The One Word That Helped My Blog Grow To 800+ Subscribers in 17 Weeks
By Christine OKelly | January 6, 2008
I started a blog a few years ago (that you’ve probably never heard of) that went nowhere at all. When I started this blog, I made one conscious decision to use more of one particular word - and that I believe has made all the difference.
Is it possible that a single word could generate more blog subscribers and make your content more engaging, more interesting, and more linkable? I think so - and it is something that anyone can do. But using this word is not a matter of simply copying it and pasting it into your blog posts. Using this word requires a completely different mindset - a new way of approaching topics and writing.
That word is: “I ”
When I started my very first blog I wrote wimpy content. I mean, the posts were ok, but they weren’t unique. I didn’t inject enough of my own personal experience into the posts to make them interesting or useful.
I didn’t like reading blogs like mine. I wanted to read blogs from people who had first hand experience with what they were writing about. I wanted to read about the real trials and tribulations that went on behind the scenes in order to get to the end result. When I started Self Made Chick, I decided that I would only write about things that I had first-hand knowledge about and I think this has produced a completely different outcome.
Why I Was and Why Many are Afraid To Use the Word “I”
Writing about our own experiences and perspective requires accountability. There are good reasons why I was and why many people and businesses are hesitant to be held accountable for their words:
- Afraid of being wrong
- Worried of not being perceived as authoritative
- Afraid that their opinion is not valuable enough
- Afraid of turning readers off by sharing a story or opinion
- Afraid to admit mistakes
- Afraid of appearing too small
- It feels uncomfortable
- Our English teachers told us not to
- Afraid that one person’s views will reflect those of the entire company
Anyone who has done anything personally has the authority to write on that topic. Even if you tried something and failed at it, you have the authority to write on that topic. There is a lot that can be learned from a failed attempt. A post titled “10 Marketing Ideas I Tried That Got Absolutely No Results,” would definitely capture my attention and could be incredibly useful.
Furthermore, speaking from a personal perspective makes your content more linkable. Bloggers, news sources, and other content publishers are more likely to link to the source of the information.
According to Blog Herald, there are more than 50 million blogs online, but luckily there is only one of you. One person with your experiences. One person with your personal failures and successes. One person with your unique perception of the world.
Injecting First Person Perspective to Your Writing
There are numerous ways to bring a first-person perspective to your writing:
- Do Your Own Experiments: Constantly try new ideas and document how they worked or didn’t work. If you tried something new to get a client and it worked really well, write about it! If you tried 5 new internet marketing ideas for your clients and 1 of them worked and 4 of them failed - that makes for very informative reading. Combine your list of experiences into a list format with your personal commentary and the results can be amazing! This popular post by Kim Roach at Zany Pixel of 100 Link Building Strategies she has tried, woven together by personal commentary, is one that I’ve Stumbled, Dugg, Sphunn, linked to, bookmarked and passed along to colleagues.
- Conduct Interviews: One of the best ways to create authoritative content on topics that you may not be an authority on, are to conduct interviews with people who have been successful in the area you want to write about. Be sure to ask questions that you are burning to know the answers to - readers are probably wondering the same thing.
- Collect Data: Marketing Sherpa is a great example of a site that collects their own data for others to use. This site has become practically invaluable to those that do internet marketing.
- Analyze Your Own Thought Process: Conrad Hees did a great job of this with his post The 7 Questions Each New Visitor Asks Themselves When Deciding Whether or Not to Subscribe. Conrad realized that he had his own thought process when deciding whether or not to subscribe to a blog, analyzed and deconstructed that process, and wrote about it.
Writing Attention Grabbing Headlines By Leveraging the “I” Effect
Presented with each of the following sets of post titles, which are you more likely to click?
How to Make Money with Affiliate Marketing
vs.
How I Made $4,000 in 14 Days With Affiliate Marketing
or
How to Use Press Releases to Grow Your Business
vs.
How I Landed a $75,000 Contract with 1 Press Release
or
How to Write More Diggable Posts
vs.
How I Got On the Digg Homepage 7 Times
All of these are good post titles, but the second in each set implies that the author has walked the walk. That the author is writing from a point of authority verses perhaps rehashing existing information that is already available somewhere else.
I don’t think the title needs to have the word “I” in it, but I tend to click on titles that imply that the author has a personal experience with the topic.
The Impact of Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful way to really pack a punch with the above suggestions.
