I was doing my rounds of the web today when I came across an article on why make money online blogs are failing left, right and centre. After reading the article, not only did I find it to be a pretty spot-on analysis, but it also grabbed my attention with the writing style.
I’ve read it many times and no matter how often I see it, I still don’t do it. One of the best things that you can do to engage an audience is to take a hard stance on an issue. There’s always value in balanced opinions and all, but people aren’t compelled to comment or read further by fair and balanced content. People react quite actively to polarized viewpoints. Why do you think politicians are always so polarizing?
By pushing hard from one side, you’ll rally those that share your perspective and push those who don’t to retaliate. Maddox is probably one of the premier users/abusers of this strategy. Hi grossly offensive website is one of the funniest reads on the Internet if you are the kind of person that enjoys offensive humour. My favourite pieces of all time from him are his bit on children’s drawings which nearly had me in tears of laughter many years ago until I read his follow-up. After that, I read that one, I nearly lost it completely.
Authors that push controversial standpoints or push regular ideas in a controversial manner will always catch the eye of their readership. Give it a try sometime and see how it works on your audience.
Alex Cristache // Jun 20, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hey marc, thanks for the link first of all, and I’m really glad you’ve enjoyed the post.
“One of the best things that you can do to engage an audience is to take a hard stance on an issue.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Although, the post was not meant to be an attention grabber, but more of a personal view on the matter, it still has that “power of belief” that you call hard stance.
Good post and reminder.
Cheers!
Peter // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Often offensive and negative is more successful than positive. It creates more emotion in the reader and stirs up controversy, and controversy breeds more controversy, gets linked to and draws more visitors, who read it and join the controversy, and so on and so on
Ling // Jun 23, 2008 at 3:25 am
Too right. Nothing works in the blogosphere like a good old fashioned poke in the eye. Dirtier the better, and it has to be funny. And if you’re wrong, and still stick to your guns, that fans the flames some more…
Winston Fuentes // Jun 23, 2008 at 9:03 am
spicy, right as well as unfortunate (:
Mobile Blog // Jun 24, 2008 at 5:13 am
Absolutely the mediocre balanced and diplomatic views does’nt attract too many heads while the polarized and extra-ordinary take certainly grabs attention and hence makes the post and writing live indeed!!
Gate coaching // Jun 24, 2008 at 9:26 am
Yes, with that i also saw making post like
“TOP 10 something”
“TOP xxxx that sucks”
works very well in the blogosphere.
TigerTom // Jun 28, 2008 at 7:53 pm
This is a smart idea. In an era of pseudo-tolerance and ‘non-judgemental’ attitudes, someone who sticks to their guns is attractive.
Mitch // Jul 6, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I’m against being controversial just for the sake of starting trouble, but every once in awhile you have to take a stand on something and share your point of view. And, if you do it right, then you can even entertain differing points of view without having to resort to defending your statements with a lot of effort. I read the blogging tips post, and it was right on point.
Traverus // Jul 12, 2008 at 3:26 am
I’m not against controversial in the least bit, we are exposed to it on a daily basis, and so I love it when writers step it up and show some brass. Without risk there is no reward, as the saying goes. Great blogging tips post, I really appreciate what he had to say, and I’m taking it in to account and making some adjustments. THANKS for the bit on children’s drawings, I haven’t laughed like that in a long time!