» March 6, 2008 in
Most of the blogs I'm reading are taking themselves WAY too seriously. So much I think they have a "serious" problem. Seriously.
Everybody and their sister is making lists as their blog posts, when did this become something people enjoyed reading, a list?
People are making blogging schedules and running their blogs like they are in the military.
Most blogs are starting to look like howto reference manuals and nothing with any personality.
Bunches of the bloggers think their blogs really matter to the larger world outside of the small niche they are in. They don't.
You are depressing me
Most people are taking their blogs WAY too seriously. I used to enjoy reading the moneylinks every day. Not so much anymore.
Now they are becoming Predictable, full of Contests (YUCK!!!!), boring, list oriented, totally lacking personality, and that's depressing.
The blogs, in general, used to have a bunch more personality. People used to chronicle their "story" or share themselves more.
Now they seem to be following the same formula, and they are pretty serious about it.
Quit Taking Your Blog So Damn Serious
Dude, you have like 1500 subscribers, give me a break. 99% of them wouldn't recognize you on the street if they bumped into you. You aren't a rockstar or brad pitt or garth brooks.
Do some video, smile, take a funny picture, blog about something you ENJOY tomorrow.
Do something different, let go.
Inspired by Any Dooley and the really repetitive blog posts lately:
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Vlad says on March 6, 2008
A refreshing thought at the end of a day full of drama lol
BlogEntrepreneur says on March 6, 2008
Whew...glad I didn't post my Top 100 Ways to Hold a Blog Contest Post today.
:-)
45n5 () says on March 6, 2008:
@blogtrepreneur - you do your lists much better than most, and I enjoyed the joke ;)@vlad - thanks ;)
Iantrepreneur says on March 6, 2008
I hope my blog is not serious - but it personal
nice great post and yes blogs need to be personal because it is a blog - it is not a forbes.com article it is a blog written by you the author - so put personality in it have some grammer errors - dance - who cares what others think you are writing what you think - blogging is a way to express
nice mark! I hate serious blogs out there and lists stuff I hate - just because they think pillar posts will help them get traffic, gah!
Lori aka Momtrepreneur! says on March 6, 2008
I think that's why I have a good readership. I throw some humor into my posts and talk like a real person and not a robot. I can't stand a blog without some sort of personality....boring!
Scott Jangro says on March 6, 2008
brilliant, Mark. seriously.
Tom Beaton says on March 6, 2008
Haha - I love the dancing. The fact of the matter is that there have been too many guides mentioning these things. consistent posting schedules, lists and howtos etc. all to get social media traffic.
BlogEntrepreneur says on March 6, 2008
I would comment more often but I am writing a list of reasons that list posts are completely overdone.
Kyle James says on March 6, 2008
Seriously... don't you think your starting to take these videos a little to seriously? You have lots of editing and even some alt coloring going on... now the music intro and endings with the creative commons copyright? I mean SERIOUSLY! You post the videos on YouTube!? It's not like they are your paid for account with Brightcove or something.
Sorry that was a little rough... But SERIOULSY... I've been watching your videos for the last few weeks and the production value does keep going up (congratulations), but I just warn you... don't do one thing then preach against it.
:)
45n5 () says on March 6, 2008:
@kyle = "don't do one thing then preach against it." I mention in the video I need to take the advice to heart just as much as the next person.However i don't think good editing = taking things seriously, rather it just means the more I do it the easier it gets ;)
@tom "all to get social media traffic." you said it all!
@BlogEntrepreneur - lists are fine, but a blog full of lists? Not really a "blog" anymore is it?
@scott - thanks.
@lori - thanks for the comment.
@ian - you for sure have some personality on your blog, the videos and stories are great.
Matt says on March 6, 2008
I think the problem is that the make-money-online niche is stale. It's the only niche I've come across that is like this. Everybody is making lists, writing about how blogging is like The Simpsons, pretending to be everyone else's friend, etc. Dull. I only really read travel blogs, music blogs and blogs about current affairs.
45n5 says on March 6, 2008
@matt - I agree. strange thing is this topic should inspire people.
who doesn't want to be financially independent doing things they love?
Instead we make lists and call them blog posts.
we'll try harder ;)
Richard Callaby says on March 6, 2008
Mark,
I can honestly say that this has been one of the best blog posts I have read all month long. Thanks!
Richard Callaby
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant says on March 7, 2008
You can thank all the amateur metabloggers out there who think everything can be reduced to a formula for this bullshit. This is a fantastic post -- you are right on. As a blog consultant and someone who helps other people learn how to blog, I see all this bullshit too all over the web. It's a tsunami of over-serious mediocrity.
But... it makes it way easier for anybody unique to stand out! So I guess we should be thanking people for being so lame. ;)
esvl says on March 7, 2008
Classic. This is something everyone on the top 100 should stick upon their walls.
I agree people are way to serious. Once i started posting about things I like, for instance photos and interesting things or jokes my rss readers has doubled and I enjoy myself not taking everything so serious.
People seem to forget that they can make money blogging about other things than making money.
Oh and dont even start with the contests
Mark from Bloglyne says on March 7, 2008
Seriously, I don't know what to say!
James Mann says on March 7, 2008
Loved your video.
I don't know how many blog posts I scan through Bloglines each day that start with a number, 5 of this and 10 of that. You are right it is getting boring.
Just a few days ago I came to the conclusion that my make money site doesn't make the money I think it should but...
I do have a few hobby blogs that I love to write for and funny thing, those are the sites that I make some money on.
It's so much more fun having fun blogging.
45n5 says on March 7, 2008
@james - "I don't know how many blog posts I scan through Bloglines each day that start with a number, 5 of this and 10 of that. "
I just woke up and here are the first 3 headlines in the moneylinks:
The Top 3 Pro-Blogging Tricksters
Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Blog's Usability
7 Necessary Sales Skills: Closing and Follow-Up
@all - thanks for the great comments.
Shawn says on March 7, 2008
Great post Mark!
John says on March 7, 2008
Thanks Mark, you inspired me as well. But now the internet will have to suffer through all of us not being serious anymore. If you thought 4chan was bad.. wait till a bunch of bloggers stop being serious.
AzDana says on March 7, 2008
I recently started adding more humor to my posts, and it seems like my readership has decreased dramatically. I enjoy writing the fun stuff a lot more, but it seems that the few readers I had liked my blog better when I wasn't making jokes. I am trying to find the balancing point between serious and wacky, is it possible for a blog to be too silly and lacking substance?
spostareduro says on March 8, 2008
Dude, I don't know who you are, but I saw your post in Sphinn. (Shari Voigt submitted it) and I am grabbing your feed for sure..I mean, the whole "rockstar" thing is far too overrated! LoL...Thanks for the humor..Makes for a great Saturday. :-)
PS:couldn't watch the second video...the load time never stops..Maybe too many viewers or something..
Allan says on March 30, 2008
Excellent post and a great reminder.
Liked your reply to Kyle about doing the video... '...it just means the more I do it the easier it gets...'
That's one reason that I try and post often, but I don't beat myself up if I miss a couple here and there.
Cheers
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