When you hear a powerful story, you internalize it. Your imagination makes it your story, and that’s something that will stick with you.
Many of the greatest authors, speakers, and bloggers use storytelling as a way to draw readers in and really get them to internalize the message. Authors like Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and Robert Kiyosaki share their personal stories as a way to teach others how to achieve what they’ve achieved.
Story telling makes for powerful copy whether you are trying to gain blog subscribers or trying to sell products or services. Andrew Goodman, author of Storytelling as Best Practice says: “Whether you work at a small nonprofit, large foundation, or any public interest organization in between, storytelling remains your single most powerful communications tool.”
From watching my stats and from the feedback I’ve received about this blog, I believe that storytelling is the single biggest reason that the subscriber count has grown so quickly.
I also tend to gravitate toward books and blogs where the author their personal perspectives and stories on the topic.
Some blogs that do a great job of storytelling are:
- Shane and Peter
- Freelance Folder
- Itty Biz
- Dosh Dosh
- Skelliewag
- Remarkablogger
- Steve Pavlina
- Lynn Terry
- Conrad Hees
The Elements of a Compelling Story
Every good storyline has 3 critical elements:
- A Problem
- A Conflict
- A Resolution
Until you explain the problem, the resolution doesn’t have nearly the same impact. The conflict is what makes it exciting, but can also be the most difficult thing to write about. It can feel uncomfortable - especially when you are the subject!
It was a bit uncomfortable to talk about my own fears in the post How I Made $100,000 with $0 and 25 Minutes… but it I felt it was essential to tell the full story. It wasn’t particularly comfortable to write about being so broke that I didn’t have enough money to do laundry and one night sat on the mountain of dirty clothes and cried in the post What’s It Really Like to Take the Plunge Into Entrepreneurship - but it was a necessary part of the conflict that exists in any good story.
Even writing this is uncomfortable because I feel like I’m tooting my own horn and we’ve kind of been taught not to do that. But that is not the intent. The intent is to give real examples that I have personally seen of posts that have been successful and why I believe they have been.
Though there are certainly exceptions, after writing for blogs that have either failed or exceeded my expectations, and comparing the most successful blogs against those that are struggling, I’ve discovered what I believe to be the most magnetic word in blogging.
94 Comments »
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WOW Christine, great post! And thank you so much for the link(s)!!!
This post resonated with me so much. While I feel that I have been doing a good job of putting my personality into my blog and my posts, I know that I could do better. Not being afraid to list failures is a big one for me. I have been very successful at failing on my first few entrepreneurship attempts! I know that I should talk about that more, and this post inspired me to do so.
I definitely agree that you being so personal in your writing has been the biggest factor in your blog’s success. Also, you are a great networker, and just a good person, and many people can see that.
One point that I think I can add to this post is to constantly remember that everyone can learn from a good failure story, and I believe that many people get more from failure stories because they resonate deeply with us, and evoke an emotional response, rather than simply an educational interest.
Thanks again for the mention; you made my week!
Conrad - you totally deserve those links! The first time I read your blog, I was hooked. Your ability to weave a story into a how-to is incredible. I know we’ll be seeing a lot of great things from you!
Great point. I generally try to include my own experiences in posts, but that’s rarely a point that comes across in the title, even though I know that’s a huge part of what gets people to read.
Stephanie - what a fun blog you have! I definitely enjoy reading blogs about the adventures in family life and business - these types of blogs are fascinating to me for the same reason I’ve come to love reality TV. Makes me feel like I’m not alone in my own personal life adventures!
Hi Christine,
One of your rare posts that I disagree with slightly.
Your blog is not about you. Its about your readers. And so your personal stories are only good if it helps your readers.
Talking about yourself and your experiences should be a secondary thought. Yes - using “I” will position you as the authority. But it can also position you as arrogant if you don’t do it correctly (Eg: when Donald Trump wrote his books).
Stories and case studies work. But they don’t necessarily have to be your personal stories. (Case in point: MarketingSherpa.)
(Just to clarify - Christine - you are one of the rare people who can turn around your personal stories so that they become helpful for your readers. I love your blog. But not necessarily the advice this post gives. Because many readers won’t be able to write as well as you do and make their personal stories applicable.)
Great points Anke and I agree with you on many.
