Make Your Blog Stand out

I am still fairly new to blogging.  Despite the fact that I have been on blog spot since 2011.  I have just found a consistency or should I say a discipline in blogging.  For the thousands of us left that actually enjoy writing or helping others in any given niche I want to send a word of encouragement.

Keep Moving Forward!  You, like myself may have an audience of two, you may not think that your content is interesting or good.  Let's face it in 2013 in this world of microwave celebrities and reality stars turned celebrities, it can be hard and discouraging to write to an audience that is constantly sensationalized by Reality Shows, but Keep Moving Forward!  Blog for the love and passion of your niche.  Let your individuality and expertise stand out.  Blog because you have a witty or unconventional topic.  Blog because you LOVE to write and you still view writing as an art blog.  Blog, Blog, Blog, for goodness sake!

I know everyone is trying to find out how to get traffic, make money and keep there followers coming back for more, I say that it's HOGWASH.  I know that guru's will beat their brow at me for not being more practical and realistic.  But in this world of social media everybody is looking for a come up and everybody is looking for a get rich quick 15 minutes of fame road.  I think that is awesome; however, focusing entirely on the dollars creates a JOB! Yes you get paid to work but you find yourself enjoying it just as much as the 9-5 you are trying to replace.  It creates a frustration of trying to be so unique that you stop being YOU-NIQUE, stand out.

 Keep Moving Forward! Whether 1 or 1 million read, comment or respond blog from your soul.  Post from the random thoughts, and quirky ideas. There is an audience for you.  There is a platform and revenue that advertisers will flock to have on your site.  So be authentic and amazing Keep Moving Forward!  Inspire those who will soon view YOU as the next guru in your niche.  Be you but most of all Keep Moving Forward!

What's Your "Niche Market"

I have got to be honest.  In the beginning I did not understand the whole idea behind blogging.  What I did know are two things, one that you have to at least enjoy writing and two know something about blogging. What I didn't know was there is actually a formula to how successful you can be at the two.  This formula presented itself kind of like a secret.  The thing that everyone kept talking about but never fully explained it thoroughly enough to make the little men in my head put it together.  What was the secret? "a niche market".

Did I even need one? couldn't I just write a series of journal entries on my day to day life, post them and call it a day?  The answer, yes, you could.  You could write random blogs of your thought and daily routine.  You can post to the masses how hideous your hair was, how your dog Bubbles, ruined and embarrassed you on your date and how the color you picked for your room makes you feel all bubbly inside.  You can do this and it would be the cheapest venting therapy you ever had because quite frankly unless you're an A-list actress I doubt anyone would care.  Trust me I did this and from experience it did not yield the results in terms of traffic that I was looking for.  In fact many of us did this and it was fulfilling.  The excitement of just putting it ALL out there is
exhilarating and empowering and as exciting as it was it goes away.

Time went on.  Before long I began to desire responses to my day.  Insight to my writings and quite honestly some Mullah for my efforts.  Between the two bloggers I found myself becoming the latter so a "Niche market" quickly became a focus of interest.  As fulfilling as my first blog is which today I use to inspire, encourage and motivate new desires began to arise.  So what exactly should my focus be? is what I had to ask myself.  Well after scrolling and listening to all the guru's and fancy pants explain in the most technological way I have reduced it to my understanding to mean:  a focus, an interest or topic that is studied and then shared based on your knowledge, skill, interest or experience in the area.  A good old fashion hobby of interest.  For example a niche focuses on the components back to the very inception.  The "niche" is what guru bloggers use to keep there audiences attention.

My niche is quite simple...I Love trying new things!  Now as you might have thought there are millions of new things out there!  But I decided that, that is MY NICHE Market.  I may focus heavily on one area versus another but new stuff is my love.  Life everyday gives a brand new 24 hrs so my niche market deserves to be refreshed just as much.  So when you want to know how a new product REALLY works ask me, heard about a new restaurant tucked away I'm your girl.  Have a new product that YOU yourself have created and want an honest review I'm your guinea pig.  So sign up check in and let me know what new ideas you have welcomed into your life.
So come explore life with me on Welcoming Ideas To Life!

