Mar 23, 2009
How to Stand Out in a Blogging Crowd Posted by Jamie Harrop - 31 Comments
Photo by Julio Kohl
There’s not many blogging niche’s that are free from overcrowding. Everywhere you look in the blogosphere, somebody, somewhere (plus 99 others) are blogging about every, and indeed any, topic.
So in an industry that often resembles the scenes of ‘Rua 25 de Março’ (seen in the photo above), how do we stand out from the crowd? How do we draw attention to ourselves? How do we build a relationship with a reader who, undoubtedly, is reading 25 other blogs in the same niche as us? These were the questions I asked myself as I was preparing to launch Blogging Zest 10 days ago. Below are my answers.
Your ‘About’ Page Should Create a Connection
There’s no debate that, after your home page, your ‘About’ page is the most important page on your blog. 60% of new visitors to my blogs click straight to my about page after hitting the home page. It’s a natural reaction for humans to want to know about the person behind the creation (be it a blog, art or something entirely different). For example, while Banksy’s art is good, it’s the constant quest to find out more about the shy and hidden artist that consumes the time of most people interested in his work. It’s the same with blogging. For some reason, no matter how good our writing or art is, it’s the person beyond the creative that continues to inspire and draw in others.
For readers to become subscribers, the reader has to feel a connection. They must feel drawn to you. They must find something you have in common with each other. And that’s why they head to your about page. At that point, when they click that mouse button and search for the connection, they want to subscribe. All you have to do is give them a reason.
So when I came to writing my about page, I had ‘connection and emotion’ in mind. I wanted to build a connection. And I wanted to provoke emotion. I wanted readers to leave my about page feeling ’something’. Quite what that ’something’ should be, I wasn’t sure. It could have been laughter, sadness, feel-good-happiness, surprise, anticipation or any number of other emotions we humans are capable of expressing.
All my previous about pages have been nothing more than a self-obsessed-alpha-male-ego-trip. They went something like this, albeit in many hundreds of words, rather than one paragraph:
“Hi! I’m Jamie. I have green eyes. I’ve achieved this, this, and this in my seven year career, and I’ve appeared on X radio and in Y newspaper.“
So while I could have gone the same route this time, listing links to radio and newspaper interviews, boring everyone with my business history, telling you about what I hope to achieve with Blogging Zest, and (because I don’t have a wife of 14 years and two lovely kids) tell everyone I have two brothers and no pets, I knew that wasn’t going to build a connection.
So What Did I do?
There’s no better way to build a connection and evoke emotion than to tell a story. With three of my most popular blog posts being stories, experience has shown me they work well.
Naturally, the only story I could tell on my about page was the story of my life. Or the story of my childhood.
Childhood, specifically, evokes great emotion. And unlike adults where we all move on to doing our own things, for many of us our times as children were very similar, allowing us to make connections.
Just 10 days after launching this blog and publishing the about page, which tells stories of sleep overs, squashed hamsters, business plans at nine years old, smashed windows, childhood graffiti and girlfriends, I’ve received countless messages from readers. Most say they couldn’t stop laughing. One said she was crying with laughter. Another took the time to (quite rightly, might I add!) tell me how cute I am in the photo as a seven year old. And another? Well, he took it upon himself to post a link to my about page on Twitter, treating it like a creative blog post. After he recommended my about page to his friends, I knew there and then that my effort to build a connection and evoke emotion had worked.
Don’t slip in to the sea of boring about pages. Stand out from the crowd. Be different. Ensure it’s interesting for your readers, and not just another self-centred ego-trip.
Create a Mini-Bio in Your Blog Sidebar
Blogging Zest is the first blog where I’ve used a mini biography in the sidebar, and the results are amazing. The “Find Out More” link that goes to my about page receives five times more clicks than the “About” link in the main menu at the top of the blog. The image to the left shows the heat map of the area of the site where the mini-bio is located. I guess that quick, one-paragraph introduction does a great job of enticing people to read more about the person behind the blog.
