Last tuesday I had a call with Brian of cheerupnation. We talked about many things related to blogging and online business.
We both learned a lot during this call, as we were able to talk and confront without any kind of limit.
I can summarize one hour call with one question: Are we creating value?
The thing is that even reading popular blogs is often a waste of time, because we can’t extract nothing useful most of the times.
If you have a blog, website or anything else that has to do with doing something for others, I strongly encourage you to give a lot of attention to what I am about to say.
Defining the problem
Here it is, without any kind of censure:
- You’re readers or customers are not there to please you.
- The majority of people only skim online content. Why? Because there’s nothing useful for them.
- Your content sucks, at least 90% of times.
Finding the solution
Of course your job is to avoid all of this. Here’s how:
- If you have a blog, before publishing each post, ask yourself if you would read it. Be honest.
- Of course you can’t fit everyone needs. Focus on a specific kind of person, and write specifically for them. Imagine what they would like to ask or know more.
- If you have a website, ask yourself if it’s doing something useful for your visitors. Make it excellent.
- The Pareto rule is not just something nice you’ve learned lately. Apply it to your writings, consulting, activities, etc. Focus on the real problem and eliminate the non essential.
- Don’t be afraid of change. If you improve your service, your users or customers will be more than happy.
Want to change?
My mission with this blog is to encourage improvement and make changes happen. I’ve reached a lot of new readers lately, but I still want to connect with as many of you as possible, so if you are interested you can contact me and we can make a call or something. Don’t be shy, I’m really looking forward to this.
Update: based on the feedback of some fellow bloggers, I should clarify that yes, value is subjective, and as long as you do what you like and you do it well, that’s perfectly fine. The point is to create value, even if only for yourself.
Posted on November 19 2009
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Oscar,
this is really straight-forward post, surely will leave impression.
Being all said, my only question is: what is the link between the picture and the text? :)
.-= lucnypes´s last blog ..lucnypes: @dojupiter I miss an option to modify retweets before submitting =-.
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Well, I just found an answer, so please ignore the question :)
.-= lucnypes´s last blog ..lucnypes: RT @oscardelben: Are You Creating Value? : http://tinyurl.com/y9xle9m =-.
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Hey Lucnypes, I associated value with a piggy. I know, I should get better with pictures :D
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Providing value surely should be the core of your blogging activities. Wasting time in a nice kind of way may be ONE way to provide this value. Just think of gadget sites or LOLcatz or stuff like that. It’s stupid, but it’s probably like TV for people: Tune in there for some time, thinking about nothing, have a laugh. Of course, if you’re into Personal Development, this shouldn’t be your topic and you will probably need to provide value of a different kind…
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Hey Fabian. As you said it depends on what you are trying to do. If you want to make people laugh that’s excellent, I often visit blogs like failblog.org :D Thanks for your feedback ;)
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Oscar, excellent post! Short, succinct — and extremely direct. Like a Seth Godin post! :)
One thing I would add to blog success beyond creating value is something you’re also doing as well which is: engage the reader, and create a definite interest in what he/she says. I know when a blogger really cares about his readers (as you do), it shows, and the reader “feels” it.
ON a very core level, we all want to know that we’re part of a community and that our voice “counts”.
And very cool to have your readers reach out to you at the end of your post! Off to tweet this!!
Have a great day!!!
.-= brian papa´s last blog ..Kicked to the Curb! =-.
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Thank a lot Brain. I’m looking forward to our next call ;)
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[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Oscar Del Ben and Brian Papa, Lucny Pes. Lucny Pes said: RT @oscardelben: Are You Creating Value? : http://tinyurl.com/y9xle9m […]
[…] morning, I enjoyed reading a post by Oscar Del Ben about the necessity of providing value in blogging. Think twice about what you want to write, think twice about how to write it, think […]
Hi Oscar.
Good call there about asking self if I would read my article. That sure does limit what we put out, but that would be for the good. Usually, when I am really interested in an article I wrote, people are as well, and when I am writing regularly, people respond like it is a regular post as well. There is a little bit of our readers in ourselves, or maybe a lot.
I may contact you secretly using a secret contact method to contact you.
.-= Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..Motivation Related To Production =-.
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Lol, curious to see what this secret method is about :D
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Interesting post Oscar, I like it.
Essentially I would say we all are creating value according to our own values and what we feel is important or worth sharing.
Whether other people find the value in it is another thing entirely.
