In order to build a personal brand through blogging, it’s important for your readers to see that you know your topic inside and out – or at least that you’re writing about it constantly. One way to show off your knowledge is to keep up with the latest news in your niche, industry or interest area. Reaction posts, or those that “react” to current events in the news, can get you bursts of traffic, new readers and of course, street cred. If you can offer your expert opinion on what’s happening beyond simply reporting the news, you will definitely be able to not only improve your reputation with your readers, but within your niche as well.
Today’s assignment
Write a post in reaction to a current news item in your niche, preferably one from within the last week. Just make sure your reaction post is related to what you want to be known for on your blog, otherwise it can just seem like you’re trying to pimp traffic from whatever’s popular in the mainstream at the moment. If you don’t read the paper or keep up with the news online, here are a few websites that usually offer good fodder for blog posts.
- New York Times
- Washington Post
- Huffington Post
- Google News (just enter in your niche topic and Google will find the latest news items for it)
Once you write your reaction post, share the link in the comments section below!
Note: Please tag your posts with “31bnb” to make them easier to share with us.
Ten Ideas to Change the World – Which one(s) will you support?
http://www.wyokemia.com/2010/08/ten-ideas-to-ch…
I got lots of great responses via twitter to my reaction post, including one from Robert Egger that I'm still swooning over.
Sorry, that's the nonprofit nerd in me coming out!
I had to respond to Rush Limbaugh's recent comments about nonprofit employees!
adding “lazy rapist” to my resume
http://bit.ly/abVTpH
I decided to write about the drowning of the 6 children in Louisana this summer. It's not new news however it had been on my heart. Especially as I watch my own child perfecting his back stroke
We Don't Swim: http://wp.me/pYo1G-eT
My post wasn't about weddings, my engagement, and feminism, which is what my blog addresses, but about the Islamic Center that's going up in Downtown Manhattan. I prefaced the post with this:
This isn’t about weddings or engagements, but over the course of this year, writing about my upcoming marriage has brought up unresolved issues I’ve had with my Muslim past and my Iranian heritage. I’ve always had a rocky relationship with the two, and that connection and its complexities have become even more magnified now that I am getting ready to marry a non-Muslim. Instead of pushing them away, like I used to, I’ve been learning to embrace these two backgrounds and incorporate them into my feminist identity. So when the issue of the Islamic Center in the Financial District of New York City came up, of course I felt a connection to the story, not just because it’s about a mosque, but also because I used to live in Lower Manhattan. After watching yet another news article on it, I felt compelled to get my opinion and commentary out:
The link for the post is
http://nakedladyinawhitesilkdress.wordpress.com…
temp solutions for homelessness or another city program for people to complain about:
http://wp.me/pKZXu-2p
I did my post on a pop culture story–Naturi Naughton is joining the cast of Mad Men! Finally some black folks on the show
http://bit.ly/c3tpuh
Check out my post on Lawmakers and Nonprofit Pay. http://bit.ly/a1nPXI
I discussed the issues surrounding Mitrice Richardson. I feel like this story didn't get half of the attention it deserved until recently. Plus, some things just don't add up.
http://www.evolvingelle.wordpress.com