My Blog On Life

I was very surprised to find that so many people displaying such awesome talents.  I'm sure you have ran into one of them, after all there are a million blogs out there?  There are even several that hold a very similar name to mine "Joyfullexpressions"!  Crocheting colored scarves and hat's,  providing up to date top of the minute fashion trends and my favorite the baker's blog, with all their intricate details that they single handily carve into these elaborate masterpieces.  These blogger's have settled into their niche and they OWN them.

That brings me to my blog.  I absolutely LOVE LIFE! I LOVE LIFE! I know that I said that already but I really love it and I love to write about it.  This is to apologize for my lack of a niche My blog won't be consistent.  It won't settle into "A" niche.  It will be the best blog about life.  I will blog about my ups, my achievements, my promotions and my fantasies.  I'll blog about my loves, my passions and how I have been crushed and abandoned and hurt and miserable all in the same breath.

My BLOG will be about LIFE and how I plan to embrace it, how I feel, what I hate and how stupid of a boss I have. Life will be my niche.  I mean everyone else has already settled into a piece of it and since I still haven't seen all that life has to offer I'll have to invite you along on this journey.

Will My New Career Recieve My Natural Strands?

I know that this is a corporate world or society, but are all areas of that society still unreceptive, incompassionate (not really a word but you understand) or plain old ignorant toward our natural stresses.  This is more my point of view than it is a column to inspire or encourage anyone.  Okay, here's the background.  I am searching for a new career; however, I am beginning to feel as if my career search is being hindered by the state of my hair. 

Obviously my skills surfaced above the ca trillion people out there seeking and searching to land the same position that I have applied for yet the return call or initial interview goes to ME!  That alone is something to be excited about and you to will understand if like me you are seeking a new career.  Sadly, somewhere between the call, the interview, and the thank you notes graciously written to exemplify the interviewers words or basically let them know I am still interested...NOTHING!

 I know you think maybe I suck at the interview...Negative I have had mock interviews to drill every question known to man even the unethical ones through colleagues, College professors, friend's, foe's, kid's all putting me in the position of "I'd hire you"  Yes, you probably are saying these people are biased and couldn't drill you as hard as a potential Employer...Negative, I say again.  Many of those mock interviews were done with people who's very career's revolve around this industry and career building, to the point they take pride at having people cry preferably during the process, Shaking my head because I've seen it happen.

I have worn my hair in a bun, the slickest of puffs that at a glance could go for a pony tail.  I have worn my hair super curly and always professional and managed.  Now if you are reading this article and are saying to yourself, (as I initially was) maybe the job just isn't for you, I agree just because I was called and  gave a killer interview doesn't mean that "Uncle Mike" as my competition addressed the interviewer at my last interview, still has to go through the protocol of "offering" the position to other candidates.  Or, maybe your hair wasn't as neat as you thought it was.  I thought this one as well, but had to give myself a raised eyebrow sorta the way they do when they ask me into the interview room. 

If I have to question if my hair is professional enough or accepted for the place that I am interviewing for...then this is not where I NEED or WANT to work.  If my hair in it's tamest form is TOO MUCH for the company applied for, then this isn't where I need to be.  NO, I won't act as such an activist that I refuse career options where the interviewer is so intrigued by my strands that I notice them unconsciously talking to it...okay maybe not so much.  Or that periodically I burst into a "what you lookin' at" or "is there a problem" rant.

I am trying to be reassured after hearing my Arabian Physical Therapist have the need to tell me that he himself preferred African American women that wore their own hair opposed to "the animals they put on there head".  (That is an entirely different hilarious conversation, but reassuring)
 I will simply keep searching and seeking the market that is ready to embrace all of me and remind myself that natural OR relaxed nobody wants an unprofessional staff member representing their company.  So if Jews thick curls, Caucasians flowing locks, and  Asians seamless tresses are accepted in any form then the soft to touch African Americans exotic fullness that my hair possess will wait.