Guest post by Matt Mansfield
One of the biggest challenges a blogger faces are the “Me, too” Syndrome Blues.
The “Me, Too” Syndrome Blues hit when you, as a passionate contributor to, and participant in, the blogging community, read lots of other blogs and discover that people are talking about the same things you are. They’re having the same conversations you want to have and reaching the same conclusions that you have reached.
And at that moment, that ugly voice in the back of your head asks, “What do I have to contribute to this conversation that’s new, interesting or valuable? Why should I even start a blog or continue the one I have?” You feel discouraged; you feel down.
That’s the “Me, Too” Syndrome Blues.
It’s a tough moment to be sure (and it arises more than once!) but if you are going to continue on to blogging success, you need to move past it and keep posting and participating in the conversation.
How do you beat back the Blues?
Below are a few steps I’ve used to move past “Me, Too” syndrome and get back to work:
1. Look for the “Niche within a Niche”:
Like the facets on a diamond, every conversation has many sides. When you see other bloggers talking about your passion, your subject, study their posts closely and see if there are topics they are not addressing or points of view that are not being explored. Expand the conversation – every blog post can spawn at least one post for you if you take a throw-away point that was made and make it the center of your post. Take a high-level conversation and dive in deep on one point and then another. You’ll never run out of things to write about that are interesting, new and of value to your readers.
2. Try a “Different Medium”:
One of the best things about the Web is that it’s not just made up of words; it’s images, video and sound, too. If you find that there are a lot of people talking about your topic using one medium, try using a different one. People consume information (and learn) in lots of different ways and while that nice long post that someone else wrote might make some folks really happy, others might want to hear it read on their iPod and still other might love to watch a video. Try different mediums, find one you are comfortable with, and the interested audience will find you.
3. Realize that “You are a Different Person”:
Most Bloggers are not journalists who need to follow some code of objectivity. In other words, you don’t need to keep yourself out of the story. How does this help? Because you bring a ton of new and unique experiences to your readers. Your tone, your outlook, your stories, your beliefs and your opinions all color and enhance your posts and make them different and valuable in their own right, even if they cover the same subject as a post on a different blog. You need to frame the conversation and tell it your way, from your perspective and in your own voice.
Next time you feel the “Me, Too” syndrome blues sneaking up on you (or ramming into you like a freight train!), try the steps above and see if you can chase away those ugly feelings. I’d love to know if they work and if you have your own methods that we can all try! Add to the conversation by commenting below.
Matt blogs at LeveragetheWeb. He coaches businesses by matching their needs with online software solutions that help them save time and money, start new projects and grow their existing business.
About Kiesha Easley
The “Me, Too” Syndrome is something we’ve all faced. Finding your own voice within your niche is key. One thing you can do from the jump is to be yourself in your writing. Show your personality. We are all different. Your personality is your first step in differentiantion.
Great post!
Thank you This is indeed a serious problem, and each finds a solution himself.
kelli recently posted..Как производится встроенный шкаф-купе
Thanks for stopping by Kelli!
Do you have any solutions to share which have worked for you?
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..Build a Business Website Part Three- Build an eCommerce Website
you absolutely right.. this kind of things that i want to explore. hope i can do better in the future..
rainer recently posted..Windows 7 God Mode
Rainer,
Just keep writing in your voice about cool things like Windows 7 god mode (great post, BTW!) and you’ll do just fine.
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..Build a Business Website Part Three- Build an eCommerce Website
Thanks for that, Matt.. Just at the point where I was also feeling the blues. I like the idea of using another medium and adding a personal touch to the message. Something I will like to incorporate more…
James Tayo recently posted..How to setup a list in Aweber in 15 minutes
James,
Glad the post hit you at the right time! It’s just a sign that someone wants you to succeed! :-)
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..My Cannot-Live-Without-It Tool
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Matt,
This was truly a great post that will definitely encourage bloggers everywhere.
I’ve definitely had my fair share of days like this. I finally got over it one day when I realized – I might not be able to create totally original “never written before” posts, but I can write about the old in new and creative ways. That’s what I’m good at, so that’s what I do. I encourage you to continue and feel free to guest post here any time!! :)
Thanks Kiesha!
You are certainly good at writing from about 100 angles and in your own voice! I’ve enjoyed your posts and come here to learn a lot from you, your other guests and the folks who leave comments.
I won’t be a stranger…
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..Build a Business Website Part Three- Build an eCommerce Website
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi James!
Just hang in there – don’t let the blogger blues get ya down. Whenever I’m feeling tapped out – I just try to think of a creative way to restate the old. Stories are great for that and the good news is that we all have an endless supply of those personal experience stories. So use what you have to the fullest and before you know it, you’ll have more posts than you can use…then you can just submit one as a guest post… :)
Hi Matt,
This is excellent advice. I really like your suggestions.
I often feel this way but you’re right. We are all different and we can still add value to the conversation.
We just have to find a way of expressing that which is uniquely us. Oh, and the bits that are being left unsaid.
Thanks Jazz!
You’re already getting your personality across to me in your avatar – love that!
I’ve always admired people that could sit back and listen to a conversation and then fill-in the blanks, the parts unsaid. I always jump in head-first! lol
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..My Cannot-Live-Without-It Tool
Good post Matt,
I liked what you had to say about bringing your voice into the conversation and finding the niche within a niche.
I’ve been trying to do that myself. So far, it seems to be a good way of going about it.
It’s so easy to get stuck in the “me, too” mentality. Thanks for offering your thoughts about how to get unstuck.
Sean
Sean Cook recently posted..Are You Saying “Just Enough” in Your Interviews
My pleasure Sean!
I think just being yourself is the best selling point for your blog. People can spot a phony a mile away and putting your voice in your posts is the best way to do that.
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..My Cannot-Live-Without-It Tool
Matt,
I love the advice you give here …
“Expand the conversation – every blog post can spawn at least one post for you if you take a throw-away point that was made and make it the center of your post.”
I can tell you from my own experience that the times when I am reading and engaging in other people’s blogs are the ones where I find my own ideas just flowing out of me. It just seems to come naturally when we read a post that the “yeah, but” or “you forgot about” thoughts spring to our mind.
These are great springboards into our own voice and content. Also, never forget about comments. Many times the comments are better than the original post and can serve as great inspiration for a blog post.
Brad
Brad Harmon recently posted..God Bless You- But You’re Fired
You are right-on Brad when you talk about comments!
Comments are a great way to not only garner ideas, but to really get an idea in what your (and other’s) readers are interested.
Comments also add to and extend the conversation that the post started – just reading the post without reading the comments as well would be like hanging up before the Q&A session of a teleseminar (or something like that…lol)!
Thanks for adding to this conversation!
-Matt
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..My Cannot-Live-Without-It Tool
this is exactly how i feel “me too”
every one is different and people come up with different ideas..
Broadway,
Can you share a way you get over the blues?
-Matt
Matt Mansfield recently posted..My Cannot-Live-Without-It Tool