When you’re looking for the perfect flower to give to your lover, do you want any bent petals?

When you order a meal at your favorite restaurant, of course you don’t want it to come out to your table

half-cooked.

But is blogging like that?

Patrick from Spiritual River left this intriguing comment on my perfectionism/procrastination post:

When it comes to blogging and perfectionism, one of my irrational beliefs is that if I can just make the perfect post, if I can just come up with a truly useful and mind-blowing post, then somehow this will skyrocket my blog to popularity.

I’m starting to see that this is never true. It’s not that great and polished content isn’t important, or that it has no value. The real question I need to ask each day before pushing publish is: “is this content concise, and is it relevant?”

I think the irrational belief in my head is that the only thing that really qualifies as being “perfect” for a blog post is something that is:

1) Useful
2) In depth (long)
3) Polished (good grammar, no typos, maybe an inspirational pic or two)

But I’m starting to think that the better recipe for link-worthy posts is:

1) Insanely useful
2) Concise (shorter)
3) More relevant (the post delivers more thoroughly on what was promised in the headline)

I think those ideas work well with the concept of eliminating perfectionism and getting out concise posts that get to the point.

Thanks Patrick.

The Role of Perfection in Successful Blogging

There’s a time and a place for perfection – wholeness, completeness, error-free-ness.

I’m using “perfect” not in the sense of “incapable of becoming better,” but rather “not requiring any changes.”

When you insist (as I sometimes have) on only publishing blog articles that feel “perfect,” you run several risks.

1. Wasting time

I’ve written recently about how not to waste time in your blogging. Waste is when you don’t put something to the best possible use.

In the case of your blog, the time you spend on building it is precious. Every extra minute spent editing a post is a minute you could be spending to write the next post, or to network with blog readers and commentators, or to learn a new blogging skill.

2. Stifling feedback

There’s impact and then there’s feedback. Perfection often generates tremendous impact but discourages  thoughtful response.

Have you ever poured your heart and soul into a blog post and found that no one seemed to notice – even though you begged and pleaded for input and suggestions and follow-up thoughts?

Could it be that your content was a little too good? That readers felt its power internally but felt that there was nothing left to say except, “Great post?”

3. Being boring

Did you watch swimmer Michael Phelps in the 2008 Summer Olympics?

How about golfer Tiger Woods in the 2008 US Open?

The most fascinating moments during the victories of each man stood out for their imperfection.

Phelps losing his goggles. Phelps finishing with a chopped stroke to win by a hundredth of a second. Woods secretly wincing through a double stress fracture in his left tibia and still (just barely) beating everybody else.

Blowouts in sports are boring (except for diehards). Blowout blogging is boring too.

4. Alienating your blog readers

When your writing is too clean, too flawless, you risk scaring people a little – or causing them to view you as prideful.

Moral: Don’t always try to be Superman.

Bleed a little.

So when is blog content perfection a worthwhile aim?

When you’re striving to achieve an effect that requires it.

Dan Zarrella could have written a stub instead of a perfect (as in complete, not needing correction or addition) viral marketing glossary. I think he chose the perfect route because he wanted people to talk about his glossary as a polished product and not a work in progress.

If Dan had wanted instead to get a bunch of people together to create a glossary of terms, there would have been no need for perfection – in fact, he probably would have intentionally avoided the appearance of completeness.

Is there such a thing as the ultimate perfect blog post?

I’m not saying there is “The Perfect Blog Post.”

Just that there is always “A Perfect Blog Post” for each time you sit down to compose – or, maybe more accurately, a set of potential approaches that could be considered perfect.

And that sometimes (but not always) you shouldn’t blog that way.

And the choice depends on your vision for your blog.

I sure hope this post ain’t perfect. I really need to hear what you have to say in the comments below.

How do you decide to write a “perfect” blog post or not?

photo by nosha

Sign up for VB Pro and get expert blogging and social media help starting at only $9 a month.

Related Articles

1. On Being Perfect

Want to know who’s attending the SOBCon08 business blogging conference? I’ve made an unofficial SOBCon08 directory to help you learn about SOBCon08 attendees, speakers and lessons learned at SOBCon.

Please register and help me improve the list.

2008 SOBCon Resources – Leave a Comment Below to Add Your SOBCon08 Resource

• Liz Strauss released a big SOBCon08 attendees list today.
• There’s a growing SOBCon08 attendee list at the official SOBCon08 Wiki.
• Follow the official SOBCon Twitter group.
• Visit this Google Blog Search for SOBCon or grab its RSS feed to track new posts about SOBCon08.
• Visit this Tweet Scan SOBCon08 search page or grab its RSS feed to stalk Twitter mentions of SOBCon.

Please, please go to SOBCon. You’ll never regret it. I promise.

I’m grateful to be helping out with the SOBCon08 blog and spotlighting some of the first-time SOBCon attendees there.

There will be bear hugs … oh yes … there will be bear hugs!

I’m Easton, by the way. Nice to meet ya.

And I look forward to seeing you at SOBCon!

