We homo sapiens are funny little creatures. Whenever we have something that needs improvement, we add, add and add some more. Maybe what needs improvement is actually a subtraction.
All too often with blogging and business we want to add a feature to the product or add a widget to the blog. Soon enough, we have something that is trying to be all things to all people and we aren’t laser focused on just one subject.
Take a look at your blog. Is your widget column out of control? Do your posts drag on and have a hard time getting to the point? Are there so many ads that user focus is taken away from your killer content?
Well, then, get rid of it. Stop adding and start subtracting.
Oh yeah, and when you think about adding a new ’something’ to your blog in the future, ask yourself ’Does this fall in line with the blog mission?’. If it doesn’t, you know not to add it.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
So true, Chris. It’s incredibly easy to get carried away adding widgets and plugins and mods and scripts…. the test you propose is a good one. Novelty isn’t positive if it’s not contributing to the overall purpose of the blog.
And- wow- have I ever seen (and written) some posts that take the scenic route! Definitely something I need to think about as I work on my writing in the future.
Thanks for the great insights!
.-= Steven Corbett´s last blog ..PHPmotion V3.5 Released! =-.
Thanks, Steven.
I don’t know why it’s such a big thing with human nature, but we always just want to add more, more and more. You can also attribute it to ‘not having enough time for anything’. You’ll always hear overwhelmed mothers say this.
They’ll then say, ‘it seems like it would be easier in a world with so many conveniences’. Well, we have all these new conveniences and ways to improve our lives, but we also have to work and earn money for them. So, it really doesn’t add much convenience!
I just love simple thinking, simple blogging, and so on. It’s the bee’s knees.
Crazy I wrote a post on Fuel your writing called Less is More for short stories. I think great minds think alike. Anyways, i’ll have a new unique blog post to you soon.