Songdo South Korea
Do you come across conflicting blogging advice?
One pro blogger says to do one thing.
Another pro blogger says to do something else.
Yet another pro professes; both the prior two pros are way off-base. He succeeds by following a radically different strategy.
One full-time blogger says 2000 word posts dominate page 1 of Google. People want that.
Another full-time blogger tops Google for a highly competitive keyword with a 500 word post.
Confusing, eh?
Like gazing upon the “Clam Dream Fish” restaurant sign above in Songdo, South Korea, you do not quite get it. Everyone knows this seems to be a seafood restaurant. But the clear meaning of the title gets lost in the translation. At least those were my thoughts when we visited this part of the world.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is it the 2000 word post bandied about by a successful blogger? How can that be? You just saw a 500 word post dominating page one?
Welcome to the world of blogging.
Heck; welcome to the world.
Life is duality.
One thing appears to cancel out the other.
One truth meets a different truth.
What you took as gospel is not true all of the time, it turns out.
How I Guide You to Become a Successful Blogger
I guide you to become a successful blogger.
Filtering my guidance?
Non-negotiable.
The blogging guide who is I says to try it out for yourself. I am not the end all be all in the blogging tips niche. Some of my blogging advice is way out there. Most is based on rock solid fundamentals. Each strategy works for me. Some may not work for you.
Capitalize on my blogging experience. Learn from my blogging mistakes. Study my success. I chose to be the Blogging Guinea Pig; no need to suffer, my Young Blogging Padawans.
In the same breath, nothing I teach is gospel.
Research your research. Perform due diligence on due diligence. Trust resonance. Let go of all else.
Follow guidance to see if strategies work for you. Never accept any guidance blindly without running advice through your intuition.
Does it feel right for you?
What Ranks on Page One of Google?
I spied a blogger who published an update on LinkedIn a few moments ago.
She noted how publishing the most complete answer to a query lands blog posts on page 1 of Google.
She ain’t wrong. I agree. I guide you to publish detailed content routinely.
But I opened up Google to run a “blogging tips” search.
One result near the top of page 1 came in at 600-800 words.
Ummmm…..I am fairly certain that a 600-800 word post is not reflective of answering some blogging tips themed question for one of the most competitive keywords in my niche. Clearly this blogger did not publish the most complete answer available online. I believe he built a strong domain authority. Google perceives his blog as a topical authority. Leaders get away with publishing short form content to land on page 1 of Google.
He broke the blogging lady’s rule. According to her, a 1500 word to 2000 word soup to nuts guide ranks on page 1, position 1.
Oops…..I just read the page 1, position 1 output.
Whoa…..
A high authority blogger who patiently built his blog into a leading resource published a helpful but thin blog post ranking on page 1, position 1 of Google. I love his advice. He tells it like it is. However, his post is completely contrary to guidance offered by the LinkedIn lady and most experienced bloggers.
What are you supposed to do with that?
Take no blogging guidance as gospel.
Do your homework. Vet blogging guidance. See what vibes with you. Do what works for you.
Why is this critical?
Bloggers succeed by following different schools of thought.
You Cannot Get Away from Opposing Blogging Advice
In a world of duality, you cannot escape opposing advice.
One blogging size does not fit all.
The highly experienced blogger corners a keyword with a thin post that never cracks page 20 for any inexperienced blogger. Again; I love his guidance. He knows his stuff. But no way is the thin post the most complete answer to a “blogging tips” query.
How to Research Blogging: Cut through Confusion by Appreciating Imperfection
Perhaps a 1500 word guide explaining how to write a blog post seems to be a page 1 position 1 result. Maybe not.
Do you want to hear something funny? Click the link above. My blog post ranked on page 1 position 4 for a “blogging tips” query for months. I did a smash up job for “how to write a blog post” but disagree on the content matching with a “blogging tips” search. I broke a rule I guess. The algorithm perceived my content to be a match for a “blogging tips” search even though the post tackled how to write a blog post.
Do you see what I mean?
Never take blogging guidance as gospel.
One blogging size never fits all.
Oh yeah; Google is imperfect. Remember that one, too.
The world is imperfect. The world is compromising and contradicting ideas. Gently hug this truth.
My Advice?
Follow one blogger closely.
Adopt their school of thinking.
Supplement with guidance from other bloggers.
Follow one blogger to stick to one basic system but not because you vibe with all that they do.
Nab advice from other bloggers but never follow their predominant school of thought; confusing crosscurrents follow.
No two blogging systems are identical. Who do you trust in this scenario? Nobody; follow enough bloggers closely and their specific strategies slowly but surely cancel out what you learned prior from the other bloggers. General fundamentals like creating and connecting bond most professional bloggers. But specifics vary, sometimes dramatically.
One blogger professes how the money is in the list. Another blogger without an email list makes a good chunk of change through Google. Yet another blogger rakes it in with social media marketing, guest blogging and genuine blog commenting. Resist following more than one blogger closely. Avoid head-spinning doubts guaranteed to derail your blogging career.
What Remains Constant?
Create content.
Bond with resonant readers.
Take creating and connecting to the bank. Neither goes out of style.
Create helpful content to solve reader problems. Cover one niche. Establish topical authority.
Listen to readers. Value appreciative fans. Reward loyalty by solving specific reader problems.
Creating and connecting drives:
- organic traffic
- blogging income
- referral traffic
- referral income
Creating strategies change.
Connecting strategies change.
But creating and connecting never changes.
Conclusion
Never take blogging advice from anyone as gospel.
Trust your blogging gut.
Do your homework.
Follow guidance that resonates with you.
Stick to the fundamentals of creating and connecting.
Gain clarity.
People make mistakes.
Some succeed with off the cuff strategies.
Advice conflicts.
But the fundamentals never change.
Suggested Blogging Resources
