Dear Blogger - Do You Stand out from the Crowd?
This post was guest blogged by Nick Sullivan of Internet Babel.
One thing I always try to keep in mind when writing a new post or coming up with a site idea is being different. You have to remember that most things you have said or are about to say, or can think of saying, have been said. Many times. By many people. Which is fine. It’s extremely hard to come up with content that is literally 100%, absolutely, indisputably unique in every sense… the web is just too old already. But what you can do, is stand out from the crowd; By saying the same stuff in a unique way. Take this post for example, what I’m saying in this post isn’t particular special, there are lots of posts about being unique. But I bet the title probably made you want to read because it provokes you to want to know HOW to stand out. Also, the way I’m writing this post hopefully makes you want to keep reading…
Being unique in such a way as to make people double take can be challenging. It can be done however with some effort, time, dedication and creativity. If you think you’re not creative, think again. Everyone is creative in a way. Even if you don’t have a supreme way with words or incredible talent, your best asset is the ability to say things in a way that other people can’t. Which you can always do. There’s always something about an individual that makes them unique, it’s just about employing your own unique qualities into whatever you do.
I’m starting to veer off into unfamiliar territory here though, sounding cheesy and philosophical; So, I’ll get back to Internet marketing now. Or more specifically, blogging! Here’s 3 ways you can help you and your blog stand out. No doubt this has all been said before but don’t worry! It’s all good.
1. Post prolifically.
One method of gaining readers seems to be constant, non-stop posting. I’ve seen some blogs like… covered in AdSense, pretty scummy content yet because they post about 5 times a day… people subscribe. It’s quite a weird physiological quirk but seems to work. So add this factor to GOOD content and you will stand out.
2. Get a unique design.
There are lots and lots and lots (and lots) of blogs on the Internet. One very obvious way to stand out is to get a unique design. And I don’t mean get a free Wordpress theme and tweak the CSS. I mean actually pay top designers to make a design that absolutely defines your blog. Such a way that it gives your blog character.
Some examples of this are:
They all have designs that define them and their blog. They give the blogs personality and you feel you can recognize and affiliate a certain aspect to their blog that you can’t with others. Most blogs don’t have this quality. If you have the cash, splashing out on a proper design is well worth it.
3. Be controversial.
Obviously being controversial will get you noticed. But don’t do it in a bad way. You can be controversial without being an a-hole! Just voice your opinion, subtlety call people out, disagree with things you ACTUALLY disagree with. All makes way for serious debate, long discussion and of course; Attention. Write passionate posts about things you are passionate about, it will come out a lot easier and you will also be able to voice your real opinion with more ease.
If you actually look at successful bloggers, business men or really ANYBODY successful in any conceivable subject, art or other; They all have one thing in common. They stand out. The Beatles stood out because other people didn’t sound like them, Mike Tyson stood out because other people couldn’t fight like him, Einstein stood out because other people couldn’t think like him. You have to find a way of separating yourself from the common bunch. Learn to live with your habits and use them to your advantage because unless you do, you will end up stealing other people’s habits subconsciously and making their work, your work. Becoming a member of the common bunch, turning no heads and raising no eyebrows isn’t a good thing. Don’t worry what other people think, do what you think is right, voice your opinion at all times on the web and follow through on your ideas.
If you currently own a blog, have just read this post and have just woken up to the fact that your blog doesn’t stand out. Change it! Focus obsessively on being different until you actually are different. Being unique is very important these days, especially in blogging, especially on the Internet and especially in this niche.
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I must agree with your points on this article. However I think there’s more you need. Something that will make you look different.
Reply to this commentMike Tyson made himself look different by chewing on boxer’s ears. Chomp, chomp!
Reply to this commentMichael Jackson made himself different too by changing the color of his skin…. lol
Reply to this commentHe showed us that a black man in poverty could become a rich white man
Reply to this commentHa, well, Michael Jackson had vitilgo.
Reply to this commentMike Tyson made himself even more different by getting a tattoo on his face
That’s a little too different, but I admit it stands out.
Reply to this comment~Terry
John as always you come up something useful and different information.
One should never underestimate the power of being unique. We must be remarkable in whatever we do.
Cheers,
Reply to this commentCodrut Turcanu - “Succeeding Against All Odds!”
Great post… but we are running out of things to make ourselves any more unique than the next jack-in-the-box that comes along.
Reply to this commentYou can some up how to make your blog stand out in one line: Provide better content then the next guy.
Reply to this commentWhen I was brainstorming my blog I just wrote down all the things I would like to see in my particular niche, sadly I didn’t implement them my first time around… but 2 weeks after my redesign I started to see more traffic than I ever did with the first one.
I’m sure things would be different today if I had only done my own thing instead of trying to be like everyone else.
Thanks for the post, its a topic that can never be overemphasized.
Reply to this commentBeing remarkable is the only way to survival. The marketing genius Seth Godin makes that point again and again!
Reply to this commentYa. you are right the blog design must be different & should perfectly define the blog, i am also copping with this problem & searching for a good template that can fit into my blogger account !! plz anyone help me find one for ma blog
Reply to this commentI find that being controversial helps attract readers. I’ve posted about things like the 8-hour work day being antiquated, school being inherently flawed and failing to prepare people to become entrepreneurs, working until you’re 65 and retiring doesn’t work, etc., and those topics generally attract people because they’re new and unique.
