New Bloggers New Directions
If you read several big authoritative blogs you’ll notice that most all say the same thing. Problogger for instance; while his blog has much information, I see it as an occasional reference guide. I am not friends with him and I do understand how hard it would be to talk to 20,000 people. So this brings me to why I blog, and what my purpose is. You may be wondering what your purpose is in blogging also, or you may have a strong idea. A lot of this area depends a lot on where you are as a blogger now or what level of a blogging expertise you currently display. I am here for the beginner blogger. A beginner level has nothing to do with how long you have blogged or how happy you are doing it. The truth is, there are so many areas a person could be skilled in, all of us are partial experts and partial novices in one way or another.
The beginner blogger often tries to decide what their blog is going to be before they start. I will recommend not to try to become the guru of a niche at the start. To be the lord of a niche takes a lot of experience and experimentation. I have been writing since I was four years old and have been blogging 6 months. This blog was started June 1st with a technorati authority of 0 but many older posts come from my old Blogger blog. I call myself a beginner blogger and I am happy with the title. So, it’s perfectly alright to know you’re a beginner. Actually, we all are. Things evolve constantly and even the experts have to learn the new stuff too.
I like to help real, knows nothing bloggers. It’s not because I have the ultimate source of articles, other bloggers have that covered. A lot of newbies and longtime bloggers who now want to learn more are faced with endless choices. A lot of these individuals may need personal attention and coaching to grow. While I cannot be friends and personally teach 5000 people one on one, I can take that approach and give one on one help to the most needy and eager to learn. I am not an expert on blogging. I am however very good at teaching others how to teach themselves. Almost every person I help gains a new confidence in their ability to learn technical concepts and realizes that they can do it.
If you’re pretty much non-technical and maybe even intimidated, there is nothing but attitude between you and new skills. Anyone can learn this, no matter what your background. I have thought for months what my blog should be, I hope you can relate. I write a personal blog with fiction stories, poetry, writing skills articles, blogging tips and do participate in many memes. To a strict cash blogger, I am unfocused. You may feel the same way. I believe there can be only so many successful, niche focused blogs and blog tips resources. I can’t be problogger. I love Dosh Dosh, and it would be a tall order to have a blog equivalent and compete. I think it is a benefit to write personal posts among technical and advice posts. To the reader, you are more accessible and more human. If a blog becomes big league, the less you can be so accessible to the public. Now, what is the purpose of my blog? It is an evolving purpose that naturally is becoming more refined and this is true for all of us. Change is the norm in blogging so if you want to grow, learn to welcome change.
Before I show some people I have helped I want you to know my facts. June 1st my Technorati authority was 0. Today it is 335. This measures how many blogs link to my blog. I currently have 101 subscribers. That’s around 40 in mid July to 101 today. I wrote my first Technorati WTF this week and my first one has been #1 for 9 days. Please take 1 minute and vote for my WTF’s including this post here. The WTF experiment has given me a surge in subscribers and new traffic. I think it is worth trying and is great as a first social promotion tool. Try WTF’s and Stumble if you dare. Dosh Dosh is the site I recommend to learn how to do both - because the posts are easily understood and very well written and there is no better site for this information. Finding your niche is important but keep your personal integrity in mind when you do.
My friend Jesse from Jesse Blogs it All has been asking everyone lots of questions about her blogs direction and she is definitely not afraid to ask anyone (A great thing to do). She started wanting a money blog and like me, has made some great friends that has altered her path. She has many of the same friends I do, and these people are great! Jesse listens to all advice and applies what works for her. She is going to maintain a personal blog/cash blog hybrid much like me and a growing number of people. It seems to be a necessary trend as we find our own voices among so much competition. Being highly individualistic will never run out of style and this approach to developing your blog will help you be yourself. Thats the blogger you need to be, the one you naturally are. While finding what you will do, also chip away that which you don’t want to do. Allow your blog to evolve naturally. This is true of many skills, jobs and niche! I think Jesse is now not so worried and will go where her blog takes her. I wish her great success.
I met another blogger named Jay from On Line Room. His blog is basically a forum. Most forums are born out of necessity, like when a blog warrants having a forum because of an explosion of comments and discussions, etc. I could tell Jay to forget it and go another route. A forum is a difficult thing to grow from scratch. He is worried because of little traffic and needs some help. I think he should not give up and be ready for a lot of work and gradual results. Jay, you must be patient. Luckily, he has fallen into my circle of friends and we love helping people. His site must feature things other than the forum. Let the forum grow naturally while posts and other features fill in the other areas. He met my 3 friends Janice, Jean and Marzie as his first (along with me) friends. Marzie left him a comment I saw when writing Jay my 1st one on his blog. She gave him solid advice and told him to MAKE FRIENDS. She told him to come visit her and any of her friends as her main advice. Jay, that’s the main thing you need to do. That’s it. . .the other things will fall in place if you make friends and comment all over. Most big blogs don’t make friendships a priority. Taking time to meet new people, I believe will eventually be an important part of business online. Every big blogger can meet 5-10 people a month and they really should. Just seeing one of these people make an effort with other people would change the publics perception of them. My friends and I may become successful, some very successful - but we will never kill the beautiful spirit of friendship just for money. You can have both and it is becoming more apparent as time passes.
