(Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes)
Have you mined out your niche? Tired of writing into the echo chamber? Got better things to do than write Yet Another Article On S.E.O?
I’m right there with you!
Maybe even a step ahead.
Check out this video:
I think it’s hilarious.
You might think it’s stupid, and that’s ok.
But Matt Cutts likes Katamari too.
Rephrasing my paraphrasing from Matt’s talk last May at WordCamp (previous link):
“Start writing on well-defined niche, and branch out as your interest in related topics grows.”
That’s a lesson for me.
Is it a lesson for you?
Watch me start rolling it up. We’re in the middle of an excellent MasterMind series right now, and I have more coming on staying inspired (from Julie Angelos), writing effective draft posts (from Carlos Velez) and a truly excellent little piece on your commenting policy (from Gordie Rogers).
What are you rolling up?
Updates: Who’s been rolled up?
- 2/25/2010: Keith Bloemendaal.
Would you like more? Send me a letter...
{ 19 comments }
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the link back to what you learned from Matt. It makes interesting reading. My problem with implementing this principle is that I don’t really have a niche. You seen my site. I generally write a combination of charity news, stuff to make people smile and some blogging hints as I learn on the job.
Therefore, have you any suggestions how I might best put this advice into practice?
Many thanks,
Eleanor
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..How A Pot Of Dead Basil Made Me Smile Today
Eleanor, I wrote off and on for years.
I was writing web pages before blogs existed.
Then static websites for a while.
Now I get it: don’t stop writing, just keep after it. Something will come clear at some point.
I you have the energy, perhaps you could start aggregating.
Dr Wordpress!´s last blog ..MasterMind Power I: How 5 Boys Achieved Unparalled Success
Hi Dave,
This is hilarious (never heard of katamari before) – watched the whole 6.55 minutes of it and actually clicked on some of the other ones – but more importantly, read your post on Matt Cutts’ and the Katamari Principle and then of course hopped on over to the post on Dave Gray’s address.
In just this one post you have given a wealth of information and entertainment! Thank you!
best……………valentina
Valentina´s last blog ..Golden Nuggets for Your Blog Income
Yeah, I just love it.
I’m going to toot my own horn here a bit… I don’t do that very often… What I in mind for WIAW is intricate, involved, tons of hard work and not much like too many other websites I’ve ever seen. Especially in this blogging space.
You’re getting just a little taste of it with this link chain.
Dr Wordpress!´s last blog ..Search Your Blog Network With Google Custom Search
Man, I hope my niche combo doesn’t get as complicated as in the video! Lol!
Gordie´s last blog ..How to Free Up Your Lifestyle Design.
The next time you watch it, listen for all the screaming “Aaiiee” “Aiiee” as it rolls up the buildings.
And you will watch it again… it’s strangely addictive.
Dr Wordpress!´s last blog ..MasterMind Power I: How 5 Boys Achieved Unparalled Success
I had a good laugh starting at 0:30 seconds when I finally realized what’s going on with the video. LOL.. oh my, the clutter is scary.
Oh no, I wouldn’t want to go there for my blog, I’ll freak out big time!
I guess in the new year I’m just hoping for a better improvement of my blog in traffic and content. That’s enough to get me rolling… might get dizzy in the middle. ha..
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
Ching Ya´s last blog ..How Blog Review Can Help to Improve Blog Traffic
You have a sparkling style and a great community, just keep doing what you were doing last year, you will grow.
Having a well defined niche works wonders. It serves as a guiding light if followed religiously thus anyone wouldn’t go astray. Returns are not immediate but is rewarding in the long run.
Long term… if you stick with it… I think anyone could practically own a niche. It might take 5 years, but the long term benefits would be great.
I saw that Katamari game at the store and almost got it, but I knew I would probably just end up wasting hours on it.
Maybe I’ll get it one of these days when you head over to the City and we can mess around with it and have some laughs for half an hour or something. We’ll set a timer.
Let’s do it man!
I figured that would be an automatic reaction for any blogger that lasts in the blogging game, sooner or later you would need to change. Personally I think it needs to be a constant.
This is profound and yet, at the same time, has spoken to me in a strangely straightforward way.
Only since reading The Long Tail by Chris Anderson have I truly understood the concept of niche. As a journo you’re taught to be master of everything (yet never truly attain that status. As humans we’re distracted too easy from reaching true enlightenment, ha ha!) and I guess that’s stuck with me to some degree.
My other half is a beautiful singer. We have some exciting ideas planned for her blogging strategy.
Like me, she’s a communicator but more than this, she has a very real passion.
When I think of me I think of a lot of things (some printable) but that’s the essence of the problem: I do a lot, but don’t love a lot.
I’m subscribing to the formula you meted out in an earlier comment, Dave: keep the focus and eventually something will stick.
And after everything I said to you the other day about having an unlimited spring of blog post ideas… it almost ran dry for me earlier this week!
This distraction thing – bit of a pig, really, ain’t it?
Dave – I’m looking forward to great things from you.
I’ll be checking in regularly as you get your theme issues straightened out.
Dr Wordpress!´s last blog ..DIY WordPress: Thesis Theme Custom Splash Page
I must admit, when I first read the title I thought it was a comparison to a type of Sushi [like a California Roll or something]. I like the soft-shelled crab myself. But I’m off topic here.
I think I did this backwards. I started out with no niche and expanded into many areas and, uh, wait, I’m still doing that. Now back to watching the video.
Anne´s last blog ..Live on What You Earned… Two Years Ago
Got you at the title, did I?
Excellent!
Just commit to the process. After a year or two, you will have a body of work you can mine ideas from. You may be able to look back on it and find the focus you could not see when you started.
Dr Wordpress!´s last blog ..MasterMind Power I: How 5 Boys Achieved Unparalled Success
Good post this as it actually got me thinking about my own site and niche. It’s taking me 3 months to realise I’m in a niche.
I just write about what I’m passionate about and think someone would find interesting.
I am in a niche though, maybe it crosses a few… maybe not. Loving the video touch really good post.
TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..I’m Made From Pure Fire, What Are You Made Of?
There is only so much you can write on a topic before you burn out. I’m starting to get in guest writers and such to give myself a break, and even to take some inspiration from. thanks for the vid.. I really enjoyed it!
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }