The first post of Darren’s book, 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, he has you define your blog. It’s so important to do this step because otherwise you end up with a blog like mine where it starts out as one thing and morphs into something completely different. Which I guess is ok – but you’ll be a lot further ahead in the long run if you get started on the right track.
The tool used in Day 1 to define your blog and set it’s purpose is the ‘elevator pitch’ which is supposed to be a description of your blog in the length of time it would take to ride in the elevator with someone. Think two or three sentences that answer the question, “What is your blog about?”
The best elevator pitch I have constructed is for Untrained Housewife – and it’s no surprise that it is the blog that’s garnered the most attention, and grown faster than ever. Want to hear it?
“Untrained Housewife is a community site dedicated to encouraging and supporting homemakers in every aspect of parenting and home management.” If I time for another sentence or two I’ll add – “It’s a place for engaged parents to come together to recapture the lost knowledge of previous generations. Do you feel untrained to deal with your home and family sometimes? You are not alone!”
According to Darren, you should use the information gleaned from your elevator pitch in your tagline, your About page, even business cards at conferences and things. I loved the suggestion to add it in your email signature. In fact, if you frequent forums I would suggest adding a brief description of your blog in the forum signature line as well!
Do you have your elevator pitch down yet? Feel free to leave it here in the comments section so we can check out your blog. Still trying to develop it? Tell us what your blog is about and maybe we can help you flesh out your ideas.
Note - because Examiner does not allow any live links or threaded comments, we'll comment and continue the daily challenges on AngEngland.com.
Comments
I fall under the category of having blogged for 7 years about everything. Right now my focus is on life as a new mom and homemaker. I write for myself and to encourage others in their own struggles. However, I blogged through college, planned my wedding, bought my first home, got married, got pregnant, had my child and had a miscarriage with my 2nd pregnancy. I want to make these resources available to people but obviously that takes away from the focus. I would love help coming up with something concise that ties it all together somehow! Looking forward to this challenge!
@AndreaUpdyke
www.lilkidthings.com
Hi, Angela.
I've been working on my elevator pitch for a while and had some help from some of fellow pet bloggers in formulating it as well.
My site is the Pet Health Care Gazette.
Short version:
Keeping Pets Healthy and Happy. From A to Z.
And the longer version:
Why is caring for pets so important?
• Pets enrich our lives. They are cherished members of our families. In a very real sense, they are like our children.
• Pets are loyal companions and friends, providing us with endless hours of comfort and joy. But they rely completely on us to provide for their needs.
• Our pets deserve to feel vibrant and energized from birth to old age.
• Our pets deserve to live long, healthy lives free of pain, discomfort, fear or disease, regardless of their age.
The Pet Health Care Gazette can help. We’ll empower you with the knowledge to keep your pet happy and healthy. We’re dedicated to improving the lives of pets and the people who love them.
Would love to know what you t
Oops, last comment got cut off. That last sentence should say "I would love to know what you think of the pitch". Does it make you want to visit my blog?
Hi Angela,
I've got a couple of newish blogs. One, foreignbooksinenglish.com, is pretty self-explanatory. Trying to expand on it for an elevator pitch has been a tricky but worthwhile task.
My short version is: Discover the wider world of books in English.
The longer version on my About page is:
This blog highlights some of the wonderful writing that can be found outside the Anglo-Saxon world. Thanks to the status of English as the international language, English-speakers have access to a wealth of literature from different cultures, some written in English, some translated. Much of it remains under the radar, and foreignbooksinenglish.com aims to do its bit to bring this literature to a wider audience.
I'd like to know what you think! Thanks
Paris Franz
foreignbooksinenglish.com
Hi Angela,
I've got a couple of newish blogs. One, foreignbooksinenglish.com, is pretty self-explanatory. Trying to expand on it for an elevator pitch has been a tricky but worthwhile task.
My short version is: Discover the wider world of books in English.
The longer version on my About page is:
This blog highlights some of the wonderful writing that can be found outside the Anglo-Saxon world. Thanks to the status of English as the international language, English-speakers have access to a wealth of literature from different cultures, some written in English, some translated. Much of it remains under the radar, and foreignbooksinenglish.com aims to do its bit to bring this literature to a wider audience.
I'd like to know what you think! Thanks
Paris Franz
foreignbooksinenglish.com
German Prisoners of War in Canada collects and shares information about a nearly forgotten part of Second World War history.
germanpowcanada.com
I have other blogs and a personal website
jillbrowne.ca
and everything needs attention! But germanpowcanada.com seems like a good place to start.
Good luck everyone, looking forward to spending the next 31 days with you.
Jill
My Stay Gardening blog is in a shambles but my elevator pitch is "stay gardening for fun and for life, no matter where no matter how."
Chris
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