Honest feedback on my blog appreciated!

[Idaka]

I have been blogging for about a year and a half and have about 250 unique visitors per day to my old blog. I just started a new blog and am really trying to drive a lot more traffic to it. (I've been using stumble upon, and social networking so far and have gotten to a bit over 100 per day)

Right now I am hoping to get a lot of honest feedback on what I could do to improve my blog. I am looking for all aspects of the blog. Here are a few of the articles to take a look at.

Career Transition: Tips for Choosing Your New Career Path

Career Transition: How to Create your Career Goals

Why You Should Stop Multitasking

How to create good habits

What are your first impressions?
Do you like the content?
Would you read more of what I wrote? Why or why not?
Any other tips or ideas for me?

Also of course, if you do like it I would love anyone to stumble it! (or whatever one you use!)

Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it.
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Idaka Blog

[chopsaw]

Breath with awareness should read, Breathe with awareness. You make the same mistake in the body of the piece as well. You're targeting a more professional, less forgiving audience so little things matter.

Your use of call outs needs to be rethought. A call out does two things simultaneously (multi-tasking), it is critical that they both inform the reader as well as entice them. They do the same kind of work as a headline or title.

The question headline is an overused, overworked tactic. Use it sparingly. A good old-fashioned declaritive sentence can work wonders.

Years ago George Orwell wrote two brilliant essays on writing. I think every person who writes ought to read them. They are Politics and the English Language and Why I Write. Both are available online.

You happen to be in a saturated market, you must have innovative posts that professionals can scan and absorb so that when their interest is peaked, can dive right in (see above about call outs). In magazine publishing, they call this multiple points of entry. And don't forget, a funny yet informative post is both enjoyable as well as educational.

Hope this helps.

[Idaka]

Wow, thank you very much for your insight James. I am a novice writer so I really appreciate the input. I will check out the resources you suggested.

I also really appreciate the thought about the titles. I didn't even realize so many are questions. Thank you!

(and I've read your blog and loved the entry on drywall screws!)

[chopsaw]

Hey, thanks.

IF you have other questions about writing, please feel free to ask.

Best,

[simonsta]

Hi Idaka

I think it's great that you ask for feedback. How many other bloggers do this? It's so easy to keep ploughing on without looking to see if your furrows are straight (was that a cool metaphor or what?)

My first impression was: Great Content! Boring Presentation.

Actually, I've read some of your content through and I think it would benefit my readers, so I will probably link through soon. So that's a good start.

But the presentation could be spiced up a bit. Your colors are dull and don't excite me. You might have spent ages working on the look and feel, but it doesn't do it for me. Cleaner spaces will work.

Bluntly, your blog doesn't push any boundaries. What's unique about it? Your content is fresh but nothing new. You should add much more of Idaka into it. You talk about yourself quite a lot, which is good, but you appear passive. Push beyond your boundaries. I know this as I made the same mistake when I first started and I got nowhere for a long time. It was only when more personal extreme views came in did I begin to get traction. The problem we all have is that, unless we make the content personal, we're competing against the equity of trust carried by textbooks, as well as zillions of other run-of-the-mill bloggers, and we won't succeed.

I hope that helps Idaka - good luck!

[MariaG]

You've already gotten some good feedback, Idaka, so I'll just add a couple of points.

When I skimmed through your articles I didn't see anything that defined your point of view or why people should consider your ways of solving problems. If you want to be credible as a coach you need a point of view that stands out from the crowd.

Best of luck in this new venture.

[Idaka]

Thanks Simon. I love the statement "Push beyond your boundaries." I do have strong opinions, but I think I am trying to please everyone a bit too much. You're right though because I also tend to read blogs that have very distinct personalities.
I appreciate your time, and I'll have to start reading your blog too!

[Idaka]

Thanks Maria.

I think the biggest thing that sets me apart is my experience. I have been in corporate America and was 'successful' by other people's terms, but I knew there was more to life. Every topic I write about I have learned about the hard way. I have also coached a lot of people through situations and have learned from their experiences.

Thank you for mentioning that, because it probably does not come out in the writing! I am still learning!

[Interpreneur]

I think your blog looks good, but you really need to be careful with your grammar. “How does that effect me?” should be "affect".

If you have any credibility, you will lose it immediately with those type of errors. I would not hire you as my coach because of that simple word.

Also, your articles really don't stand out because they are very similar to many already out there. As Maria mentioned, you need to drive home your own personal unique opinion. On the "multitasking" articles you flip-flopped by agreeing with Joel. It's good to offer another opinion or way of doing things, but that tends to take away value from your opinion. As a coach you need to establish your opinion, frame it, and don't let it leave that frame.

Don't give up though. You have a great idea for a blog, and with some tweaking you should do great. Plus you're a cutie. I will continue reading your blog just for that reason (yes...I am shallow like that!)

[Idaka]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I agree completely about the grammar! I usually pay a lot of attention to spelling mistakes, and it irks me when I see them. I guess I didn't realize how bad my grammar really was until I posted here. I really need to pay more attention to it.

I agree too about saying something unique from me too. I have a lot of experience in what I write about (career transitions, becoming debt free etc) and I need to let my experience show through (instead of just giving regular advice all the time!)

And thank you, I enjoy being called cute, and I'll use whatever I can to get more readers to my blog!