How to build a better blog : The Blog Bloke Way
by Mushfiqur Rahman
There are many would-be bloggers who want to build a blog about blogging. But the sad truth is that this is one of the most saturated niches in the blogosphere today. With the likes of Problogger, Lorelle on Wordpress, even our very own Blog Bloke and countless others, how do you break into this already overcrowded niche?
The answer is, quite simple. Differentiate yourself. There are so many blogs about blogging out there that, chances are, those who are interested in this topic already have an overflow of information in their feedreaders. So, why would readers come to your blog? This is where the answer lies. You have to make them want to come to your blog - and you can do this only by providing something unique and different than the rest of your competition. By being different, you are providing a value to your readers that will make them want to read your blog.Take the example of our fellow Blog Bloke. I can get everything I need to know by reading, say Problogger. But why do I visit the Bloke now and then? That’s because he has a certain style to his writing. He has a sense of humor and doesn’t take himself too seriously, a trait that most other (bloggers) lack. So, by being different, he has gained another loyal reader.
Now that I have stressed the importance of being different, how do you achieve this in your blog? The answer is to brand your blog. With numerous blogs being created every hour, it is only with a blog brand that you can stick out from the rest of the crowd. What does come to your mind when you think of Problogger? Quality and informative articles, that’s what. So, you too should try to create such an image that readers relate a positive image with your blog’s brand.
Every blogger is different and has a unique personality. Let it show in your writings - develop your own style. Don’t follow what others are doing. Think outside the box - have a cool layout, tweak the colors and do whatever it takes to make your blog stand out. By doing this, you are creating your own brand which readers want to be a part of, provided that you give value for your brand.Don’t follow your competition. As the Bloke’s friend Wayne Hurlbert puts it:
Think about this idea for a moment. When following the crowd, you are always behind, by definition. It’s impossible to become an industry leader when travelling in the competition’s dust. Fad followers are already several steps behind.
Well said.
That’s why you have to be different. This tactic can be applied to any blogging niche, not just to blogs about blogging. So, let’s see comething different for a change. How about a blog with no ads? Well that rocks and enroll me as it’s first subscriber! And when you have gained a reader, others are sure to follow.
About the author:
Mushfiqur Rahman is a gadget-loving, video-games playing college student. Visit his one-of-a-kind blog about video games, Gamers World Bangladesh Blog, for a unique read on everything related to video games and the raging next-generation console wars.
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I totally agree. Good Article Bloke.
Hi curtis,
This article isn’t by the Bloke. Its by me, Mushfiqur Rahman, a new blogger at Blog Bloke. Hope others take care to read the “About the author” box.
Excellent article Mushfiqur ! I don’t think you’ve missed any points !
Ironically, it was Darren’s guest post that introduced me to Bloke !
Yes, a great post Mushfiqur and welcome to Team Bloke. I’m looking forward to reading more great stuff from both you and Jaffer. It’s interesting to read how someone else perceives us and I thank you for your observations.
I would add that even more than our style and the design of our blog to differentiate from the crowd, as we all know it’s the content that is most important.
For example, since you mentioned Darren and I, I think what differentiates us most is that he writes more about monetization than I do. Whereas my strengths are that I am more advanced in my technical knowledge and like to get into the nitty gritty of blogging with my tutorials, etc. I also like to offer my insights into blogging since I have an extensive background in the industry as well as journalism. Or like I often say, I can read between the lines more than most.
By the way Curtis, I wrote this article and never heard of Mushfiqur
Happy Halloween everyone!
Hey wait a minute! Won’t this article help others to compete with me in MY niche that I created???
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Oh my bad, sorry Mushfiqur. Great article.
Ok BBloke what ever you say and yes the article might be helping the others to compete in your niche.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Hi all,
Sorry for the late replies. For some no good reason, I couldn’t connect to the internet last night.
@ Jaffer
Thanks for the compliment. It is through guest blogging that bloggers get exposure for their blog. If I hadn’t posted this article, then you wouldn’t have visited my blog, would you?
@ blog bloke
Thanks for letting me in the team. Yep, I agree that you have more technical knowledge because it was through google that I found your blog when I searched for ” how to set up blogger custom domain”.
One thing that I dont seem to understand is that did you invent the topic of blogging about blogging? Don’t take this any other way, but your Blog Bloke blog seems relatively new compared to others.
So let me get this straight. First you admit you are using me to get exposure for your blog. And you are also questioning my integrity?
Talk about cahunas!
Not to worry. I’ve already hashed this out with Darren Rowse.
Blog Bloke is NOT my first blog. I was blogging for years over at blogbloke.com which I am now using for TECHBloke. And before blogbloke.com I had another blog that I’m now using for something else.
The fact is I was the first to create the niche and blog about the topic of blogging. If you want you can read more about it over at my faq or here.
For that reason I have earned the right to state that I created the niche and all the rest are copycats. I hope that satisfies your curiosity and thanks for asking.
I should also add that 99% of the blogs about blogging have only been in existence for 1 year or so at most. I’m an old timer in comparison.
Hey bloke, did I get you fired up?
Well, sorry! Now that you’ve cleared it up for me, it makes sense. But one thing is that why did you change the domain name? You could have had more PR and traffic if you stuck with the old one, wouldn’t you?
Just my 2 cents.
I’m just messin’ with ya. It’s that “wacky” sense of humour of mine.
When I first got sick years ago. I decided to put blogbloke.com in a holding pattern with newsfeeds. Then I decided to start a new blog calling it Blog Bloke.
I’ve regretted it ever since because I should have started a new name for the old blog and forwarded blogbloke.com to this one.
Both blogs have about the same PR and I’m still thinking of scrapping Blog Bloke now that we have custom url forwarding.
Yah, Bloke, you should have. I had my domain name (gamersworldbd.com) previously registered. And the best decision that I made in my life was to use that domain for my new video games blog.
Like they say hindsight is 20/20. Why do you think I know so much about blogging? Because I’ve made all the mistakes.
Dec 30th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
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