As bloggers, we’re constantly told to find our niche; to figure out what differentiates us from our peers and to keep working on how to engage our readers, ensuring they keep coming back to us.
How does one do that exactly?
Along with my duties as a DPCON13 moderator, I also had the privilege to speak during the “Charge Your Worth” session which was led by the lovely Hannah DeMilta – social media marketing extraordinaire.
I introduced the concept of Mind Mapping, which in essence is having a brain storming session with yourself.
It’s an extremely useful tool that can help gain clarity or direction for anything from a business professional document, to a university essay or a pitch to a PR company.
In regards to blogging, it can help a blogger get a little more specific on how they want to represent themselves to their readers and PR companies or brands.
How do you do it?
The most general way to start is:
– Get a blank page
– Draw a square in the middle and write in there “Why?”
– What your trying to answer is “Why should a PR company work with you?”
– Why should readers keep coming back or follow your blog?
– What makes your blog special, unique?
– What does your blog have to offer its readers and PR companies?
– Think of what you know, what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about.
– The answers can branch out into their own boxes from that “Why” question square and you’ll soon find that you’ll be able to make specific categories from your answers.
The idea is to start with a broad outlook, but then whittle those down to more specific, detailed points.
Still stuck?
Think back to a post which didn’t necessarily get high traffic but created an engaging conversation amongst your readers. Or even a post that took no time at all to write and the words just flowed naturally. What were those topics? What made it so easy to write about them? What are you most confident writing about and sharing?
Slowly, you’ll find that there are around 3 – 5 aspects that makes your blog unique.
And from this, you can build an elevator pitch, or create a self-introduction when handing your business card and networking.
Here’s an example of a general self-introduction
“Hi, I’m Grace. I blog over at With Some Grace where I write about life as a mum of twins.”
Nice. But there’s nothing there that jumps out at and gets a listener intrigued or wanting to know more.
Also, I have started my pitch with facts that are too ordinary. I haven’t mentioned anything that has engaged the listener.
So, after a bit of mind mapping, I’ve come up with:
“Hi, I’m Grace. I blog over at With Some Grace. As an Indonesian-born Australian mother of twin boys, I write about the challenges and joys in raising a bi-cultural/bi-lingual family. I’m deeply passionate about modern Australia’s developments and progress as a multi-cultural society”
A little more specific but it’s still a short statement. And hopefully, it’s a little more catchy than the first.
Doing some mind mapping can help you become a little prepared or give you that extra “ammunition” in times of networking or talking on the phone with someone who wants to know about you and your blog in the limited time given.
If you’re trying to figure out structure for your blog or want to better portray yourself to peers, PR companies and brands, I’m offering 3 of my readers help with their own mind map.
Interested?
Drop me a line.
I can’t say that it’ll be easy and straightforward but it will help you gain better perspective on where you want to take your blog.
That, I promise.
I love me a little bit of mind mapping. It’s one of those skills that I find myself naturally drawn to, whenever I am seeking clarity, whether in work, or personal life.
Did anyone film your segment Gracie? I would love to watch it.
kirri recently posted..Celebrating life
Unfortunately, this session wasn’t taped. Brenda tells me that “Blogging Through Adversity” was, though.
I love how we love the same things 🙂 x
I love this post Grace! This was one of the sessions that I wanted to get to but had to make a choice and didn’t end up going. It sounds really interesting and something I definitely need to think about. When people ask me what my blog is about I never really know how to answer and generally end up just saying I blog about anything and everything that pops in to my head. Which is true, but doesn’t help define what I do or really answer the question! So I really think I need to do me some mind-mapping!
Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions recently posted..Just Another #dpcon13 Post – Day One
Yes, I used to have the same problem, Kylie! I love using mind mapping for all those moments of haze and fogginess…which are often. Good luck with your own mind mapping.
Let me know if you need any help or just need an extra pair of eyes 🙂 x
I have bookmarked this post, want to come back over the Easter break when I have more time to really think about and do this! Thanks for sharing!
Janet recently posted..A Meatless Meal from Malta
Good luck, Janet! I’m here if you need any help or just have any questions 🙂 x
Nice work, sounds like a great session. Will be back here post-bloggy break to have a think about YLSNED’s future! Thanks for sharing. x
I see a bright future for YLSNED, Em!
Just yell out if you need any help with your mind mapping! 🙂 x
I can really see the merit in this – I want to start pushing forward with my blog, just not sure how. Thanks for this insight, I sent you a message, have a nice long weekend 🙂
Emily @ Have a laugh on me recently posted..My precious girl arrived on this earth five years ago today – Wordless Wednesday
Just sent one back, lovely!
Have a great extra long weekend! 🙂 x
awesome piece of insight…….sometimes I feel like I’m really broad (my blog, not my arse), so this is a great exercise in discovery.
I’ll have a crack following your template, and maybe ask drop you a line if I need a little love?
Thanks, Mama G.
Mrs Holsby recently posted..A Few Lessons in Patience, Grasshopper
Absolutely, my dear! Feel free to drop me a line anytime!