Reply to this commentI have a hardwood floor as my blog background. If that’s not unique, I don’t know what is!
Reply to this commentI agree with you 100% on the unique blog design need to save up and get that done but in the mean time free one will do
Reply to this commentUnique Blog Designs are the way forward
Reply to this commentIt’s the BOMB.
Reply to this commentI agree with the theme design also, I’ve purchased a set of themes and now I can use them on any site I want… gives it a nice base to start with. Having a nice logo also helps, I need to work on that.
Reply to this commentsometimes is better you pay a professional designer do the job than buy a generic theme on the internet. The designer will cost more but the job is gonna be the way you want.
Reply to this commentsometimes when you buy a theme over the internet some plugins doesn’t work with. I had this bad experience before.
Notice that he said it gives him a base to start with, so I doubt he’s just putting the themes up the way they came.
Reply to this commenthelpful post john!
Reply to this commentIt also helps when you have a memorable name
Reply to this commentI’m so impress of the crowd visitor on blogging. More traffic you can earn a lot of money..Wow this site just post a article just only one day and received hundred to thousand comment just on that day. This can defeat traffic all Internet entrepreneurship marketer. checkout the this site http://www.chedet.com
Reply to this commentNick,
Reply to this commentI agree with most of the stuff you talked about, but there is something i would add. The quality of content is much more important then the quantity. I think you really need to emphasis this point as we already have enough crappy content in the blogasphere. People are self serving and will not subscribe and really follow a blog that publishes content that doesn’t benefit them in some way (people subscribe because they don’t wanna miss out on your helpful or entertaining posts). People don’t subscribe to a blog just because it pumps out 5 articles a day. Plus nobody will link to a blog just because it has a boatload of poor content. 1 good post can bring more links and subscribers then 100 terrible ones.
It will also help if the info is unique with some controversial elements….
Reply to this commentI agree in principal to most of what you have written here John. You have made some great points. On design though (I’m a marketing guy who loves design), there are cases where a blog’s design has no impact. Take Seth Godin for example. His blog’s design is as plain-Jane as they come yet his is one of the most read blogs on the web today. He has the content and controversy part down pat though doesn’t he?
Reply to this commentMost importantly, be yourself. Everyone is unique and different. If you put yourself into your site and posts, your site is already unique. Don’t look at what everyone else is doing and just do that because it is what is working for them. Sites that aren’t unique are because you are trying to be someone else. Write about things that interest you. Just because John writes on entrecard or twitter, doesn’t mean you have to. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t. If it really interests you, then go for it, but don’t just do it because someone else did.
You could even say you read John Chow’s post on twitter, and decided to test it out. Then post about your experience with the service. Don’t just view all the hot sites, and write about the same things they are, because half of them probably don’t even interest you. Just be you, and post often.
Shudogg Dot Com - Make Money Online Blogging
Reply to this commentThis was a great post. Because of this, I REALLY need to rethink my blog’s theme. Even to me, it looks horrible and I am just starting out with NO tech knowledge. I will try my best. I’m positive by reading this blog I will gain more tips. Thanks for all of your informational posts!
Reply to this commentU shud thank the guest poster not John
Thanks to John for putting this up tho!
Reply to this commentI could just agree with you John and it is the samething for regular website like mine as well.
Reply to this commentShame it was a guest post!
Not always the same but there are some aspects which should be used the same.
Reply to this commentWell I think that a unique design is really good but perhaps it is a bit expensive for some new bloggers. I designed my own theme and my logo. It is a bit far from professional designed logos but for me is enought.
Reply to this commentCheers!
I think out of the three points, being controversial is the hardest if you are by nature, not the type who likes to fire people’s imagination.
You also have to prepare for the brickbats and bad publicity that comes along with being a controversial character. Not everybody can handle it.
http://jeflin.net
Reply to this commentIt’s too hard to be 100% different and unique but from time to time people get new fresh ideas.
Reply to this commentJohn,
Agreed - I particularly like (and doing) the no. 3 - the controversial part.
Cheers!
Reply to this commentIt’s not John who wrote this
Reply to this commentA unique design is essential. Once you get past 100 or so RSS readers, you have to get a different look other that what everyone else has.
Reply to this commenti think that I stand out in the crowd because I am the one who makes my own theme.
Reply to this commentHere is how I did it.
Reply to this commenthttp://wahb.biz/2008/05/09/experimenting-with-your-themeexperimenting-with-your-theme/
yes unique is nice.
Reply to this commentBut the sites you mentioned i.e. zacjohnson, shoemoney–are they unique to each other.
It looks very similar to me in design–and both made by the same company.
I’m unique, that’s what my mum says. She also says I’m special.
Reply to this commentI find #1 the most interesting. I try to publish posts into the future when I have more than one sent out in a day, that way people don’t get bombarded. I’ll have to try it out and see what the results are! I’m working on #2 and already got my first “you hypocrite!” comment from #3
Reply to this commentStanding out in the crowd since 1993.
Reply to this commenthttp://www.instadaily.com/images/worlds-tallest-man-saves-dolphin_18.jpg
I think I have to make my own design with bid banner instead of using free design by WP to stand out in the crowd.Thanks John.
Reply to this commentOne can still make a unique design out of a template. You’d have to do much more than just tweaking the CSS though. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Reply to this commentI think that the unique design is the most important since that’s what get the readers attention the first second he visits your blog.
Reply to this comment