For quite some time I have been trying to find a way to win the blogging lottery. I am referring to that story that takes on a viral life of its own. You know the type, you probably receive one in your email inbox on a regular basis.
Its the story that gets passed around, linked around, emailed around and commented upon on CNN even. I'm not talking about reporting or blogging facts here.
I am talking about blogging or writing a piece of humor/humour or sarcasm that takes on a life of its own.
I don't want to create the article du jour for The Onion. I don't even really want the YouTube video that 6 million people view. I want that crazy article that you get in your email that you just have to show your friends, your coworkers, your parents, maybe even your kids - ok probably not your kids.
I have taken a few meager swings at this from time to time, like when I covered the Harry Potter Witch Trial about a year ago, when a 'reformed' Wiccan Witch saw the light and testified against Harry Potter in my city.
I've tried several crazy different diatribes. Even last night I kicked off a new effort focused on the Clinton Administration bombing of Al Qaeda in 1998 with a cruise missile carrying a warhead of weaponized exctasy and viagra, recently covered in the news as the Gay Bomb.
I don't expect this one to be 'the one' but I keep trying. I learn a little more each time, but this seems to be a much tougher objective to accomplish than your typical link building strategy or marketing campaign. I'm not trying to hit a line drive or just make it onto first base. I'm trying to hit a grand slam out of the park, when I normally just barely get on base.
Performancing has blogging Pro's from around the world. I'm curious if anyone here has ever pulled off one of these grand slams and what lessons you learned from the effort.
- Do you have any tips to pass on?
- Best Practices?
- Mistakes to Avoid?
