Blog about Many Topics

[pianoperformer]

Tayrak,

I'm really not sure if I get a lot of return visitors or not. I must admit I don't pay too much attention to stats, though I should start. Many of my popular posts, though, are ones about programming, interestingly. However I do know that lately I've been getting some musicians, as they have commented, which is a rarety on my blog. I've also gotten some traffic from people searching about dieting, since I used to blog about that a bit.

Whether the programmers still come, I don't know. I do see searches for keywords regarding programming that leads people to my blog, though. I also saw a keyword search today: "Brandon's practice journal." Lol. I wonder who's explicitly looking for my, or at least someone named Brandon, practice journal?

What do you think about the idea that a common thread like "transcending limits" could work?

By the way, i've changed the tagline once more.

"Transcend Your Limits, Create Your Reality"

That sums up pretty well my feeling about things.

[Tayrak]

If you go with "Transcending Limits" it could tie it all in together which is what you want. What I would be tempted to do in this case is maybe do a post about music, then one about another subject but if you're tying it all together it may not matter. (Now, that sounds vague even to me, lol)

I just wonder if you give each equal time if your visitors will know what to expect? Some will read everything. Some others will pick and choose. Staggering a bit may make it easier for the pickers to know when to get back to your site. If they can find some sort of schedule they may be more likely to come back. And you really want those repeat visitors.

""I also saw a keyword search today: "Brandon's practice journal." ""

Awesome.

Tayrak

[pianoperformer]

You mean post about one thing for a while, and then switch to another?

It is a decent point, but I tend to post about things as they occur in my life. Sometimes I do discuss a general point, but usually it is only because I am currently considering it in my own life.

I could try to alternate, like having one post about topic A, a second post about topic B, a third post about topic C, but I don't know if all topics have enough material to post at the same frequency for all. This is especially so for programming, since I've done considerably less programming since I became a music major.

I'm also thinking of using Wordpress's feature of future publishing to have my posts come out at certain times. If I write a lot of posts, I could have them come out at fixed intervals, even for a few days in advance.

I'm not yet sure how much I can write though, or how much I can put towards it in a day. But especially if I use weekends to do a lot of writing, it might work out, especially when I go back to school.

I don't know how often I should have them posting, though. Is there any limit on this for the visitor? Do you think there is a point where visitors get annoyed with the frequency of posting, thinking it is too much?

[Tayrak]

How often you post should be what you're comfortable with. It's more to get some kind of pattern going that people get used to. They're more into schedules with blogs than websites.

This was mostly because some blogs got into posting wars. It got to the point where some were posting several times a day. I didn't see the worth in that especially since a lot of posts were just continuing from the last one. It got their blogs to the top and squeezed out others so I suppose it was worth it to them. I don't know what people thought of that, but blogs got known for lots of posts. (Some were total crap)It's backed off now and you can post what you feel is comfortable, to a point.

I'm not into blogging but have heard from others that once or twice a month doesn't seem to be enough for blogs, they lose a lot of visitors. Once a week someone thought was fine.

The line of thought, as I understand it, is people like to know when a new post is coming, be it once a day or once a week or whatever. And they like it when a blog is consistent.

Decide on how often is a good match for you, then if you get some extra posts you can file them to post as you need them. That's a great idea. It's handy for a time when you get too busy. That way your blog stays on schedule, which people seem to like. Altering posts was just a suggestion, I wouldn't sweat it.

Blogs started out as something that was supposed to connect people and give everyone a chance to participate on the 'net without knowing too much technical stuff. It was suposed to be relaxed and friendly. They've lost a lot of that, and that's too bad.

Tayrak

[pianoperformer]

Originally Posted by Tayrak

How often you post should be what you're comfortable with. It's more to get some kind of pattern going that people get used to. They're more into schedules with blogs than websites.

This was mostly because some blogs got into posting wars. It got to the point where some were posting several times a day. I didn't see the worth in that especially since a lot of posts were just continuing from the last one. It got their blogs to the top and squeezed out others so I suppose it was worth it to them. I don't know what people thought of that, but blogs got known for lots of posts. (Some were total crap)It's backed off now and you can post what you feel is comfortable, to a point.

I'm not into blogging but have heard from others that once or twice a month doesn't seem to be enough for blogs, they lose a lot of visitors. Once a week someone thought was fine.

The line of thought, as I understand it, is people like to know when a new post is coming, be it once a day or once a week or whatever. And they like it when a blog is consistent.

Decide on how often is a good match for you, then if you get some extra posts you can file them to post as you need them. That's a great idea. It's handy for a time when you get too busy. That way your blog stays on schedule, which people seem to like. Altering posts was just a suggestion, I wouldn't sweat it.

Blogs started out as something that was supposed to connect people and give everyone a chance to participate on the 'net without knowing too much technical stuff. It was suposed to be relaxed and friendly. They've lost a lot of that, and that's too bad.

Tayrak

Excellent suggestions. I might do once per day or so. Well really twice per day for now since I am posting my practice journals until I make my music web site.

I know this is not my thread about the music site, but just wanted to say that I've been getting some very positive suggestions. Someone I know really loves the idea and is willing to make me a design for it. Wow, that's really cool.

I also thought of a name for it, but I'm hesitant to share until the domain is registered so that no one else registers it before me.

Also, back to the blog, what does everyone think of this theme? Someone suggested it to me.

Oh, also, is the title OK? It's rather generic right now. I'm not sure what else I would use, though.

[Tayrak]

The theme wouldn't load for me, but that could be my puter, it does stuff like that just to irritate me.

You already have someone searching for 'Brandon's practice journal' so I might be tempted to just keep it, plus you already have visitors, changing the name now might make them think they got lost.

