Technical stuff today. I’ve signed up to Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge with my Books Are Cool website. Before we started the first day’s challenge, we’re meant to do a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. I vaguely remembered these from my misguided days as an accountant!
From the Book of Kells
So, I’d better do one for this blog too, and also an elevator pitch, which is the first daily challenge. I hadn’t heard that term before. An elevator pitch is a short summary of your site/business/product etc, about 100 to 150 words long. It takes as long to say it as it takes to make a short trip in an elevator, apparently. I can’t remember the last time I went in a lift. And anyway, ever since getting stuck in one with all three kids at Trinity College Dublin, after going to see the Book of Kells, I tend to avoid them like the plague!
OK. Here goes for Blog in France:
Strengths: interesting, varied and readable articles (I hope). I have a body of loyal, friendly readers whose comments I love to read and value very much.
Weaknesses: too unfocussed in what is covered. Too much of a personal blog?
Opportunities: offer more advice, hard facts about living in France. More links to other sites.
Weaknesses: not monetised (had to throw that term in somewhere!) No strong unique selling point.
Whether I shall do anything about my blog in the light of the above, I don’t know. I kind of like it as it is. I love writing it and I enjoy being part of the blogosphere. I’m getting to ‘meet’ some lovely people too. Frankly, that’s enough for me
The elevator pitch would be: The exciting highs and exasperating lows of ex-pat life in France for a family with llamas, carp, kids and other animals.
What would yours be?
And to let you know – Chris is moving us onto a larger server so my blogs may be down for a day or so. But I’ll still be writing my daily post, never fear! I’m going to meet that challenge come what may!
One dog and one kid from the collection
Hi Steph,
I actually thing the fact your blog is personalized is a strength and not a weakness – I love seeing snippets of what is going on in your life and I think people prefer a little bit of human interest – or maybe I’m just a very nosy person!!!
No nosier than me! X
I wouldn’t change your blog, if I were you. If you are happy with it as it is, then why not keep it that way? I agree with Helen, that the personal touch is great and is nicely woven in with the more general material about life in France. It’s your distinctive voice: I don’t think you need any additional USP.
In my view, blogging is in danger of becoming some sort of competitive sport – and where do they get words like monetise?!
Thank you Vanessa. I enjoy my blog as it is too. I’ve been visiting too many websites on how to make your blog do this or that for you, and I was starting to get insecure about mine!