Sign up for VB Pro and get expert blogging and social media help starting at only $9 a month.

Related Articles

1. The SOBCon08 Step Forward Challenge
2. Over 100 Blog Improvement Resources Added to Our List
3. 139 Business and Blog Improvement Tips from SOBCon08

Here is why I am the next Authority Blogger, what I will add to the SOBCon08 business blogging conference, and how I will use this contest’s prizes if I win.

(This is my entry for the Authority Blogger SOBCon Contest.)

Why I Am the Next Authority Blogger

I am the next Authority Blogger because:

• Visionary Blogging is an authority blogger concept
• My plan for Visionary Blogging success centers on my becoming an authority blogger
• I will offer 10 authority blogging products and services at Visionary Blogging in 2008

Visionary Blogging is an authority blogger concept

My Visionary Blogging thesis states that in order to achieve maximum blogging success, you must approach blogs with awareness, focus, discernment, imagination and diligence. In other words, you must blog with vision.

This resonates with Chris Garrett’s assertion that in order to make your blog most worthwhile, you must strive to use it to build relationships, share expertise and build a professional profile. In other words, you must blog with authority.

These two similar concepts view the same object (blogging success) through different lenses (vision and authority) that combine to offer a more complete picture of how to become a masterful blogger.

The quest to become an authority blogger is like the quest to become a visionary blogger. In both cases, you succeed only as you devote yourself to the constant application of a few basic principles — and you fail only as you lower your gaze or relax your stride.

My plan for Visionary Blogging success centers on my becoming an authority blogger

My purpose with Visionary Blogging is to teach you how to improve your blog and your blogging skills more effectively and how to achieve maximum blogging success.

I will therefore succeed here only to the degree that I establish myself as an authority blogger.

That is why I am so keenly interested in what the Authority Blogger course will teach.

I will offer 10 authority blogging products and services at Visionary Blogging in 2008

In 2008, I will build and launch 10 authoritative products and services to help you become a more visionary, more successful blogger:

1. The Visionary Blogging Blog, where I regularly share new insights on how to use the Visionary Blogging method to improve your blog’s success.

2. The Visionary Blogging Free Help page, where you can request and get personal free blogging help from me.

3. The Visionary Blogging Wiki, a free place for people to write and read articles about blog improvement.

4. Visionary Blogging: How to Become a Better Blogger, a step-by-step guide to using the power of vision to improve your blogging skills. You will be able to read it online, download it as an e-book, and buy it in print.

5. Visionary Blogging: How to Make Your Blog Better, a step-by-step guide to using the power of vision to improve your blog content, design, community, profitability and value. You will be able to read it online, download it as an e-book, and buy it in print.

6. The Visionary Blogging Club, a paid service to help you continually improve your blogging skills and your blog.

7. Visionary Blogging University, a set of free and paid interactive online courses to help you master the principles of Visionary Blogging.

8. The Visionary Blogging Forum, a free place for people to discuss the Visionary Blogging method, books, courses, etc.

9. The Visionary Blogging YouTube Channel, where I will share free how-to blog improvement videos with you.

10. Visionary Blogging Consulting Services to give you personal professional blogging help.

What I Will Add to SOBCon08

I will add 3 important things to SOBCon 2008:

• I will share my insights on vision with others as we form business plans together.
• I will bring something to give each attendee for free. (Hint: It’s in the list above.)
• I will do something special in secret for each attendee before the conference. (I would tell you, but that would ruin the secret!)

How I Will Use the Contest Prizes

If I win this contest:

• I will use the one-hour consultation with Chris Garrett to discuss ways in which Visionary Blogging can help the Authority Blogger brand and to gain insights on how to launch each part of the Visionary Blogging business.
• I will use access to the full Authority Blogger online course to help me improve the quality of my products and services and refer my customers to Authority Blogger services.
• I will use a personal introduction to each SOBCon08 speaker to make and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships and to get answers to some of my burning questions as an online business owner.

Conclusion

The “authority blogger” nature of the Visionary Blogging thesis, the authority-based focus of my plan for success, and the 10 authority blogging products and services I will offer this year all qualify me for the title of “Next Authority Blogger.” My proactive plans for this year’s SOBCon and how I will use this contest’s prizes also qualify me to win.

If I win this contest, everything I do for Visionary Blogging will strengthen the Authority Blogger and SOBCon brands.

Visionary Blogging is almost brand new and has so much potential for growth. I have been searching hard for an opportunity to kickstart my business and this is a perfect match.

I’ve written before about my strong desire to use blogging to make a difference in the world now and 50 years from now. I have the focus and determination required to succeed as an authority blogger.

Here’s to a brilliant sunrise for Visionary Blogging – and a brighter time of blog improvement for you.

I look forward to sharing my vision with you at SOBCon08.

photo by gregor_y

Sign up for VB Pro and get expert blogging and social media help starting at only $9 a month.

Related Articles

1. The 3 Most Murderous and 2 Most Marvelous Words A Blogger Can Say
2. Welcome to Visionary Blogging
3. What is Visionary Blogging?