Where Did All the Unique Blog Content Go?
21 Feb 2010
The word “unique” has become commonly accepted by the blogging community as a word to describe whether or not a post is duplicate content — today I was reading through my google reader and started wondering about the past, present, and future of blogging, as well as the patterns of information consumption blog readers tend to fall into.
But most of all, I kept asking myself one question …
Where did all the unique blog content go?
I’m talking about the content that strikes a reader by its originality. As I scanned my reader I saw plenty of posts that were unique in the sense that they were most likely not duplicate content, but I kept seeing the same titles over and over — how to do this or 10 ways to do that.
With so many people blogging about the same thing, whether it’s about food, writing, or movies, the web becomes congested with the same content — you might find an interesting sounding post somewhere, start reading it, and quickly realize the blogger is simply rehashing the same knowledge.
I personally don’t mind this type of content (everyone wants to build a solid foundation of content for their readers) as long as the blogger remembers to position the content upfront for what it honestly is — there’s nothing worse than reading a post that promised new insights only to realize it’s just another rehashing of old information.
Have you been slipping into the habit of rehashing content without adding your own unique voice or vantage?
What are you doing to create unique content for your own blog?
- Tags: unique content
Comment Form
- Christopher: Thanks! It's cool to see such a diverse group of submissions -- thanks for posting it! [...]
- Bob: As ChristopherR2D2 says above, and I agree, "writing inspires writing." This is so because, as Rober [...]
- What Bloggers Can Learn From Storytellers - Part Two | CrackerjackBlogging: [...] What Bloggers Can Learn From Storytellers – Part One [...] [...]
- Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter: Awesome! This is an excellent entry for the Iron Blogger Contest. I'll be posting a Contestant Highl [...]
- ChristopherR2D2: I really like how you include your personal experience with your posts -- it definitely helps push t [...]
- Writing Your Content How Readers Want to Read It
- What Bloggers Can Learn From Storytellers – Part 2
- What Bloggers Can Learn From Storytellers – Part One
- 12 Ways Bloggers Can Avoid the Oysters Fate in Alice in Wonderland
- Where Did All the Unique Blog Content Go?
- Posting a New Point of View to An Old Point of Interest
- 10 Things Readers Love About Personal Blogs
- How Frequently Should a New Blogger Post?
- Why Writing the First Blog Post is So Hard
3 Responses to Where Did All the Unique Blog Content Go?
Kiesha @ WeBlogBetter
February 26th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
You’re addressing the very harsh reality of the blogging world. While I don’t intentionally rehash information, I do come to realize that I’m not the first person to think of the ideas I’m talking about. I do my best to keep it engaging and instructional, but it is really a challenge to stretch to come up with something new.
The longer you blogger, the harder it is to keep it new and fresh. I try to use my personal experience to further explain concepts – that makes it original content, but I’m not sure how many original ideas are relevant right now. If you have some insight, for how to stay inspired and avoid rehashing, I’d love to hear it.
ChristopherR2D2
February 28th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I really like how you include your personal experience with your posts — it definitely helps push the content to the next level. As for creating unique content without rehashing everything that’s already been posted, I think it all comes down to the blogger and their niche. I think the key to really excelling as a blogger in any niche is connecting with other like-minded bloggers in the niche and collaborating. Talking about what else we can do, where the medium is going, how other industries relate, etc.
I’m a subscriber of the notion that writing inspires writing, or in this case — blogging inspires blogging. You’re right, it does become challenging once you’ve created a nice foundation of base content for readers interested in the basics, but perhaps revisiting those beginner posts and either flipping your points around, combining multiple ideas, or juxtaposing them with seemingly irrelevant topics might be a good start to creating fresh, unique content no else is writing. Above all, I think the most important aspect of blogging is thinking for yourself — continue reading and agreeing with others where necessary, but remember that your voice and mind are unique to you — and that’s what your readers value above all else.
Why should a blog enthusiast read your post instead of the other guys? Or rather, why should readers add you to their list of blogs they read every day?
Your voice, experience, and fresh take on new and old topics of interest in your niche.
Bob
March 10th, 2010 at 9:11 am
As ChristopherR2D2 says above, and I agree, “writing inspires writing.” This is so because, as Robert Frost said, “All thought is a feat of association; having what’s in front of you bring up something in your mind that you almost didn’t know you knew,” and as we write we discover new ideas.
Clearly, writing can stimulate more writing.
Another principle might be, “Ask questions,” which also stimulates writing and thinking. If we don’t write or ask questions or think or discover new ideas, our minds freeze over for the lack of warmth previously provided by a constant stream of idea discoveries. If I mixed a metaphor, remember I shouldn’t be up so late trying to write and think. :O)