You're Boring. Just Admit It.

by Robb Sutton

So I was hanging out over at Blogussion the other day when I fell upon this article titled, “Interviews are Boring, Reviews are Fake & Lists are Kind of Lame. Let’s Get Real“. In the article, Alex (who I respect in the industry by the way) brings up a valid point about a blogging timeline that seems to plague bloggers across the web.

The basic gist of the idea is that a blogger initially comes to the table with some engaging, unique content. You subscribe to their RSS feed because you like what they have to say. And after a period of time, the blogger gets away from their uniqueness and falls into the boring trap of being like everyone else. What you basically end up with is a RSS reader full of bland trash that used to be unique and engaging.

While I do agree with him to a point, there are several aspects of the article, that while I do see it happen out there, I do not hold to. Specifically that interviews are boring, reviews are solely to make money and lists are lame.

Blogging The Way I See It

The way I see it…there are two things that start to happen amongst new and experienced bloggers.

  1. The passion fades and complacency and bordom start to show in the articles. The result…what once used to be an engaging blog is now a cookie cutter copy of everyone else. Bring on the same lists and reviews as you see all over the web as the blogger is just going to do what he/she sees or reads.
  2. After a period of time, after putting in above average effort, the blogger only sees sub-par results. Instead of pushing forward and keeping the bar high, the blogger gets lazy and complacent once again, and that starts to show through the content…specifically by sacrificing value for writing money driven articles or a “Digg perfect” article and not taking as much time as effort as before.

The reality of the situation is that blogging is hard. If you are looking for an easy way to make money online, you have come to the wrong place. You have to keep the intensity high even when you are not seeing the results or “you just don’t feel like it that day” to make a real run at doing this craft full-time.

It is all about blogging priorities and where you stand at that point in time. When the shift in blogging priorities goes away from providing unique value to making money or trying to write the perfect Digg article, the content suffers in a big way and that is transparent as hell.

Don’t get me wrong…I still run businesses, but I absolutely love what I do and hopefully that shows in my writing. If I get to the point that I am ready to sacrifice that unique value (that can be done through product reviews, interviews and lists), then I might as well sell off the property and start up something else.

  • I started writing product reviews in the mountain biking industry because I saw a need for honest reviews instead of glorified advertisements. The money made from those reviews is secondary and a result…not the goal. (Bike198.com)
  • I started RobbSutton.com to help other bloggers bring in review product for their blogs. The money earned from eBook sales and this site is a result of that…not the goal. (Ramped Reviews)

When you focus on the right elements, the rest falls in place with time and smart decisions. When you shift those goals to ones that do not provide value, you are making the conscious decision to be boring.

Image by latigi

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6 comments

Dev | Technshare June 30, 2010 - 7:53 am

Hey Rob,

Nice article. I’ve agree with you “blogging is hard”. Blogging is never been easy.
To be honest i started blogging for making money online, but now i found passion in this field.

Thanks for sharing the great Post man. Keep up the awesome work Rob.

~Dev

Reply
Robb Sutton July 1, 2010 - 2:18 pm

Blogging is never easy…but for me at least…it never feels like work. It’s all part of doing what you love.

Thanks Dev!

Reply
Richard Scott June 30, 2010 - 8:08 am

That kid in the picture made me yawn…

I think that’s the whole goal; to find an area or topic that is lacking and to fill that need. When you start a blog that way, it always seems to work.

Plus, it never gets old or boring. And it never feels cookie-cutter.

Time for more coffee…

Reply
Robb Sutton July 1, 2010 - 2:18 pm

haha! Me too…that’s why I used it!

Reply
Mars Dorian June 30, 2010 - 8:19 am

Hey Robb,

focus is the alpha and omega of your digital life. Most bloggers just focus on other bloggers, and forget their original stuff.

My personal formuale goes like this: Provide insane value, and flavor it a 120% percent with your style. This way you attract your true fans, and do stuff that matters.

Reply
Robb Sutton July 1, 2010 - 2:17 pm

Absolutely Mars. When you start to get entrenched in the blogging industry…sometimes you forget that the people you are writing for aren’t bloggers at all (in most cases)!

Reply

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