Display Testimonials from Current Readers
Whether via blog comments, emails or social networking, at some point, somebody will express their gratitude for your writing and the community you build around your blog, so why not bring those positive comments together in one list and turn them in to a list of testimonials? There’s very few better incentives to subscribe than recommendations from real people.
Create a ‘Welcome’ Post for New Subscribers
One of the best ways I use to help Blogging Zest stand out above the masses is making use of a ‘Welcome’ post for new subscribers.
Readers who subscribe in their RSS reader will see a post titled “Welcome New Subscriber! Get Your Free Ebook!”.
The welcome post gives a personal message from me, and also a link to the free blogger interviews ebook that all subscribers are entitled to. The post is a ’sticky’ post and only displays in RSS readers (it doesn’t display publicly on the blog). The ’sticky’ feature ensures that no matter how many posts I publish at Blogging Zest, the welcome post will always display when a reader subscribes.
How Do You Create a Sticky Welcome Post?
The post actually makes use of two WordPress plugins. Here are the steps to create your own sticky, RSS only welcome post.
1. Create a WordPress category called “Subscriber Only”
2. Download and install the Advanced Category Excluder plugin.
3. Once installed, go to the plugin settings and change the checkbox settings for the “Subscriber Only” category to correspond with this screen shot (click to enlarge):
4. Download and install the WP-Sticky plugin. Unfortunately, the Advanced Category Excluder doesn’t work with WordPress’ built in sticky post functionality, so downloading the WP-Sticky plugin is required.
5. Write your blog post. Assign it to the “Subscriber Only” category. Check “Sticky” in the “Post Sticky Status” box on the right side of the “Write” page.
6. Publish! There you have it. A sticky post that is visible only to your RSS subscribers.
Create a Survey for Your Subscribers
This is a relatively new area for me, but one that has already proved its worth.
Included in the ‘Welcome’ post is a link to a “30 second subscriber survey”. The survey asks just one question: “How did you find Blogging Zest?”. It really does take just 30 seconds to answer. The result gives me a good idea of where most of my subscribers are finding Blogging Zest (Mostly Twitter, so far, by the way), and also gives me a good chance to get my subscribers interacting with me and the blog.
In an ideal world I would have the survey post setup as an RSS only sticky too, but it seems the WP-Sticky plugin combined with the Advanced Category Excluder only likes one sticky post. While the amount of surveys I was receiving during the launch when the survey was a sticky were very high, I decided to replace the survey sticky with the ‘Welcome’ sticky and link to the survey from the welcome post. The percentage of subscribers who complete the survey is still significant and enough to let me see and analyse trends.
To setup your own subscriber survey, create your survey form, insert it in to a post and assign that post to your ‘Subscriber Only’ category.
Try to keep the survey short. You should be looking to build the interaction between you, your subscriber and your blog as much as you are looking to collect survey results and find trends.
In this ever growing blogosphere, it’s becoming increasingly important to stand out from the crowd. Hopefully by employing some (or all) of these tactics, you’ll be able to get the edge over the other bloggers in your niche.
If you’re a subscriber here at Blogging Zest, what effect did the welcome post and survey have on you? How do you try and ensure your blog stands out? Is your about page just a long ego-trip about your qualifications, or is it interesting that is full of the same amount of energy that you put in to your best blog posts? Let us know in the comments!
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I'm a
22 year old self employed blogger and Web developer with
9 years experience running and managing blogs and online communities.
good points all,
I like your mini bio in the sidebar – very personal and immediately shows a connection even before going to the about page.
Phill
Phillip Gibb’s last blog post..Video Setup
Thanks for an instructive post!
On my blog http://goodlifezen.com I’ve put up a link to a short “welcome”
video. I’m getting lots of hits on that.
I reckon that a ‘welcome’ video makes people more comfortable because they can see that the blog is written and run by a real person.
@Phillip Thanks for the comment, Phill. Yep, I think the key to most things in blogging is being personal.
@Mary Hey Mary. I’ve been thinking about recording a welcome video for a while. Once I get the equipment, I’d like to do something similar to Darren at ProBlogger at the start of his “Great first impressions” video: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/01/08/how-to-create-great-first-impressions-on-new-readers-and-convert-them-into-loyal-readers/
Jamie
Nice post as always Jamie.
