Wash, Rinse, Repeat - Why I read Up and Coming Blogs
One thing I have noticed about the blogosphere is that it’s becoming far more like traditional media than most bloggers would care to admit.
By that I mean that the big blogs in any niche seem to start copying each other after a while, just as Associated Press miraculously happen to come out with the same stories as Reuters at the same time in the traditional media (for example).
Take for instance, Darren’s recent blog about “personal safety” over at ProBlogger. The next day Chris over at Performancing wrote a post on pretty much the same thing.
Now bloggers don’t seem to even have much of a problem with this (and certainly Chis and Darren are not the only ones who have done this). They get a free backlink (usually) and they get to network. They usually “add some value” to each other’s posts - or at least think they do. They also don’t have to come up with anything totally original which becomes difficult after a while of posting in the same niche. Fair enough. I have even done it myself on occasion and will probably be guilty of that again in the future.
But usually it makes me feel a little ripped off if I find such similar posts in my daily blog rounds on the same day. I mean I like Performancing AND I like ProBlogger. But when I go to each of them I want to hear what they have to say that is original - not simply a rehash of what the other said yesterday. I have already read that!
And here is the opportunity for new bloggers - just as I subscribe to and read several Independent Press (Indy) publications in the offline world, I also subscribe to many smaller blogs with totally unique content in the online world. I personally like to read up and coming blogs to get a unique perspective on an issue - one that hasn’t been recycled between the big boys. Smaller bloggers, just like Indy Press publication also tend to be much bolder with what they have to say, which to me is more interesting.
A unique perspective on an issue is extremely valuable in a world or rehashed content.
Now, ProBlogger and Performancing can probably get away with this one a reasonably regular basis because they are the top blogs in their niche (even though Performancing is fairly new) and they have large reader bases and ever increasing content. I would, however, heavily advise any new bloggers out there to avoid rehashing other’s posts too often.
Give me good original content on your new blog and I will come back. Give me a rehash of ProBlogger on your new blog and I’ll just stick with ProBlogger.
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