Each person has different values, different things which are important to them, for some it may be things related to sports, music, the mind, productivity, business, spirituality and for others it may be something entirely different.
I think people skim content as there is so much content out there to skim vs interest in the content itself. I have found myself at sites where I have skimmed only to catch a sentence just before i hit the back button, that made me go back and read the entire post fully.
Did the post have value? It must of for a person to sit down and write it. Did all of it have value to me the reader? thats another thing based on where I’m at in my life.
We are all gleaning from life in different ways. Things which were important to me when i was 20 are no longer important now im in my 30s
I like to think of a blog and blog posts like a series of music albums. Not ever album released by a band is the same as the last, over time the music produced evolves. Not every song on the album will be liked by listeners, some of it might be found to be offensive, but somewhere, someone will find value in that same song based on what is going on in their life.
Definately though gearing a site and a post with a specific person in mind helps focus things in, that is great tip to remember, thanks.
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Thanks for your reply Jon. Your comparison of blog posts to music albums is correct, because you may like one post and not the other.
Regarding value, the real question is for which person you are doing it. I should have made this clearer in the post.
When I write a post, I usually try to imagine someone that’s listening. That’s a good start, but it’s not enough. If I only do that, it’s only a matter of luck because I may or may not provide something useful. On the other side, if I try to define a specific person or group, the chances that I deliver something useful are much higher. Of course I can’t please everybody.
I do this because my goal is to provide something useful to others. If my goal was to just exercise my writing skill, then my target would be different.
The word I used in this post have already created a sort of rejection to many readers. The reason I wrote this is that this concept created the same sort of rejection to me, and it helped me immensely.
I would say that this can be applied more to other activities than blogging, but again, it depends on your goals.
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Also, I want to emphasize that providing value to others is not the goal. The goal is to provide value, even for yourself. If you do that, you have already won.
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Hi Oscar,
Creating value is a big subject.
As you point out you can’t please everyone. I do ask myself the question about who my readers are and if what I write can possibly help them.
But it still is just a guess and I’m often wrong. Sometimes what I think is a good post can be much less favored by the readers and what I’m hesitant about publishing ends up working really well.
Being objective about what I write is near impossible.
So the question of value which is a subjective evaluation is a matter of how well you can guess what will be of value to others.
I find your blog interesting and will come back to read more of your posts.
Vance
.-= Vance Sova´s last blog ..Email List Building, Email Opt In List, Online Giveaways =-.
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Thanks Vance,
I’m glad you liked the post. Needless to say I fail most of the times too. Thanks for your comment.
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Hi Oscar,
Good advice, we always have to try to create value in everything we do. I try to follow this advice every single day of my life but, as you said, sometimes is difficult to value your own work and writings.
Thanks for your honesty.
See you Oscar.
.-= David | ilcantone.com´s last blog ..HOW TO OVERCOME ANY CHALLENGE YOU FACE || 4 STEPS METHOD =-.
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Hey David,
It’s not important to win every time, otherwise we would learn nothing.
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I agree with a lot of what’s said here. What someone might think is shit, another person might think as extremely valuable. For example, there are a lot of people out there who hate Leo at Zen Habits (I know, it’s weird since he seems like such a cool dude). Apparently it’s too ‘fluff’ for them. You know, that’s fine. That crowd is not for Leo.
I guess that’s why I’m a little against people who always say there’s a lot of crap out there. I mean, I guess it’s partially true, but at the same time, crap is a relative term. I’m kind of repeating myself here, but what one person thinks is shit another might gladly eat every day.
I think the most important points, which you really touch on Oscar, are:
1. Stay true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Know your voice and own it. You don’t have to be quirky if you’re not quirky. You don’t have to be some brilliant writer using fancy-shmancy words if that’s not you……just be yourself.
2. Please your customers. Your customers are the people who read your posts and comment. Treat them like kings. Listen to them. Understand their needs and then deliver.
Personally, I think it’s really that simple.
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Do People Really Get The Four Hour Workweek? =-.
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Hey Nate,
thanks for your opinion. I would say stay true to yourself, and do it well. That’s definitely what I mean for creating value. I think I should update the post to point out this difference.
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Oscar,
Straight and to the point. I think while would read it is a tough question because you have a biased opinion (you wrote it), it’s a great question to ask yourself. This is what a cult following is all about. If your readers find something about that they know is a passion my guess is they will read everything you write about that topic. Your points on finding the solution are spot on.
