Monkey See, Monkey Do
Dare to be different!
I was lucky to have the computer time available today (and man, does this computer suck) in order to read more than just a couple of other blogs. One recurring theme I've noticed, and it's been alluded to by Grizzly with his "The Scourge of Web 2.0" article and Harry with his "Bloggers That Fake It" article. Bloggers are a bunch of copycats, spouting duplicated information as well as duplicated misinformation.
I won't go into detail and name names because it just isn't my style. I've been guilty on a few occasions of writing about what everyone else is writing about, but I refuse to call myself a hypocrite. I do my best to write about things that no one else is interested in at the moment; popularity has never been a personal goal of mine. If I'm wrong about something, I'll usually correct myself without waiting for someone else to point it out.
Writing about whatever someone else is writing about because it seems to be a popular topic at the moment is what I like to call the "monkey see, monkey do" mentality.
The Critical Burn-Out Phase
Nothing irritates me more than seeing the same topics covered on several blogs at the same time (or within days of each other). I even irritate myself when I fall into the same trap.
Have you ever noticed that when newbie bloggers who blog about blogging (say that real fast to make your head spin) and bloggers who blog about making money run out of things to write about that their blogs seem to hit a slump. They stop writing — either for a long period or permanently. This is the typical blogger burn-out that I see happening over and over again.
What can be done about it? First: Slow the heck down. No one needs to post every single day of the year. Okay, don't go wagging your finger at me. I generally write a lot because I'm bored with the retired life. I don't have a real world job anymore and frankly, writing keeps me sane.
Second: Write about something that someone else isn't writing about. Really. It may not be the most popular thing to write about, but it removes the self-inflicted punishment aspect of blogging.
Third: Dare to be different and break out of the monkey see, monkey do mentality. Please, don't follow my lead. Find the best way that works for you and be the leader yourself.
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Darn, and I was just working on a post about how everybody was copying from everyone else.
Frank C's last blog post..Time to Spring Forward – Daylight Saving Time
Sure you were.
Out of 40 or so blogs I've subscribed to recently only 2 or 3 update regularly.
You're spot on about the burnout phase. I try to avoid this myself by challenging myself on new topics.
(BTW have you seen my most recently drawn cartoons?)
hari's last blog post..Boxi and Panjo – Running for health
It's one of the reasons I write offbeat articles like the one I did on dandruff. It shakes things up a bit. No one knows what I'll do next.
Yep, I saw your recent cartoons, but I failed to comment. This PC is whacked and sometimes I just have to walk away when the cursor disappears on me.
I just subscribe to a whole lot of blogs in my feed reader, and look at the ones that are updated.
Solomon Broad's last blog post..Things I’m Grateful For on Saturday 8 March
When I was first learning about blogging, I was stunned by all the resources out there. I tried to read everything. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was reading 5 basic posts over and over. Some were better-written than others, but the message was the same. I've since pared down my bookmarked sites and am much more selective.
JD's last blog post..I Put My Clothes Back on so you don’t have to
"I do my best to write about things that no one else is interested in at the moment"
In that case, I found this post very boring. Couldn't keep my eyes open
There are some blogs I wish would update a little more frequently, though, but I only care if the content is quality. I think many times people realize "I'm not making easy money with this", and they just quit, forgetting that it is still easier to start a good blog than to try to build up a traditional business from nothing.
Your second point is one that I have been trying to get across for ages (actually wrote a post about it here: http://freesite.iblogger.org/index.php/2008/03/03/have-you-discovered-your-potential)
People always seem to want to blog about making money, or about popular Xbox games if they're kids, even though you can tell that there must be something more unique they can offer.
Great article, Troy!
Thanks for dropping by
Its a lot easier to make money by blogging about teaching newbies how to make money by blogging than it is to make money by competing with people actually making money by blogging. That's why everyone does it.
Try and understand that on the first try
From the massive amount of info from Vic and Court and Grizz, I'd say they make money and understand the SEO game. And all their projects that started making money for them never once mention the word 'blog', I bet. They don't compete with bloggers. They go after targeted search traffic and get money from areas that are making money. Blog readers aren't spending money, they are usually looking for nearly free entertainment! I never spend money on other people's blogs.I only spend enough to keep all of mine going, and that goes straight to hosting, domain names, etc. No matter how hard you blog you probably won't get my money. You have to target someone that spends money online. Those kinds of people may not be the same ones who look for free info online.
The best blogs to read seem to me to be like RT's Untwisted Vortex, Hari's, Jd's really funny I Do Things So You Don't Have To, and many more like them. These are pure gold. Most Make money blogs are boorrrinng.
Tim's last blog post..Red Deer Swap Meet March 15 at Westerner Park
Well said, Tim! I couldn't agree more.
(and thanks!)
JD at I Do Things's last blog post..I Get to the Bottom of This Green Potato Business so you don’t have to
I'm very original. I have seen overlapping posts, but the truth is there is nothing new under the sun. Everything written has been written about before. Everything made has made has been created before…man made things are nothing but a copy cat of God's creation. bird-airplanes. eye-camera. nothing new.
Natural Woman's last blog post..What the Freak is A Freegan?
I'd say original content gets you more attention that the same things posted over and over again. It's annoying to search for information on something only to find the same text copied-and-pasted to a dozen different blogs. So you're definitely on to something here…let's hope people listen.