Is the question “What to write and what not?” bothering you after setting-up your blog?
Earlier you were very excited to think of having a personal space online, however, now when you have an e-identity you are finding it hard to organize your thoughts and to transform them into words.
If the above-stated scenario applies to you, you should read this post. And before you read on, let me tell you one interesting thing, “Even at this stage, while I’m blogging for last few years, I do face situations where I have thoughts, have words but find it difficult to put the words in order to have a readable text ready.” So it’s absolutely normal if you have just started and getting frustrated with such situation.
Let me tell you my experience and share with you the lessons I’ve learned in my journey (of expressing my thoughts in writing with readers like you) which may help you in starting yours.
1. Why your blog? Someone who comes to your blog comes for his / her reasons, not yours. So think of your audience and write from their perspective. Before publishing review your writing from the end-user viewpoint and you’ll be amazed to see how many changes in your draft are required. After publishing, share it on forums which you think your potential audience may visit.
2. Solution to a problem: People don’t have time to read long narratives, they are looking for quick answers to their problems. Write to provide solution(s). However, prior to providing a solution, mention the problem/issue it solves so your potential reader read the whole thing. At the end ask for their feedback and assure them of your support, if and when you can.
3. Another perspective: Anyone who visits your blog may visit others’ blogs as well. While you explain a solution to a hypothetical problem, don’t assume you’re the only solution provider. There are many, out there, who might be writing on the same subject. Hence, your contribution actually should be to help visitors in having another view of the picture, not to tell them it’s the ONLY view.
4. Specific Contribution: The audience coming to a blog/website are not always looking for an end-to-end information on certain topic so it’s perfectly ok if you share a piece of information. However, while you write about the PART, don’t forget to mention where it fits in OVERALL scenario. In some cases, it could be your audience to connect you with the broader & further information.
5. Natural Conversation: The tone we use equally matters as the topic does. So talk naturally as if you are talking to a person face-to-face. If the visitor feels the conversation personalized, you may have good chances to be read in entirety. Add some interesting fact, in middle of a conversation to keep your visitor engaged.
I think if one could balance his write-ups between the above points i.e. solving others’ problems by referring to a solution and justifying own perspective with contributing to part of an overall situation while keeping the tone as natural conversation, he/she could get good readership on his/her blogs.
In addition to the above tips which may help you in deciding “What to write and what not?” I also suggest you read my earlier two posts for some additional thoughts on “why to have a personal blog” and “how to set-up a blog”. I hope you find my posts aligned with the above suggestions, don’t you?