This is part 3 in a 5-part series on Successful Blogging.
What Makes Content Valuable?
The other day I was checking out Ana Hoffman’s Traffic Generation Cafe site, and one of the comments she received was something many bloggers in this niche hope to hear. He said that there is a difference between informative and usable content, and he was happy that she consistently provided usable content.
Now, I’m well aware that all sorts of content can be considered valuable – something that makes people laugh can be very valuable, or news, or an announcement.
The thing to pay close attention to in that story is the part that said, “one of the comments she received.”
If you’re struggling to find content ideas, or worried that your low response/reaction rate is because you’re not quite sure what people want, start navigating the comments.
I do that all of the time; most of my topics begin with an idea I got from a comment on my own blog or someone else’s.
If you learn to listen to, and not just read, what people are saying, you will realize that there is never a shortage of important things to talk about.
If you don’t have any comments of your own…
If you’re just starting out, and you have no comments of your own, start perusing the comments on blogs that are similar to yours. Answer those questions on your blog – maybe even specifically state that you read that someone was asking about the issue on a blog (and link to that post/comment).
Value Translates into Importance
Ideally, the value your blog brings to a reader’s life will translate into importance, and that is the sweet spot. That is when your brand takes on a whole different level of meaning, and begins to become more of a fixture in someone’s life rather than a “neat thing that they like.” Consider what has happened to PBS. The value PBS brings to people – especially children, in the mornings – has actually translated into importance, such that people will choose to support what is free by sending money to ensure that it never goes away.
So if you’re looking to consistently bring value – I mean every time you post – start by figuring out exactly what people want to know, and a very good place to find gems like that is through the comments.
And once you’ve written this highly-valuable post, don’t forget critical search engine optimization. If one person out there is talking about it, you can bet others are, too, and you want to be in the mix when people go searching for it.
Who Does It Right? Leave the link.
Know of a blogger or a blog that is consistently providing valuable content? Leave a link to their site in the comments. It’s fine to nominate your own, but use this opportunity to give some link luv to your favorite blog.
Image Credit: green kozi
About Tia Peterson
