Ironic! My previous blog post relates to my blogging strategy and how I aim to teach and this one, although still relating to my blogging strategy, sets itself apart from that goal.
Remember the experiment I conducted a little more than a year ago? You know, the one where I compare results between my professional and personal blogging websites. Remember now?
Although I post a handful of times a month on the latter and I don’t share the links left and right, it remains the most popular one. It gets more followers and more likes than this one! Baffling! Simply baffling!
Lessons learned:
- What you consider important represents strictly a personal matter; the mass does not necessarily think the same way you do and you better present irrefutable arguments to convince them of this legitimate importance. Then again, if the dressing habits of celebrities attract the masses, this might not be necessary.
- People read for validation. Proof? How often do you read what contradicts your own beliefs or opinions? I imagine the answer is (and let me paraphrase here): “Not as often as I read something that validates my thoughts and opinions or that agrees with my views.”
Now the question is: do I want to attract traffic, or do I stick to my original plan?
Terminate? Pivot? Or row against the current?
The last option is what I have been doing for the last fives years. I think it leaves only two possible choices. For now, I will pivot.
I will slip in translation related blogs from time to time, but I will mostly give my two cents on the world around me and monitor the response it triggers.
Honestly, I feel a little bit of unease. Knowledge did not sell: will opinions turn out more efficient as selling prompts? I – mistakenly – thought building my brand through expertise would do it, will my personality do the trick? Seriously, my personality? (Raising an eyebrow and clearing my throat in utter disbelief.)
At this point, I am willing to explore, to try different sub-strategies and let the results speak for themselves.
Failure is not a finality, it is a learning process. Trials and errors, it is how humanity has increased its knowledge and capacity since the beginning of time.
Josée Couture 