The information in the first two posts in this series is intended as advice for anyone who wants to launch a blog. The rest of the series, however, is aimed at those who want something more. While there are as many reasons for wanting to start a blog as there are bloggers, there is a particular segment that will view blogging as a powerful tool for projecting influence. These new bloggers will look at the 'A'-list of the blogosphere and wonder how they can break into their ranks.
Not being a member of this elite circle of bloggers, I can't provide advice from my own personal experience. But just as a biographer can glean insights from a study of great presidents, I think a study of the 'A'-list can provide a few clues into what makes them successful. After giving the subject a considerable amount of thought and attention, I've noticed three specific ways for breaking into the top tier of bloggers:
A. Possess the attributes of the top ten bloggers (e.g., white American male Ivy League-educated lawyer/journalist/academic). (For more see: Notes on Blogging #9 -- How to Become a Higher Being)
B. Be hired by Nick Denton, the foremost blog entrepreneur and purveyor of smut/gossip/smutty gossip within the blogosphere.
C. Follow the Morrissey Method.
Unless you already have a resume similar to the top ten bloggers or a job interview with Nick Denton, A and B are probably not viable options. That leaves only C -- the Morrissey Method. Fortunately, it's all you need for a shot at becoming an A-list blogger.
In late September of 2003, Ed Morrissey launched his new blog, Captain's Quarters. Although his only experience as a writer of commentary was letters to the editor and other opinions for his local newspaper, he chose to jump into the crowded field of news analysis. Still, he quickly carved out his place for himself and within the first month had produced over 300 posts. His work began to be noticed by established bloggers like Hugh Hewitt, Power Line, and Instapundit. In February
Not being a member of this elite circle of bloggers, I can't provide advice from my own personal experience. But just as a biographer can glean insights from a study of great presidents, I think a study of the 'A'-list can provide a few clues into what makes them successful. After giving the subject a considerable amount of thought and attention, I've noticed three specific ways for breaking into the top tier of bloggers:
A. Possess the attributes of the top ten bloggers (e.g., white American male Ivy League-educated lawyer/journalist/academic). (For more see: Notes on Blogging #9 -- How to Become a Higher Being)
B. Be hired by Nick Denton, the foremost blog entrepreneur and purveyor of smut/gossip/smutty gossip within the blogosphere.
C. Follow the Morrissey Method.
Unless you already have a resume similar to the top ten bloggers or a job interview with Nick Denton, A and B are probably not viable options. That leaves only C -- the Morrissey Method. Fortunately, it's all you need for a shot at becoming an A-list blogger.
In late September of 2003, Ed Morrissey launched his new blog, Captain's Quarters. Although his only experience as a writer of commentary was letters to the editor and other opinions for his local newspaper, he chose to jump into the crowded field of news analysis. Still, he quickly carved out his place for himself and within the first month had produced over 300 posts. His work began to be noticed by established bloggers like Hugh Hewitt, Power Line, and Instapundit. In February
he was celebrating his 75,000th visitor and by late May he had 395 unique inbound links.
Then he hit the tipping point. During the summer he received his 1,000,000th visit, broke into the TLLB Top 25, and was invited by the GOP to be an officially sanctioned blogger at the Republican National Convention. As the year ends he is ranked #15 in the TLLB with 1482 unique inbound links, has an average of 12,000 site visits a day, and was recently voted 'Best Conservative Blog' in the 2004 Weblog Awards.
Ed Morrissey is intelligent. But smart bloggers are a dime a dozen. Morrissey is prolific. But there are thousands of bloggers who can crank out more posts in a day than he does in a week. Morrissey is also a writer of considerable skill. But writing ability is a common attribute among bloggers.
So what makes him different, what sets him apart from those who haven't achieved his level of recognition? I believe it can be attributed to four traits that form a symbiotic whole: consistency, quality, work ethic, and ambition.
Consistency -- Morrissey's niche is current events. Before most people have even heard of a breaking story, he'll have already produced a post providing his analysis and opinion. He doesn't wait until everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon before he chimes in; he gets out in front on a story every single day. The vast majority of the time he'll cover a story that will not catch fire throughout the rest of the blogosphere. But when a brushfire breaks out he'll have already been fanning the flames. Morrissey isn't a prophet. He's just consistent.
Quality ' When it comes to blogging, quality will not make you successful. You can write the perfect post and even if it is the talk of the Internet, it will soon be forgotten. If you want to be a successful blogger you need to combine quality with consistency. Write that on a post-it and attach it to your laptop. Make it your mantra. Whatever you do, remember it. Without quality posts, consistency is a waste of your reader's time. Without consistent output, quality is a waste of your time. Morrissey is successful in large part because he consistently produces quality work.
Work ethic ' You don't have to post every day to be a successful blogger but you do have to 'blog' everyday. You have to be thinking about the next blog post or series. You have to be thinking how a news event affects your readers. You have to be willing to write even when you would rather watch TV or take a nap. You must have a consistent work ethic.
Let me clarify that this trait isn't necessary to be a blogger. Blogging can be a form of enjoyment or relaxation just as jogging can be used as a means of relieving stress. But just as there is a difference between the casual jogger and the competitive runner, there is a difference between the average blogger and those destined for success. If you want to compete at the Boston Marathon you have to be willing to put in the lonely hours of work. You have to be willing to constantly run, even when it's not "fun."
