Comments on: What Should We Write About?

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:57:29 +0000

Thanks Forrest. I do intend to keep the marketing theme regardless of how else I focus things.

I think it’s ok to write something different every so often. It can be a problem if it happens too much, but the occasional post that differs is fine to me. I’ve seen the 80/20 rules used, which in this case means to keep at least 80% of your posts on topic. I’m not sure you need to put a specific % on it, though.

By: Forrest

Forrest — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:55:17 +0000

I read this mainly for marketing info and tips … especially with regards to the internet.

Interesting question. My last post went a bit against the grain, and an upcoming one – possibly the next – is a nature story for Christmas. I’m hoping my readers will be understanding this time of year.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:29:02 +0000

We’re sharing the same thoughts Pete. I’m thinking I’ll still write about all the subjects I currently write about, but having a little more focus would be helpful to readers. Posts that don’t fit as well with the theme I can offer to other blogs.

With the technical posts you can always try one out and see the response you’ll get. I don’t thing one post will turn anyone away, but it might turn out your prefers that kind of post. The only way to know is to put it out there and see what happens.

By: Dr. Pete

Dr. Pete — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:55:43 +0000

Not that this is a helpful answer, but I struggle with that, too: I hate confining myself, but I know that making my topic clearer has helped readership. I’ve found it in business networking, as well: it’s hard for even well-meaning people to help you until they can define you or your work to some degree.

On the other hand, I find I have a couple of highly technical posts in the making (algorithms and such), and I’m wondering if I’m writing them for me or for my audience (and, if I’m writing them for me, how my audience will respond).

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:51:18 +0000

@Kristine – I’ve asked a few times with mixed success. The comments I’ve gotten have been good, but there usually haven’t been as many as I’d hoped I would get. I do think it’s a good idea to periodically ask your audience what they want. It’s the most direct way of finding out.

Thanks for for being willing to take a look through some posts. No rush. I know it can take time.

@David – Thanks for the compliment. I definitely will write about something that keeps me interested. I wouldn’t be able to continue if I didn’t. What makes it hard for me is I have a lot of interests and I wonder if writing about to many different, albeit related topics, might be leading to less subscribers.

My plan would still be to write about the same topics, but push some of those topics out to other blogs in the form of guest posting. I could write more about blogging here for example and give seo posts to another blog and posts about design and development to yet another blog.

By: David LaFerney

David LaFerney — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:38:37 +0000

You’re a good writer Steven. You should write about whatever keeps you interested – otherwise, you’ll never be able to keep going.

That would be a shame.

By: Kristine Shreve

Kristine Shreve — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:26:46 +0000

I often ask my readers to tell me what I should write about, or what I should do while I’m contemplating a certain decision I need to make for the company. They always have good advice, and I’ve used a lot of their suggestions. After all, people who read our blog are also our customers. The best way to do what they want us to do is to ask them and then do what they tell us. Within reason of course.

As to what you should do, I tend to like your posts about writing and blogging best. You write well, and have some good insights, so I’m always interested in hearing what you have to say. I know, that’s pretty vague, so I’ll give it some more thought and see if I can come up with something more substantial.