Recently on Twitter I was asked for some tips on what sets ‘great’ blogs apart from the rest.
With millions of bloggers creating blog posts every day – how do you stand out?
It’s a big question, and the reality is that there are many ingredients to building a successful blog.
A variety of words came to mind as I struggled to come up with my 140-character guide to ‘standing out’.
I started to list them:
- Credibility
- Share Your Opinion
- Great Writing
- Ability to Connect
- Understanding Readers
- Injecting Personality
As I brainstormed, I realised 140 characters was not going to cut it:
- Great blog design
- Tell Stories
- Use Great Visuals
- Network with other bloggers
- Be prolific
- Be funny
- Be smart
- Be first
- Write great headlines
I started to think of the blogs I love and what makes them stand out:
- Be Useful
- Be Entertaining
- Take note of your readers
- Have a different spin on things
- Be Original
The list continued to grow and with it my heart sank a little.
“There’s no one way to stand out…”
But then I had two realizations:
Firstly – I love that there’s no one way to stand out! There are no rules. There is no blueprint – and that’s what is so simultaneously exciting and frustrating about blogging.
That’s why I love what I do. Constant experimentation, learning, testing and trying new things.
The second thing I realised is that there actually was a common feature about all of the blogs that came to mind as ‘stand out’ blogs.
Passion
There are plenty of bloggers that do the things in the lists above. There are bloggers sharing opinions, writing well, with a heart to connect, with great personalities…. bloggers who are smart, funny, prolific, original, entertaining and bundles of wonderful!
But something that seems present and that shines through in the blogs that I read and love is passion.
They are created by people with passion for the topics being covered, passion for the process of creating content, passion for their readers, passion for learning, and passion for pushing the boundaries of thinking and creating.
They love… they enthuse… they delight in what they do. By doing so they somehow draw others into their passion too, which is where the real magic seems to happen.
This isn’t to say that passion is the only ingredient needed for success – but maybe… just perhaps… it’s what binds it all together and helps a blog just click.
Are you passionate about your blog?
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Oh you are so right! You have to have the passion to work your blog and try different things even when you feel like no one is listening or during those times you’ve completely given up.
Hey Margaret. Totally agree. It’s very hard in the beginning when you ‘don’t exist’ online – when no one has found you.
What’s your blog about?
Yes for sure. Once you start to roll with it it comes easier. Might have to read this one twice.
Passion is that the most wanted issue on behalf of me to stay blogging. As long as I actually have the inspiration ideas, the posts can flow otherwise its writers block. Story telling positively has its place within the blogosphere.
Anyway thanks for your ideas.
It was great to read this post about passion. As we all know passion is the key to get success without any backdown. We face many hurdles in our way of success but if we have passion for any thing to achieve then no one can stop us. It was motivating post i have read and it brought a positive attitude in me. Thanx for such a wonderful post. I hope i can come across such posts again.
Thanks for sharing! I agree with many of your points. I guess being passionate about blogging and the passion to learn is one of the key ingredients to keep your blog going!
I have a great passion but sometimes I fed up with blogging. Although you mentioned good tips
PASSION sums it all.
We should serious about our passion and try to fulfill our passion.
That’s why they say ”Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion”. Blogging is crazy! No one can make someone write everyday without passion :) Its crazy!!
Your website is using the color scheme I am considering. It looks great. Took me a while to find the menu though.
Wow, this is exactly what makes me stop following a blog, it’s just that sometimes it seems like they are working too hard. Missing that one thing: passion.
Even i was wondering , what ingredients make people keep going all the way despite many hurdles , and answer I think you give it perfectly .Thanks for sharing the recipe of success ;)
This just shows how many pieces must be put together by bloggers who want to build successful – which is almost everyone with a blog.
Yeah I agree to the fact the field of blogging grew a lot and still many are coming throughout every now and then what makes the blogs of yours better than the millions who are in this field whether new or old.That is a thing to be gave great importance to consider.Loved the way you thought about it and get the answers that you love this blogging thing because there is no assurance of being the best but still you do what you have been doing for such time because you are really passionate about it and that is it.
Loved the post and the way you think.
When I start blogging I was not much passionate about blogging. But i have passion and dedication. Don’t know what will happen! Just doing my work.
There was a time, long ago, I *tried* hard to make a go of a couple of blogs that were on topics that were “trendy” but not so much a personal passion. I kept blogging them for a couple of years, but in the end, when the passion is not there – blogging becomes a dreadful chore. I prefer to enjoy writing on my blogs.
Good point, well made Darren.
I whole-heartedly believe that when we come from a place of passion rather than financial return we set ourselves on the road to true wealth.
It may take longer to see that first dollar come in but the ultimate result is a much greater, more sustainable level of success. And if we’re honest, isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
Jx
PASSION this one word have lots of meaning.If you have passion for your work then it will not be work for us it become the part of ourself. I want to share here one quotes by NELSONE MANDELA –
“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
When I am working with a new client I always advise them to pick a topic they love before building an online business around it as you are going to eat sleep and breathe the subject for a while .
Passion makes content come alive for the reader and when a huge section of the internet is populated with the same old tired content, true passion for a subject will help you stand out.
YES! I am very passionate about my blog. It’s the second blog I’ve started, and before my launch, I didn’t sleep at all. I stayed up through the night and early morning working on getting it ready to go public.
I had been trying unsuccessfully to make my first blog take off. I was taking all of the advice and doing what all the popular bloggers were doing, but it just didn’t flow. My heart kept going back to the topic of a few of my earliest posts. Then one day, I realized that the topic needed more than just a few posts. It needed to be explored in a full blown blog with time and space to really dig deep. So I created it!
