Key Elements to Blog Visibility
In case you haven’t had your finger anywhere near the pulse of the populous lately, let me fill you in on something, this blogging thing is taking off. Like, seriously. One area seeing major growth in its online ranks, is design. I don’t want to say that design blogs are a dime a dozen these days, but that is kind of where I am going with this. Lets face it, people, the blogosphere is saturated with a seemingly endless RSS stream of design sites all scrapping to capture their piece of the online readership. Which, to somewhat of a degree, is more finite.
This begs the question, is there a capacity at which the saturation has a more negative effect on the community overall, than a positive one? And if the answer to that query is “yes”, what does that mean for the bloated blogosphere and its inhabitants?
Unfortunately, I am of the mind that the answer is indeed in the affirmative, and that we will see a point when there are so many places to turn for design information that the reader will become overwhelmed. Where to turn, which source to trust, which one of the twenty posts on the topic is the best one, etc… and the frustrated reader will finally fix their focus to one major source, and no longer branch out beyond it for their information. What effect will this have? Will this be the death of ‘community’?
Again, this is in my humble opinion, but I can see this future coming, as the web surfers settle for known waters over branching out through the crowded cyber sea. Meaning that smaller design blogs, and certainly new ones, will have a much harder time finding that audience that allows their site to grow. Which is the point of the design blog, no? To have it seen and read? You blog because you hopefully have something to say. Something of value to contribute to the community, correct? (If you don’t follow, just nod along knowingly, you may just be one of the bloggers I am speaking of.:p) If you have something unique to say, or a unique view on something already talked about, you want an audience to hear it. Otherwise, you are basically saying it to yourself, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just more of a bored choir thinking ‘Dude, we get it, we are on your side’ kind of thing.
So how do you make sure, that you can rise above the multitude of collective voices and sway the online audience the way of your blog? Well, for that, I have the following key elements that you should focus on, if you want to survive through the saturation and be heard.
Networking
What better way to start a talk about how to establish yourself in the community, and remain visible than with a focus on networking. Social media networking can be a #fun #interactive way to spread the word about you and your #design blog. See what I did there with the whole hashtag thing? (Just a sidenote, if you don’t know what a hashtag is, this networking section may be over your head.) But seriously, establishing a presence on the social media circuit is certainly a worthy investment of your time.
Social media has opened up an important avenue for bloggers, allowing for more personal connectivity with your audience and colleagues. Sharing your blog posts and other’s work through the various networking outlets, can quickly raise your sites visibility among the masses. But blogger beware, you must be committed to this social scene if you want to gain the many benefits that it can provide. A direct pipeline into the community, where you can get instant feedback, assistance, contributions for your blog posts and so much more.
Networking through the social media circuits, is certainly an artform, and there are a couple of folks that do it right that I felt I should shine the spotlight over onto since they have seemingly mastered areas of this art.
Get Personal
The next key that I wanted to mention, which is another invaluable addition to the list, is getting personal. Now I’m not talking about the way I did earlier in the post when I was talking about bloggers not having something to contribute, which I did so I could reference here (So I wasn’t really being mean, I was just ACTING!…like, you know, Lovitz? Jon Lovi- anyway.). What I am talking about, is more along the lines of putting as much of a personal touch into your site as you are comfortable with. Are you oozing with personality, then make sure that it comes across in your blog. Focus your strengths there, and even expose your weaknesses, and your blog will have some of you embedded in it.
What this will do, is allow for another form of personal connectivity for the reader to relate and be drawn to. One major way for a blog to stick out, is for it to be unique. What better way to ensure that individualness for your blog, than by putting as much of your individual voice and style into it? Readers tend to respond to the personality that’s pushing the words and their point through to them, and they do so, in a big way. For the same reason that people respond to the social media interaction, seemingly getting deeper glimpses into the blogger themselves.
Putting that much of yourself and personality into your site is certainly no easy feat. It can be quite the daunting task, so those who do it well deserve a nod. Those purveyors of personality, in my humble, are the following.
Develop Your Brand
How could I talk about rising above the rest without a brief look at fine tuning, and developing your brand? There are some who completely write-off the importance of branding themselves and doing it well. And that is completely their choice, they have every right to be completely and utterly wrong. I kid…kind of. I do understand the anxiousness of getting out there and diving in to the vast cyber sea, head first, and branding yourself takes time. And moreover, patience. Neither of which, you have, apparently. Again, I kid. But that is a perfectly justifiable way to begin a blog, if you do it correctly. Having a sense of your brand and identity, and like I said, developing it once you have gotten underway.
In fact, when Angie and I began Arbenting, it was a blog that was meant to draw in visitors to our main site. However, we quickly realized that the direction and ideas we had started with, were altered, and our brand was built around the blog. But we always had that in mind as we were working out the details. Finding that bearing and letting its course unfold without trying to force it. The branding helps give your blog an identity that is easily recognizable to the online community. This helps establish and elevate your site to a more visible plateau. The brand is responded to initially, and is what helps to build the reader’s trust in the people or person behind it.
The bold who have blazed the branded path and done it with style and near perfection also deserve to share in the spotlight of the spectacular, and I could think of no better participants than the following.