Everyone of my blogging friends, would talk to or help anyone. I cannot name one who wouldn’t talk to you if you need help or just to talk. That is incredible. I have the best friends I could ever have hoped for in blogging, it is the essence of what this unheard generation thrives on. It’s the most abused blogging commodity but we love our friends and are proud of it. Finding your purpose in blogging is much like finding your purpose in life. Just remember, if you need a friend, Come on in 
Jay (and you too) Go read the Brown Barons 10 Commandments of Commenting
I’ve recommended it before and now again! Great information! Also, read the girl’s way of commenting, and learn how it is the best way to build up to your dream blog. Good commenting is good to read and get involved in. Personality also plays a big role!
Read this from Dosh Dosh: The Problem with Blogs about Blogging -It’s great information.
Here’s my old post for Newbies - Basic, solid information.
Related Posts
Comments
32 Responses to “New Bloggers New Directions”
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe!
-
Sponsors
I am really blessed to be part of this friendly blogoshpere with warming friends like you, Bobby, Jean, Marzie, Jesse, Emila…etc
Thank you all for your friendship
CHEERS
Janice: It’s an important statement, and it’s true. We are all a new type of blogger that I think will get much attention. We all have what money can’t buy, our friendship. You and all the girls are who inspire me the most. I have learned a lot from all you ladies! Have a great day Janice
Hi Bobby, good one! It’s so true that friends in the blogosphere is what counts the most. Without friends, it’s no fun to interact and make those comments (sometimes silly ones!) on ppl’s blogs. It’s the friendship that keeps the blog alive. I see that Jay is trying out my advice by visiting and joining in our conversations, and that’s good!
The money will eventually come but the friendship is what gets the blog going to a nice start!
I know you don’t think of yourself as a blog tips instructor, but you taught me a lot! You gave Jay the best advice and invited him to come hang out & meet people - that was so nice and a great way to make someone lighten up on themselves. I’m just glad I know the right people somehow and things couldn’t be better. Besides, money would be no fun without friends. If I had it to spare, I would have a $100.00 contest each week LOL! I would feel guilty with 25,000 readers. I’d go meet all of them! It might take a while, but I would have to
Your emphasis on forming and nurturing friendships is spot on. It’s time to breed a new generation of bloggers. Bloggers who don’t turn into robots in the process of becoming popular or making money.
This article just hit the bullseye.
If I were to have 25,000 readers, it might sound unrealistic, but I would meet them all. We are forming the start of a new movement in blogging. This new attitude will change things for the better. Maki from Dosh Dosh and Ilkers from the Thinking blog are the only two big bloggers that talk to me. That is sad. Andy Beard is a nice guy too. Because of that, I read their blogs! The human quality missing in many blogs will be their downfall
That’s true Bobby. Blogs became popular because of the human quality which was sorely lacking with newspapers. The sad part is that a lot of blogs are losing that unique quality. Andy Beard is one of the good guys, I agree.
Brown Baron: We have an advantage in that most everyone I know is a relatively new blogger and we get to read everything and watch how people do things and we should make smart decisions as a result. New big blog competitors plan a blog for months or even years with a management & developer crew to precisely hit that niche. I would never read such a blog, and before long, others will find other blogs more entertaining. I read how you try to look at many types of blogs and I have consciously made that same effort
Andy Beard replies to comments! That’s not every big blog’s priority!
Hello, I agree that one must follow their natural blogging path.I was a bit scattered, but I found so many bloggers, including you, who were willing to help me and gently steer me onto the path I needed to find.My problem was the fact that I had originally had such a clear cut idea for my blog and I felt I wandering from that ideal.I know better now. i have found so many unique and wonderful friends, now I am happy to let my blog be a bit of everything.I want to thank you for all the advice you gave me, and the time you took to help me.through you and others, I feel much more balanced inside, and I look forward to some great blogging adventures and experiments as time goes by.You are a great teacher, Bobby..and a strong blogger.Keep it up.I voted for you, hope it went through, I was having my usual isp problems while voting..
