Blog Expert Series: Give Your Blog The X Factor

X Factor: Simon Cowell

Last time in this Blog Expert Series, we explored how to find your niche market and what people want to help you run a successful blogging business.

The next thing in the blog expert series to consider is what unique qualities you can bring to your site, which will set you apart from your competitors.

Even if you are operating within a popular area, it doesn’t mean that you can’t differentiate your product and business from the many others out there currently in operation.

Let’s use the analogy of ‘Miss Universe’

Beauty pageants and competitions have been going for years, and still seem to have immense appeal for people. There is something about the mix of visual stimulation, fashion and competition that gets viewers engaged and interested despite the absolute lack of political correctness involved in these events.

When you watch ‘Miss Universe’ or similar programmes, they all have one thing in common. The winners invariably have something about them which stands out. It could be a great talent, a lovely way of speaking or even the fact that the previous year’s winner was blonde, and this year happens to be a brunette.

Whatever it is, something makes the winner stand out from the crowd of other beautiful people, and catch the eye of the judges.

Let’s call this the ‘X’ factor

You can’t put your finger on it, but you know it’s there. When you watch a superb film, or meet a really charismatic person, or see someone on a talent show that you immediately know is going to win, they all have this elusive X factor too.

It is less important to actually work out what the strange appeal and charisma is, than to make sure that you manage to recreate it, through your business.

How do you get the X factor?

Identify other people that have ‘it’

The chances are, when you look at the blogs online that you admire or visit regularly, you will be able to say about each one, ‘there’s just something about it’. That’s the golden ticket to success for a blog.

Whether you love the color scheme, the humor in the writing, the revelations about people’s lives or simply the sound, indispensable business advice which they impart, each one of your most-visited sites have got ‘it’.

It’s really worth doing some research to work out what each blog has, in order to shape a sound idea of what you yourself want to create through your own business.

If you admire beautiful language, it makes sense that you would want your blog to be one of the most well-written out there. If you can identify that ‘X factor’, the likelihood is you will be capable of recreating it.

Similarly, if you can establish that you visit certain sites because they are so full of superb information and advice that they have become indispensable, then the chances are you will be able to achieve the same when you get your own site off the ground.

This research is all about working out what your own strengths and aspirations are, by identifying what appeals in the work of other bloggers. People tend to be drawn to things which they can both admire, and understand.

We like comedians who have the same sense of humor as us.

We enjoy reading a great novel more when something in it mirrors our own life.

It stands to reason, then, that we will be drawn to certain blogs, because they are sporting the X factor in a way that we both admire, and can emulate ourselves.

Choosing how to shine

The blogosphere is a very big place.

Each blog which succeeds has something about it which has clicked with thousands of readers, making them return again and again. Your job is to establish what attributes you have, that will make your blog distinct and engaging in the face of stiff competition.

When you find that unique blend, you’ll be well on the way to making money online through your site.

In the next Blog Expert Series we shall discuss how to be different.

Here’s the links to the previous Blog Expert Series posts:

Blog Expert Series: The Surprising Decision 77% Of Bloggers Get Wrong

Blog Expert Series: Be The Blog Every Blogger Envies

How do you make your blog stand out and be different?

Please share your views in the comments below.

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