Ask An Ambassador: Got Content That Lasts?

Bliz this is so true. I picked up a paper in the airport on a recent trip and it had been years since I've actually read one.  I wasn't impressed as there was overwhelming promotions and ads and the content was less than stellar nor interesting. Linking this idea to our blogs is  a great way of thinking of it. Less is more and use high quality useful info and don't be so darn pushy.

I recently picked up a newspaper as well- to line a box that my wife was raising some chickens in! 

Hi BLiz- we read our paper online. The paper these days consists mainly of ads. I usually read a news site with curated stories and news. 

Here we find a persons beliefs with legs....called living example to take note of

All good stuff... I especially love the "what's in it for them" approach. So many blogs are self-centric, which can be sometimes off-putting.

Why are the newspapers creating their own demise? We used to get the newspaper from the nearest large city delivered to our door. Then they stopped doing that, so whenever one of us went to town we paid our $1 ($2.50 on Sunday).

As time went on they dropped more and more of the columnists we liked to read. Then they scaled down the reader comment section. The only thing really left was the funnies and the column that used to be "Dear Ann Landers."

We hadn't purchased the Sunday edition in years because it was almost all ads. Now they've increased the price for the daily news to $1.50 - and that's too much to pay to read the funnies.

We have a local freebie weekly we can pick up when we need newspaper for lighting fires - and we actually do read part of that!

Very appropriate analogy! I don't want to become the paper.

I do still get my local newspaper. I glance through the news and pay attention to anything local that I might need to know about. But the REAL reason I get the paper is because I love to do the crossword puzzle and cryptoquip. 

OK Bill, another collection of pointers to take to heart...  Thanks again.

I am baffled though whether to mention anything more about my SEO experience or Mediterranean diet, which are the biggest draws so far in 8 months, not anything to do with architecture.  ha ha hahaha

Hi BLiz

This is a great analogy and an important set of considerations for writing an effective blog - I suspect a diversity of topics is most effective.

I can’t remember the last time I actually bought a paper, but admit to looking at them, especially when traveling. I often pick up our local weekly - it’s free - to keep up with what’s going on in the local area. There re often some good ideas of blog posts.

Jeff

WOW, the funny thing is I only notice the newspaper around the holidays. It just feels like once you buy it the news is already old. 

You totally have that niche covered, Bill - you carved it out, one community, one blog post at a time - not too much, not too little but, just the right amount of 'advertising.' 

When your advertising is informative, addresses their needs and then makes the phone ring, it's a slam-dunk!

Eight of my top viewed posts are Halloween themed. Some from 2008.

I get messages from people every year with questions on those posts. 

No business from them, but it's fun to interact with people who want to make my costumes. 

I love receiving pics from people once their costumes are complete and they are so proud of them. It's a great feeling.

It's amazing to me how much content really does last.  I used to write a blog post when my church did a turkey dinner give away every year to those in need.  My last post on that had to be at least 2 to 3 years ago and I just had someone reach out to me asking if they could be put on the list.  Sadly the church doesn't do this anymore I don't believe, but that blog had some serious staying power!

Hello Bill(and Liz too) - I haven't thought of the comparison of a newspaper and a blog post. Interesting. 

Life has happened for me the past couple of years after a long long stretch (not close to yours, but more than a year) of posting daily.... there was planning a wedding for my daughter, a new grandbaby and various other family things along with business being from double to triple what it used to be.... thankfully I have some blogs that timeless and keep the phone ringing.