Journal

Introducing Pure Blogging, Where It’s All About the Content

Any regular reader or subscriber of this blog will know I’ve been talking a lot about “pure blogging” the last 6-12 months.

Born from a frustration/tiredness/lethargy (delete where applicable) of seeing multiple blogs talking about the very same thing, all for shares and clicks, I wanted to stoke the conversation around what it meant to blog.

Not that there’s anything wrong with business blogs, or blogs about blogging, or content marketing for content goals blogs, per se – some offer value.

But it just feels so…. redundant. How many ways can the same message be said by different people, all fighting for the same traffic, eyeballs, clicks and shares?

How much passion can come through the words, or videos, or podcasts, when the content is being pushed out a post a minute, with extra use of super buzzwords to try and stand apart from the rest?

So… yeah. Frustration/tiredness/lethargy (sorry for the repetition – again, delete where applicable).

Which made me think about why we started blogging, and what it meant to actually connect with people.

The Pure Blogging “Movement” Starts Here

So, instead of bitching and moaning about it, and how blogging today seems like a soul-destroyed relic of what it once was (and, in fairness, still is in some corners), it’s time to put the so-called money where the mouth is.

(Note: this is just a saying. I’m Scottish – my money is staying firmly in my padlocked pockets)

Today I’d like to introduce the Pure Blogging project. Or movement, if you like, as there seems to be a lot of voices online talking about the return to pure blogging.

So what is Pure Blogging, and why would you be interested?

At its simplest, Pure Blogging is a blog where the only focus will be on content that matters.

No business lessons. No tips on growing lists or followers. No lists on becoming a thought leader in your niche.

Instead, it’ll be a blog about life, pure and simple.

Our place in it. Our experiences living it. Our lessons gained from it. Our hopes and dreams for the future of it.

As the name suggests, Pure Blogging will (hopefully) take the reader back to when bloggers weren’t afraid to be vulnerable, and share their darkest thoughts and fears, as well as their brightest moments.

[clickToTweet tweet=”#Pureblogging is the blog you want to read when content means substance over style” quote=”#Pureblogging is the blog you want to read when content means substance over style”]

It’ll be a blog for appreciators of stories that connect, that mean something, that aim to inspire and encourage.

At its core, Pure Blogging will be the blog you used to read back before social media and content marketing replaced substance with style.

I hope it’s something you’ll check out, especially if you’re tired of the same things about blogging that I mentioned at the start of this post.

One thing I guarantee – the focus will be on the content at all times. No ads, no spammy emails, no Upworthy-type viral titles to get you to click.

Instead, it’ll be stories by storytellers for story lovers. I look forward to seeing you there.

And if you’re interested in being part of the writing team, you can find out more about that here.

Here’s to the return to pure blogging – cheers!

Pure Blogging and the Experience We Give Our Readers

Recently, I read a blog post by Jack Steiner entitled Do People Really See You? It?s an insightful read about being there when it?s important to be, and what it means to follow through on your promised actions.

The post, like many others of Jack?s, really resonated with me, and I left a comment, which I?d like to share below.

Hey there Jack,

I remember when I was eight years old, and asking my schoolteacher a lot of questions. Like, a LOT. He said to me, ?Boy, don?t you know children should be seen and not heard??

I retorted, ?Well, how will we learn??

He answered, ?By remaining quiet and not asking questions. Now, silence!?

He sent a note home with me to advise my parents I was trouble. My grandfather was looking after me for a few days, as my folks were on a small vacation (yes, kids weren?t allowed, fun?).

My grandfather was furious. But not at me.

Next day, he came to my school and collared the teacher in front of the whole class. He pointed at us kids, sat on our chairs, and told the teacher, very calmly,

?See these children? THEY are YOUR teacher. You are old, and set in your ways. They are the future, and full of wisdom we need to allow. Don?t dare tell any of these children to never ask questions again. I pay your wages. Earn them, or you will lose them.?

I?ve never forgotten that. I think he?d like your take on who really sees us and which ones we should care about.

Thanks for the thoughtful read, mate, and making me recall a major learning point in my life.

The reason I wanted to share the comment was to show you what content?should do when it?s at its purest form ? the kind of pure blogging I?ve been talking about for the last few weeks and months.

Think about it for a moment:

When was the last time you read a blog post that carried you to a distant but treasured memory?

When was the last time you wrote a blog post that inspired that action?

We talk a lot about social proof being a sign of a successful blog ? shares that make our work seem popular, followers that make us feel popular, subscribers that make us feel popular.

And while they?re all metrics that can help deliver the goals we want to achieve,?the real gold of this thing called blogging is the experience we give our readers.

At least, it should be.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Blogging ? pure blogging ? should be about opening up and inviting others in to share an experience. #pureblogging” quote=”Blogging ? pure blogging ? should be about opening up and inviting others in to share an experience.”]

So let?s make a promise to each other. Let?s concentrate on finding the content that moves us,and share/subscribe to?that.

But it needs help to find the audience it deserves.

Let?s get to work.

This post originally appeared here, but seemed a good introduction to the Why and What of this blog.?

My Social Media Story: The Facebook Penis That Launched a New Life

This is a part of a special series looking at how social media has impacted the lives of its users. This week, the story comes from Jacqui Malpass.

