A site I really like and get a lot of good ideas from is Moz.
This site specializes in SEO and content marketing strategies. They’re a big player and they provide a lot of value to their visitors and users.
They also provide me with a lot of boring content.
Yeah, I said it – Moz is boring a lot of the time. Honestly, I don’t even watch many of the Whiteboard Friday’s anymore. I know, terrible, right?
Well, it’s boring. Now why is that?
This site specializes in SEO and content marketing strategies. They’re a big player and they provide a lot of value to their visitors and users.
They also provide me with a lot of boring content.
Yeah, I said it – Moz is boring a lot of the time. Honestly, I don’t even watch many of the Whiteboard Friday’s anymore. I know, terrible, right?
Well, it’s boring. Now why is that?
Too Long
I like long articles. Most articles I put up on this site are between 1,200 and 1,600 words long. Try putting one of those on your site each day or several days a week.
I love long articles, so long as they’re not boring, and many of this site’s articles and other sites I like are just putting out long, boring articles.
I love long articles, so long as they’re not boring, and many of this site’s articles and other sites I like are just putting out long, boring articles.
Too Jargon-y
I know quite a few terms, and don’t mind seeing something explained in parentheses. But to have your whole article be jargon-filled?
I guess if that’s your audience that’s alright. But the more you can make your message appeal to the common man the more popular you’ll be.
Don’t be afraid to cast a wide net by talking to people in a down-home style, even when explaining complex concepts.
I guess if that’s your audience that’s alright. But the more you can make your message appeal to the common man the more popular you’ll be.
Don’t be afraid to cast a wide net by talking to people in a down-home style, even when explaining complex concepts.
Too Focused
Moz focuses on SEO and lots of that behind-the-scenes under-the-hood SEO stuff that many would rather not think about. I’m one of them.
I like to write, I’m not so much interested in nuts and bolts. Sometimes sites get too focused on small aspects of larger problems, and then run with that, to the detriment of their users.
When polls are being thrown up to figure out what people want, it’s not a good sign. First, it means you don’t know, and that means all that money you spent to know has been a waste. I don’t think your latest poll or survey will be any different.
The best way to figure out what your users want is to get down into the trenches with them. The trenches are your blog’s commenting section, something larger sites are afraid of, and rightly so – they don’t want to be challenged, which tells me they’re also afraid to challenge themselves.
Guys, one or two comments in a commenting section numbering in the dozens does not equal engagement, it equals disengagement. That leads to apathy.
Thomas Jefferson told us the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. I believe it was Howard Zinn that said the price of eternal vigilance is indifference.
Too many sites these days are losing their vigilance as they become chained to money. They’re no longer free, and now you’re buying a message, not reading useful content.
I like to write, I’m not so much interested in nuts and bolts. Sometimes sites get too focused on small aspects of larger problems, and then run with that, to the detriment of their users.
When polls are being thrown up to figure out what people want, it’s not a good sign. First, it means you don’t know, and that means all that money you spent to know has been a waste. I don’t think your latest poll or survey will be any different.
The best way to figure out what your users want is to get down into the trenches with them. The trenches are your blog’s commenting section, something larger sites are afraid of, and rightly so – they don’t want to be challenged, which tells me they’re also afraid to challenge themselves.
Guys, one or two comments in a commenting section numbering in the dozens does not equal engagement, it equals disengagement. That leads to apathy.
Thomas Jefferson told us the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. I believe it was Howard Zinn that said the price of eternal vigilance is indifference.
Too many sites these days are losing their vigilance as they become chained to money. They’re no longer free, and now you’re buying a message, not reading useful content.
Too Blind
Lots of sites love to put up blog posts touting their latest service, next shindig, or generally patting themselves on the back. I don’t mind this, what irks me is when comments are closed to this.
Copyblogger is a fine example of this, and they have another useless article for both their visitors and users today. Boy, what a waste of my time even going to that site today, huh? How many times are you putting up content that has your users saying the same thing?
Copyblogger is a fine example of this, and they have another useless article for both their visitors and users today. Boy, what a waste of my time even going to that site today, huh? How many times are you putting up content that has your users saying the same thing?
Too Useless
And that leads us to the crux of the problem – too much content is plain ol’ useless today.
Now, disposable content that makes me laugh, even if you’re selling me shit I don’t want, can be useful. After all, it might’ve just lowered my blood pressure. Many times when sites schlep their wares and they won’t even go to the effort of making you laugh!
So you’ve got a site pushing you to buy something you don’t want, giving you boring information, and doing so in a way you don’t really care about. Why are sites doing this today?
Now, disposable content that makes me laugh, even if you’re selling me shit I don’t want, can be useful. After all, it might’ve just lowered my blood pressure. Many times when sites schlep their wares and they won’t even go to the effort of making you laugh!
So you’ve got a site pushing you to buy something you don’t want, giving you boring information, and doing so in a way you don’t really care about. Why are sites doing this today?
What Causes Boring Content?
Maybe they’re purposefully trying to lower their value so as to be bought out.
Could it be that they’re burned out, indifferent, or just no longer effective?
Perhaps they are flush with money, and only have eyes for making more.
What if lines have been drawn and you’re now on the wrong side?
It’s easy to think they have a plan – a plan to fail.
Are moneyed interests now calling the shots?
Has the passion gone?
Is it over?
Well?
Why is so much of the content you read today boring you? I think it’s a tough question, but fair. Or am I the only one being bored by every single blog out there today?
Please tell me that’s the case and that everyone around hasn’t suddenly developed the walnut-sized brain of a dinosaur. Or is it just January?
Fuck if I know.
Could it be that they’re burned out, indifferent, or just no longer effective?
Perhaps they are flush with money, and only have eyes for making more.
What if lines have been drawn and you’re now on the wrong side?
It’s easy to think they have a plan – a plan to fail.
Are moneyed interests now calling the shots?
Has the passion gone?
Is it over?
Well?
Why is so much of the content you read today boring you? I think it’s a tough question, but fair. Or am I the only one being bored by every single blog out there today?
Please tell me that’s the case and that everyone around hasn’t suddenly developed the walnut-sized brain of a dinosaur. Or is it just January?
Fuck if I know.
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