Narrowing In
Being pulled 100 different ways? It’s time to cut out the excess and write with a sense of direction.
I want to talk about everything. I want to blog about pescatarian cooking, Green Bay Packers football, startups that I love, tech topics, and my personal life. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t have the time nor the energy to start a handful of blogs. For the sake of the reader and my own sanity, I’m narrowing in.
Writing Under an Umbrella
I’m particularly interested in community management. To be more specific: intelligent, strategic, cut the bullshit and show me the benefits type of online community building. Instead of writing about a handful of topics, I’m clinging to one and branching out from there. I’ve created an umbrella I can write under. Sub topics may include brand strategy, social networks, blogging, tools, and relationship building, but at the end of the day I tie everything back to online community.
Staying Relevant
You have the freedom to write about whatever you please, but don’t forget the audience. I visit one of my favorite blogs called Brass Tack Thinking regularly. Every time I visit I expect well written articles related to social media strategy and resident bloggers Amber and Tamsen never fail to deliver. I get exactly what I’m looking for and then some. By owning their topic and staying dedicated, I’m never disappointed.
Personal, but Professional
I like to rant and use my online space as a personal sounding board. Writing can be therapeutic, but without context it can also be very confusing from the readers perspective. I visit many blogs where the writer is telling me about a personal experience, but fails to make it anything more than a journal entry. Why are you writing about this? What’s in it for me?
It’s a Process
It takes time to get comfortable. I’m making adjustments on a daily basis to find my footing. Nothing happens overnight, but having a set direction makes it easier for the both of us.