.-= Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..Sooner is better, but it’s never too late =-.
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Thanks Srinivas, I appreciate your comment.
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Oscar, very well written and to the point! You read my mind as I was thinking of writing something along exactly the same lines! Great post and your writing is getting better each time! Loving your blog.
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..How To Be Drunk Without The Alcohol =-.
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Great Amit, write anyway, I’m curious to see your opinion!
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I still remember a quote from Christ Jesus: “Do unto others as you would others do unto you” and I find it true and almost areas (there are some areas I can’t find this quote works, maybe I’m not wise enough to recognize it). We create something value to readers or users, then there must be something valuable to us. Keep this positive thought in our minds, we will succeed. Agree? Always like your posts.
.-= Phaoloo´s last blog ..Top 19 Tools To Hide Folders On Windows =-.
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Thanks Phaoloo, I agree with that quote and I often use it in real life, because I know that if I do something wrong, that think will come back to me one way or another. Lately I’m discovering that the opposite is true as well, if I do something good, then something good will happen to me again.
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Oscar,
I try to ask myself the question you pose before each act. Before I do something, I think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Identifying a motive goes a long way in improving the value you add to the world.
A great value-added question: “What am I doing for people?” Too many acts are directed at things – money, search engines, number following on twitter – and not enough are directed at people. The more you focus on adding value to people’s lives the more valuable you become in people’s eyes.
.-= Ryan´s last blog ..Gifting: Get Your Paperwork =-.
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Hy Ryan, thanks for your contribution and additional question!
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Hey Oscar,
Be remarkable or die.
With so much information and stuff online, if you’re not remarkable, you’ll not only not get noticed but will contribute to the mediocre noise.
In order to cut through the noise, as well as provide genuine new value to people, you have to be remarkable. Like you mentioned in your tips, create for yourself: would you seriously consume your stuff? If you don’t like it, then what makes you think anyone else would? Answer that little person standing on your shoulder saying “who gives a darn!” Does your stuff answer the question of “so what?” If not, don’t add to the noise. Go back and create something that matters.
Nice reminder to really focus on incredible value, something new and fresh, and something uniquely us. It’s all we can do in this over-crowded internet world,
Oleg
.-= Oleg Mokhov´s last blog ..How Michael Jackson’s Death Reminded Me of What’s Important =-.
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Thanks a lot for your feedback, totally agree on the fact that if you don’t build something remarkable you contribute to the average noise.
Oscar
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“If you have a blog, before publishing each post, ask yourself if you would read it. Be honest.”
That’s great advice! I’ve always believed that if we like and learn from our own work, then other people can gather value from it too.
I’ve heard of the 80/20 rule but I didn’t know it had an actual name. Great link!
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Hey Rocky, the Pareto rule has an interesting story behind it, check it out in wikipedia if you have time, and thanks for your feedback!
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The heading of this caught me straight away! Very true Oscar. Too many things online are just adding to the noise. This relates to ‘free’ eBooks, and some blogs. It’s the more frequent blogs versus the one post every so often, quality versus quantity.
And then what’s ‘value’, real value? People (customers) sometimes just want the notion that they’re doing something for themselves, it’s easy enough to punch your credit card details in and purchase but then you’ve got to ‘read’ or action whatever you’ve bought.
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Hey Andrew, I consider value something that moves you closer to your goals, or that moves your readers closer to theirs.
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Hey O!
Great post! How are you doing man? Congrats on the growing comments and the 167k alexa! youre gonna catch me :)
Have an awesome weekend!
.-= Diggy-Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..Too Much Mind =-.
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Hey Diggy, we are both growing fast, and that’s awesome!
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Oscar, love the post my friend and Brian is an absolute legend. Hilarious that guy.
.-= JONNY | thelifething.com´s last blog ..How To Be A Chocolate Coated, Sprinkle Covered, Irresistible Social Supermagnet =-.
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Hey Jonny! Yes Brian is a legend!
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Straight to the point, and right on. If you don’t love what you have written yourself, that is probably a good indication that other people won’t either. Good thing I’m my biggest fan then…lol ;)
.-= amanda@choosing-life-my-way.com´s last blog ..Just For Now Is All There Is =-.
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Hey Amanda!
It’s a good idea to be fan of ourselves ;) Thanks for your comment!
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Short and to the point. I don’t understand how the picture relates to the text, but oh well. Keep up the good work!
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It probably relates only on my head :D Thanks for your comment Mike.
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