Today is day #4 of the better blog challenge from problogger. I also did day #3 today, about promoting you/your blog. Anyway, today’s post is all about analyzing a top blog in your niche. There were only 2 steps.
- Identify a successful blog in your niche
- Take 15 minutes to do some analysis of the blog in some of the following areas: Content, reader engagement, design, monetization, traffic and seo
Much to my dismay, the first step stumped me. I realized that I am not sure I have ever really given myself a niche (or maybe better named: pigeon-hole?) to stick in. I have always made it clear that as long as it was creative and beneficial to my readers, I would write about it. According to Alltop – I fit in the Innovation category. According to myself, I don’t really like categories. But since the task is clear, I had to do a bit of research about what other blogs are doing what I am doing, or where I want to see myself. So I went to technorati’s popular 100 blogs and started looking for one that did something, anything like what I do. Around #64 (it depends whether you look by authority or readers), I found Chris Brogan’s, whom I admire his writing and style. Then I found #93 & #95 (searching by readership) and about fell out of my chair. They are spammer sites! The actual title of #93’s on Technorati is: alkimberl Buy viagra on line. You have GOT to be kidding me!?! And that right there made me realize I do not want to be on the top 100 blog list for technorati. Would you want to be on that list??
Anyway, on to step 2. Analyze the blog. Well, since the only one I found that was similar to something I would want to be was Chris Brogan’s but since he gets talked about so much already, I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about him again. Instead, I am going to think more about question #1, my niche.
After the allotted 15 minutes, I realized that my niche is as a writer. I am a creative writer. I am a freelance writer. I am a passionate writer. I write because I like to write and I think that what I write has a benefit for my readers. So there it is: This is the blog to come to when you want creative ideas and darn good writing.
I feel better.What about you?
Related posts:
- 7 ways I keep myself excited about my content
- Tips and Tutorials from the best bloggers
- Are you alert enough?
Kirsten