Be Helpful/Give Back
Of the many ways I have already discussed, this next one is an almost sure fire way to increase the visibility of your blog, beyond any other. Be helpful and give back! A novel concept, I know, and you heard it here first. …So tell everyone that flag was planted here. But honestly, when you give back to the community through contests or freebies or whatever, they respond. It imparts a sense of appreciation to the readers, and lets them know how important to your site, you feel they are. Giving back also helps to strengthen the community overall as you provide resources for others to use, or offer exposure to someone else’s site or service.
Not to mention the effect you have by offering tutorials and helpful advice to others, rather than stingily keeping secrets and techniques to yourself. Finding areas in the community that may be lacking in helpful ideas and solutions that you know you can be of service in, do it. Build bridges and help lift up others when and where you can, and you can be sure that most of the time, they will turn around and offer a hand back to take you with them. Aaron Irizarry said something very similar recently in a fantastic plea for the community to work together to help build each other up. Your blog and you will be remembered for your kindness, I promise.
Once again, I could not leave off that topic without taking a moment to tip my hat to some of the blogs that really understand this idea, and have kind of run with it as their mission. Thanks to them for all they do for us.
Content
I have blogged about this topic once or twice in the past, because of its importance to the discussion, and that is why it makes an appearance here at the end of the list. The biggest draw to readers, that raises the visibility of your blog is consistent, quality original content. I know that is a lot of qualifiers on that statement, but they are all necessary, believe me. And they do not work alone, mind you, they all need to be together to make the magic mixture just right for sustaining and growing your readership.
Again, it is almost like a mathematical equation if you break it down to the fine points. Content overall, we can agree is a good thing, but you have to have the right content equation in order for it to add up to a more dedicated readership and increased visibility. Content to the power of [(Originality+Quality)Consistency] equals blog brilliance, and will certainly garner you a gain in the community. Now fill that blog with Content to the power of [(Derivative+Quality)Consistency], or say [(Originality+Mediocre)Consistency], or even [(Originality+Quality)Every now and again] then it will equal up to a disappointing or irregular blog experience that will raise your site up. In fact, it may just drag it down.
Throughout the collective there are numerous queens and kings of content, too many to link to here, but I did want to single out two of my favorite places to turn for content that always measures up. They are:
Remember the Community
Overall, the most important thing to remember, is that you are setting up in an active, established community. You need to make your mark as quickly as you can, so as to not fade into the sea of sites and voices as soon as you start out. Otherwise, as the seas get more crowded, if there is a ‘purge’, you will ensure that your blog is not one of the ill-fated Dharma Initiative, but instead a part of the surviving “Others”!
No? Am I stretching it with the personality and side references? C’mon guys, It’s a reference to the show “Lost”. Anyone?
63 Comments
Content is the king for improving the site visibility and also response to user comments
Flag as inappropriateGreat.Thanks for sharing such a nice post with us.
Flag as inappropriateGreat.Thanks for sharing such a nice post with us.
Flag as inappropriateVery good article, 100% great
Flag as inappropriateA Fantastic post, I will save this in my Clipmarks account. Have a great evening.
Flag as inappropriateGreat article thanks for sharing
Flag as inappropriategreat article..thanks..
Flag as inappropriateHi there! Loved the article…However, I feel that I already have followed through on most of the advice you give in your article… and I still don’t have as many views as I should. Perhaps it just takes time! Thanks for the good information!
Flag as inappropriateHahahaha thank you for the “Lost” reference!! Of course the rest of the article was informative and well-written, but I’m just really excited about the Dharma Initiative/ Others analogy, haha.
Flag as inappropriateVery interesting tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatewow Great article, thanks!169
Flag as inappropriatewow Great article, thanks!156
Flag as inappropriatethanks for sharing. So mush117
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.
Flag as inappropriatethanks again very nice work on the posts
Flag as inappropriateThis is a really interesting post, very rich in informations, examples, ideas.
Flag as inappropriateAnd this is probably the very point of the article: quality contents make quality blogs.
Of course, users can be disoriented when they come in front of many different sources, but authoritative contents will always make the difference.
I really enjoyed this post and took notes for my future blogs.
One thing that REALLY stuck out to me (in my own words) is that my MISSION is to Be Helpful to the Community.
I believe everything else falls under this. Content, quality, originality, etc, etc, etc.
Thanks for your time and contribution.
Flag as inappropriateI have noted some keypoints, thanks for this
Flag as inappropriateThis is a great resource for anyone getting into blogging, like myself. Thanks a lot!
Flag as inappropriatevery informative and useful!!
Flag as inappropriatelol, well add me to the list! I just finished my design blog, and am trying to increase awareness on Twitter.
As for the future, I don’t think people will just give up on looking for design-related information simply because there are more options. They’ll probably go to more established blogs, or ones with the most credibility (which usually translates into the most subscribers or best Alexa rank).
I guess it just comes down to whether or not you trust the person you’re getting design advice from. Thanks for the article, great read.
