So I have decided to pivot the nature of my blog post writings from reflections to being about business. When I first started to blog, I thought I would simply creatively write what was on my mind. This meant describing my road trips, philosophical reflections, and humor.
What I’ve found through my studying and research is the following. In order to monetize a blog, I have to redirect my purpose of blogging that, through writing and other forms, provides some kind of service or product to customers. In other words, “let’s get down to business.”
Thank You, Content Creators
Before continuing, I want to thank several content creators to help redirect my focus. They include Wired Creatives, listening to videos from the Digital Lifestyle Conference, connecting with bloggers and Instagram influencers like From Lust ‘Till Dawn, FashionTravelRepeat, and many more.
Their training pointed out that I needed to consider my specific niche in the digital platform world. While one could argue I’m providing entertainment or general life advice, I realized I could think bigger in regards to this platform.
How I’m Moving to a Business Format
So what does this mean? It means my post topics will shift from general personal experiences and life wisdom to delivering specific topics on road trips. I could write about topics like, “Lighthouses to Visit on the East Coast,” or “Cool Spots in Maine,” “Towns Where Films Took Place,” or “Funny Scenarios on Road Trips.”
This means possibly fewer blog posts per trip, but each post will have more meat on them.
Through Adam Preiser and Brett Knutson at the Digital Lifestyle Conference, I learned that I needed to create excellent, detailed content with headlines that match typical queries on search engines. People are looking for information on the Internet to better their life, and look to search engines for that content. Merely fulfilling my need to create doesn’t automatically meet their need, or draw traffic that will create monetizing opportunities.
How I’m Maintaining My Brand Identity
The beauty of this pivot is that I can still maintain my brand identity in the process. I am maintaining humor in the brand, because humor helps people to get through difficult circumstances and multiplies the fun of life.
I’m definitely keeping the road trips because I love adventures, and want to inspire you all to pursue them. There are so many road trips in the USA, and they provide a less expensive alternative to flying internationally. I would still like to travel around the world, just not for this platform.
I am streamlining the life wisdom to help people more concretely. So while people can relate road trips to life, I will work on making the wisdom I provide more specific.
Just like in this post, I’ll reference culture to bring out key points. So, my love of film, sports, and other activities aren’t going away. Instead, I will redirect those references to specific purposes in the blog post.
Thank you to Wired Creatives for the education that clarifies my brand identity and directs me to important things.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
I ran into writer’s block trying to do blog posts about my Maine Road Trip. I believe it’s the lack of a business focus that created the writer’s block. When I was writing, I could go anywhere with the post. As a result, my attempted posts went everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time.
But refocusing my attention to what I am offering to a specific customer, which is someone who wants to do road trips in the USA, and is looking for funny, thoughtful ways of engaging road trips, I believe the content will come.
I’m excited to move forward and make things happen.
So I say, let’s get down to business, to create content!