Are You Boring Your Readers to Tears?
[note]This is the first post in a series of 5 posts on how to be interesting so your audience will stick around. We’ll be featuring three very interesting people in one question interviews.[/note]
“You’re boring.” declared Seth Godin.
I could swear he was pointing at me.
“The only path left is to lean out of the edge and become interesting, noteworthy and yes, remarkable.”
‘But how do I become interesting?’ I wondered. Before I could voice that question, he’d gone off to his next post. I wanted to scream after him to come back and tell me how to be interesting. I didn’t want to go through his archives. I wanted my answer right now!
Knowing I’d fallen for Seth’s trap didn’t stop me from grumbling. He’d forced me to think and wonder about how to be interesting. I don’t know about you, but there was no way I was going to fumble around in the dark making a fool of myself in an effort to be interesting.
Of course, one could argue, that making a fool out of myself would be extremely interesting for a number of people.
I figured if Seth wouldn’t tell me (not that I asked him), I’d ask other people through a one question interview. Three stellar and totally awesome people replied to my one question interview.
I asked them:
What is the one thing we should change about our approach to become more interesting?
Yes, I realize. That’s got to be the world’s vaguest question. I was going to chicken out of sending the email to them if I hadn’t sent it when I did.
What I really wanted to ask was: “How the hell do I become interesting so that people like you will visit and read my blog? How do I catch and hold your interest? Tell me for God’s sake!!!”
The nice, professional blogger that I am, I couldn’t possible ask in exactly those words now could I?
So I sent the first question that popped in my head without stopping to frame it properly. And I got replies! Imagine my shock when the first email popped in within 24 hours! It didn’t even ridicule me or tell me to go get my act together.
Starting tomorrow, The Base will be featuring one interview per day for three days. Learn how to be interesting from three of the most interesting people online who know what it takes to keep their readers riveted.
Tomorrow, Michael Martine of Remarkablogger fame will be sharing his view on how to be an interesting blogger.
Tune in tomorrow to find how we can become interesting bloggers, the Remarkablogger way.
P.S: The Base will be updated every day this week and the review of Unit III of the Staff Blogging Course will return next Tuesday.
Image credit: Scragz
10 Comments
Leave a Reply
About Samar
Samar is a freelance writer, blogger and social media enthusiast.
She's the voice behind this blog, the writer behind each post and the one responsible for all the awesomeness (and goof-ups) around here.
If you want to outsource your blogging, get web copy written or have the social media end of things handled then she's your girl!
Connect with Samar
Join the Newsletter
June 22, 2009
at 11:57 am
It's a tough question but I think to be interesting has to come from the same place as with so much else: from being passionate about something. If you're passionate about something and also happens to be a decent writer, disciplined in your work, etc. then you're on to something special.
June 22, 2009
at 12:23 pm
I think the first thing to recognize is that what is interesting to me is not necessarily interesting to the next person. I also think it's rare to find a blog that has personal accounts and anecdotes that isn't interesting. I really think we are all a little bit voyeuristic in the way we read blogs.
Where blogs get boring is when they become spots to just repost links with no perspective. Or, when they contain 100% dry informational articles.
Here are my tips on being interesting (and after you look at my fledgling fiction site, you may think taking advice from me is silly
) Anyway,
1. Your blog is interesting because it gives me information and a perspective that I can't get anywhere else.
2. Your blog is interesting because you go out and find the best information and save me the time by linking me to it all at once (with your glowing commentary).
or 3. Your blog is interesting because you tell me intimate and interesting things about yourself that are entertaining or thought provoking.
That's what I look for when it comes to interesting blogs. I think the third is almost always the best
.
Just my two cents.
June 22, 2009
at 12:45 pm
For me, to be interesting, you have to be interested…
When people try hard to be "interesting", they too become boring.
June 22, 2009
at 12:50 pm
Oh how I wish I understood this part of blogging. I don't know how to be remarkable, I don't think I'm that talented or interesting – and yet, when people meet me in person they almost always say that I'm the most interesting person they've met. Well, that's great…but how do I translate that into my posts? You got me there!
I try to combine information with a bit of personal – and if I could find the dadgum cable for my camera I would even upload and post some pictures to accent my posts!
Anyway, I find your blog interesting because the posts tell me a bit of what you experience as a pro-blogger, in addition to providing solid advice and information about how I can improve my posts.
Oh, and I love the idea of interviews – wonder how I can incorporate those into my blog? Hmm.
Thanks!
June 22, 2009
at 3:42 pm
I think to be interesting, you need to find the right crowd of followers. Then you'll be interesting.
John Hoff – WpBlogHost´s last blog ..WpBlogHost Domain, Blog Security, & Hosting Promotions – Get’em While Their Hot
June 22, 2009
at 5:08 pm
@ Magnus – I agree. The passion has to be directed and even if you're a good writer, it's not always possible to get the personality across in a blog post.
The thing that does work is to continuously strive to improve.
@ Starliteve – I love your points! The personal touch is important. But which personal touch works? Which intimate details pull in readers and which repel? It's hard to figure out and that's my problem with blogging.
@ Imie – I know people who're interesting in real life, but they can't project their awesomeness in their blog. Michael's going to answer that tomorrow
@ Charlene – Thank you for the kind words Charlene. I think its the problem of us not feeling easy in our own blogs. I had to change how I perceived my blog to start feeling comfortable around here and I think the change shows in my writing. Will be elaborating on it more next week.
@ John – That has to be the best advice ever! But also the hardest. Finding the right kind of people for your blog is what proves to be difficult. As bloggers, we have this vision of the kind of bloggers we want to attract to our blog.
You've raised an excellent point!
Samar´s last blog ..I don’t want to be boring!
June 22, 2009
at 7:02 pm
Great question – looking forward to the answers. Although I always taken these words from the gods with a grain of salt….
Andy Hayes´s last blog ..World’s Most Inspirational Honeymoon Destinations
Pingback: I don't want to be boring.... | It’s as simple as putting the biscuit in the basket
June 23, 2009
at 8:41 am
Yeah, I had someone say something similar on twitter to me too regarding Seth Godin. He was the inspiration for the series and I can't find fault with an idea that sparks another
Suffice it to say, I'm confident you'll agree their advice. But yes, a grain of salt leaves room for your own ideas. Don't forget to share them!
June 23, 2009
at 9:16 am
I think the best way to find out what's interesting and what's off-putting is through trial and error and through reading other blogs that do it successfully.
I think your introspection on whether or not you are interesting is interesting.