Think about staying power - Viagra for bloggers?

I’ve just read the first post in the genre we will all become familiar in the coming weeks. The reflection on 2009 / plans for 2010 post type – you know what I mean. It was actually a good post, and it’s not about that one specifically that I want to write, but about the genre. (Here’s the post from Jimi Jones, by the way:  Looking ahead, blogging in 2010)

During this year I have seen an ever growing problem, and I suspect it will reach it’s zenith with the posts we are about to begin reading. Let me explain:

I work mainly in the new and learning blogger niche, which by it’s nature crosses over into personal development and internet marketing. And all these niches seem to suffer from a constant drive to change and re-invent. I see so many examples of this, and have been seeing more and more as the year has progressed:

• Bloggers constantly changing their themes
• Bloggers starting new blogs in other niches and abandoning the original blog or letting it wither
• People launching a product, offering it for a few weeks and then moving on to another new product, leaving the first as as literal side bar side note
• People taking up new fads, ideas and work processes constantly
• People seeking great new ways to increase productivity and reduce their working hours

None of these things are bad – indeed I invest time trying to be more productive, who wouldn’t? But it frustrates me when so often, fellow bloggers are moving on to the next thing before they have had a chance to shine at the previous idea. There are so many blogs I have seen abandoned, when the writing and the niche were excellent and interesting, because the blogger simply wasn’t patient enough to keep going. Products that are superb and good value seem to get a quick marketing hit, then disappear while the designer focuses on the next one, the “big” one.

Have a look around at some successful sales stories and blogs. Check out Steve Pavlina’s blog. It’s been live since 2004 and has a massive audience. His whole style and philosophy has changed since he started writing it, but he never changed the blog. He simply started exploring the edges of his niche.

Check out the Thesis Wordpress theme. Sure, it evolves over time, but it’s essentially the same product that was originally offered – Chris Pearson hasn’t moved on to the next new toy. And it has been consistently marketed by the same bloggers since it’s launch. It’s gained so much traction from this long term approach that there can scarcely be a blogger who hasn't heard of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating resisting change for the sake of it, but I do think those of us closely involved with social media are too prone to keep looking for the next shiny new and exciting thing, rather than giving the great ideas we have already come up with the legs to do what they deserve.

So my advice, for the rest of 2009 and all of 2010, is to keep doing what you’re doing, do it well, and if you can, do it better and your patience will reward you. Make 2010 the year of staying power.

What do you think? Maybe I’m off on this one?

Here’s some other stuff you may enjoy:

1/ Denial, excuses, the truth and a lesson

2/ What happened mate?

3/ A blogger’s dream