If I asked you about Scott Monty, you’d probably offer up that he’s the Global Head of Social Media for Ford. Everyone knows that. But did you also know that Scott is a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and has one of the best hobby blogs I’ve ever seen, The Baker Street Blog?
Last night during #Blogchat while we were discussing creating more advanced content on our blogs, a few of you correctly pointed out that people that run hobby blogs are extremely passionate about their hobbies. They have the desire to find that more advanced content, because they have a passion to learn more about their hobby.
For example, I am a huge fan of the classic tv sitcom MASH. I have a friend that is as well, but he takes it to another level. What he does is collect autographs from the cast members. And not just the main characters like Hawkeye and Frank Burns, he especially goes after the actors that only appeared in one or two episodes. The more obscure the better. He spends hours hunting down names and addresses, and knows all the autograph sites and MASH sites to find this information (started by people that are just as passionate as he is).
Our passion drives us to learn more about the topics we are passionate about.
Not only does it drive us to learn more about the topics we are passionate about, it drives is to connect with others that know more than we do. We are constantly driven to learn more about the topics we are passionate about, and we want to connect with others that share our passion and we want to discuss that passion with others. Because as Kathy Sierra puts it ‘people with a passion for something will not STFU!’
So how do you focus on the topics that your audience is passionate about? Let’s say you blog about….blogging. Most people I know are not passionate about blogging as a tool, they are passionate about what the tool allows them to do. For example, maybe they are blogging to improve their chances of getting a job. Maybe they are blogging to share their passion for their favorite brand. Maybe they are blogging to connect with other people that are dealing with an extremely rare disease. Whatever their area of passion is, it typically is not about the blog as a tool, but what the blog allows them to do.
One final thought on passion: Learning feeds passion. As we learn more about a topic, we feel we are getting better at that topic. Maybe we start studying the Civil War. First we learn the causes of the war. Then we move on and learn about the major battles, the major generals. Before you know it we are dissecting whether or not Robert E Lee’s battleplan at Gettysburg didn’t work because it was a terrible plan, or because it was a great plan that was poorly executed due to the incompetence of his generals.
So as a blogger, if you can help you audience learn more about a topic they love, they will not only become more passionate about it, they will become more passionate about you.
PS: Just as I was finishing this post, Kelly left this comment on yesterday’s post – “I believe inspiration is a large part of the education process, regardless if it is beginning or advanced level. I look to be inspired and even when I’m just starting out on my new journey I look to mentors who can help solve my problems or answer questions now, as well as inspire me in the future. I want to grow with them.”
Double PS: Here’s an oldie but a goodie from Kathy on creating more engaging content for your audience.