Blog is not about you - it’s about your readers: It depends… for many, writing is a personal joy and if others like it - great. There are a lot of people out there writing whatever the heck they want, not trying to impress anyone whatsoever, and gaining an extremely loyal following because what they have to say is interesting http://www.violentacres.com/.
Talking about yourself should be secondary: I agree here in terms of blog that is more business in nature. Storytelling has probably been a part of teaching since people could communicate - but there should be a lesson that is somehow relevant to the intended audience.
Thank you for sharing your point of view Anke!
I love that quote by Jay Cross! That’s great. I’m afraid I’m going to have to steal it!
Telling stories is a powerful way to talk about what you’re doing for others, and when you do that, it doesn’t come out as arrogant.
It’s better to blog about what you do, rather than what you think, because if you’re doing something worth writing about, you’ll have plenty of material–and a growing audience. People want to read about somebody who’s a “somebody.” If you’re out there gettin’ it done in the real world, and reporting back, people eat that stuff up. The fact that you screw up makes you human and it still teaches people.
Isn’t that an awesome quote! I totally thought of you when I read the second quote too - the one about how storytelling can be the single most powerful communication tool for businesses.
I have so much to say on this topic of story telling for business blogs, I’m afraid it will dominate the entire comments section if I start… I’ll save that for another post!
AWESOME article! It’s pretty amazing if you were to apply just a couple of these suggestions how they’d help increase traffic. Thanks for the thoughts!!!
Ryan - first let me say - WOW - your work is amazing.
I wrote some copy for a high-end photographer’s website a while back and during the consulting process asked him about the stories behind the photos and the people in them. I was AMAZED at how knowing more about the personal history behind each photo made it that much more incredible to me as an outsider. By the time we were finished talking, those stories had sold me on his services.
Totally great article! I recently realized this myself after writing a few really personal posts. I had a huge increase in subscribers, people started commenting more and I even had my first inquiry regarding direct-sale advertising. I think it is all due to using “I” and really letting my voice and personality come through.
I really love your advice regarding headlines as well…I’ll be using it in the future for sure.
Thank you!
That is great to hear Chrissy! What a coincidence that your current post is titled “Confessions of an Egomaniac” - that’s great. It’s a great read and has elicited some interesting comments that confirm that this is working for you!
Hey Christine,
That’s a very nice post with lots of great examples to back up your points. However, it seems to contradict the opinion of another here: http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/
Personally, I (and I stress “I”) think you have the more valid point because blogging in personal in nature. It’s what makes blogs interesting to begin with.
Lol - yes Gyutae! Isn’t that funny! Marty and I have already written to each other about this coincidence. Both posts were showing up on Sphinn at the same time.
This post begins: First day on the job as CBS Affiliate Creative Director, General Manager & friend Terry Hurly offered advice which has served well for 15 years. “Marty, when you send memos, do interviews, or otherwise deal with media or your employees, give OTHERS credit-sometimes even if you did it.”
I completely agree with this 100%. When I was a manager, I always made sure to give my team credit for the great things that happened in the department. If the blog is a company blog, it probably is a good idea to use “we” instead of “I” - but really, it’s just another form of “I” when in terms of writing from a personal perspective.
Thanks for sharing!
Now that right there is a very powerful post. I have not been writing like that when putting up posts. I have not really personalised it but I now see what it could potentially do for me. Thanks for putting up this post.
Very nicely presented Christine!
This I factor sounds really good. There are few titles popping in my mind..LOL
Will sure public when I get enough content.
@ Gerri and Manish - Thank you! I am so thrilled to hear that you found this post useful. Keep us posted on the outcome!
Christine
I’ve always struggled between the value of personalizing a story vs the value of attributing the wisdom shared to someone who has credibility. The struggle I often see with the word “I” is the issue of humility. Most personal stories are much more engaging, as long as there is an invitation to join you in the adventure. As long as it is relatable. Talking about your successes can be either inspiring or intimidating, heck even your goals. I got a lot of support, but I think we scarred a few people two when we spoke of our 2008 goals.
So I ask you Christine, how do you keep a humble voice as you discuss your personal journey?
In the immortal words of the great Benjamin Franklin:
“In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself…For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my Humility.”
This was a good article from what I skimmed over. I bookmarked it for later after the boys go to bed and I have time to read it over all the way through.
Awesome article, and I would have said that even if you hadn’t sent me love.
