Comments for Seth Leonard

Comment on How To Bring Focus To Your Website And Engage Your Online Audience [Site Review] by Paula

Paula — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:59:39 +0000

very helpful..thanks. looking forward to the next one.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Seth Leonard

Seth Leonard — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:11:20 +0000

@writesnrights I think there are a number of factors in why people do it. And, to be honest, we all do it to some extent, in our websites and our lives. It’s hard to see the results a person gets that you want and not try to your hand at doing the same. There are very few natural marketers in this world, so we all have something to learn.

The difference is being able to recognize when you’re following a formula and when you’re following good practice. And, as you said, making sure you feel good about what you’re doing, and that you’re feeling connected to what you produce.

It’s hard to dig deep and find the uniqueness inside. But it’s absolutely necessary.

I’m looking forward to seeing your new site. I think self-hosted WordPress is a great step for you. You’re doing great on that path of yours…

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by writesnrights

writesnrights — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:26:51 +0000

THANK YOU for writing this post. I’m relieved to know that I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’ve been caught in some awkward situations lately with fellow bloggers that want my opinion on their blogs, or who want to give me their opinion on mine… I’ve been gaining readership, and I feel strongly that it’s because I follow my instincts. I share my writing on my blog; I don’t write about writing. (At least not anymore.) My readership is still small, but it’s growing at a pace I’m comfortable with, and I’m not willing to change my approach to my content simply to get more subscribers.

At the suggestion and gracious help of an experienced blogging friend, I’m building a self-hosted wordpress site to improve my design and make it easier to share my content with others, which I know will improve my readership. Other than that I’m choosing my own path.

But there are bloggers that I know that are struggling, and it’s because they regurgitate what they read from successful bloggers like Jeff Goins or Jon Acuff. They want their readership to grow, but they blog for the sake of readership, not because they have something valuable to share. They choose the same blog template, the same post format, the same quotes from Hemingway, the same message to share with their readers who already read the same material from the same blog that this blogger has attempted to repurpose and claim as their own.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Seth Leonard

Seth Leonard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:12:45 +0000

@duffmcduffee Ha! I guess if I’m referencing bad 90′s movies, there’s no reason not to reference bad infomercials.

“Slap-Chopping My Business To Glory” is one fantastic tagline.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by duffmcduffee

duffmcduffee — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:26:07 +0000

This title made me think of “stop having the boring tuna, stop having a boring life.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQAI’m working on slap-chopping my business to glory

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Seth Leonard

Seth Leonard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:25:13 +0000

You’re completely right, Karol. The uniqueness is inherent in all of us. Too often it gets watered down, especially online. Being okay with people not liking you is a huge part of revealing what sets us apart from others. That often is what comes naturally to us if we remove some filters.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Karol

Karol — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:53:53 +0000

Hey Seth,

Thanks for the shout out. I think the most interesting thing about this is that I don’t necessarily think I’m different, per se. What I’m attempting to be is the same person online as I am offline. A lot of us, when we begin doing something publicly, try to change ourselves into something we *think* other people will like as opposed to letting them like who we already are. Some people won’t like who we really are and that’s good too.

Karol

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Seth Leonard

Seth Leonard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:40:20 +0000

@Dave Lukas When people are quoting your tagline, you know you’re on to something. Give your audience something worth telling their friends about. Something unique and memorable.

And yes, as with most things, it’s easier said than done.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by Seth Leonard

Seth Leonard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:38:46 +0000

@denisesmedley Great advice, Denise! You are right: this should always come from a place of authenticity. But I see far more people not being themselves in an effort to be the same as everyone else, rather than doing so in order to be different. The key is to highlight and use your uniqueness.

Comment on Stop Making The Same Boring Websites! by denisesmedley

denisesmedley — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:34:40 +0000

‘Be yourself’ is always good advice.

You’re sending a good message with this post, but my only word of caution is – don’t force it. If you *try* to be different, you might end up with something that isn’t YOU.