Can’t Think of Anything Else to Write? Re-Blogging and Fresh Ideas
Published May 16th, 2007 in blogging, blogs, success, writingDo you know what re-blogging is? This is when you post something on your blog that’s already been posted about a million times already on other blogs. I’m not talking about scraping content. I’m talking about the latest pronouncement from Google or Microsoft, or guess what Seth Godin or Guy Kawasaki or Darren Rowse just said. It means that you’re writing to tell your readers something that they’ve already read or seen several times before even getting to your page, if they do get to your page.
I’ve thought about this quite a bit in the last few months. I used to be a re-blogger. Yes, I admit it and I feel dirty. Not really, but you’re probably starting to get the idea that I don’t really care for the idea much. I’ve found that most re-posting of information that’s already out there contains no new information. Many bloggers don’t bother to give much of a personal take on the information and so it’s just a short rehash of the story with a link to the source if the blogger is honest.
We all know how quickly some stories spread around the blogging world. If Google updates their AdSense TOS, everyone writes a quick post about it. The problem lies in the fact that everyone already read about it on ProBlogger first. Darren’s got twenty-some thousand RSS readers and who knows how many thousands more visit his page every day. Sorry, but I’m willing to bet that the A-Listers are the ones people go to first for the latest story.
Most of the time when I’ve re-blogged a news story, it’s been difficult to get readers to come and check it out. If there’s a catchy or controversial headline that illustrates my viewpoint, that can draw them in, but if it’s just a Google Changed Their TOS Again title… can you hear the yawns? If your post is putting readers to sleep or not drawing them to come to your page to read it, then why are you posting?
Before you get freaked out, think about this: does re-blogging add value in any way to your reader? If you can say yes, then by all means, go for it. If you’ve thought about it and the real answer is no, then you may want to reconsider what it is you’re providing for your readers.
Readers come to your page either because they found you while searching for information through one of the search engines or because they have you bookmarked or added to their feeder based on finding good information on your site at one time. If you want to keep them coming back, make sure that your posts have real value, either new information that your readers will find useful or an entertaining perspective. Above all, make sure your posts have your own personal touch. That’s what keeps me coming back to check out your blog.
Re-blogging is only interesting if you put a personal angle on the story, or a fresh perspective - news for news’ sake has lost its charm with me.
I totally agree. We get a million sources for the same 10 stories every day. In fact, for most of us, just the headlines are enough to get the news. If a blogger has some interesting way to make that information more useful for us, then that’s a good reason to check it out. Thanks for your comment!
Totally hearing you on this one my friend. It has just got totally rediculous the amount of blogs that contain exactly the same content as others. I wrote recently, Is Your Content King, or Queen, and it addresses the need to have more quality content.
I wrestle with re-blogging because part of me is saying well it maybe new to a reader, who am i to say it is old news andi should not rehash. i recently re-blogged about how the mars chocolate bar will not have animal product in it, which in my vegetarian community is news, and how do i know if it is new news or old news to my readers/visitors? i want to show my readers i am following the latest in my community and my personal perspective on it. that is another thing i have to work on, which is “my voice”. jay—how does one decide what is new to ones readers?
So true, Armen. It’s really hard to fight the big guys on their own turf. Unless you have resources that help you to get the news out faster than anyone else, it’s not really worth trying to compete with the A-Listers on news items…
Hey Missy. “You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay…” LOL. Blogging about the news really is fine as long as you add something to it. Your personal opinion is always going to be unique because you are unique. Your readers probably don’t come to your blog for the news items, but because they like reading what you have to say about it.
Don’t worry about finding your voice; it’s something that just happens over time. There’s really no way to hurry things along or search for a voice. The only thing you can do is just keep writing and blogging and your voice will develop. Good luck and thanks for commenting!