The same holds true for anyone who wants to be a successful blogger. Morrissey has risen to the top because he has a brutally demanding work ethic. If you want to achieve his level of success then you must be willing to do the same.
Ambition ' Morrissey started blogging twelve days before I did. Because we started around the same time I've used him as a benchmark for blogging success. We frequent the same blog circles and I consider him one of my 'blog buddies. I point this out to establish my credibility in remarking on what I consider to be one of his most seminal intangible traits his ambition.
Many bloggers want to be successful. For most the term has a very vague meaning, similar to wanting to win the lottery or have a book published. They view it as a end state to be achieved rather than as an ongoing process.
Morrissey thinks differently. He understands that to be successful you have to do what will make you successful.
Every. Single. Day.
He doesn't have a vague dreamer's ambition that hopes success will find him someday. He has the ambition of a realist who understands that he not only has to protect what he has built -- respect, trust, reliability -- but that he must continuously strive to expand his readership and broaden his influence. Not everyone has that level of ambition. Most bloggers don't even need it. But if you are going to rise to the top you have to have the drive to carry you there.
Becoming an "A"-List blogger requires dedication. Blogging is easy. Anyone can start a blog. Having a successful and popular blog is difficult. Incredibly difficult. Even if you are consistent, ambitious, produce quality work, and have a dedicated work ethic, you may not be successful. Blogging, like life, doesn't come with guarantees. But if you truly want to use your blog to impact the world, then you should follow the proven steps to success, you should pay close attention to the Morrissey Method.
Then he hit the tipping point. During the summer he received his 1,000,000th visit, broke into the TLLB Top 25, and was invited by the GOP to be an officially sanctioned blogger at the Republican National Convention. As the year ends he is ranked #15 in the TLLB with 1482 unique inbound links, has an average of 12,000 site visits a day, and was recently voted 'Best Conservative Blog' in the 2004 Weblog Awards.
Ed Morrissey is intelligent. But smart bloggers are a dime a dozen. Morrissey is prolific. But there are thousands of bloggers who can crank out more posts in a day than he does in a week. Morrissey is also a writer of considerable skill. But writing ability is a common attribute among bloggers.
So what makes him different, what sets him apart from those who haven't achieved his level of recognition? I believe it can be attributed to four traits that form a symbiotic whole: consistency, quality, work ethic, and ambition.
Consistency -- Morrissey's niche is current events. Before most people have even heard of a breaking story, he'll have already produced a post providing his analysis and opinion. He doesn't wait until everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon before he chimes in; he gets out in front on a story every single day. The vast majority of the time he'll cover a story that will not catch fire throughout the rest of the blogosphere. But when a brushfire breaks out he'll have already been fanning the flames. Morrissey isn't a prophet. He's just consistent.
Quality ' When it comes to blogging, quality will not make you successful. You can write the perfect post and even if it is the talk of the Internet, it will soon be forgotten. If you want to be a successful blogger you need to combine quality with consistency. Write that on a post-it and attach it to your laptop. Make it your mantra. Whatever you do, remember it. Without quality posts, consistency is a waste of your reader's time. Without consistent output, quality is a waste of your time. Morrissey is successful in large part because he consistently produces quality work.
Work ethic ' You don't have to post every day to be a successful blogger but you do have to 'blog' everyday. You have to be thinking about the next blog post or series. You have to be thinking how a news event affects your readers. You have to be willing to write even when you would rather watch TV or take a nap. You must have a consistent work ethic.
Let me clarify that this trait isn't necessary to be a blogger. Blogging can be a form of enjoyment or relaxation just as jogging can be used as a means of relieving stress. But just as there is a difference between the casual jogger and the competitive runner, there is a difference between the average blogger and those destined for success. If you want to compete at the Boston Marathon you have to be willing to put in the lonely hours of work. You have to be willing to constantly run, even when it's not "fun."
The same holds true for anyone who wants to be a successful blogger. Morrissey has risen to the top because he has a brutally demanding work ethic. If you want to achieve his level of success then you must be willing to do the same.
Ambition ' Morrissey started blogging twelve days before I did. Because we started around the same time I've used him as a benchmark for blogging success. We frequent the same blog circles and I consider him one of my 'blog buddies. I point this out to establish my credibility in remarking on what I consider to be one of his most seminal intangible traits his ambition.
Many bloggers want to be successful. For most the term has a very vague meaning, similar to wanting to win the lottery or have a book published. They view it as a end state to be achieved rather than as an ongoing process.
Morrissey thinks differently. He understands that to be successful you have to do what will make you successful.
Every. Single. Day.
He doesn't have a vague dreamer's ambition that hopes success will find him someday. He has the ambition of a realist who understands that he not only has to protect what he has built -- respect, trust, reliability -- but that he must continuously strive to expand his readership and broaden his influence. Not everyone has that level of ambition. Most bloggers don't even need it. But if you are going to rise to the top you have to have the drive to carry you there.
Becoming an "A"-List blogger requires dedication. Blogging is easy. Anyone can start a blog. Having a successful and popular blog is difficult. Incredibly difficult. Even if you are consistent, ambitious, produce quality work, and have a dedicated work ethic, you may not be successful. Blogging, like life, doesn't come with guarantees. But if you truly want to use your blog to impact the world, then you should follow the proven steps to success, you should pay close attention to the Morrissey Method.
0 comments:
Post a Comment