I must say you do have one of the better about us pages I’ve seen. I think it makes it a bit easier since it’s a personal blog, fun or witty about us pages would be much more difficult on a corporate web site.
Nick’s last blog post..NapFish Internet Solutions Launches New Logo
Nice post Jamie and very true.
With so many blogs out there the only way to be remembered is to make a connection with your users and thereafter use it to build trust and credibility before anything else.
I beleive that engagement, trust and credibility are the three very important ingredients for blogging success.
Thanks for an interesting post
Hi Jamie,
Your tips are really good and kinda worth trying.This is my first visit to here and your blog made me subscribed.Thanks for the tips.Keep on going.
I’m new to the river of blogging and learning how to swim whilst swimming
Hi Jamie – Thank for for this informational post. As you know, I’m in the process of rewriting my About page. I just read yours and must admit, your words take your readers on a most enjoyable journey. I love the photo of you as a young boy and the one of you now. For a 21 year old you’ve done more than a lot of adults twice your age. Be proud of your accomplishments. I’m guessing your blogging future will be very bright.
BTW: Thank you for the lengthy and value based comment on my blog today. I’ve started hacking away at my list, and like you said, breaking it up into smaller increments does the trick.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..When Things Aren’t As They Appear
I think you’ve heard enough congrats from all of us already, which you are well deserved. I’m glad you made some changes and this new site is very appealing, great contents. Probably just got yourself a new reader. ^^
I need to work on my blog templates & layouts too, thanks for the encouragement story. Although I couldn’t be the hottest bachelorette in town for so many reasons (LOL), but I really hope to be as successful.
Ching Ya’s last blog post..The Reveal: Killer Apps for A Successful Twitter Network (Pt.2)
@Nick Thanks Nick. Yep, it’s much easier to be creative on a personal blog
@Bronson Hey Bronson. Thanks for the comment. “engagement, trust and credibility” Wow. Those are three crucial words in the blogosphere, aren’t they?
@Mary Grodd You’re welcome.
@Vikum Learning to swim while swimming is a great way to learn. That’s how I learnt.
Glad you’re subscribed, Vikum. I’m looking forward to more comments from you.
@Barbara Thanks Barbara. I’ve only scratched the surface of what I want to do. There’s so much more, and I won’t be happy or totally proud until I’ve done them all.
No problem, regarding the comment. I started writing, then found I just couldn’t stop. Doh! That happens a lot. Glad you’re managing to hack away at the to-do list.
@Ching Hey Ching! Hope you’ve subscribed.
With so many free templates around that can easily be modified, I’m sure you’ll find a template that works for you.
Thanks for all the comments everyone! Please keep them coming.
Jamie
Hands down some of the best blogging tips I’ve read this year. With so much to do on our blogs (especially new ones) it can be easy to forget the details that truly matter.
Jamie, your insights into launching a new blog are invaluable mate. Keep ‘em coming.
Marc – WelshScribe’s last blog post..5 Words Guaranteed To Lead To Freelance Writing Success
It’s certainly easy to get drawn in to the mundane every day tasks of writing, publishing, writing some more.
Thanks Marc!
Jamie
That “sticky welcome post” tip is pure gold – thanks for that, Jamie, and for the rest of this very useful post!
rjleaman’s last blog post..Nonprofit Budgets Benefit from Greener Events
An amazingly rich, useful post! It’s my first visit here (I enjoy your comments over at Blogopolis Blueprint) but this post has guaranteed your blog a place in my new blog’s blogroll in the ‘blog-building help’ category! Thank you for sharing this so generously!
I LOVE the page that just came up to thank me for my first ever comment! I’d
love if you could tell newbies like me how to do that! (I haven’t had a chance to root through your archives yet so forgive me if you already have.)
Hey Janice,
Glad you like the site. I can’t wait to see your new blog.
The thank you page after your first comment is a really good way of converting commenters to subscribers. I haven’t wrote about it here yet, but I do have a guest post on WriteToDone.com that will be published soon which explains how to do it. In short, it’s nothing more than an excellent WordPress plugin called ‘Comment Redirect’. You can download it at http://yoast.com/wordpress/comment-redirect/
Hope that helps!
