One of the things I was reminded recently is that “it’s about you, not me.” That is, this site might appear to be about me, but really it’s all about you. This is classic marketing, blogging, writing etc 101 and it really shouldn’t need to be stated but it’s so easy to forget. People don’t buy products because the person selling them is cool, they buy them because they want to be cool (or any other descriptions) like the person selling them.
People don’t read articles on websites because they care deeply about the other person (well maybe your mum reads your ones because she cares about you) but instead they read them to get something out of them. That could be
- education
- information
- entertainment
or something else but ultimately they do it for selfish reasons. That’s why you’re reading this now. Either you are learning something from it, or you are looking forward to telling me (and thus appearing more knowledgable and intelligent). There’s nothing wrong with that, just try searching for a truly selfless act.
The difference living this out might be subtle but it can be incredible powerful. Maybe your headline changes a bit, maybe you add a section with some practical steps on how the reader can apply the change you made, maybe you start by talking about the reader not you.
With that in mind, here are a few things I’m changing to make this site more about you.
Changing this site for you
Blog theme
I’ve been using the Getnoticed theme for a while (I joined the beta team over a year ago) but I’m going to switch it over to the Tribe theme. Tribe theme focuses on content more and removes some the distractions that I’ve had on this site. For example, the reading experience is much better with no sidebar as it takes up more of the screen, and I greatly prefer the typography (it’s Montserrat for the title and Neuton for the body incase you’re wondering).
There are some “practical” downsides, like I miss out on some of the extensions that help me as a publisher, and there may be a few broken links here and there. However, it’s much simpler and I think it will help me focus on the core content of this site and make it much better to read and view images. [I’m going to miss the book feature the most :(]
Articles
I’ve been changing a bit what I write about and how I write recently to make it a bit more about creativity in general and less specific about photography. That is going to continue but I’m also going to get more in depth about photography as well by looking at elements of composition, how to approach photography and more. I’m not certain exactly how this will look in the end, but I’m sure I’ll gain clarity as I continue.
Comments?
I’m having an on again off again relationship with comments. They can be so useful for me as a blogger (giving me ideas on what to write about next, making me feel good about myself etc) but from a user experience, they can be less than awesome. Think about when you have to scroll through a ton of comments to leave one. I don’t know what I think about them at the moment. Maybe they’ll go, then again maybe they are better for the reader…I’d love your thoughts on that.
Resources
I’m planning on offering some new free downloadable resources for people. I’ve been offering free stock images as well as a creative project book. I’d like to offer some new photographic resources both for people who want images and take images though I suspect I’ll focus on the later rather than the former.
The Newsletter
I’ve been subscribed to some newsletter that were brilliant. I genuinely looked forward to reading them. Then I’ve had some where I’ve dreaded them, sighed when they appeared and kept wondering why I was subscribed.
I want to create the former not the latter, it’s part of the reason I haven’t sent one recently, I’d rather send something great than something for the sake of sending something. I’m looking to improve the newsletter, make it useful, interesting and easily digestible. Sign up at the end of the post if you are interested.
How can I help you more?
These are just some ideas that I’ve had but I’m sure there not the only answers so I’d love to know from you how I can help you further. Leave me a comment with any ways I could help you more.