Comments on: PS Your Blog is Dead http://www.brooksvannorman.com/ps-your-blog-is-dead/ things I am inspired to blog about Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:00:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Cole http://www.brooksvannorman.com/ps-your-blog-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Cole Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:38:59 +0000 http://www.brooksvannorman.com/?p=530#comment-79 Personally, I find your blog refreshingly intelligent and enjoyable to read. Blog because you have something to say or to vent, not to attract great numbers of readers or to make financial gain. I've subscribed and look forward to what you have to say! Personally, I find your blog refreshingly intelligent and enjoyable to read. Blog because you have something to say or to vent, not to attract great numbers of readers or to make financial gain. I’ve subscribed and look forward to what you have to say!

]]> By: David http://www.brooksvannorman.com/ps-your-blog-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-78 David Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:00:35 +0000 http://www.brooksvannorman.com/?p=530#comment-78 Brooks - I think you're right a lot of people go online with a blog thinking they're going to make loads of money but they're not. Unfortunately there are also a lot of people out there pushing blogs as a get rich quick scheme which anyone looking for a quick online buck is likely to fall for. It's kind of like the gold rush days - a few are going to make it big most are going to sweat and toil and walk away dirty and maybe a little wiser. All that said, there are a few things that are going to make or break a blog. 1. Persistence - you mention older blogs and you're right, but they didn't start out with traffic they had to build it. They did well because they persisted. I've had this experience with plenty of blogs and online efforts. I am getting no traction and then I publish something that resonates or I am one of the few sources of information for and suddenly my traffic increases (some times a lot). 2. Promotion - New bloggers shouldn't expect that just because they write it people will come. The Internet isn't the field of dreams. I would suggest people interested in Internet promotion check out the 30 Day Challenge. 3. Think viral - When you're developing content ask yourself if you would pass a post, page or video on to your friends if it wasn't yours. If you wouldn't than you can't expect others to do that for your content. Things that are edgy, informative, comical are all likely to get passed on. FWIW, I really enjoy reading your blog. I hope you don't quit. Brooks - I think you’re right a lot of people go online with a blog thinking they’re going to make loads of money but they’re not. Unfortunately there are also a lot of people out there pushing blogs as a get rich quick scheme which anyone looking for a quick online buck is likely to fall for. It’s kind of like the gold rush days - a few are going to make it big most are going to sweat and toil and walk away dirty and maybe a little wiser.

All that said, there are a few things that are going to make or break a blog.

1. Persistence - you mention older blogs and you’re right, but they didn’t start out with traffic they had to build it. They did well because they persisted. I’ve had this experience with plenty of blogs and online efforts. I am getting no traction and then I publish something that resonates or I am one of the few sources of information for and suddenly my traffic increases (some times a lot).

2. Promotion - New bloggers shouldn’t expect that just because they write it people will come. The Internet isn’t the field of dreams. I would suggest people interested in Internet promotion check out the 30 Day Challenge.

3. Think viral - When you’re developing content ask yourself if you would pass a post, page or video on to your friends if it wasn’t yours. If you wouldn’t than you can’t expect others to do that for your content. Things that are edgy, informative, comical are all likely to get passed on.

FWIW, I really enjoy reading your blog. I hope you don’t quit.

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