Interestingly, while I was all set to disagree with Ankesh, I realized when I reread his comment that I don’t disagree at all.
Your personal stories are only good if it helps your readers.
Because of our target demographics — meaning you, me, Shane, Jon, Maki, Skellie, Michael, Steve, Conrad, and others (I haven’t read Lynn’s stuff yet — our personal stories do help our readers. If we’re talking about changing our brand of cat food, it’s because of connection that creates a relevance to our readers. I talk about the coffee shop I go to, but that’s within the context of an article on personal brand management.
In a good majority of cases, the big posts — the ones that get the links and the social media attention and the thank you emails — are the ones with humanity and personality and self. Your $100K in 25 minutes didn’t do too badly, or so I hear.
My scared sh*tless one brought half the hits my blog’s received so far.
So yes, before I go on forever and ever, I do agree with Ankesh. Only do it if it helps.
One more thing…
@ Shane - Good question, but I think it’s probably best not to stray too far away from what comes naturally. It’s a hell of a lot of effort for very little return. If people think you’re bragging, well, they think you’re bragging. It probably says more about them than it does about you.
My one cent? I was more scared of your “Can you get business from comments?” post than I was of your goals one.
This is a great inspirational post. I too believe that “I” can become a very powerful word.
This is a good wake up call. I wrote a post about my relationship with my father and the Army/Navy game. It is funny that little story got a ton of views on what I thought was my emotional rambling.
Thanks again
I definitely agree with putting some personality and personal experience into your posts, and now that I think about it, almost all of the blogs I read do this–it’s probably why I read them!
I did agree a little with Ankesh. Consider the example of “How to Make Money with Affiliate Marketing” vs. “How I Made $4,000 in 14 Days With Affiliate Marketing.” I like the second one better, because it’s much more specific and tells me that the author actually knows how to do it.
However, some people might take these headlines to mean “How _You_ Can Make Money With Affiliate Marketing” vs. “How _I_ Made Money With Affiliate Marketing.” One might seem instructional, while the other might seem like bragging.
Christine, I think you share your personal stories in a way that helps readers, and I think having that kind of balance is key. Then you have the best of both worlds!
I found your blog today and this is the first post I have read and already I can see that your blog will be a frequent read for me.
I have many issues with blogging that I am only recently working out. It took some deep thinking but ultimately common sense rose to the surface. I really needed to read this post today.
Thanks.
Great article and one I should take heed of with my site, since it’s only been up a week.
Of course, if you’re a great writer you could always write a post such as “How I Scored With 10 Hot Chicks In One Night” and then fabricate a night of debauchery using the same basic structure of your generic “Scoring With 10 Chicks In One Night”.
If you’re good enough.
It’s an interesting post you make here as it’s timely for me. “I” personally am in the transition to writing much more content based on my personal experiences!
Thanks!
[…] of SelfMadeChick.com, writes about The One Word That Helped My Blog Grow To 800+ Subscribers in 17 Weeks, and explains why the “I” factor is important online and in […]
First time on your blog, and I’m impressed.
This is good stuff, and thank you for the links.
Christine, this is just awesome. As you probably realise I’ve read every one of your posts here. With each one I believe you have grown, each has provided greater insight and each has been full of your personality.
I am truly inspired by your writing - I usually manage the first line or two of most blogs before I get bored but I’m hooked on your every word.
Congratulations - you really live up to the content of this post - don’t ever feel you shouldn’t toot your own horn!
Christine -
Great post - reminds me of the saying “facts tell; stories sell.”
I’ll definitely be putting this more into practice on my blog.
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An excellent post which I found inspirational. I’m a web designer/developer and SEO specialist but have always found the writing and formulating of ideas hard work so this post has been an inspiration to me. So much so I’ve bookmarked, stumbled and blogrolled it.
Don’t forget about the power of the word “You” as well. Copyblogger explains it well.
That is such a great post! You know I’ve never really thought about that, but it’s true I use ‘I’ a lot. That’s the kinda posts I like to read anyway so
The posts I wrote that got the most traffic, links and of course, comments were the ones where I simply wrote about my own experience, thoughts and shared ideas, this works wonder, I’m definitely not the best writer out there but I guess it helps to tell stories so people can relate to them.
Steve Pavlina is probably the best example. Some time ago I tried to write a couple posts in a more authoritative way and it didn’t work at all, it wasn’t ‘me’, so I’ll stick with to writing about my own experiences, hopefully people like that!