Agree,, passion make your jobs feel fun,,
I think passion is important, for sure. But… to be honest, I think that is only what gets you interested in writing about your niche. I think, if you truly want to succeed, you need:
1. to find your authentic voice
2. to never talk down to your audience
3. to be incredibly knowledgable about the subject, or incredibly insightful. Preferably both.
What a great relief to read such informative information. I am a new blogger, and I know have a blogified brain. I am drowning in all the info available yet addicted to learning more. I have struggled with some real confusion regarding the intent behind blogging. I finally broke down and put out a blog begging seasoned bloggers to help with their useful input.http://www.piddle.me/blogified-blog-brain/
Problem, I don’t have any followers yet to comment. :(
I know it takes time.
Just wanted you to know a newbie like myself, I am ever so grateful to run across USEFULL information.
Thanks, I’ll be coming back on a regular basis.
CaryFaith @ Piddle.me
Hi,
Creating a blog is easy,but maintaining a blog is always difficult.Blogger must and should have passion for having a blog.Blogger must post interest blog with useful information,then only visitor will visit our blog regularly. Your all information is really very informative.Thanks for sharing useful information to us.keep sharing
Regards
J.Rajesh
Yes, Passion is definitely the fuel to your fire, it keeps you going on a cold day when all the odds are against you. Passion is greater than motivation because motivation wavers from day to day, but passion is the intense ingredient that does not alter or change easily. Though you endure many changes through the vicissitudes of life, your passion will keep and inspire you to never ever give up.
Passion is always here. Passion is the start of all things good. I can write and write and write when I’m passionate, without much effort. Without passion I become dumb, I lost my creative juices. Writing stops, I choke, I fail to drink a cup of tea. All sorts of bad happens when I try to write where not passionate. Passion drools all over my writing and keyboard. To have it is wondrous, to find it, the wonder.
Passion can not be defined in words, phrases or Paragraphs. It can be feel only , a energy from your heart and brain makes your all senses extra powerful. A passionate person is in a state of Unstoppable.
Regards
Passion can make people to do anything for it!!
I am very much passionate about my blog! Without passion, one cannot be a good blogger in his niche. Though other things too are important in blogging, passion should be there to reach heights. Loved reading your post :)
For me passion is something which will drive you to do things you lie the most. I am passionate about my business knowing the fact that it is a very competitive market. But I know one day, may be not now, I will get success. I will reach at the pinnacle.
Cheers!
HI Darren
passion is important. One has to be passionate about a topic otherwise it’s hard to keep coming up with interesting articles time after time.
Cheers
Angus
Passion! I dream about my little unborn blog.. it is taking on more personality day by day and I cant wait to hit “publish”. found out about you from multiple bloggers enthusiastic chanting of your name. every post a gem, thanks for all the good stuff.
Hi Darren,
I’ve to agree with you that PASSION is the single most important habit you need to succeed in blogging. It takes years to make your blog grow and popular.
I’ve never see anyone succeed in blogging just for the sake of making money. You can make some but without the burning fuel, you ain’t cut it with blogging.
It’s the same with every thing you do in life.
yaa. my passion is blog. i usually write on the blog to documented what i learn. share to the people.
Aha the perfect post for Valentine’s Day!!
Great to read. Love what you do and be able to express it! My spin on the same day was about loving your customers.
Be passionate is passion! My wonderful leitmotiv !!
paul
Great information as usual. Going to keep this list and continue to review it.
Dope post. I don’t do nuttin’ without passion. Word.
I am agree with you. There is scarcely any passion without struggle.
I believe this is completely true and I don’t lack passion, but what I do lack right now is a certain amount of direction to take a blog into. I have had a few now that didn’t get any traffic and I didn’t like what I had started.
I am back to the drawing board again now. I have so many areas that I feel strongly about and the good domain names have been picked over.
Problogger.net is a professional site. I wonder how you pick the right topic, the right niche, and then get traffic so that you can develop a responsive readership.
Thanks
Scott
Spot on Darren. The best writing is always from the heart, even if the topic is a little boring. Generally, blogging can be hard, with most people expecting instant results and a flood of people knocking down their door. If you write about something that interests and excites you, then you’re half way there.
You can learn to be a better writer, but you need passion form the start.
Thanks.
One of the things I think your great list is missing, “Luck & Timing”, plus everything else you mentioned!!
Just started blogging and passion is so important. You have to have it in order to keep going when there is no one reading initially.
Do you think any niche can be profitable? How about a blog about birdwatching?
Passion for your business is the key to success in every field. If you share your passion with the world, it inspires those around you (and your readers) to show their passion as well. This then feeds your passion and inspires you to do more. It’s a very positive cycle that yields dynamic results.
Great post! The passion of blogging is really important.
in addition to the passion i think you should build a burning desire to become successful that will be the critical success factor for anything. thanks for sharing with us. cheers!!!
wonderful post! blogging is very essential.
Awesome site. Thank you for all your help
Being passionate about a blog greatly depends on the niche in my opinion. When blogging, you should always really like what you are talking about or the content wont flow for a visitor. I have learned this in the past.
My passion really comes and goes. I’d like to say it’s always there but sometimes it just isn’t. That’s when I’m kind to myself, take a break and come back to it when I have found some drive again.
I think you hit on one of the three p’s that make you successful. The other two are; patience and planning. You have to have a plan and be patient all the while maintaining your passion for blogging. Remember Rome was built in a day, rather than brick by brick. So remember your notoriety won’t either, rather blog by blog.
Stay blogging my friends
Meh
Same for me. I try to write a blog post every day, and hardly got time to write a single post each weeks after my web design work.
How can I emphasis more on writing post each day, rather than a week?
Thanks in advance!
Passion is the number one factor for me to keep blogging. As long as I have the inspiration ideas, the posts will flow otherwise its writers block. Story telling definately has its place in the blogosphere.
Anyway thanks for your ideas.