I don’t want to influence people, go viral or rank for keywords—I just like to write stories that hopefully, someone will find, read and enjoy.
It’s getting harder than it should be.
Apparently, I’m using the wrong platform and tools—and by “platform” and “tools,” I mean… well, a blog and original content.
Shit.
I’ve been blogging since 2005. Ten or fifteen years ago, many of us started a blog simply because we could. Without any coding skills whatsoever, you could claim a little corner of the Web—cool, right? Some bloggers tried to make money, others craved recognition, and many just wanted to connect and share stories or their passion—we had plenty of free time back then without Facebook, Twitter and smartphones.
The online world evolved, new trends developed, innovative platforms were created—hell, I changed too. I don’t mind changing. My French side may resist it at first but I’m also human and we’ve been adapting to survive for hundreds of thousands of years. Eventually, I do embrace change.
We’re moving forward. But are we heading in the right direction?
Each job has a motto—“publish or perish,” “problem exists between chair and keyboard,” “look for the next opportunity while employed,” or “it’s not lupus.” Back in the early-ish days of blogging, the motto was “no backlinks, no traffic.” It made sense. The Web is a big place, links to your website represent a vote of confidence telling Google and other search engines (yes, there used to be other search engines…) that your content is relevant and interesting.
Even if most of us aren’t Search Engine Optimization specialists, any blogger understands the long-term value of SEO. Basic guidelines are actually good practices and can make the Web a better place—proper terminology, high-quality content with relevant links, a minimum/maximum article length (no one is going to read a 5,000-word essay…), user-friendly Web design, etc. I never focused on SEO too much but I embraced a few principles to do my part and make the Web a better place.
What a complete idiot I was… I actually thought content mattered and that despite black-hat techniques and other shady practices, quality would eventually win over irrelevant, mass-produced spammy shit and bots.
Remember when pop-ups and pages with too many ads were the main online pet peeve? I almost miss them because at least, I knew there were ads and I put up with them—hosting is expensive—if the content was valuable.
In many cases today, content is no longer valuable, it’s just an ad.
Apparently, the new trend is influencing the world #talkingwithfuckinghashtags, tailoring content to please an algorithm and becoming a mouthpiece for brands, companies and politicians who pretend to “engage” a most likely fake audience.
And this is what happens behind the scenes.
Last year, I somehow ended up on a shitty press release distribution company’s mailing list. Hi, PRNewsWire, still refusing to unsubscribe me? Never mind, I added a filter so your messages end up where they belong—in the spam folder. Meanwhile, every day, I discover a side of blogging you may not be aware of. Dozens of news agencies, politicians and companies are flooding the Web with press releases and “fake news,” and this “free” content is being republished everywhere.
It’s spam because it’s untargeted and unwanted. Press releases can be a useful tool when you reach out to the right people but I see the same content “offered” to me reposed on many blogs completely out of context. WFT, people?!
I also constantly get emails from companies offering me “free informative content” to publish because apparently, for many bloggers, the annoying part of blogging is to actually have to write—so they buy content.
What should it matter to you?
This is not about me. However, I’d like to take the chance to confirm that even though I’m probably not offering the next Great Canadian Novel every time I click on “publish,” I do create original content. I’m not using you.
It should matter to you because I can’t help thinking that, given the current political environment, it’s dangerous that one American company, Google, completely rules the Web and decides where to direct traffic.
Because it’s getting harder and harder to find original and genuine unsponsored content.
Because I’m afraid we’re being brainwashed by websites acting as a mouthpiece for politicians, companies and anyone with an agenda.
Because we’re not fucking robots—original content should matter more than the number of keywords you use or whether you have the perfect H1 tag for SEO.
Because it’s really fucked up to live in a world where companies and brands can buy traffic, followers, commenters and content so that in turn, we buy products and into ideas.
If the content is irrelevant, what are we, people or products?
About Facebook : if it’s free, YOU are the product.
Kenney is premier of Alberta because people like losers : how the conservatives were able to lose Alberta? And he has been elected on the promises that he will block oil to BC. Like Rachel Notley did. And because he will push for new pipelines. Like Rachel Notley.
And his plan for environment is the same than Sheer’s : ”Drill more oil!”
We’re screwed.
This is mostly why I’m not on Facebook, I just… don’t trust it. Also, when I see typical FB walls, I want to bang my head against a literal wall. Crazy how some people come out as racist and assholes when they are hidden behind a computer and can “post” easily!
I don’t know much about politics in Alberta, Ontario’s are pathetic as well :-/
I follow essentially Québec politics through Radio Canada, but they often talk of Ontario, and important events like elections in other provinces are covered. Plus I follow Alberta politics through newspapers when i’m in Alberta.
Noted by Radio Canada last week : a few years ago, there was 6 women as Premier of provinces. Today, with the assermentation of Jason Kenney in Alberta, there is none.
Duh, women belong in the kitchen! Like, seriously. Unless they are pretty, then you can use them for pictures (and of course, sex).
Kenney himself didn’t say it out loud, but there are some regressive on his party that did, and nobody cared.
It’s always the background voices that show the party’s true colours.
Yeah, I know my blog isn’t the most read out there, but for some reason I don’t care. I use it as an outlet for my thoughts, and that’s its main purpose. I don’t put ads, I don’t earn anything, but it provides me a distraction.
Every now and then I do get people wanting to do business with me, I just ignore them completely.
It’s rather personal indeed, but there are also many aspects of your life that random people could relate to–moving to a foreign country, getting married, etc. And your travel diaries are interesting 🙂
Me too me too!!! i write to keep my sanity hahahahaha regardless the readers
I just wish I spoke your language to be able to read everything 😉
J’ignore aussi la plupart des demandes de partenariats car je n’aime pas spécialement en lire. Il faudrait vraiment que je trouve ça fun à écrire et c’est clairement rarement le cas. J’ai vu certains blogs de tourner lentement mais sûrement vers cette manne, et malheureusement le contenu n’est jamais aussi performant.
Certains partenariats peuvent être super ou bien tomber, et j’accepte de temps en temps de la pub pour payer l’hébergement. Mais je refuse de me faire le porte-parole de tous ces “spécialistes en marketing” :-/ Ce qui est effarant, c’est le nombre de demandes!
It’s really annoying when you are researching something and the first 10 website are copy pasted information. It’s so hard to find interesting content especially when it relates to travel or any high value domain.
Travel blogs are the worst, which sucks because I really enjoy genuine travel diary (BTW… can you travel again? I love yours!)