Oh and thanks a bunch for the link love Christine
Great post - I could relate on many counts as I’ve been evaluating the way I write on my blog wondering if it needs to be more personal. This post has some great tips that I will definitely put into action. Thanks!
Hi Christine,
Thank you for this eye opening post. For some reason I have always tried to keep the balance of the I and you in my posts because I’ve heard that focusing on the I too much could potentially come across as arrogant.
But I somewhat knew that this depends on how the post is written and whether a story is being told. Once I read this post I quickly hoped over to my blog and checked out the posts that got the most comments/traffic.
What I found wouldn’t come as a surprise to you I guess.
So thank you.
I’ve noticed a lot of people are concerned with sounding arrogant if they use “I.” I guarantee you that you can sound just as arrogant using the word “you”: You have to do it this way, you can’t do this, you’re dumb if you…
A little extreme, I know, but my point is that what makes you sound arrogant is arrogance. We try our best to communicate clearly and sometimes we don’t do as well as we’d like, and sometimes others don’t put the effort into understanding like they should. But it seems to me that an arrogant tone comes out no matter what words are used.
Michael, that’s very true. Your examples remind me of Suze Orman, who manages to sound arrogant whether she uses “I” or “you,” e.g., “I want you to…” and “You need to…” Word choice is important, but your tone can override that.
[…] experiences, your opinions and your reactions to the world around you both on- and offline. And don’t be afraid to use the word I in your writing. Anyone who has done anything personally has the authority to write on that topic. […]
Micheal - I’m with you here for sure that the word “you” can sound just as arrogant as “I” - I think you put this very nicely that tone can override any word choice.
Lots of people have repeated over the years that using the word “you” is the magic word in copywriting… but lots of people do that and it doesn’t necessarily generate results.
I see it like this… who am I to tell you what you should do or what will work for you? I can only speak for certain about what I have done and can suggest things that “you” can do to get the same results.
The same goes for any type of copy. For example, let’s take a webpage designed to sell potential customers on the value of choosing xyz design company.
Using the “you” approach, the page might read like this:
“When you choose xyz design company, you will get a cutting edge design that reflects your company’s personality and message - or your money back.”
(Whose opinion is this? This is xyz design company’s opinion. It does not tell the prospect what the author will do to fulfill the deal.)
Use the “I” (or in this case “we”) approach the copy might read like this:
We have developed a 21-point design analysis process to ensure that each design we create reflects every unique company’s personality and message. We are so certain that our systematic process will produce the most suitable look for your online presence that we offer you a complete refund if you are not 100% satisfied.
How can I guarantee that YOU will be satisfied with something that is as subjective as design? I can only tell you what I will do to produce the best results possible.
You really put in comprehensive information for everyone here. It is really good method and I am going to apply it in my blog!!
Thanks
[…] You want stats, I got stats. Stories, yup those too. Comments, doing good and still coming.read more | digg […]
Fantastic insight, Christine.
You and David are brilliant folks!
Eric
This was inspiring. Thank you for sharing this important tidbit. Storytelling is so important, and it took me a long time to realize that. Humans have learned from stores long before the internet came around, and they probably always will.
You inspired my latest blog post. I used “I” in the title, so we’ll see what happens!
Christine:
This was a very interesting article - being a blogger, I’m always interested in finding ways of increasing the community at Adversity University. So it was natrual that I would gravitate towards this article with interest.
You are absolutely right - people LOVE personal stories. This is why I am successful as a motivational/inspirational/professional speaker because I inject my own personal stories in my speeches. It makes things more real for them even if theynever experienced what you went through.
You are right on the nose - by sharing your personal experiences with people, you make yourself the ultimate authority of whatever subject you are talking about.
What a GEM of an article!
great post. when i started my blog i didn’t want to tell people what to do, i wanted them to read about me, my life, and my personal experiences and learn from that. now i don’t have the following you do, but i really enjoy writing and i believe that it comes out in my posts and maybe someday, i’ll have a bunch of fans.
[…] The One Word That Helped My Blog Grow To 800+ Subscribers in 17 Weeks @ Self Made […]
Right on. In general, I’ve found that successful blogging requires you to forget everything your high school English teachers taught you…
Wow Christine, this could be your most popular post so far
As a professional storyteller, I particularly appreciate how your outlined the power of story in this post!
