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Who is reading this blog? and why?
There are several reasons to learn more about my blog readers. First, it is valuable to find out why readers return. And then it is nice to know if the content that you beat yourself up to produce actually provides value and more specifically, is it the value you intend to produce.
Communication is a treacherous minefield.
Very few of us master the art of communicating thoughts clearly and many of us suffer from the delusion that people actually understand what we mean to say when they don’t have a clue.
If an idea escapes my brain, does it have an impact?
Frequently in my life, I have been struck by powerful insights which, if implemented, would improve the world- or at least a small part of it. Clear as the benefits seemed to me, I failed miserably convincing others. Astoundingly, I lived a good part of my life before learning that only a small portion of humanity is driven by logical reasoning. Many more are moved by associations and emotions, skills which I had rejected as shallow. As a result I wasn’t relatable.
These days, I try to apply more dimensions to my writing but feedback is still critical to monitor effectiveness.
So who is my target market?
Furthermore, the intended niche here at RCB is retirees who want more than a rocking chair in their last years and ‘wanna be’ retirees of any age, people who want to stop being dependent on a job or an employer. People who seek economic freedom in order to live their dream lifestyle. That’s the evil plan for RCB.
And am I finding them and touching their hearts?
Now back to the real world. I have readers, some of which are regulars but whatever I might think, I don’t know why.
Last week I asked some questions to help me identify what might be working for me and locate areas needing improvement or change. In terms of persuading readers to return, at least for ten people it seems that RCB is interesting enough to check back. Attracting new readers still is a problem. I do show up on the first page for ‘retirement lifestyle blog’ and the second page for ‘retirement lifestyle design’. Still these keywords may be too esoteric to locate readers who want a better retirement. If you didn’t answer the questions, please follow the link and do it now.
What about the Healthy Aging Posts?
In terms of the content, the Healthy Aging posts on Tuesday were intended to provide information about living healthier and managing the aging process better. Aging is a challenge and managing the inevitable loss of health requires constant monitoring of the latest research and applying an active effort to fight the process. I believe that people who want to create an involved retirement lifestyle also see the value in aggressively fighting aging with every tool possible. Currently I don’t rank for ‘healthy aging’, so this series is unlikely to generate new potential readers as currently applied. Still, current readers find value in this feature of RCB and so I will continue it.
And how about the videos?
Reader responses to the videos are less positive with some readers admitting that they don’t like them. I was excited about videos from reading the enthusiastic discussions by other bloggers. I still believe in the concept but I think that so far, I have not produced appealing videos.right now they lack personality and enthusiasm, reflecting my normal way of interacting with people. Just like written communication, effective video is an emotional relationship. Future videos will attempt to be more relatable. I am convinced that anyone can learn anything they decide to learn and I have every confidence that future videos will be better, maybe even good.
And what about Lifestyle Design?
Finally, readers were relatively indifferent to the keyword of ‘Lifestyle Design’. This strikes me as a critical blogging error. Either they don’t know what the heck I’m yammering about and I need to make myself clear or they do know what I’m yammering about and they don’t give a rip. It’s that darn problem of communication again.
Still, I appreciate the time of everybody that left a comment or voted because any information I receive from readers is a thousand times better than my wishful thinking. You’ve given me direction and inspiration for my thinking and I hope that it will help me make RCB a better source of information and inspiration.
I like the healthy aging topic, but I wish you’d lean more toward homeopathy rather than allopathic solutions. Allopathy only benefits the MD’s and Big Pharma, alleviating symptoms rather than fixing underlying issues.
As for lifestyle design, I think most folks suffer from two afflictions that hinder an enjoyable life…retirement or otherwse:
1. They over-think, always wanting, never actually doing. Follow the Nike lead…”Just Do It”.
2. They worry too damn much what others will think. Who gives a damn? I’ll conform to “others” when they pay my rent, taxes, insurance premiums, food and utility bills, recreation costs, and anythig else I left out. As log as I’m paying I do as I damn well please.
Bob@JuicyMaters’s last Blog Post ..The four cornerstones of a self sufficient homestead
Bob,
Tell me which posts are allopathic and I’ll axe them. I thought all of them were homeopathic. I think you are right on with the rest.
I like your blog. You talk about your views and lifestyle. For me when you talk about health it is a plus.
This is your journey, which you write about so well. Sometimes, I think that people on the web are looking for specific topics. It seems information and community is what the web is about.
I think that you cover both. It takes time and work for blogs to be found. You put in the work and it shows. I like videos on a blog, I haven’t done that, it is not easy to have a open mike and talk in a natural way.
Blanche,
thanks for the encouragement. I’m still learning and improving my abilities, particularly the videos. Even when you think you are right, it helps to hear nice words from others.
Ralph, I like your posts on health issues, and when you share personal stuff in you life, that may be of benefit to me. Maybe that’s what Lifestyle Design is all about and were missing it???
I’m with Bob on this one. I’d encourage you to just let it rip, and to hell with what you suspect your audience wants. I’d give up the how to make money on the internet stuff (which you rarely post). You commented on John McNally’s blog “Is Anyone Making Money On The Internet” post. Seems like nobody is. I’m not, and will not; unless of coarse there’s a sudden demand for bullshit 🙂
Follow your bliss, as Joseph Campbell said, and we’ll continue to follow you.
Hansi’s last Blog Post ..Reefer Madness
Hansi,
There are people making money on the web. The ones I know, however, do not make their money from their blogs. Still, I do not give up that part of the dream. BTW, I not a ‘let her rip’ kind of guy much as I might like to posture. Still, I am hoping that struggling to become more of a ‘let her rip’er can motivate and inspire others. Aging is not for the weak and I’m not going down without a fight.
Ralph, your regular readers wouldn’t return if they weren’t interested in what you write about. As long as you write about your own passions, that’s all that
matters.
There’s not many people makings money selling information products on the internet, most make it selling physical products on eBay or Amazon.
Do you want to engage with retirees or eventually sell them a product line? That’s where keyword research comes into play.
I have realised that I will never sell information products to the internet marketing fraternity, but I will sell specialised information products to a local market, which is a market far easier to rank on page one of Google.
Bill
Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
Bill Murney’s last Blog Post ..The Most Dangerous Walkway In The World
Bill,
I understand that the money is in the long tail.