Thanks!
Jamie
I love the readers testimonial idea. That is really brilliant.
People always underscore the importance of testimonials for selling products, but why not for merely getting people to follow your blog?
I’d also like to say that I love your domain name.
Here’s one of the reasons why: Many people associate blogs about blogging with boredom. But you’ve incorporated blogging with *zest*; a word that evokes a feeling of interest.
Really smart blogging here.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntended’s last blog post..Why Do People Clap in Movie Theatres?
Thanks, Jamie!
I’m thrilled you’ll be over at Write to Done; Mary’s so open and receptive, she’s a breath of fresh air! If I come across new people whose writing I like, she’s my Stumble-y/Diggit-y go to place.
About testimonials. I’ve read a lot of great stuff on the benefits of doing this because so many life coaches get their recommendations by word of mouth. I’ve kept every nice word anyone ever sent about my articles to cheer myself up when I’m down; I’ve even got a page, but probably because of my Scottish “don’t get too full of yourself, lassie” upbringing,I’ve not yet been able to cross the line into making it live.
janice’s last blog post..A Faithful Hand
[...] Jamie recently took one blog from 0 to 100 subscribers in 11 days. Today, with posts such as How to Stand Out in a Blogging Crowd, he writes about blogging, social media and online [...]
Hi, Jamie:
Your posts are the best and most helpful.
Thanks
leonard waks’s last blog post..For a Progressive President, a Very Nonprogressive Educational Policy
Hi Jamie,
thanks for such useful info. The time of day for publishing a blog was something I’d enver considered.
Glad I stumbled across you. You can add one more subscriber to your list!
Have a good day.
Hey, that’s a really useful post! I’ll go apply some of the tips in a few moments…
Just as soon as I have a look at how you convert commenters to subscribers. Which is why I’m really posting this comment. Industrial espionage :p
Vlad Dolezal’s last blog post..One Awesome Attitude That Can Transform Your Life
I think it’s a great idea to do a short bio in the sidebar. I’ve actually gone a step further on by blog http://goodlifezen.com – I’ve put a short “Welcome Video” in the sidebar.
cheers
Mary
Mary / WritetoDone’s last blog post..Where to Park Your Content: Decisions, Decisions
Great info Jamie
Love the mini bio idea.
Consider that stolen without any form of acknowledgment!
Cheers
Brendon
Brendon Sinclair’s last blog post..Hugh Jackman Donation – Can You Help Us Help Others?
I’m glad I happened upon this blog post. I’m going to work on changing my About Page today when I get home from work.
My blog is directly related to my business I’m trying to start, but I believe that the business I’m trying to get into will allow me to be more personal. I have some ideas that have popped into my head already.
I read a few of the first comments, but I skipped down to the bottom so I don’t know if it was already asked, but does Wordpress have a plugin for the mini-bio that you have on your front page?
Deborah Anderson’s last blog post..*Artist Spotlight* – Gary Alford – WuPoster
Hey Deborah,
I just asked my Twitter users whether there was a plugin. There doesn’t seem to be one, but they suggested using the “Text” widget found in “Appearance > Widgets” of the WordPress admin panel.
By adding that text widget to your sidebar, you should be able to add text for your biography.
Hope that helps!
Jamie
Time for some new posts Jamie.
Nick’s last blog post..Why use Wordpress to Build your Site?
I’ve been thinking about changing my about page. I’ll be implementing some of these ideas.
Andy Hough’s last blog post..Earn Cash Back with Cashbaq
Reader testimonial ideas – brilliant! I think I have everything else you mention. It’s at times like this I’m glad I have a list to poll!
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach’s last blog post..Easily Save Your Loved Ones From Being Horribly Scammed – Covert Angel Time!
Jamie, Where’d you go? 6 month vacation?
Great Post Jamie,
With so many blogs out there I find my self drowning and gasping for air. You have some great points.
I like the mini Bio Idea.
Also the story telling is fantastic. I love laughter.