it will brand you as an expert and an authority on your given subject matter.
So, how do you find killer content? Well, people respond to information that answers a real need, so you will have to give some thought as to what problems and issues people face and provide practical solutions that will cause your readers to keep coming back for more.
For example, it could be that you are already an expert in a particular area, such as troubleshooting PC's, you might even have a degree in IT. Now, if that is not a need, I don't know what is! People are always looking for simple solutions to complicated problems on their PC, but without having to pay through the nose for tech support. So that may be an area to consider, although there are hundreds of resources on the net in this area, so you would have to give some thought as to how you could approach it in a way that would brand you as an authority.
If you blog daily or on a very regular basis, then that will help keep you sharp as to new ideas and resources you can look to for killer content that will turn heads. Keep your eyes open for what people are talking about, their concerns, how you can make their life easier and more productive.
Some other areas to think about are:
Providing tips: People love reading tips that can improve their life, their work, even their relationships. Tips showing how they can save money on a daily basis could prove invaluable.
How-to guides: Nothing can prove to be more beneficial than teaching someone a new skill, something they can use for years to come, and perhaps make money in the process.
FAQ's: This one can be a real boon for your blog or website for that matter. Having the "ultimate" FAQ for questions that have been frequently asked on a particular topic will no doubt bring in a torrent of traffic, and enhance your reputation as a trusted source.
Just remember, that for your blog to stand out from the crowd and be outstanding, you have to write outstanding content, and as I mentioned at the outset, there are no shortcuts.
Steven Chappell is an Expert author and Internet marketer. You are welcome to visit his blog here. |
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