I write about topics I care about. I think that if I care about them there must be other people who do.
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Hi Tess,
I read two or three books a week, and think you are a reader too. I often get ideas about writing from what I read. But I agree it's a dying activity. Sometimes I just surf around to see what things are trending. But then those topics won't be evergreen and only would get traffic sometimes.
You could look at the current Bestseller list and see what others are reading. Usually that can trigger an interest. I write about Astrology and Metaphysical topics for the most part. But every now and then I just want to learn about something new, read about it, and write an article about what I learned. I like to pass on what I learn, even if everyone isn't interested.
People like to read about personal experiences too, but we have to be careful what we reveal about our private lives.
How on earth would you or any body else for that matter know what nobody cares about. I read the article you linked to but wasn't very impressed. It didn't make me want to read more from that writer. It was a lot of bla bla about writers and readers but in the end it didn't make much sense to me.
Writing from your heart and your own experience is still the best starting point I guess.
Well said, Titia. Why should anyone assume to know what everyone else on the internet is interested in? There are some really weird sites out there catering to niches that you wouldn't dream people would care about but they do. I don't think people should avoid writing about topics they're passionate about just because they think no one else would care.
On a planet with a billion people, it is impossible for one individual to be interested in something no one else is interested in. In my opinion, creative writers just need to write keeping in mind the fact that they are writing for others. That's it.
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The problem is that if it's something that lots of people are interested in, lots of people are likely to be writing about it! So while I normally write evergreen "How To" or informational guides about topics I know plenty about and apply to everyone, sometimes it's like throwing mud at a wall and it just won't stick. I've been lucky with several articles that are on the top page of SERPs and feature as a Google snippet, whereas others get minimal views even though they've got a high word count, lots of relevant keywords used naturally and I've written them using the same layout as that of the successful articles.
I would agree with that if my experience wasn't that I get no traffic to articles on subjects I'm really into. My worst traffic is to articles about subject matter I know back and forth because I cared about it so much. Bottom line is you have to find out what people are looking for
For instance, I'm pretty sure no one is passionate about how to tie a tie; however, a lot of people search for that keyphrase. Granted it's a saturated keyphrase, but let's say hypothetically you could still get traffic to an article on that subject: You might be passionate about fashion but not really on the intricacies of tying a tie: You compromise and write on how to tie a tie because you can't get traffic to your very specific fashion interest.
I would sooner (fill in the blank) than write an article on how to cure your acne. Have you noticed how all the noobies come on here and take this type of advice and then write about those subjects?
I write about what I want. If someone does not want to read about my Pionus parrot or my Tamandua I figure it is their loss.
I think you also need to ask yourself if the failure of those articles you are interested in are because of lack of interest or poor page rank? Is someone out there searching for those subjects, or do you have the number one ranking on Google and still get no traffic? (Yes, I know that does happen.)
You happen to be lucky enough to write on a fairly popular subject. I do not. It is as simple as that. If you either were in the same situation or had empathy, you'd understand.
I know how to get page rank. That's not the problem. Believe me, considering how much money you make and how happy you are with it, you'd not want to just write what you like and not get traffic. You are talking big because you got lucky. You'd be singing an entirely different tune if everybody and his cousin wasn't on the Net trying to figure out how to get rid of their dogs fleas or whatever. Made myself laugh with that one.
That, by the way, is how I answer arrogance and someone getting insulting and condescending.
Wow, I was just trying to ask you a question to find out why the article you are talking about is not doing well. I have had some do well and some that do not do so well. It was an honest question, and there was no "talking big" involved. If you see it that way, that is coming from you.
I am sorry you seem to be having problems and feel that you need to reply in such a nasty negative manner.
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That's a huge assumption. How do you know Dr Mark didn't put himself through college? Dr Mark got to be a vet because he CHOSE to become a vet. In the same way we all get to choose. He didn't 'happen' to be one.
People keep saying he's 'lucky' to have a good niche topic. It's not luck, it's good judgment... and the result of extremely hard work.
Do you understand what it means when you say there is a lot of traffic for that subject? It means there is a lot of competition.
I also saw a comment from someone on here stating that he would not even bother writing for a subject that had less than 5000 searches per month. Do you know all the searches related to dogs have less than that? The real traffic is in subjects like acne and how to knot a tie correctly, not in dogs.
I do not choose to write about those subjects. It is not because I "happen" to be a vet.
Nate,
You would be surprised. My husband only wore a suit and tie to weddings and funerals. He used to keep directions about how to tie a tie in the pocket of his one suit.
Once my next door neighbor had to go to court, and appeared desperately at my door, asking if I could tie his tie! Thankfully I had the handy directions in my husband's suit pocket, and sent my friend to court looking appropriately dressed!
I don't really give a hoot what "other people" want to read about. I write about stuff I like, and if other people wanna read it, hey, that's great. If not... (shrug) oh well. Maybe I'll get you with the next one.
I have always written for my own amusement. I know I'll never get rich or get millions of page views with the topics I write about; I'm OK with that. I treat my HubPages as a hobby - something to have fun with in my precious little free time. I gave up all illusions of being a highly paid, jet setting rock critic type long ago.
It's true for those who are writers by profession, but it doesn't really apply for those who do it as a hobby or just to get things off their chest.
HubPages really isn't a place where people write to make their primary income, so this wouldn't really apply to most people here.
Oh it is for quite a lot of people, and getting better month-by-month
I have to agree, I am making enough here now to count on it to pay specific bills, at a time when I really need it. And I like to write. Win-win.
So in other words... you used to be "with it," then they changed what "it" was, so now what you're "with" is no longer "it" and what's "it" is weird and scary to you?
(that's a classic "Simpsons" reference by the way)
I can relate. I'm the same way. All the good s*** came out in the 70s and 80s in my preferred genres. I haven't paid attention to the mainstream in decades. I'm un-hip and proud of it.
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You can't dance to it either! I still like a lot of classic rock, but I once had a friend who said similar things to what you are saying here. The sounds were so discordant to her, but she didn't have your level of intelligence. She said it was "too screamy." But I was out with her a few times and by the way she reacted to what music I had on seems as you describe this. I let her choose music or we just talked.
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I can get into alpha pretty easily, but I often meditate.
Everyone needs a voice. Writing is one way to do it, music is another. Are you caustic, gentle or boring or interesting? Find your voice and do it without insult or harm. Insult or harm is a huge spectrum, just like finding your voice is.
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