Altaf
Clog Blog

Thanks for building on my post – your additions have given me some food for thought on the subject.

I think the core idea that it took me so long to learn was that I had to be visibly adding value, or it wasn’t worth posting. There’s nothing wrong, as you suggest, with getting the kernel of an idea from someone else, and building that out (or disagreeing with it, or making a joke about it, or whatever) into a real post. There’s also value that can be realised in aggregating ‘best of’ information – I tend to do that on Digital Shot when a new DSLR has just been released – aggregate the various reviews (under the rationale that my readers are better served by me doing that, than just regurgitating them in my own words).

Anyhow – this sort of stuff is still a work in progress in my slow-moving brain – more to come on the subject, I’m sure.

If you can’t find unique content to link to then you need to make your post unique content. Rather than “go look at this” have more of “this gave me an idea, here it is”… Another related approach is instead of linking to one resource create a page full on the same topic, gather together all the content you can on the subject so your post becomes the definitive launch point for it.

Both of the above methods lead to types of blog posts I like to read. I also like to write them. Not because they’re easy, but because they allow me to both inform, provide unique commentary, and give props. They still take research – a lot of research.

As a former print reviewer, I had material (books, CDs) in my hand to review and discuss. When it comes to the Internet, it’s not as easy to get merch to review. It is, however, legitimate to use one of the above methods to provide your UNIQUE take on topics and gadgets and software that everyone and their hamster is already writing about.