Flag as inappropriateThanks Rob for sharing. As I am a newbie in blogging and definitely this would help me a lot :)
Flag as inappropriateA year ago, a post like this would have looked quite different.
It’s very cool to see that fundamental traditional marketing and branding concepts are finally finding their way into this media as it evolves. Looking at your list of key examples shows that the Bloggers who have found a way to integrate them are the ones standing out from the crowd.
Loved the post, thanks
Flag as inappropriateI agree. There has been a evolution, and it is showing. Thanks for the thoughts and comments.
Flag as inappropriateGreat collection of insight, advice and examples!
Nicely done.
Thank you!
Chris :)
Flag as inappropriate:) And thank you.
Flag as inappropriateThese are great thanks for sharing.
I do have one question. Investment? You touched on this on your “Network” section. Are there a set amount of hours you spend doing these? or does it become second nature a way of life of sorts?
Flag as inappropriateAt first I tried to allot a certain amount of time each day, but found that never really worked for me. Now, (when I have my laptop out of the shop) I just do it when it comes naturally. It is like a second nature type thing.
Flag as inappropriateLoved the final paragraph with the Lost reference :)
Flag as inappropriateGood article. Keep up Rob!
Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.
Flag as inappropriateVery helpful indeed, thank you very much for sharing this information with the new blogers like me.
Flag as inappropriateNo problem. Good luck out there!
Flag as inappropriateReally great article. I think many times we forget to give back, it may be because of human nature but I’ve found giving back or presenting something that puts a smile on someones face while giving them something to think about often times works best.
Flag as inappropriateThanks, David. I agree. We do often forget to give back.
Flag as inappropriate@ r3 – Much appreciated.
@Tim – Thanks, Tim. I really appreciate your kind words, my friend!
Flag as inappropriateWow Rob! What an awesome article! I love the way you inject personality into your articles; it helps get the point across. Thanks for the rockin’ article!
Flag as inappropriatenice bro
Flag as inappropriateGreat post and really interesting read. I agree with almost everything you said ;)
Flag as inappropriateThanks, Callum! Much appreciated.
Flag as inappropriateWhen I saw all the words in this post, I instantly thought “looks good but I don’t have time to read all this”. Well, I’m glad I read it.
Since I started my blog recently, all of these tips can be helpful for me. If it wasn’t for other designers helping out, we wouldn’t be able to share our design thoughts to as many readers. I got lots of help when I started from designers like Andy Sowards and Jon Phillips, and it really did make a difference in my growth.
Nice post Rob!
Flag as inappropriateGlad that the wordiness didn’t end up turning you away. :D The community really is an amazing tool in and of itself, the way most everyone tries to help out and pitch in is always inspiring. Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateYour writing is both insightful and entertaining Rob :) Thanks so much for sharing this with our community!
Your thoughts on being helpful and giving back seem to be essential to-do’s… especially in the creative community. If you’re not contributing in some fashion or another, then you’re not really offering much value to anyone.
Looking forward to more from you Rob! Great post!
Flag as inappropriateThanks again for the opportunity, David. I’m glad it is being well received!
Flag as inappropriate@ Andy – No problem on the inclusion. Didn’t see how I could do that section without you in it. Thanks for the kind words, as well.
@ Brian – Thanks, Brian. I know what you mean.
Flag as inappropriateGreat article Rob. It’s good to see emphasis on larger perspective items rather than “have a good header,” etc.
Flag as inappropriateAwesome Article Rob! Very honored to be mentioned in it!
I think this will be a great help to people trying to sort through all the extraneous noise that is out there, whether they are a new blogger, or simply someone looking for the credible sources out there for their info!
Keep up the good work!
Flag as inappropriateLove the article guys
Flag as inappropriateThanks, Andy!
Flag as inappropriateGreat post. I hope that with the rise of sites the race to do new and creative things will emerge. :)
Flag as inappropriateThat would be nice to see. Instead, I am afraid that so many will opt to not try anything new, in hopes that sticking with the ‘proven’ will keep them visible. Sometimes we find comfort in clinging to the familiar. Thanks, Matthew!
Flag as inappropriateGreat Article Rob!
Thanks for the mention.
~ Aaron I
Flag as inappropriateHow could I not? You’re one awesome dude, Aaron!
Flag as inappropriateI totally get where you’re coming from. I recently got someone’s Googlereader xml subscriptions (it was on some design or freelancing blog) and there are, no exaggeration, over one hundred design blogs in this xml document (on top of about one hundred typography blogs).
This is ridiculous. There is no way that I even have the time to read every single one of these posts. If there is anything of interest the few blogs that I do read will most likely weed out these few catches and report them to me.
There is definitely an amount of over-saturation going on.
Thanks for this post.
Flag as inappropriateSimon, I don’t think you are alone in your actions. There is so much to keep up with, it does make it difficult deciding where and on what you are going to spend your time. Thanks for the comment.
Flag as inappropriateNice article Rob. For so long it was all about Content (it still is), however, I think now that the whole web has gone “Social” I think its important to embrace this and start a conversation, network, comment, tweet.
Flag as inappropriateThanks. It is a much more social landscape than before.
Flag as inappropriate