Putting the nuts and bolts of blog technology aside for the momement, isn’t it hard, daunting even, to find your own voice? What is the sound of my own voice? How do I find the voice in me that anyone else will want to listen to?
Which brings us to readers. Oh right- readers (Note to self: find readers). Who is going to read this stuff anyway? It would seem to me that’s the big question if you are blogging for dollars. Who is the audience I’m trying to reach, how do I reach them, and what do I want them to know?
Currently I’m poking around the internet looking at other local blogs, finding blogs I like and appreciate (birds of a feather, you know). Could this or that blog take me where I want to go? I’m checking out the blogroll, checking the comments. It’s very telling- who is reading this? Do they like what they read and why, and are the readers contributing in a meaningful way?
Conversely, what isn’t out there? Is there a void that needs to be filled, or does the void exist due to lack of need? Does every market really need a blog? Really? Can every market support a blog? Does my little-bitty Rustbelt town need a blog and would anyone even read it? How do I find like-minded residents and direct them to follow the sound of my voice? Whoop, there it is. It all circles back to developing a voice worth listening to.
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Todd Carpenter says:
My advice is to just jump in. You can sort things out as you go. Every one of your considerations is valid, but everyone of them could also be used as an excuse to procrastinate.
As far as the size of your town, I think that can be leveraged into a major positive. Hyper-localism and blogging are made for each other. How many sites on the Internet cover the girls track team at your local high school? How many covered the county fair? You have a chance to be the “go to” website with your neighbors. What a fantastic position for a real estate agent.
March 20, 2007 — 8:12 pm
Teri Lussier says:
>”my advice is to just jump in”
We are thinking alike- that’s exactly what I’m doing/attempting here.
>”cover the girls track team… the county fair?”
I thought of that, I’m considering that, I just don’t think I can… do… it…zzzzzzzzzzzzz. 🙂
March 21, 2007 — 4:41 am
Todd Carpenter says:
You don’t have to do it. You could get an aspiring journalist for the local high shool to contribute to your blog by covering these sports, or other events at the school. Make it an annual internship for Seniors. They get an experiance they can document, you get free content. Obviously, your blog should be more than about high school sports, but that’s the beauty of getting others to contribute to your blog. Just an idea.
March 21, 2007 — 9:10 am
Teri Lussier says:
Todd, thanks for checking back! I just stopped back here myself because I want to thank you so much for commenting. Obviously I dismissed your comment, I’m ashamed to say it. I put it in the back of my head, but it refused to be forgotten, in fact it took root.
When I got a moment, I visited your blog, it took me to another blog, then another, until I eventually ended up back here. By then your one comment, and your generosity in making it, and all the ideas I now have from the road trip, have planted so many seeds in my mind that I’m literally shaking as I write this.
You, and Greg, are absolutely right that there are infinite things I can do here to celebrate this place- the only obstacle is me. I need to learn how- the technology learning curve is quite a bit daunting to me. But I’m going to give it a shot, and the beauty is that now I know what I’m shooting for.
Thank you so so much.
March 21, 2007 — 9:47 am
Maureen McCabe says:
I love your Dayton voice on Active Rain… in fact I can hear Huber Heights in your entries. Good luck in the competition.
March 22, 2007 — 5:08 pm