[…] we start I want to appreciate a fellow blogger, SelfMadeChick, for her recent post which talks about telling a story in a blog post. Thanks Christine for the […]
You are so smart!
I always thought it is important to share my stories and opinions, and have been doing so in my blog whenever appropriate, but I didn’t clearly think about headlines. And I know you are right. The most popular posts in my blog are those with “I” in the title — I did so unwittingly. Now I know the trick, I changed the headlines of some of my posts. Example:
HowI Came to Love My Imperfections
Thank you,
Nice Post
Wow. Your this post was very insightful. Don’t be too embarrassed but I actually think that this blog is more honest, useful and intelligent than the blogs of most of the “gurus”.
I love how you tell us the whole story and all your fears. Real people have struggles and you lay them out for us so that we can learn not just from what you do but how you get yourself to do it.
Thank you so much and I’ll be adding you to all my social book marks. You deserve it.
[…] a quick side note, based on this awesome post here, I’m going to let “my” voice come through in my blog more. The content will still […]
Wow,
that resonated with me, I have just spent the past 2 weeks refocussing on where my blog is going and I know telling my story is what resonates most with readers,
Thank you
suzie
[…] of Self Made Chick (featured in Stephen Hopson Interviews in early January) wrote a fascinating article about how her blog grew to 800 subscribers in only 17 weeks (it’s now a thousand!). When I […]
Five on Friday, Issue #4
Ben Settle left a tongue-in-cheek comment on my blog yesterday. He writes:
All I know is I’m getting a little impatient waiting for your “five on Friday” post. I’ve actually started looking forward to it and need my weekly “fix.”
So get you…
Great Post. I got to this blog from Ryan Healy’s Five on Friday Issue…
I’ve been blogging for few years now… From my experience Using I is really powerful. If you are not a Business Entity, you are better off using I, my ;).
I remember when I started blogging, only skill I had was passion to share my observation with readers. It helped me start affiliate business. I pretty much disagree with Ankesh on this(sorry bro, I love your ideas and thoughts but not this time).
Moreover I’ve noticed few companies(like Ford) are creating and using a character and promoting them. In case of ford, they have an employee sharing his farm life while he uses companies product.
This is one of the tactics bodybuilding supplement companies uses a lot. They often publish a magazine (offline or Online) where they share workout plans which often needs their supplements. 2 examples that instantly comes to my mind are bodybuilding.com and t-nation.com
Oh I just noticed, I use way too many I’s…
Hi Varan - Thanks so much for sharing your story! I find that so interesting that a company as large as Ford is using “I” personas to blog. I’m sure that is incredibly effective! In the world of blogging, the faceless company just isn’t as effective and the individual sharing their real-life story. I’ve done a lot of thinking about how bigger companies could put an “I” to their message - Ford’s concept is a smart one. I wonder if it’s a “real” person or a made up persona?
Thanks so much for stopping by
Ryan’s blog is awesome - he’s a great example of a wonderfully personable and engaging blogger!
[…] OKelley (aka the Self Made Chick) wrote a blog post about the ONE word that helped her blog grow to 800 subscribers in 17 weeks. I’ll spoil it for you here (but please read her post) and tell you that word: I. Yes, the […]
This is going to require me going to Starbucks and really getting in to this. I’m printing it out as well so I can read as a mantra!
Wow. Your this post was very insightful. Don’t be too embarrassed but I actually think that this blog is more honest, useful and intelligent than the blogs of most of the “gurus”.
That’s really interesting. I’m gonna try this out and see how it works for me. Thanks so much!
[…] 6th 2008 8:35pm [-] From: selfmadechick.com […]
[…] be able to write a post with a title such as From 0 to 2000+ Subscribers in 90 Days (by Tina Su) or The One Word That Helped My Blog Grow To 800+ Subscribers in 17 Weeks (by Christine O’Kelly). Both are great posts from two of my favorite bloggers. They gained […]
Wow! You are awesome keep doing what you are doing. I’m definitely going to use this.
WOW! Why am I only today discovering this post and your blog??? For months I’ve struggled with my blog and my experience as a freelance writer might have hindered me. When I write for magazines it’s all about the reader and vocabulary is very, “you”. I couldn’t understand why the same tone wouldn’t work on my blog.
It is only in the last few days that I really noticed the trend. Posts where I talked from my own experience, when I used the word “I” connected with my readers. They always got more interaction and love.
