“Finding” Content is the Wrong Approach
July 25, 2007
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Dawud Miracle asks an interesting question in this morning’s post: “Where do I Find Good Content?“.
Dawud’s steering the discussion over there in the direction of purchased content.
Can it be done? I suppose so. But the original questioner was looking for “GOOD” content. Good content is expensive. Writing is like anything else. You pretty much get what you pay for.
I’m thinking that looking for content is probably more time consuming, more expensive and will be far less effective in the long run than simply writing your own blog posts. Let them bubble up from your passion.
If you are blogging for your business, it should be a natural fit. Let your passion for your business spill over into your blogging.
On the other hand, if you aren’t passionate about your business you might want reconsider the whole deal.
I guess I rarely struggle with post ideas. They are constantly popping in my head.
My struggle is in another direction. Time. Finding time to write when there is so much that needs doing is a big challenge.
But it is a rewarding one.
What do you think? Is good content out there for the finding?
Or is good content created?
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Tags: Blogging, Misc, Business Blogging, Content, SuccessCREEations
Hey Chris. I actually wonder if good content can be purchased. Sure, some can - without a doubt. But certainly not enough to keep your audience going.
Isn’t the reason people read your blog because what you write is coming from you and your unique observations, experience and way of communicating? I certainly think so.
Dawud, The publishing industry has been purchasing quality content for centuries. So it can be done.
I suspect it is cost prohibitive for all but the highest strata of bloggers, though.
People come to different blogs for different reasons. But the common denominator is interest. Is it interesting and compelling content? Fill it with drivel and watch people leave in droves.
Chris-
Chris I hate to say it, but you can “find” good content.
There are some successful (search engine/authority) business blog sites that in reality are nothing more than “Link Aggregators.” Some of these blogs keep up with dozens/hundreds of RSS feeds and when they find something good, they do a post with a 50 - 100 word take on the post and provide a Link.
This blows if that’s the majority of the site’s posts. I confess I do the same once in awhile, but not 70% - 90% of the time.
I would never follow a business blog that didn’t have valuable, original, Business Related (not personal) content 60% of the time.
Steve
http://www.coastaluruguay.com
I would say both yes and no. You can find good content in your own dealings with clients (or the things you did wrong).
Then you create good content from your own finds
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Good point, Steve.
Personally I much prefer links posts where the blogger adds some of their own personal take on the stuff they are linking to.
If all I see are links or links and excerpts it isn’t very likely I’ll be back to that site anytime soon.
Am I’m in the minority on this one?
Karin, That’s more finding content ideas isn’t it?
Ideas are the spark that gets the creative fires burning. Then the content follows.
Me, I find those ideas all around me. All the time. In fact I have to work at filtering them out to keep my writing more (or less) on topic. Sometimes I do that better than others.
Oh sure Chris. I was more referring to the post of Dawud.
As for ideas finding, absolutely. Too many in fact. But sorting through them - because I note most down in a little notebook - the better ones remain. Some are not relevant any more - even after a short period of time like only 1 day, you know those little thingies you thought would be a good post, but after thinking a bit more about it wouldn’t make good content.
Karin H.
My feeling is that good ideas are plentiful and they’re anywhere we care to look. The good content, rather, the content that matches our names, isn’t out there until we put it out there.
Karin, I find it funny how many of us online types still use pen and paper for our note taking.
Yesterday Gorgeous and I were on a conference call together and were getting some good stuff. Now I’m the tech/gadget one in our house but I took pages of notes on a legal pad. I noticed a little clicking in the background and realized Gorgeous was taking her notes on her laptop!
Carolyn, I think the thing is, some folks will buy good content by paying someone who wrote it or to write it. Some folks will link to it, like Steve suggested above. And then there are a few unscrupulous operators out there who simply steal good content and re-post it.
I’ve found the most heavily trafficked post in my archives copied verbatim out there a couple times. Frustrating to say the least.
Hi Chris
Yes, funny - but essential! My pc is in our shop - the only one with internet connection - and I work daily there. The home-pc had its internet connection removed on purpose!
But thoughts and ideas can come any time, every where. So everywhere I go (my thoughts go ;-)) my little notebook goes.
Karin H.
Karin, You are very wise!