I’ve Been Remiss…
…I promised to announce the winners of the external hard drive for our List Contest. Life got in the way in a big way, but it’s moving aside for me now. Expect an announcement soon.
My apologies…
Deb
List Post Winners to be Announced this Week
I know you’re waiting on the edge of your seat. We’ll announce our list post winners by the end of your week. Thanks for you patience!
- Deb
Blogging Challenge: Who Are You Actually Blogging For?
The feed question Deb posed the other day made me wonder - as a paid blogger, who am I most responsible to? Deb asked if bloggers should shorten their feeds to please readers. It seems like many people do think that whatever readers want readers should get. But what readers want is not always what benefits my client and myself.
In the world of blogging you have some choices about who to blog for - you may be blogging for one, two, or all three choices.
- Yourself
- Readers
- Clients
You may have a clear idea about why you blog. Back in the day before I ever knew about blogging for clients; I blogged for myself. I blogged because I loved to read other blogs and because I liked writing. I never put ads on blogs or pushed for traffic. I surfed blogs, left comments, and gathered readers organically, but it was honestly all about me and my words. I wanted to say stuff and I did. That’s why I first had a blog. At some point, I naturally transitioned into writing posts that not only I would like, but that I knew my group of readers would like as well.
Then along comes paid blogging. I landed one paid blogging gig, found it more suitable to my personality than magazine and copy writing, and I quit most other writing jobs, taking on mainly blog gigs. Now that I’m a paid blogger – who do I blog for exactly? Where does my responsibility start and stop?
As a paid blogger:
I’m blogging for myself, because I make money that pays my bills. Blogging directly benefits my life, my son’s care and keep, and our well being (i.e we get to eat). Also, I love my job, so I’m likely blogging for my own happiness as well.
I’m blogging for readers because I’m providing information, entertainment, news, what have you. For readers interested in my topics, I give them something they need, want, or enjoy.
I’m blogging for clients who have hired me to promote something, be it an idea or product. My clients want me to entertain and inform readers and appeal to advertisers. They also want me to get lots of page views.
Sometimes I’ve had clients directly order me to do something that I know darn well is not in my reader’s best interest. Like write seven posts a day, blog about some lame topic that no one will like, or they want me to write keyword heavy – to the point that a blog post looks all spammy.
Blogging is not the only profession that faces issues like this. It was the same when I wrote business copy, it was the same when I worked as a social worker, it’s the same for my friend who teaches high school. There’s always a circle – the boss vs. employee vs. person receiving the service.
As a social worker, I’d fight my boss aggressively if I thought a choice they wanted was not in the best interest of a youth. However, sometimes I’d lose. When you get right down to it, your boss tends to have the final say. In some cases I’ve left jobs when a boss decided to do something I’m dead set against, in other cases I’ve stuck it out. It depends on the severity of the decision my boss makes.
As a paid blogger, I believe that readers should come pretty high on the totem pole; without readers, you don’t have blogs. But if I continually make a scene and go against my client’s wants and needs, then I’d have to find a new line of work. With blogging, like with any job, you make choices. In my case, my choice is to try to balance what’s in everyone’s best interest - my clients, my readers, and my own. Pleasing everyone when it comes to blogs is not an easy task; as I think the comments on Deb’s post showed.
If you blog for a client, blog for pay, my question to you is: how do you find balance in paid blogging? How do you keep everyone happy, when sometimes what’s best for one person in the blog circle may not be what’s best for another?
Network Blogging Tips Blogging Challenge: Make a List (Yes there is a prize)
Yesterday I extolled upon you the joys of the list post. Really, when a list hits and goes viral, there’s nothing like it. Plus I find them a lot of fun to write. Don’t take my word for it though, I’d like you to try it out for yourself. In fact, we want to make a contest of it.
What’s the Plan, Stan?
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make a list post. That’s it, really. Between now and the end of the day April 20th, you must post a list on your blog.
Are there Rules?
Oh yes. Without rules chaos ensues. Can’t have that.
- This list post must pertain to your niche. Unless you don’t have a niche, then you have free range.
- The post must be a numbered list post.
- The post must have at least five items
- This must be a new post and not one previously written
- The post has to be on a blog.
- Entries must be received no later than 11:59 on April 20th to qualify.
- Post a link to your list in the comments.
While a link back to Network Blogging Tips is always appreciated, it’s not necessary. That isn’t why we’re doing this. We know network bloggers come up with some creative ideas. Let’s show everyone how creative we can be.
Tell us about the prize, Deb
Oh yes, the prize. Glad you asked. The winner of the Network Blogging Tips Blogging Challenge will win a OneTouch 4 Mini 250 GB external hard drive, worth $129.00. I have one I’m using right now and this is an awesome prize. Use it to back up your machine for the dreaded “just in case” or use it to store images and other memory-sucking files. I found since using portable hard drives and flash drives I don’t have as many issues with a slow laptop. Plus I know if I ever have a really bad crash everything’s on the external and I’m not so screwed. It’s easy to use, just plug it into your USB port and go. This is a cool get, folks.
Sounds good, I’m going to make my list right now!
Believe us when we tell you we can’t wait to see your lists. Remember, a good list post is one that entertains, enlightens and amuses. A good list is discussed, debated and added to for months to come. Enjoy blogging, I know we’ll enjoy reading.
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