[noob_support] what to blog?

howdy ho, me mateys! I've been lurking around. Every now and then, an entry will pop out requesting for blogging help. "What to blog!?!" seems to be one of the main dilemma of most bloggers. If not, it's template choice. But let's focus on "What to blog!?!" first...

If you're new and you're thinking of starting a blog coz it looks or feels like a fun thing to do, first understand that there are at least 3 types of bloggers...

1) Personal Blogger
Zese are the "bla bla bla" bloggers who will, without exception, blog about anything that crops up in them life. Sometimes, they are fun to read. Sometimes, they are boring as hell. The vast majority of the blogosphere is comprised of them personal blogs. It is a good way to keep in touch with friends and families. Depending on how you blog and what you actually post (i.e. how much info you put up), your anonymity is more or less protected. For a noob, that's the best place to start for he/she gets to have a feel of the ups and downs of blogging. However, a personal blog will not necessarily lure other bloggers to comment. Also, being a personal blogger = possible hatred or disgust from other so-called pro-bloggers. BUT! Fear not! Despite their bitching and wailing....despite their regular bashing of personal blogs, these so-called pro-bloggers sorely depend on personal bloggers for them referals, link backs, digs and technorati ranking. So, being a personal blogger ISNOT a bad thing.

2) Pro- / quasi- pro blogger
A flagrant example of such a blog within the Mauritian blogosphere will definitely be blogosquare (Hans). Zese bloggers focus on one particular topic or area of interest. They are the niche bloggers. They do so because they want to target bloggers or netizens with similar interest. Ultimately, they want to attract as much traffic as possible to them blogs so that they can earn ad revenues. Some are a real blast to interact with. Others are outright snobs. But whatever they blog or say in their comment section, understand that their primary agenda is to convert you into a regular visitor for the ad-clicking.

For a noob, it's best not to be a niche blogger unless, said noob has thoroughly planned it. Or, said noob has quasi - encyclopedic knowledge of the chosen topic. So far, topics that are most likely to get hits are tech, game (PC, PSP, PS3, Xbox360, Wii) or lifestyle - related.

3) The in-betweens...Note: I've just coined this term!
Instead of being such polar opposites, why not have the best of both 1) and 2)? The personal aspect of the blog may actually encourage some readers to de-lurk! It may also help strengthen the relationship between them readers and the blogger.

Being an in-between can also be an ideal way for a noob to start blogging! Said noob gets to experiment and learn before taking the big step into being a pro-blogger (if he/she wishes so)


Now, your job is to choose which one will rather fit you. But before you do that, it's also important to note:

- being a noob is not a bad thing!
- there is NO life-changing equation that will make your blog popular...
- it's all trial and error...learn from your mistakes! Get feedback from friends or other bloggers
- don't worry! You can always delete your blog and start over again! But let your readers know...
- most will stop blogging within 2-3 weeks
- most will stop blogging because there are no comments. Noobs always worry about that. No comments do not equate with no visitors! We DO LURK!!! BIG TIME!
- others will stop blogging because after the "Hello World!" entry, they realise blogging is either not fun or too demanding...
- within 2-3 months or less, most will post the following cliche entry "I don't know what to blog!"
- 1-2 yrs l8r, most will cease blogging or reduce their blogging frequency because of less time spent online
- if you keep to it, you will definitely make new friends
- blogging is a hobby...as all hobby, if you're too serious about it, it won't be fun!
- expect your blogging styly to change every now and then...
- as long as you link back, it should not matter that you copy paste from someone's else entry...it's all about sharing!
- because of the demographics, blogging at times do equate with online bashing, flame wars and loads of swearing/ cursing/ death threats. Unless you're in the States or somewhere in Europe, do not be scared away! Most of them bloggers are not mean/ real baddie in meatworld (real life)


What to blog? Hopefully, all this has answered your questions. If you are still at a loss, lurk!!! Blog hop to as many blogs as possible and lurk...Make a list of blogs that you like...Then, ask yourself, why their entries are fun to read. Having answered that, blog likewise!

May the force be with you and Happy Blogging!!!



ps: new on the shelf -> blogging for dummies

wooh! great noob support! made me actually ask questions regarding my own blog. i'm personal, no denying it i survived the no comments period, luckily.

I'm in the 3rd category....

& i've definitely survived the no-comments period...

& btw is blogosquare dead? The most successful "niche" blog i think would be Yan's blog.

But as well, i'm still perplexed why this info is not on your blog??

more tips:
Actually there is a life-changing equation to make your blog popular:
Be original, be unique, be the first!

in my case i'm always the first to post on goofy stuff! but then no one reads them!

i am still a noob and i am learning. but i dont take my blog seriously. i just post whenever i feel like. its mostly meant jus 4 me

I absolutely needed this noob support. i hope i make it past the fatal 2-3 weeks

thanks morinn! congrats for surviving the "no commentz" period!

@ carrotmadman6: Hans. me think, is busy with studies in France...so yeah, i guess it's kinda dead...thanks for the magic formula!

@ offbeat_chick: yep, good attitude!

@ diya: no worries...expect more entries from [noob_support]

Great noob_support Waz! Something like this was absolutely needed! I'll make it sticky

Hehe... Nice XD I guess I am in the 3rd cat Not sure though XD I never did go through the no comments cats because I always had friends to read what I wrote... and uhh... I do post the "I don't know what to blog" frequently *blushing*

thanks digitalbin!

@ bbzush: don't worry u r not the only blogger who post this entry regularly!

Interesting read. I am not really a noob blogger since I had a blog in the past but abandoned it after a few months because of lack of time and interest probably it wasn't the right niche for me @ that time. Good thing is that the blog is still bringing in a few dollars

great noob support for bloggers. I was actually more in need of a noob support for new forum members. Anyone can help me out?

star_rant wrote:great noob support for bloggers. I was actually more in need of a noob support for new forum members. Anyone can help me out?

yeah! but i think you've been able to cope with all this quite well. you've been able to post etc. hmm is there something special you want help about?

Je peux pas voir mon signature pourtant I have enabled it

oops, sa va maintenant! desoler je le voi

This is some serious cool stuff. Thanks waz.

Actually Hans blog is not a niche blog. He blogs about stuffs that interest him and his main interests are designing wordpress templates. Blogosquare is no longer active as far as I know.

Before moving on to Diethack, I used to write some articles on Blogosquare under Yan and the articles were not focused on a specific niche.

One article which I wrote and which I hope will help bloggers here is http://blogosquare.com/2007/07/18/8-powerful-ways-to-add-value-to-your-blog/.

http://blogosquare.com/2007/07/18/8-powerful-ways-to-add-value-to-your-blog/

mo ti p ale lor thembb.forumotion.com sak fois ki mo click link lao la. akoz sa mone met sa ici.

@ rubeina: keep it up...sometimes all you need is a break or a slight change in direction...and then big badaboum! loads of ideas, loads of entries, loads of comments/hits!

@ star_rant: sorry...i can't be of much help there since i'm not the admin nor am i the creator...i think kate and digitalbin are the right persons to holler...

@ Yan: thanks! i remember...i was looking for your profile at the time coz he did not say he was having a guest blogger

@ morinn: thanks!