The Times They Are A’ Changin
Bob Dylan
Since my last Blogging Tips’ post, much has changed. Thus, before year’s end, I felt it was time to offer up some reflections and recommendations.
For those unfamiliar with my background, I began with a professional blog which eventually became a nationally recognized. I then took on this private blog as a passion project.
This blog arises in part from my family tradition of being religious school educators. Besides a 35 year plus litigation attorney career, I spent a decade and a half as a religious school educator.
With all that said, and with over 1200 TCP blog posts, there is much insight to share.
Topics
Topic choice matters. For instance, due to this blog’s outright political nature, it was subject to algorithmic scrutiny.
At one point, major search engines refused to acknowledge this blog’s website in results. The political censorship was so extreme that one well-known search engine barred the blog from purchasing adwords.
Surprisingly, for some reason, the blog was removed from the ban. I now receive considerable traffic from the censorious search engines. Could it be that they finally appreciated the nature of the content?
The Beginning Matters
Timing matters. Every blog starts at a particular moment in time. Some start during the most interesting of times. Thus, political events or societal upset can shape the blog’s theme and formats.
A blog’s launch time also plays into a blogger’s expectations. A blog’s initial reception suggests what type of activity level the blog will have.
Also, those consuming your content may suggest your direction. Popular posts and comments are valuable data to consider. Often we judge our sites by results- interaction, i.e clicks, and engagement, i.e. follows and comments.
For this blog, The Ten Commandments Project, COVID-19 lockdowns and the George Floyd riots, dominated the headlines. At the time, everyone was at home; blogging engagement was vibrant. Further, many people collectively shared these experiences. It was quite different than it is presently. The circumstances allowed for many blogs to thrive with little promotion.
Consumer Time Considerations
As COVID-19 ran its course, and the political landscape has drastically changed, engagement is now different. As more people are reconnecting with the monotony of real world, people have less time for online entertainment.
Also, with their rare free time, people will gravitate to content they view as valuable. Likewise, topic interests shift, i.e. writing about live entertainment may draw more interest than during lockdowns.
Technology Considerations
The blogging landscape has also changed technically. Engagement has been completely altered by Artificial Intelligence- AI. Also, AI protocols may impact one’s ability to have impressions and rankings.
Search Engines are rapidly becoming obsolete as people’s searches are often accompanied with an AI answer. The AI answers often get to the point. They eliminate the need to go through search results. Also, any AI reference sources, i.e. your blog posts, are usually buried.
Also, AI algorithm assessments moving forward is problematic. AI lacks nuance. For instance, I quote Bible passages and the WordPress AI tools decline my requests to perform their functions. The Image, Meta Data, and Feedback Generators refuse to operate when I use certain words. I am told my request needs to go to some higher level.
The questionable passages often are about redrum. [Note: a movie reference for The Shining.] This outrageous reference is made so that I can get a little AI input to polish this post.
My little reality brings forward a greater reality. Since AI is trained to not perform services on certain content, is it using this approach for algorithm determinations?
The Blogging Pattern Problem
Blogger posting frequencies have changed. Some bloggers now put out massive amounts of daily “short form” content. These impact the visibility of “long form” content; this is especially the case with blog posts are in feeds. Thus, some bloggers struggle on issue of visibility. What can be done to get new consumers?
Solutions and Improvements
In light of the challenges, I offers up some strategies to consider.
#1, Be A Consumer
If you are reading this blog, it is likely that you are a WordPress blogger. If you want other WordPress users to be your customers, then, you need to be theirs. Thus, when someone shows interest in your blog, show interest in theirs. Engage them by following them, liking them and making comments. Many of these individuals will reciprocate. Who knows? You might enjoy their content and make a friend?
#2, Go Off Topic
If your blog is within a certain genre, sometimes you need to go “off topic.” Take something that you are as passionate about and do a post about it, i.e. Blogging Tips.
Also, not to confuse your readers, I recommend you label such as post as an “off topic.’ So, if you has a passion towards music, books, sports or entertainment, go for it. Personally, I have taken time to do book reviews. In doing so, I have even taken the time to reach out to the authors for content. They have been gracious.
Also, a well done post on any subject might draw someone to your blog. They simply may appreciate your writing quality and insights irrespective of your topic. Also, your followers might appreciate seeing you do something different.
Who knows? Maybe it could inspire another blog?
#3, Quality
I am not naturally gifted writer. Thus, I devote almost one-half of my blog preparation time towards the writing craft. Consuming writing technique books is helpful. Writing is truly an art form. Refining one’s skills can always make for better content. Given that language is dynamic, it is necessary. For instance, new words or usages are always coming up. Recently, the one’s that I find annoying are “the bag” and “receipts.” I still prefer the words “money” and “evidence. Professionally, I would not be caught dead offering up to a Judge “receipts.” And, I wouldn’t demand “the bag” for damages.
In the end, everybody loves quality writing!
Conclusion
A blog’s beginning creates expectations. Changing times require changing engagement patterns and promotion.
Thus, a blog requires adjustment over the passage of time to curry activity. A blog’s health requires continual assessment and refinement. Hopefully, these thoughts and suggestions will assist you next year.
In the end, I wish everyone well this holiday season. May each and everyone of you achieve your blogging success!
Be well!!
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