Thursday, June 17, 2010
A new home
Just moved my blog from a personal domain to Blogger. So, for the next N years I'll be posting here.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Created Content Versus Generated Content
How difficult it is to start a blog..or a Twitter account? Well, "starting" is never terribly difficult, but keeping consistent with your writing and updating can become difficult. However, it can become easier if you're willing to understand and utilize the differences between what I call "Created Content" and "Generated Content."
Created Content
Created Content is basically just what the name implies: content that you create, from scratch, on your own. It is your unique thoughts and ideas put down on paper, whether it is actually written on paper or if it is (more often than not) the virtual kind. Created Content is the content most susceptible to the dreaded "Writer's Block", crippling consistency with a blog or update.
Generated Content
On the other hand, Generated Content is what is "generated" as a result of something external. For example, a blog post that springs from someone else's blog, a re-tweet, or even a re-tweet with something you've appended. The main idea here is that you're not generating the content on your own. Rather, you're taking someone else's "created content" and adding in your own take, your own spin, your own ideas, your own opinions.
Therefore, to put a finer point on this, I'd say "Created Content" is proactive whereas "Generated Content" is reactive.
Speed Doesn't Kill in the Blogosphere
If you want to sit and labor over a blog post, be my guest. However, realize that the impetus of your blog (and, therefore, any result you're trying to accomplish with your blog) is greatly affected by the delay between posts, updates or whatever. Speed doesn't kill in the blogosphere (usually), but stagnation definitely will. Therefore, use both types of content to your advantage!
Good Rule of Thumb:
For Blogs: 2 Generated Content blog posts a week, 1 Created Content blog post.
For Tweets: Try the same formula, but a tighter time frame. 2 Generated tweets per day, 1 Created tweet.
Will this cure your writer's block? No, but it isn't intended to. Just realize that you don't have to be terribly prolific if you want to participate in social media. You just need an opinion at least - use that to your advantage whenever possible and you'll remain relevant and authoritative. Pepper your Created Content in between Generated Content posts and find a formula that you're comfortable with, one that will keep you writing and moving towards your goals.
Created Content
Created Content is basically just what the name implies: content that you create, from scratch, on your own. It is your unique thoughts and ideas put down on paper, whether it is actually written on paper or if it is (more often than not) the virtual kind. Created Content is the content most susceptible to the dreaded "Writer's Block", crippling consistency with a blog or update.
Generated Content
On the other hand, Generated Content is what is "generated" as a result of something external. For example, a blog post that springs from someone else's blog, a re-tweet, or even a re-tweet with something you've appended. The main idea here is that you're not generating the content on your own. Rather, you're taking someone else's "created content" and adding in your own take, your own spin, your own ideas, your own opinions.
Therefore, to put a finer point on this, I'd say "Created Content" is proactive whereas "Generated Content" is reactive.
Speed Doesn't Kill in the Blogosphere
If you want to sit and labor over a blog post, be my guest. However, realize that the impetus of your blog (and, therefore, any result you're trying to accomplish with your blog) is greatly affected by the delay between posts, updates or whatever. Speed doesn't kill in the blogosphere (usually), but stagnation definitely will. Therefore, use both types of content to your advantage!
Good Rule of Thumb:
For Blogs: 2 Generated Content blog posts a week, 1 Created Content blog post.
For Tweets: Try the same formula, but a tighter time frame. 2 Generated tweets per day, 1 Created tweet.
Will this cure your writer's block? No, but it isn't intended to. Just realize that you don't have to be terribly prolific if you want to participate in social media. You just need an opinion at least - use that to your advantage whenever possible and you'll remain relevant and authoritative. Pepper your Created Content in between Generated Content posts and find a formula that you're comfortable with, one that will keep you writing and moving towards your goals.
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