Ok, these days everybody says they want a platform.
We want a voice, right? We want to be heard.
Strangely though, nearly everyone that excels in this world of online publishing has something in common.
They have a theme.
I mean – can you imagine Jeff Goins next post being:
7 Ways To Field Dress A Deer
Or, what if Copyblogger published a series:
9 Reasons Fiscal Policy Does Not Work
The point is obvious: You need a theme.
And you need to stick to your theme.
Even though this website is a personal one, I try to limit everything to 4 simple categories.
- Books
- 5 Things I Learned Reading
- Book Quote
- Potpourri
And truth be told – I probably let Potpourri wonder more than I should.
If you are a hobby blogger, you can get away with the occasional post that strays from your primary message or brand. But if you are trying to build a platform, you need to find an editorial focus and stick to it. A tighter focus leads to higher traffic. This is why I have tried to narrow my own focus to four areas: leadership, productivity, social media, and publishing. If I want to write on something else (e.g., fitness), I do so through one of these four lenses.
–Michael Hyatt, Platform