Filed under: Uncategorized
It’s taken me some time to come to realise the truth behind this post title: “Blogging success lies with a focused niche”. And this principle applies in several ways for me and my business:
- Greater focus differentiates my information and opinion from everyone else
- A narrower niche makes finding post subjects easier
- The resulting greater concentration makes finding somethjign interesting to say easier
The previous posts in Social Web Report have been my interpretation of the wider issues of the social web. Now there are plenty of bloggers with far more experience than me bringing considerable experience to bear on these same issues – so what can I bring to the world that they haven’t already? Also people I meet are still unsure what I mean about the ‘Social Web’. So I’d pitched myself alongside the big profile names, only to find myself unable to communicate my message and interest to the people who matter to me!
So, I’m still trying to find the niche which will help me blog regularly. I have two other blogs I run, RRF Viral, which is my entry into the world of viral video making, and the local National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Grampian Branch blog (just set up this week). Now time will tell whether I can continue posting regularly to these, but they are both driven by activities. For example, I’m pushing the viral video work as part of my business, and I’m secretary of the local NUJ branch. But the Social Web Report is about ideas.
This difference between activities and ideas is an important one to bear in mind when you’re working out the subject of your own blog:
- Find a subject you’re knowledgeable in, or are passionate about
- The subject should be relevant to you, your life, business etc
- If it’s a common subject (especially tech) then find your own niche – to make your content stand out
If there’s one thing the net teaches us, it’s that the niche flourishes. In the traditional world of publishing, the market drove the breadth of niches – so they were broad. In other words, lots of people will read about fashion, football and gossip, and so there are magazines or TV programmes to meet that need (mostly supported through advertising). But how many people were interested in say buying and reading a magazine about one farm in Georgia, USA where the husband is building a waterwheel? Much less, of course (if any!).
The internet allows us to all to publish our own ideas in words, pictures, audio and video. So the publishing world has opened up. Surf the web today and you’ll find information about absolutely anything. It’s a challenge that’s almost too scary to try – human nature being what it is!
So find your niche and focus on it. That’s what I’m going to do with Social Web Report. I’m going to steer it back to what I do best… as a journalist I ask the basic questions: How does that work, why is that the case, what about this and that? SO, I’m going to try going back to basics to explain the minutiae of the ‘Social Web’.
Let’s see if this niche is focused enough for me.
Filed under: Advertising, Platform, content, marketing | Tags: Advertising, Bluetooth, marketing, mobile, proximity marketing, service
In a previous post I’ve written about the use of Bluetooth SMS proximity marketing and how it is reaching out to people in unexpected ways. Well, I was walking along Aberdeen’s Union Street and my mobile phone went off again – asking me if I wanted to accept an unsolicited message. I accepted and received a message asking if I wanted help escaping the debt trap!
This technology will soon be picked up by every type of business. I can see me walking down the street on a Saturday evening being Bluetoothed by bars, shops, lapdancing clubs, gyms, supermarkets, solicitors, accountants, recruitment agencies – all with offers of services and bargains.
But when that does happen, how will I pick and choose which to accept? I’m only accepting now because it’s a novelty. That’ll wear off if dozens start coming my way.
