I just found out via Power Line that blogger Arthur Chrenkoff is leaving the blogosphere. I wish him well.
I’m often asked what it takes to build a blog readership. My traffic numbers aren’t astronomical (yet), but I do know what draws in readers. One such method is to build an expertise in one or two subjects. Arthur had become the go-to blogger for news about Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, his posts were so in-depth and informative, they were regularly published in the Opinion Journal.
Expertise-building is gold in the blogosphere. The blogger at Riehl World View, for example, started blogging in late May, and he already averages close to 50,000 unique visitors per day. Why? He’s the go-to blogger for information about Natalee Holloway and probably a few other topics.
The Political Teen, who seems to be buckling under the weight of his traffic, is the go-to blogger for video clips. (He’s back online now.)
Throughout the day, I’ll update this post with links to bloggers who’ve built an expertise. In fact, if you currently visit certain bloggers who cover specific topics, let me know in the comment section.
Now that Arthur is leaving, the opportunity to fill the Iraq/Afghanistan news void is wide open. There are other bloggers, but none as big as Chrenkoff.
Others bidding Arthur adieu: Michelle Malkin, The Laughing Wolf, Mudville Gazette…
Update: Speaking of expertise, Brian Maloney is all over the Air America scandal and getting not-bad traffic, I’m sure.
Update II (8/6): Chrenkoff says: “A few days ago, I accepted a new job. Unfortunately, one of the conditions is that I will not be allowed to blog, or indeed write much on my own. As you can imagine, it has not been an easy decision….Don’t leave quite just yet – the blogging will continue for another few weeks.”
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I wish him well…we’ll miss that type of expertise. I’ve been struggling to just focus on one or two topics. One: Politics (a little too broad), and two: homeschooling, which is much more easier to focus on. But I guess I’ve seen too many blogs on both.
Homeschooling: now that’s blogosphere gold yet to be dug. Don’t let the number of homeschooling blogs discourage you. It’s how you gather and process the information that sets you apart. To build an expertise in homeschooling, you’ll have to make the effort to do actual reporting and information gathering.
Give readers what they’re not getting on other homeschooling blogs or web sites, such as more indepth news, better or more timely information. Interview high-profile homeschool advocates and opponents, for example. Write a homeschooling article once or twice a month, and send it to Townhall.com or NRO. In turn, the bigger bloggers will link to you, bringing you even more traffic.
The pickings are ripe!
It’s sad to see him leave the blogosphere but wonderful to see his ideas get a larger airing. He has been one of the few sources of information on Iraq that isn’t all doom and gloom (but not puffery either, he’s meticulous).
But just how do you get people to say, “Hey, this blog is about an area of expertise – let’s send everyone here!”? Is it taboo to change a blog’s title (not the address) if you find an area you want to specialize in? I’m so new to blogging, but it just screams at me, begging to be done. I can’t help myself.
Allison, it takes what a lot of people are too impatient to invest: time. It doesn’t happen overnight or even in a few months. If you feel it will help, by all means change the title of your blog. For people who don’t have a blog and want to become an expert, they should begin thinking about their topic and use words related to it in the blog’s title and URL, which helps Googlers and other searchers find the blog faster.
Well, my title doesn’t exactly make you think of homeschooling…but it might. Thanks so much for the advice La Shawn! I’m going to try that out!
How would I send in an article to TownHall or NRO? I read them, but have never seen a “submit” area.
Oh goodness – there will be a major void in the blogosphere without his presence
Thanks so much! I was led here by Spunky’s homeschool blog, and I’m so glad I was! I think I’ll just start a new blog that focuses on an area where I have much experience (if not quite expertise – yet) – raising children with special needs/homeschooling them/etc. Thanks for your help!
Townhall:
http://www.townhall.com/about/submissions.html
NRO:
http://www.nationalreview.com/contact/contact.asp
Thanks so much!
Chrenkoff will be missed indeed.
Homeschooling kids with special needs. Perfect, Allison. You probably don’t need to start a new blog, but changing the title will help.
Provide links in the sidebar to articles about that specific topic or as close to it as you can get. Start building an archive of specialized posts that help homeschool mothers and others get the information they need. If you really want to be ambitious, shoot a few e-mails to education reporters and let them know you’re available for quotes.
Ugh!!! That was one of my daily “must reads”…right after LBC.
Homeschooling is an exploding medium that needs good, insightful blogs to get the word out on the good works being done. Even myself as a public educator recognizes the outstanding results of home schooling. Now that they have all the extra-curricular activities available for home-schoolers (at least here in Texas), it will soon rival private schooling as the alternative method of choice for those so disgusted by public education.
If I didn’t believe that my calling was in public education and coaching, I would already be there myself.
Well Chris, I hope I can start working to be one of those “insightful blogs to get the word out on the good works being done.”
I’m also really interested in getting the word out about German Homeschooling–which happens to be illegal. Also, homeschool “apologetics” are really good. People attack homeschoolers without really knowing what it’s like, and without knowing very much about it.
Another great homeschooling subtopic, Tim. Do for German homeschooling what Captain Ed did for Canadian politics: open up the flow of information for people in those countries who aren’t getting it through their mainstream media.
I’m doing it now…interviewing a German, doing some posts, and digging for info.
It really is like Captain Ed now that I think about it.
I love Arthur’s blog–I’ll miss it
I better hurry up and read his archives. He also has fiction posted at my site: http://www.metrofiction.com/Guest.htm
Cassandra2004.blogspot.com is an expert in MSM lies and MSM bias.
Check out this post for lies:
http://cassandra2004.blogspot.com/2005/01/msm-lies-of-2005.html
Commonwealth Conservative is the go-to blogger for Virginia politics…which is interesting because VA is having it’s gubernatorial election this year.
Plus, it’s written by an expert, since he’s an elected official himself.
URL is http://www.vaconservative.com
Rasmussen poll has the Republican up by 6% on that website Steve.
For reasoned, intelligent commentary on most all aspects of China (economy, culture, etc.)
brain.mu.nu
I have a friend who teaches extra classes to homeschoolers at a charter school here in California, but unfortunately she’s teaching evolution and like-minded subjects. Thankfully, the parents can always opt out if they want to.
I don’t know how much there is to blog about homeschoolers here in the U.S. because it has quickly become part of normal society. We’re just doing our thing. Or am I wrong? I could always blog about how smart homeschoolers are.
I agree with your specialization comments, and would wish there was a go-to blog on contemporary theology, with its many detailed shifts in various theological circles. It is tough keeping up with what each group says about certain issues. The same might be said regarding Christian apologetics.
The specialization concept is like marketing–a business has to have a specific angle to be able to get its message across.
I’m not a real serious blogger most of the time, but when I get serious about two subjects that really get me going… Sudan and Venezuela… hardly anyone will post a comment! What’s up with that?
Ahh…Sudan…that’s a good topic…
Can I promote my own blog?
Anything you want to know about recovery from addiction/alcoholism on my blog.Christian perspective with focus on Truth.
http://Chrstianrecovery.blogspot.com
Arthur’s good news reports have been a breath of fresh air in the midst of the death and destruction coverage of the MSM. He will be missed.
Don: Perhaps by the time those battles are finally over Arthur will be have the time and be in a postition to blog again. I hope so but people like myself who don’t produce a blog and only leave an occasional comment can only guess how much time and energy people like Arthur or LaShawn put in to their blogs.
http://christianrecovery.blogspot.com
The link I posted before didnt work as I spelled it wrong. Its hard to believe but I was wrong.
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