It isn?t every day that you get new opportunities. Sometimes they come in strange ways. Ways that you least expect, but none the less life changing.

In May 2014, I opened my then husband?s computer to find myself staring at his penis. A rare site.

The penis and the conversation, plus a variety of let?s call them interesting images and conversations with many other women, left nothing to the imagination.

Six weeks later, I was travelling with my two dogs to Spain to a house that needed more than a lick of paint to get it ship shape.

With my Internet upgraded and my precious laptop on a makeshift desk, I began to change the way I did business.

Living on a mountain in a tiny village, where the nearest town is full of retirees and Spaniards made it a bit tough to get out and network!

That?s all changed and I belong to a great female networking organisation that I help run locally.

It?s been a quite a year.

I am divorced, had time to reflect, worked on my house, created several online courses and experimented with different ways of working. Recently,?I started my personal brand (from the inside out) detox.

The detox includes looking after me (daily meditation, yoga, eating even better than I already do), websites updated, rebranding and an imminent book launch. I start editing my 6^th non-fiction book ? Leading the Eveolution ready for October.

I have plans in place for my first children?s book ? The Puppy With No Name. My circle of friends is growing online as well as locally, and life is good.

Who knew that such a small thing could have such a big impact?

About the author: Jacqui Malpass works as a personal brand strategist, book coach and is the author of five (almost six) non-fiction books. She has a dream to inspire 1 million people to write in some way.

She lives with three beautiful dogs, all of whom were abandoned and who give the best love a girl could ask for. You can read more from Jacqui at JacquiMalpass.com, and follow her on Twitter @jacquimalpass.

Smart Is Not Not Being Dumb – It’s Not Being the Dumbest

How smart are you? How do you rack up compared to your peers; your competitors; your parallel people?

There are all sorts of smart, but only one that counts. It?s not high school diploma. It?s not college degree. It?s not university PhD.

It?s experiential smart.

Your experience. Your knowledge. Your ability to act. Your ability to react. Your ability to pro-act. It?s your fluidity. Your flexibility. Your awareness that smart is not not being dumb; it?s?not being the dumbest.

Smart marketers see an opportunity before the opportunity presents itself.

Smart sales close the deal before the meeting.

Smart customer service prevents the issue before it leaves the manufacturing plant.

Smart human resources see through cubicle walls.

Smart public relations knows it?s not the story.

Smart comes in many guises, but the real smart? That?s what the smart folks have already figured out. Have used. Have profited from. And have moved on.

Smart is not last year?s model. Smart is not yesterday?s news. Smart isn?t even tomorrow?s headlines.

Smart ??real?smart ? is all the stories you never see until they?ve happened.

But?you made them. And now you?re telling new ones as everyone else regurgitates yours.

And?that? That?s?smart.

My Social Media Story: Cheryl Keyworth

This is a part of a special series looking at how social media has impacted the lives of its users. This week, the story comes from Cheryl Keyworth.

Social media is social.? That’s the whole purpose of it.? Sure we get into the networking and sharing out information.? Many use social media to blast out their promotions and basically be in our face about their business.

I feel our presence on social media is to build our personal brand, presence and interest.? We are the social in social media.? Each person has a personality and that’s what we want to know about.

Building an audience of like minded people who know, like and trust us is done by engaging and sharing opinions, posts, and thoughts.? Learning about each other and developing friendships.

Our Changing Worlds

My efforts on social media have evolved and changed over time.? I’ve learned a vast amount of information from fellow engagers and people who have both reached out to me and I to them.

The most exciting part of social media is being recognized for unique content that provokes an emotional response.

It doesn’t matter whether that response is positive, agreeable, or presents another point of view – it’s engagement and often gives us the ability to see another side of things.

I’ve met some of the most interesting and wonderful people on the various platforms I engage upon.? Some of the most helpful and altruistic beings that have encouraged and supported me in what I do.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Social media is where deep relationships are formed and a lifetime of friendships develop.” quote=”Social media is where deep relationships are formed and a lifetime of friendships develop.”]

Without mentioning names as there really are just too many amazing friends I’ve met on social media that have made my life totally enriched and exciting.

I look forward to their content, their opinions, and their ability to offer up their hearts and knowledge to those of us who listen.

A Circle of Friendship

Not only do I seek engagers who will know, like and trust me…but I see that this works in my favor as well by enlarging my circle of close friends, like-minded acquaintances who soon become good friends, and learning from some of the best in the industry.

Without social media, our world would be small and difficult to grow into better people.? Social media has given us numerous ways to become more knowledgeable and helpful to others.

And it’s not all about you or me.? It’s about what we can do to help other people grow, reach their dreams, continue on their journey and we encourage each other to be all we can be.

For me, social media is a lot bigger than just a platform to share out our personal opportunities.? It’s the place where people learn and grow together.

It’s the place where we expand our horizons.?

Simply put, it’s the place where deep relationships are formed and a lifetime of friendships develop.

About the author:?Cheryl Keyworth is a long-time blogger on Mainlywords, content creator for private clients, and network marketer working full time online since 2007. You can find her on Twitter @Mainlywords.