[Bored]

Hey guys,

Like the title says, I want to start a blog about economics, but am not sure where to get readers. I have a philosophy blog (link in sig) and get a decent amount of hits on it. Advertising for this blog, I assume, is different than one about economics.

I remember Akula once saying how a business blog is used more of a networking tool. Managing a stock portfolio can be a business on it's own, so I think my blog would fall under the category of a business blog. How would I go about networking with other business bloggers and where can I find potential readers?

Thanks

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

First, what expertise do you have in economics and the stock market?

[Bored]

Economics major, and graduate of spread trade systems

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by Bored

Economics major, and graduate of spread trade systems

So what will you provide readers that other bloggers can't? What value do you offer?

[Bored]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

So what will you provide readers that other bloggers can't? What value do you offer?

I could offer an analysis of contemporary economic news and activities, although I think this is not original. What value I can offer that is unique is my knowledge of stock due diligence and options strategies. You think I should focus only on that? Or offer a 2 for 1 with economic analysis.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by Bored

I could offer an analysis of contemporary economic news and activities, although I think this is not original. What value I can offer that is unique is my knowledge of stock due diligence and options strategies. You think I should focus only on that? Or offer a 2 for 1 with economic analysis.

I think you should focus on writing about what you want to write about. However, if you're looking to really grow your reader base, you need to offer them something that they can only get with your blog. It needn't be a completely new issue, but at least an issue looked at in a new way.

[akula]

Originally Posted by Bored

How would I go about networking with other business bloggers and where can I find potential readers?

that's right. the blog is simply a networking tool designed to help you build professional relationships with other business people (who also happen to keep a blog)

the purpose of a business blog is not to write original articles for some hypothetical audience. the purpose of a business blog is to extend blog posts written by people on your blog roll (the people on your blog roll will also form your readership base, because they can link to your posts and introduce your blog to others) ..in other words, every post you write has to be followed up by an email such as "hi, I thought your post about xyz was pretty interesting. i just wrote a critique of it on my blog. what do you think of my post?"

do this three times a week for a year and you'll have an audience, inbound links and plenty of real word business contacts who you might end up keeping for life (for faster results, link to 3 other bloggers in every post you write, and send out 3 emails). do the whole "I could offer an analysis of contemporary economic news and activities" rubbish, and your blog will fail. you'll soon run out of editorial ideas and get sick of writing for a non existent, hypothetical audience who doesn't show you any link love.

basically, make a blogroll, start extending the conversations of other bloggers you like, and start asking them to do the same for your blog, on their blog

[Bored]

Thx for the response

So all my blog posts should be disguised critiques of other business bloggers? Do my blog posts always have to be related to some other person's blog post?

Also, after I send an email back to a blogger and he responds, what step do I take after that? Do I make an offer for him to join my blog roll or do I ask to join his?