Facibus On Blogging

Glen Stansberry discusses two types of bloggers:

Musers- Musers like to take information and extrapolate. Or abstract ideas. Or nothing related at all. But that’s ok… their readers know and expect this whimsical style from the writer. (Think Kottke, SvN, Seth Godin.)

Reporters- Information junkies that think structurally. Information is currency, and these bloggers are stinking rich. (With information, that is.) Reporters typically don’t deviate too much from the facts, and like to be the first to spread the word. And boy are they regular. They’re like prune juice of the blogosphere. (Think Techcrunch, Micropersuasion, GigaOM.)

Glen goes on to talk about determining your style and accepting it. This is a good thing - self-awareness is the first step to enlightenment, or so it is said. If you do what is easiest for you, then you will find it easier to do (and this is both a terrible truism and a profound statement). In other words, if you pick your style (Muser or Reporter) and stick to it, then you will likely be more successful. Basic common sense, and I can’t fault the logic.

Does this mean that Musers can’t stick to a posting schedule, or Reporters can’t do some analysis or reframing with the news? No. It is just harder. If you go with the path of least resistance, then things work better.

There is a concept in consulting called “embracing the chaos” - taking advantage of things that don’t look like they form part of the solution. It’s about putting some lateral thinking/reframing/edgecraft into action and coming up with a way to make the problem the answer. If you’re stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere and life hands you lemons, pass the tequila bottle and the salt - then apply for a liquor license

What is the easiest way to follow the path of least resistance, to embrace your own blogging chaos? Here are a few things to get you started:

• Identify your blogging style by reading Glen’s article.
• Look at your life situation - if you are a stay-at-home parent, you don’t have to join the mommyblogger/daddyblogger world (but you could think about it).
• Look at your challenges - if you’re an out-of-work car mechanic, think about ways that people could benefit from your knowledge and experience. If you’re suffering from a chronic illness, think about how other people could benefit from the things you have learnt (in the UK they have embraced this particular chaos and have “professional patients” who help other people with the same condition as them).
• Look at what you have around you and hit them with lateral thinking techniques like reframing and edgecraft.

There are a thousand opportunities in the chaos of everyday life - and it can be the greatest feeling in the world to embrace the chaos and turn it into something truly remarkable.

What’s your blogging style like? Are you interesting in Internet marketing tactics or are you content just publicizing your site by word of mouth? Cheap web hosting will let you explore your blogging style. After you establish your sites, you can even sell your domain to make some money off it.