Grow Your Blog’s Influence by Solving a Problem
Why do we love life hacks so much? And why are blogs on how to make money blogging so popular? And why is it that fitness blogs are so plenteous? It’s because they all solve a problem.
This isn’t just true of blogging. Think of all the markets now open on the basis of solved problems. Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, Henry Ford’s assembly line manufacturing process, and Richard James’ “slinky” are all vitally important to our current culture and society. And they all solve problems… except for the slinky perhaps.
Here’s the point: If you want to be read, be needed. And to be needed, solve a problem. Fix something that is broken. Address a need in the human heart or head. And if you can’t think of anything useful to say, meet the human need to be entertained. That may seem trivial, but there’s a reason why millions of people laugh out loud at cats.
This isn’t so much a challenge to come up with an idea for a blog that solves a problem as it is a provocation for you to write from a problem-solving mindset. As you pen each post, consider the questions…
- What unmet need am I meeting?
- What unfilled niche am I filling?
- What unsolved problem am I solving?
Then write in such a way that people will crave the answer you are offering.
What blogs do you see solving problems? And what problem does your blog solve?
In addition to serving as Editor of Fuel Your Blogging, Brandon is also a Pastor at Saddleback Church and Online Community Coordinator for Pastors.com. He’s also a web designer, blogger, and church communications consultant. Catch him on his own blog or on Twitter.
“Write in such a way that people will crave the answer you are offering.”
Great words of advice that apply in many arenas of life. :)
Thanks Kevin!
Hey, have you been peeking inside my brain? ;-)
My last email newsletter was about solving problems and I just wrote a post (to be published tomorrow) on a similar theme.
Jodi, we have indeed been peeking inside your brain. It’s our subtle attempt at finding ways to entice you to guest post here…
Solving the problem is what it’s really all about. You’re doing people a service that helps them out and in return, they want more of what you have to offer – pretty simple really.
Finding the right niche I think is what can be the hardest part because if you want to make a profit from your blog, or any money at all for that matter, you need to find something with money already there. On top of that, it really should be something you’re interested in or you’re not going to stick with it long enough to make it worth your while.
I’m sure there are easier ways that I just haven’t found out yet though.
Spot on, Eric!