Heyzanie's World

5 months into keeping a weblog online, it’s time to take stock.

A different attitude arise - I’ve decided to take on a lower profile for my blog by ceasing publication at some platforms.

Some Platforms are just Irrelevant

In particularly Ping.Sg, which proved to be a highly irrelevant for a personal blog like mine (and vice verse of course).

I feel that audiences of Ping.sg are probably looking for ‘juicier’ or ‘cheekier’ stories or ‘How-To’ articles, which mine caters to neither. I’ve highlighted this observation when I first started out and I still stand by it today.

I find platforms like Blogsurfer.us is probably a better medium for personal blogs. In fact, I’ve found a good number of fantastic blogs from this blog surfing site. Unfortunately this is more U.S. centric and would not be as useful if you want to target at Singaporean readers.

Cliques

Interestingly, there are strong cliques amongst local bloggers.

I believe the cliques are comprise of really ardent supporters and friends. They already know each another and this is apparent in the contents of comments.

These are what I call ‘charismatic blogs’. Their success can be attributed to really unique contents presented or they are owned by good looking people (celebrities, models,  members of the media) or enigmatic characters. 

With blogs like this, it’s like a restaurant with queue outside, crowd attracts more crowd and so a high click rate attracts more to click. Whether or not the ‘food’ is really delicious may not be the key anymore.

So if you want a great following in Singapore, having one or some of the above traits help.

Attention Grabbing?

So why am I so attention grabbing and hungry for readership, to the extend of studying the blogosphere to such details?

Yes and no. Let’s put it this way:

‘Yes’ because to certain extend, the psychology of a person who publish their diary online to the world is similar to that of a performer - they enjoy the lime light.

‘No’ because I was very curious to learn all about blogging – what goes in, what goes out. What works, what doesn’t. And most importantly, what I want and want not.  This is just me when learning stuff. I tend to dissect a subject inside out.

I also observe the fluctuation of hit rates when I publicise at certain platforms over the other. Different platforms are subscribed by different audience profile. So what works on one fails on another. I must say it’s really very interesting!

Anyway, after an interesting but intensive ‘internship’ of 5 months I concluded that I just want to write what I like. Of course, whoever wants to drop by is more than welcomed.

Moving Forward, Liberated

Not publicising is extremely liberating since I owe no one a good post besides myself.

I notice that there is a a number of young bloggers out there writing Self Help topics are even in a race to expand their number of followers. 

I somehow have this feeling that writing motivational blogs really is a means to increase readership. Call me bias but young souls between 19~25 know would not know enough to address the dark issues of life and teach their readers how they can overcome them. 

To create yet another piece of soulless mosaic work will not be my aim.

But definitely from time to time when I write ’value adding’ articles, like travel blogs or about books and movies…etc. I may attempt some ‘announcements’. So whoever in search of the information may hopefully find my articles useful.

I suspect I’ve just grown up a little in this blogging world. Probably just promoted myself from an elementary to intermediate.

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