Now I find your post, written almost a year ago. I’m absorbing, I’m learning, and growing. Thank you so much! You have a new fan!
Wow, I’m so glad I followed over from Rebecca Laffar-Smith’s blog! Your post here inspired her latest post - and now I see what she’s talking about! This is so inspiring and I suppose the reason my readers have all had positive things to say about my blog. From the beginning of my blog, I’ve opened my heart and just kind of put myself out there sharing my successes and failures and what I feel like I did wrong and what I’ll try to do differently next time. It’s made me feel vulnerable and a little “dumb” at times, but I guess is the reason I have a loyal following. Who knew?! I guess I started out on the right path… Now, to get more subscribers!
I echo what Rebecca (above) said: You have a new fan!
*smiles*
Michele
Christine,
Thank you for defining an issue that has been hanging out on the back of my subconcious for some time. A quick audit of my Google Reader feeds (I recently added yours) reveals an overwhelming number of self-descriptive feeds. I am MUCH more likely to read a post that denotes a case study than any other. Titles that read “How I…(Did something that many readers want to do)” definitely catch my attention.
Thanks!
Thanks Ted!
I agree - I feel the same way! This is why I don’t post every single week - or as often as some other blogs. When I started this blog, I decided that I wouldn’t post unless I had something to report first hand. Thanks again for your comment!
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
Hi !
I am Piter Kokoniz. oOnly want to tell, that your blog is really cool
And want to ask you: will you continue to post in this blog in future?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Thank you:)
Your Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia
Hi Piter - thanks for the kind words! I will certainly be continuing this blog
I made a commitment when I stated this blog to only write about my first-hand experience with business and the trials and errors of things I have actually done. I’m working on some cool new things and will have some new things to report soon!
Couldn’t agree more. Instead of telling someone ‘how’ to do something, the word ‘I’ sounds like a sincere story (which it is). As the reader goes through the post, it gives him or her the chance to feel empowered. They can say to themselves ‘hey, if she can do it, so can I’.
I believe that is why social media marketing works so well; others can identify with you and the situation much more than they would if you were standing on a soapbox. Testimonials, recommendations, and reviews work the same way. I think if more people incorporated that magic word into their blog marketing, they would find it to be far more successful.
Great post…..I think that us the main part of blogging using the word I and making things personal.Thanks for all the info.
Shaun
I’ve never even thought about that much. I’m going to go through all the posts that I’ve been working on and drastically personalize them. I’m just thinking about the sites that I read and how personal they are and professional at the same time. Thanks for opening my eyes to this!
You’re right…you are so, so right. I just started writing on a more personal level, and it *is* totally scary. I’ve been going back and forth and back…do I really want to be this vulnerable? But yeah, I guess I do. Because it really is the piece that’s missing.
This brings me to an idea:…
[…] included this in her article about how she grew her blog to 800 subscribers in 12 weeks. Constantly try new ideas and document how they worked or didn’t work. If you tried something new […]
I find that there is more warmth in any blog that contains the word I. People know that most all blog posts are coming from a singular perspective, especially when it’s a personal one. Using I seems like a simple idea, but it will make one’s blog infinitely better. Great post.
,..] selfmadechick.com is one another must read source on this issue,..]
I will follow you. Thanks for your post. Best Wishes
Excellent post.I’m going to write my personal issues.
It amazed me to read how only a single word provided you +800 subscribers.
Very informative article! It’s pretty amazing if you were to apply just a couple of these suggestions how they’d help increase traffic.
I think that us the main part of blogging using the word I and making things personal.
Many Thanks for all the information!
Waooo.. very good information… your posts are very informative and useful..
Thanks!
Wow,
that resonated, We have just spent the past 4 Months Considering on where my site is going and we know telling my progress is what resonates most with readers,
Thank you
Thanks i had no knowledge about it, great job.
Hi,
we all hard work, but I am more likely to believe, luck still matters a lot
Regards
Cindrella
Sign: wdpad Hello!!! zpuyx and 7627zmshbwvfze and 7396 : Thanks. We look forward to hearing from you again and for your opinions on the world of work.
This is one of the most insightful posts I have read. For me, writing in the “I” just seems to flow better - it’s more personalized and seems to make the desired connection. I am a story teller but have been reluctant to make my point in that fashion. I realize that this is a great vehicle to create a more compelling read.