There is little room for generalists online
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 7:00 am
Science fiction author Bruce Sterling declared blogs dead during his keynote speech at South by Southwest. For now, you’ll have to make do with the visually simple Tumblr. WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg sees blogs as primarily for serious content creators who want to say more than 140 characters or a photo. Design blogger Swissmiss shows that building an online audience can lead to realizing your offline dreams.
With the input from these folks at SXSW, I've come up with five key steps to successfully running a blog business.
1. Choose your niche
Be unique and authentic.
2. Grab eyeballs with shareable content
Get eyeballs with shareable content via social. Look closely at which social networks your target list to data audience frequents and what kind of content fits your niche.
3. Build your network online
With enough volume, you can take your business offline: whether it’s journalism, art, photography, or something else. A big trend at SXSW is starting online, and when you’re big enough, taking your business offline. Examples of this are bloggers writing books, photographers doing commissioned work for big brands, and fashion bloggers modeling on the cover of magazines.
4. Work together
To grow online your network is very important. Become friends with other bloggers or brands in your niche and link to each other. Comment on each other's blogs and give tips to beginners.
With the input from these folks at SXSW, I've come up with five key steps to successfully running a blog business.
1. Choose your niche
Be unique and authentic.
2. Grab eyeballs with shareable content
Get eyeballs with shareable content via social. Look closely at which social networks your target list to data audience frequents and what kind of content fits your niche.
3. Build your network online
With enough volume, you can take your business offline: whether it’s journalism, art, photography, or something else. A big trend at SXSW is starting online, and when you’re big enough, taking your business offline. Examples of this are bloggers writing books, photographers doing commissioned work for big brands, and fashion bloggers modeling on the cover of magazines.
4. Work together
To grow online your network is very important. Become friends with other bloggers or brands in your niche and link to each other. Comment on each other's blogs and give tips to beginners.