Good luck and I’m sure you’ll be able to narrow it all down (your blog, not your arse) 😉 x
I loved the session Grace and thought I got a lot out of it in terms of putting together a plan.
Would love to banter more, am I too late to drop a line?
Sabeen recently posted..Marble Cupcakes -Too Divine To Miss!
Thank you for putting up this post. My notes were nowhere near as good as this.
This gives me a much clearer direction on how to use it properly.
Becc @ Take Charge Now
Becc recently posted..It’s official, intolerances suck (unless you live in New Zealand)
It’s always a pleasure to hear from someone with expertise.
Sounds like a terrific session Grace! Sorry to have missed out on it. Great advice in your post though. Will sit down over Easter and ‘map it out’.
Carla recently posted..FFS Friday….The Holiday Fail edition
Love this Grace, some great tips here. Perfect time for where I’m at right now.
Anita recently posted..Looking For A Fitness Buddy? Your Kids Are A Great Option
I love a good mind map! I would use this strategy all of the time in the classroom, but have never thought about it in the context of blogging and PR. Perhaps that is because I’m such a newbie to this blogging biz, and I’m not ever sure I’m wanting to head down the ‘biz’ side of things yet anyway {or at all}? Hmm… some food for thought. Thanks, Grace.
Bec | Mumma Tells recently posted..Mumma on the Prowl
This is very useful info Grace, even for someone who is not looking to work with brands right now but would like more direction with their blogging. I like to mind-map on paper with pretty coloured pens 🙂
Happylan recently posted..Dream fragment
I know this isn’t your point, but you’re trilingual?! I’m so impressed. We went to a poor rural school in Fiji and they learnt 4 languages. Our primary school no longer teaches another English cos the funding got pulled. Shame on us (Australain Govt).
Lydia C. Lee recently posted..First of the Month Fiction – Easter edition
Mind mapping! I always forget to use this post-uni. Such a great idea, and one I’ll definitely try to implement. If I did it right now I would come out with WHY? – BLAH. I’m so ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ with words just spilling out… a little structure and direction would be hugely useful. xx
Kim @Fallling Face First recently posted..A wanted woman
Woah love your introduction line. I really need to work on that as all I usually get out is I write a Family and lifestyle blog heh.
Ai Sakura recently posted..INFINITY KOSÉ | Against Photoaging and Beyond #KoseSingapore
As a bloggy newbie, I am loving these practical tips. Thank you! I thought starting with a ‘blank slate’ would be a good way to start but your post has made me consider perhaps taking a step back (just a for a little bit, yes a bit of ‘mummawoosah’ing’) and map it out….even just a little bit 😀 It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of direction the blog will go! ps. would love to know your thoughts on ‘labelling blogs’? any tips? xx Maddy
Maddy (@mummawoosah) recently posted..To lean in or NOT to lean in…now THAT’s the question.
I had never heard of doing this before! Thanks for the tips Grace!
EssentiallyJess recently posted..His Joy- A Good Friday Reflection
I love mind mapping too. Such an excellent tool for clearly arranging thoughts and ideas.
Great post Grace.
Vanessa @ babblingbandit.me recently posted..Top 5 tips for taking preschoolers to the Sydney Royal Easter Show
Sighhh, mind mapping sounds exactly where I need to take the next step. Mine may end up a bit like a pirates map though!
Great post Grace.
Jules recently posted..Your Kid’s Bullied, My Kid’s The Bully!
My problem is I want to blog about so many things but I really have very little time so I tend to do the easy, quick posts, instead of the harder, meatier ones. I have done mind-mapping at work but had never considered it as a tool for the blog before. I really wish I could have made it to DPCON13 this, would have loved to have seen your session Grace!
Kirsty @ My Home Truths recently posted..Gilbert’s Ninjago Party
Glad to read this. I don’t mind map often but really should. It’d probably help me out of the oft-foggy state I find myself. And this type of exercise is exactly what invigorates me. Heck, there’s not excuse for not doing it more often! Just got to identify where next to use it. Maybe with blogging….once I get over my current crazy period.
I tend to think like this inside my head while trying to write something, which of course needs to be linear! A challenge. Tendrils of thought go off in all directions. As for my own blog- yes, my introduction to someone unfamiliar would probably be a mess too! :/
Twitchy recently posted..Hijacking a Band Van and My Other Top 12 Moments from DPCON13 in Pictures
Great post. Since I’m feeling a little lost in the blog world right now, perhaps this is something I should do. It might get me back on track. Thanks!
Bridget recently posted..Happy ScEaster!
Grace, I really loved this post. I have read many dpcon13 wrap up posts and many have been really enjoyable and have convinced me to attend next years conference. But this post has actually got me thinking on how I can actually move forward with my blog and my writing. Your mind-map exercise has provided a means of obtaining a solution to many questions I have been churning over the past few weeks. So I will be back, on a clear morning, with a cup of coffee in hand – to give this a go. Thank you for sharing xx
Josefa @always Josefa recently posted..Conversations with the Easter Bunny
Oh, this was a much needed post. I love when people I totally relate to make it sound so easy. It probably is – I’ll let you know if I drown in my map!
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