I was talking with an acquaintance recently who’d taken the time to compliment on my blog. To be honest, I’m always surprised when I hear that someone is reading my writing and I asked her why she liked it. She said: Because you make a point and take a stand. You’re not just sharing information, you’re offering perspective. And I think she’s right…that’s what makes content interesting. Does it have a point? Are you doing more than just reporting on the news?
People will read a blog or article if there’s something compelling them to read. Whether it’s being very personable or being able to tell a story or being able to make a point, your content has to provide a message that engages people and makes enough of an impression that they will come back and spread the word.
If you’re struggling with producing content, think about what you’re writing about and then think about a stance or position you can take on it. It doesn’t need to be controversial, but it needs to be a stance that you’re willing to take. By doing so you provide people perspective. For example, I write a lot about social media behavior and etiquette on this blog, as well as social media policy. The majority of posts are written from a stance or perspective that offers more than just information. People can agree or disagree, but the point is to get people to think about the perspective as well as the content.
Good content gets people to think, and to take action. It motivates people to look at the subject matter differently and think about their approach to it as a result. There are many, many blogs out there which offer content, but being able to have a point and provide a perspective involves more than just writing an article. It means taking a stance and then supporting it, and also being willing to continue offering content about that stance.
