What Do I Do After A Dud?!
Hey there friends.
After a pretty good start to last week with response and reads I noticed that the number of people that stopped by the site dwindled over the weekend and this week. Maybe it was because the weather was nicer, but I have a feeling that it was the content. I wrote a couple of duds.
(The exception being Manhood vs. Childhood by my good pal Patrick)
So, now I have to ask myself what to do. Do I link the bejesus out of the pieces that got skipped over, do I forget about them and move along to new pieces, or do I look at them again and try to figure out what I can do to get you more engaged.
The first 2 options are tempting because they are easy. It’s easy to pretend that everything is perfect and I just need to get the word out some more and keep doing what I’m doing. But the real answer lies in that 3rd option. I need to re-evaluate. I need to look at what has worked and drawn people in and made my words count for something.
So I’ve looked at a few of the pieces that haven’t been that popular or poignant and tried to figure out why.
What I’ve noticed is that the sports pieces haven’t flown as high as I thought they might. I’ve also seen that the pieces just looking for response without giving you anything aren’t pulling their weight.
So here’s what I’m asking (I know I just said nobody answers, but stick with me) what’s a good trade for you? If I’m going to put my hand out for response and answers to the questions I’m asking what do I need to be giving you first?
Should I be giving you the bits of information or knowledge that I do have so that you can see how little I know, or can fill in my blanks. Do I need to start with something more engaging than, I need your help. Do I make things about you and not me.
I have a feeling that all three of those things have to come into play. I read as many awesome blogs as I can find and have noticed that the posts that receive the most response are those that give something away. Whether that something is advice or insight into the writer’s life or a big awesome prize, it doesn’t seem to matter. But giving something to get something back looks like the winning formula.
It’s an old school bartering system. My furs for your sugar and flour. My stories at the campfire for your beer. Or trading Caitlin some time as the big spoon for some playing with my hair. I can see that now, but I guess I’d forgotten it. I got lazy and just started asking my questions and hoping for answers. I hope I’ve learned my lesson.
So here’s my offer moving forward, I will share and offer my thoughts and experiences and wisdoms/ foolishnesses with you and in return, if you feel so inclined, you can tell me what you think, what you dream about, where you want to go on vacation and what blogs you read.
I’m not an expert in the world of bartering, but I’m willing to give it a shot.
See you in the funny pages.
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
There is a story told about Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest Americans during the depression, who upon learning that one of his employees had just cost him $1,000,000 called the man to his office for a meeting. The man arrived, already accepting of his fate, walked into the office and blurted out “Sir, I just wanted to say it has been an honour working for you and I understand why you have to fire me.”
Mr. Carnegie looked at the man and replied “Son, why would I fire you after I just spent a million dollars on your education.”
The two proceeded to have a discussion on what the man had learned and how it would affect his future work.
What is your goal in having this blog?
What have you learned from your duds that help you reach that goal?
And that’s not all, as a free Idea that you won’t even find in the Vault if you wanted to run a contest, have a ‘which blog post is the worst’ contest to see what feedback you can get, without linking them to death, and still people will read them.
Dave Williams
Steward
p.s. does anyone know how to make a better picture than the brown square show up when I leave comments?