Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.net Interview, Part 2
The Challenges Facing Today's Bloggers
Dec 17, 2008
Read Part 1 of the interview here.
Suite 101: What are two things that boosted you in the transition from "recreational blogger" to the position you have today within the industry?
Darren Rowse: Focusing upon a Niche - my first blog was very general, I talked about everything from spirituality, to culture, to politics, to hobbies etc. I found that the more topics I covered the more pushback I got from readers who didn't share my ecclectic mix of interests.
One of the best things I did was start a second blog with a focus - cameras and then other blogs on other interests. I found when I did this that readers responded really well as they were getting just what they wanted, I found freedeom in it because I could write as much as I wanted on those topics without worrying that readers would become disillusioned and found it was easier to monetize a blog with a focus. Advertisers dont want to advertise on a blog that is general - they want content and readers with the same focus as their products.
Suite 101: What problems, if any, do today's aspiring pro bloggers face that you did not?
Darren Rowse: These days it's much more cluttered then it was when I started. There are lots of blogs on many of the topics that bloggers want to start blogs on. This can be very disillusioning for new bloggers - however there's plenty of room for all.
Another challenge is the overwhelming choice that bloggers starting out have. There's choice when it comes to tools to use (there are so many it can be paralyzing to choose) and choice about what monetization strategy to go with (it seems that there are new ad networks and affiliate programs starting every day). When I started it was a lot simpler - there were few choices so you just used what you could.
Suite 101: In your professional opinion, what are some of the best ways to market a new blog and increase viewership?
Darren Rowse: I'd do a few things if I were starting out.
- Start with getting some great content written and posted on your own blog - unless you have something of a high quality there, people coming will not stay long.
- Offer to guest post on other people's blogs - pick blogs on your own topic with the type of readers you want.
- Find out what social media sites are big for your topic. There are lots of sites out there with plenty of readers on most topics - the key is to identify those that are relevant for your niche and build a presence there. These include social networks, social bookmarking sites and forums and community sites. Don't spam them, but build your profile and presence.
- Advertising - you don't need a lot of money these days to advertise online. Google's AdWords program, StumbleUpon Advertising, Facebook - all of these sites allow you to buy advertising.
Suite 101: What resources, your own or otherwise, could you point readers to that may help them get their blog off the ground?
Darren Rowse: There are plenty of posts and resources around. One series that I wrote was 'Blogging for Beginners' , which covers a lot of topics that new bloggers would need to learn about.
If you have a few dollars to invest - check out my book (a real hard cover one), ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income.
