Myth 15: You Must Hate Everybody
Posted by Hendry Lee on 09/3/06 in Business Blogging
This myth demands a good explanation.
Once in a while, we noticed a new blog because they have said something so controversial, every blogger and their brothers and sisters blog about it. The result is immediate popularity. Traffic goes through the roof.
Often, we also discover that the most popular and most commented blog posts are those which tend to be controversial.
So, it only makes sense to hate everybody and disagree wholeheartedly with every single blog post if we are to draw attention, doesn’t it?
Well, perhaps it is a bit too much but there are actually people who think that only by generating controversy, a blog could grow and keep getting more traffic, at least that is the best way to do it.
Not true.
A blog is about contribution. It is about writing great posts and let others enjoy, learn and use.
A blog is also about building community. You can build a community of those who hate you, or you can choose to build a community who are supportive and grow with you.
Virtually, you can lead the blog and build any type of community you want. It takes work to do it from scratch, but it doesn’t mean you have to be an enemy to everybody to have your posts read.
RisingSunofNihon | Reply
You’re right: I don’t think the only way to generate blog traffic is to stir up controversy with every single post. As you said, it takes more time and effort to build an effective community, but the results are definitely worthwhile!
Hendry Lee | Reply
Thanks for your comment.
Blogging for business is entirely a different beast compared to using a blog solely for publishing content.
Business blogging in a way far more complex because it involves not only content but also interaction.
While stirring up controversy — especially if we have a point — will help us build ourself as an authority, I find that building great content consistently help in building readership more because now readers expect content from you instead of more controversy.
It is about building expectation too. Yes?
RisingSunofNihon | Reply
It is about building expectation too. Yes?
Yes, absolutely!