“Is there more content than readers?”
I was reading an e-zine over the weekend where this question was posed. It was one of those questions that smacked me upside the head. And got me thinking…
I also delivered a speech last week, to the Towne Lake Business Association. It was a lot of fun, and a great experience. I so dig hanging out with ambitious and hungry-to-learn business people. And it became clear to me that the people in that room were hungry for learning, hungry for more information, hungry for a new perspective.
So obviously, these two concepts caused a conflict in my thinking.
After my presentation, I was convinced again that there are people out in the market that are hungering for information, more learning. But, every day, I read blogs and online articles, or see literally thousands of books, that do not seem to have an apparent home or readership.
And being a marketing blogger, I realize that I am one of thousands, or perhaps tens of thousands of authors, adding a few cups to a vast ocean of knowledge…
What to do? A few thoughts:
1. I will keep writing. I am building an audience, albeit a small one, that seems to appreciate what I say. And that audience inspires me to keep trying to write, and write better.
2. Despite the endless stream of online content, and crates of unread books piling up everywhere, most people don’t read enough, and learn enough, don’t soak up all the knowledge that exists. I will keep on advocating this as long as people will listen…
3. Even though there appear to be more “experts” on the web than “students” – every writer does have something to teach, something to say, some experience to share…something we all can benefit from.
4. You have a voice, and there is someone out in the world that your message will resonate with. Changing, helping, serving that one person is worthwhile. Because they will tell one person, who will tell another person…
5. Persistence and sustained effort are the rules and reality for most of us. It takes time to build that audience. Read this article by David Meerman Scott about the secret to building 50,000 followers on Twitter…
Yeah, there are days when it feels like no one reads your material. That you wonder why the expenditure of time to create content remains necessary. But I say it matters. It is relevant. And yes, it is necessary.
Necessary, because I learn when I write my own material, or generate my own podcast, and host others on my radio shows. This learning is what makes it matter.
Does the world really need you to write another article on marketing?
I say yes.
What about you?
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[cartoon by @gapingvoid]