You didn't add that we could comment if we didn't agree with you

Tayrak

[pianoperformer]

Originally Posted by Tayrak

The theme wouldn't load for me, but that could be my puter, it does stuff like that just to irritate me.

Interesting. Maybe I gave the link wrong. Here it is again just in case: wp-mike01: stylish simplicity 1.1 (15/07/05) | Theme Viewer

Originally Posted by Tayrak

You already have someone searching for 'Brandon's practice journal' so I might be tempted to just keep it, plus you already have visitors, changing the name now might make them think they got lost.

True.

Originally Posted by Tayrak

You didn't add that we could comment if we didn't agree with you

Of course you can't.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by pianoperformer

Seems interesting. Too bad there's no audio version or anything.

Too bad my spoken english's so crappy! I'd have read it for you. Do you happen to speak french or german?

Again, I am curious why you are not convinced yet.

I don't know! It's just a feeling. Maybe because it's not totally clear for you?


Why do you want to write about your practice? Why do you practice the piano so much? Why do you program, what do you like about it? Why do you want to develop your psychic abilities? And why write about it? What is it that moves you? Is it the challenge, or the discovery? And where is the love? Is your goal to make us love what you love, or to make us discover something new, or to motivate us to push our limits too?

I'm not getting what exactly you want to effect with your blog.

[pianoperformer]

Hmm...

Music: I play music because it is a form of expression for me, just as writing, or painting, might be expressions for someone else. I'm not good at expressing what I feel, but I can do it easily through music. I also feel that music is beautiful, and really tells a story, and want other people to experience this. I experience a beautiful feeling when listening to classical music.

Why I practice so much: Because I have to. That's the only way to maintain one's technique.

why I write about practicing: Not everyone can hear me play, and so I can't always express that message I mentioned. However, I can write about it, and usually I am fairly decent at writing. Also it helps me keep organized.

Programming: I got into programming because I had nothing else to do when I was younger, and I have a very inquisitive mind that wants to know everything. I continue it because I enjoy it. I try to put it to good use, though, such as with the web site I am making for musicians. I have no enjoyment in just programming professionally when I have no interest in the outcome.

Psychic development: I'd love to be able to help people with it, actually. I always had some ability when I was younger, but shut it out for a few years because I became a bit more closed minded. No wI'm trying to open back up though and develop it again.

Spiritual growth (you skipped this for some reason?): Because life doesn't have meaning without it.

Why do I write? Because I want people to question what they are doing, and quit accepting as true that which they are fed by society. I want them to push themselves a bit and realize if they are unhappy or unfulfilled. I want them to realize that there is more than our mundane existence, that there's nothing wrong with striving for something else. I happen to find it through spirituality and music. I want people to raise their consciousness.

Though I still don't know why you are not convinced, as I thought I explained it clearly before.

[Rose of Cairo]

Looks like it's really about stretching some limits indeed. Awesome So your blog is about one thing after all!

Don't be frustrated, it has nothing to do with you when I don't get it

[pianoperformer]

Yeah sorry for being frustrated.

I started writing about the extra topics. Now I'm not sure whether I should post the practice journal until I get my music site up. I wonder who really cares about it; if no one then I shouldn't. That's usually the criteria now that I pass everything by as to whether to post something or not: can it help other people? If not, I keep it in my journal. Before, I would post everything that otherwise I would've put in a journal, and some of that stuff was only for my own use. But if I want to help people through the blog, and also if I want traffic lol, then I realized I should only post things that could help other people, and maybe the occasional random thing about myself.

Still need to work on traffic, though. I don't know if posting content is enough, or whether I should try to get people to link to me.

[Kaled Asmri]

Hi all,

I think your goal of blogging will help us...

if you're blogging just for fun, then, it doesn't matter what's your blog topic. blog about whatever ya want. blogs are a kind of dairy... and I enjoy some of the very-personal blogs out there.

if you're going to build a business & make money blogging, then, ya should focus & write for your audience...

Start by researching the 3 industries you like. Then, decide which one is easier for your to succeed in. Is there an info gap in that niche ya can fill?

do ya have any contacts with other bloggers in the same industry... etc.

After that, build & focus on ONE blog... till it becomes popular, then move to the next... etc. ya can inter-link your blogs later.

Regarding to your personal posts, I think it's normal to post them in your main blog, what's wrong with that? It's gonna raise your relationship with readers.


hope that help.

Kaled.

[pianoperformer]

Kaled, thank you for your reply.

Did you read the rest of the posts? I think I may have found a theme that works, though it's a bit hard sometimes. I'm not sure yet.

I guess right now, I am definitely interested in blogging about spirituality and psychic development, though I am also interested in music and programming. As for music, I am creating a site to house my practice journal, as well as allow others to create the same. I don't have too much else to say about music besides that. I could occasionally discuss what I'm learning, but I'm not too sure what else to blog about regarding music. I know of another music blog that I really enjoy, but he talks about his performances and such, and, certain pieces that he tears apart and analyzes. I'm not the best with technically analyzing pieces right now, and not sure why I would want to.

As for programming, I don't do that much anymore, so any blog on it would probably be spiratic at best. I've always wanted to create a programming web site, but there are so many of those already, that it would not get much traffic. I've tried it before, though not to the degree I've wanted.

Then there are just the random topics. I wonder if I should have a personal blog about random stuff, and a spirituality/psychic blog. Not even sure what the random stuff would entail. My life is usually absorbed by my primary interests.

It's not that I would want to make money from the spirituality/psychic blog, though that'd certainly be nice. It's just I'd want to be able to provide value to people who visit it. Oh and I would like a decent number of people to read it, lol.