I shall go and give the brown baron a look-see as well. Sounds interesting.. have a great blogging day,
Jesse: We will all learn so much over the next year, whatever you do will be the right thing. One day I may start an online business or maybe something I couldn’t fathom right now. When you asked for advice I knew exactly how you felt. Blogging is much different than the general perception. I am learning more and more, and it’s made me relax and just observe. There is no telling where this road will take any of us. You may have 5 blogs one day or be part of this growing idea that personal + marketing multi genre blogs will gain prominence. (I’ve been told that this idea I preach is just wishful thinking and exists only in my head) Maybe it is only in my head, but dreams can come true. I simply want all of us to heighten our values and make things like trust and friendship the goals to strive for. What’s really important, the things that really matter, should be what matters in business as well as life
I just felt I needed some advice, and I’m glad I came to you, as you say you had been asking similar questions yourself. I guess its all part of the blog-evolution. I agree that we will all learn so much in the coming year..Wow, so much to look forward to.Your point about ‘ the things that really matter, should matter in business as well’ is so Profound.I dont think that your ideas are wishful thinking…everyone holds the key to happiness and success in their own hands..you can make certain dreams come true, why not these ! We all have our blogging dreams and goals…we are all doing the best that we can with our own personal circumstances, and with all the great friends and support systems that we are finding along the way, blogging is such an awesome phenonmenon ! Have a great day..
Weird, I guess last time I blogged, a couple of years ago, I was kind of in this blogging circle where nearly no one helped anybody. Blog-snobbery, I call it.
It’s nice to see bloggers really wanting to help each other out the second time around. I just restarted blogging, and honestly, if you have any advice, please come check it out and tell me what you think. Thanks in advance!
Jesse: I gave up letting myself wonder too much, now I blog whatever I feel and study how it works. I think there will come a level of understanding that most of us will reach where we can make things happen with confidence and mastery. If I were at that level, I’d know - so I am not there yet. Blogging has virtually eliminated my TV watching! I must be a nerd
You have a great day too 
Sassy: I don’t talk to many snobs! I am forgetful but not snobby! I’ll come by
ahh, hi from malaysia here
and thanks for the tips here! 
like many other new bloggers i’m pretty confused about my own blog too, because there are just so many things in my life that i wanted to talk about, and it feels that my blog is unfocused. a bit confused myself too, but i guess after some time i will figure out what to do… 
newayz, voted for you at wtf already
Conancat: It takes time! So relax and all your answers will come in due time. It takes several years to gain absolute focus for most people. Thanks for voting for my WTF’s! It has boosted my traffic a lot
hi Bobby, that was so sweet of you to do them lincs for Janice….when do i get mine?…..lol
Darlene: I might, I have to meet you first
I am SO becoming a fan! Being a less than three week old blogger these are the exact issues I’m wrestling with. Should I blog about the random ideas I have, shouldn’t I have a focus, find a niche?
Thank you for giving me permission to take my time and find my way. Some sites are intimidating with their information, but yours is warm and friendly. Thanks again!
If you’re wondering if u should blog random ideas or a niche, you are not ready to define a niche. However blogging about how you wonder and what you learn is good. Those who have a niche, they didn’t find the niche, the niche finds them and is a natural thing. The search for purpose itself defines purpose. Do what you like and have FUN
“Everyone of my blogging friends, would talk to or help anyone. I cannot name one who wouldn?t talk to you if you need help or just to talk. That is incredible.”
i totally agreed with you, bobby!
Jean: It’s a great thing and all of us should be proud of it! You help people all the time even when they didn’t even ask, that is incredible to me
Bobby, you are incredible to me. I learned it from you. To give and to share.
Jean: You are the sweetest person I have met blogging
Good tips for this blogging newbie. At most of the blog communities I sign up at, that’s pretty much my slogan, ‘Blogging newbie’.
I have other way to describe who I am in the blogosphere, but I have met great people along the way to knowing myself here like Jesse. She’s been a breath of fresh air and made blogging a positive chore of necessity.
You have a lot of good articles. Good thing I’m on vacation this week.
Rolando
Rolando: Thanks! I agree that Jesse is very cool
haha, just saw this on Technorati’s WTF. I think I helped someone with one of their add to Technorati’s request on BlogCatalog.
_________________________
Stop Spamming Technorati’s WTF
by kawaiikuma ? 4 days ago
Enough is enough. Stop spamming Technorati’s WTF with requests for Technorati favorites. This is not the right place for you to do so, even if you provide so called ‘incentives’ for someone to fave your blog. Use WTF to promote important topics that matter or post links to articles on topics which might be useful to others. Keep your Technorati favorite schemes and contests on your blog and leave them off WTF.
Rolando: Yeah, Kawaiikuma don’t like that! I, for the most part, agree with her LOL
*blush* thanks, Bobby!
Jean: You are welcome
Great Tips .. I am glad I found your good blog!
Karen: Me too! You are very nice and kind