5 Areas of Concern for a Sports Blogger

Posted 7/2/08 - Kellex

Anyone can spit out some junk on the NFL or NBA and call it a sports blog right? But not just anyone can take a blog from the bottom and raise it to the top of their niche and make a difference or make people say, “Damn dude, that’s legit!” I see sports blogs come and go almost daily and it’s usually because of the same things.

Most bloggers start out with a vision to make it big, have an online presence that is felt, and pull in some huge cash. Unfortunately, all three of these dreams are unlikely to happen to about 95% of us because of the competitive nature of the business. You have to be something pretty special AND focused to reach the top and to help you get there I’ve put together 5 areas you should look at to help not only grow, but maintain a worthwhile blog.

1. Who is the best in your niche?

Everyone should know who the big dogs are in their niche. If you are unaware of whom the top blogs are, then you are completely out of touch and should possibly stop what you are doing and do some quick research. Big time blogs are there because they’ve broken through and are providing something to thousands of readers that no one else is. You can pull from these blogs and while you are just starting out, you should probably be mimicking a lot of what they are doing. As a blogger without experience, you probably shouldn’t be trying to reinvent the wheel, right?

2. Do you know your sports social media sites?

If you haven’t heard of BallHype, YardBarker, Stumble Upon and Digg, then once again you need to shut down those dreams and find yourself a Google Toolbar to do some searching. These social media sites will be your greatest tools as a new blogger to help you reach an audience you couldn’t dream up. If you play your cards just right and put out some entertaining pieces from time to time, you will find these sites extremely useful. Trust me.

3. Have you found the top sports forums?

One thing almost every “tips & tricks” site will tell you is that you need to find a forum related to your niche. In this forum you will need to become an active member and provide worthwhile analysis and insight on your topics that will encourage readers to follow you from this forum to your blog. As a sports blogger, RealGM is probably your best bet to start with.

4. Are you getting to know any of your readers?

Your readers are the lifeline to your blog and without them, you’d have nothing. Always encourage participation through your posts and make sure to give your own thoughts and opinions. Readers can get unbiased opinions or recaps from ESPN; they come to your blog for your own personal, interesting perspective. Think about allowing guest posts, interviews, and polls to help keep them around and active.

5. Is your content worth anything?

When was the last time you wrote something and felt really great about it? If you are finding your blog lacking participation, growth and energy then maybe it’s time to switch gears. Your number of posts per day may need to be pulled back while you focus on writing some deep and meaningful pieces. Readers appreciate your knowledge, which is why they keep coming back. Don’t ruin their perception of you by not taking the time to give them everything you’ve got.


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