Blogs with original content are better. They aren't necessarily ranked among the most popular or the most followed. Now you might say that for me to say, "original content is better" is stating an undisputed fact - a point so painfully obvious, it's hardly worth making. But then I would challenge you to take a little stroll around the blogosphere. And while you're at it - take note. Original content doesn't make up the vast majority of the posts I see. So I'm calling out the billboard bloggers or spam bloggers (as I've decided to call them) because I'm getting annoyed.
Yes, I understand the underlying motivation behind reposting content. Irroniously the idea is driving more traffic, easier to post more frequently, get higher search engine rankings, blah, blah, blah...that's hardly the point. It's lazy and it baffles me how many blogs thrive on little to no original content.
Each of the 50 million bloggers out there are motivated to blog for a reason. Some want an open microphone - a voice and a platform. Others like to use it as an outlet for sharing their writing, photography or art, others want to be popular, be seen, or just get noticed. I think some just want an online entourage. I mean, that's what I'm after......
So why do I blog? The truth is blogging was laughable to me not so long ago. The very notion seemed entirely lame, self absorbed, and like a complete waste of time. So needless to say, I came into blogging with every ounce of skepticism a person could muster. But...I decided on a total whim to give it a try. And then I just kept doing it - one original post at a time. Blogging became a way to share a part of myself with the world. I had no idea what I was going to call the blog or what I would write about because it seemed like there were so many things to share. How could I pick just one interest? After all, this was a blog for sharing and life is much too rich for a singular focus. So I just decided to write about anything I thought was worth sharing. I write about cooking, fly fishing, the Christian faith, sailing, gardening, politics, books I read, and so on. I do this so that if anyone does stumble upon my little corner of the net, they might leave with some information, a challenge, encouragement, motivation to try something new, spiritually uplifted, etc.
So as I climb down from my tower of high ideals, the point is I think we should strive to share more original content. The posts you find on SRM are my own photography, my own writing, and the product of time I like to pretend is well spent. So while you may find it disappointing that I don't monotonously re-post the fun loving content readily found on fifty other blogs, it doesn't bother me one bit. This is why I don't post five times a day or even five days a week. I post when I have something to say and I post about things I think are worth saying. On the extremely rare occasion I do re-post something, it is generally removed within a weeks time because, while it may be worth sharing, it's not my work.
This is my blog. If you want to read a bunch of spam (even entertaining spam), there are thousands of other blogs where you'll easily be able to get your fix. Just think of it kinda like watching cyber re-runs. If you're a spam blogger, do yourself some good and repost this little rant. It'll be medicinal for you and you probably can't resist doing it anyway.
Yes, I understand the underlying motivation behind reposting content. Irroniously the idea is driving more traffic, easier to post more frequently, get higher search engine rankings, blah, blah, blah...that's hardly the point. It's lazy and it baffles me how many blogs thrive on little to no original content.
Each of the 50 million bloggers out there are motivated to blog for a reason. Some want an open microphone - a voice and a platform. Others like to use it as an outlet for sharing their writing, photography or art, others want to be popular, be seen, or just get noticed. I think some just want an online entourage. I mean, that's what I'm after......
So why do I blog? The truth is blogging was laughable to me not so long ago. The very notion seemed entirely lame, self absorbed, and like a complete waste of time. So needless to say, I came into blogging with every ounce of skepticism a person could muster. But...I decided on a total whim to give it a try. And then I just kept doing it - one original post at a time. Blogging became a way to share a part of myself with the world. I had no idea what I was going to call the blog or what I would write about because it seemed like there were so many things to share. How could I pick just one interest? After all, this was a blog for sharing and life is much too rich for a singular focus. So I just decided to write about anything I thought was worth sharing. I write about cooking, fly fishing, the Christian faith, sailing, gardening, politics, books I read, and so on. I do this so that if anyone does stumble upon my little corner of the net, they might leave with some information, a challenge, encouragement, motivation to try something new, spiritually uplifted, etc.
So as I climb down from my tower of high ideals, the point is I think we should strive to share more original content. The posts you find on SRM are my own photography, my own writing, and the product of time I like to pretend is well spent. So while you may find it disappointing that I don't monotonously re-post the fun loving content readily found on fifty other blogs, it doesn't bother me one bit. This is why I don't post five times a day or even five days a week. I post when I have something to say and I post about things I think are worth saying. On the extremely rare occasion I do re-post something, it is generally removed within a weeks time because, while it may be worth sharing, it's not my work.
This is my blog. If you want to read a bunch of spam (even entertaining spam), there are thousands of other blogs where you'll easily be able to get your fix. Just think of it kinda like watching cyber re-runs. If you're a spam blogger, do yourself some good and repost this little rant. It'll be medicinal for you and you probably can't resist doing it anyway.
Just keep writing, "one original post at a time"...
ReplyDeleteI love that phrase, that standard; and, I love your blog for that vary reason. It's multi-layers and depth. Faith. Fish. Cooking. Books. Flies. I'm never quite sure what I'll get, reading your posts, and that's what keeps me reading!
Cheers to originality!