Are You Playing For An Audience of None?

Our host today is Kiesha Easley. If you're interested in getting in front of the readers of Site Sketch 101, check out our guest posting invitation here.

I went for a mind-release walk downtown the other day – the kind with no company and no music – just me and my thoughts. As I was making my way back, I noticed a guy standing outside playing his saxophone to an audience of none, that is, until another guy and I walked up for a listen.

His music filled the wind and made me feel sorry that I hadn’t brought my wallet so I could tip him, because not only did his music brighten my day, making my walk more entertaining than I had expected, his enthusiasm also made me think.

Blogging is like playing music in the streets

Everyday that I blog, it’s like I’m pulling out my horn in the street (I’m sorry this sentence has me cracking up for the wrong reasons), hoping that someone big walks by and leaves me a huge tip (an affiliate sale or ad space rental) or decides that my talents are too great to be wasted and decides to hire me for a full-time blogging gig.

Blogging for an unseen crowd of people is not much different from what this poor guy was doing that afternoon. He was showcasing his talent, hoping someone would take notice. On a good day, it could be very lucrative for him, but on a bad day, an empty tip jar could leave him feeling as if his hard work and efforts are being completely wasted.

Have you ever felt like you were playing for an audience of none?

Does an empty tip jar mean you totally suck or that you simply need to pick up your gear and get to a better location? The answer of course, is complex. In this guy’s case, he had talent, but was in the wrong city. If he did the same exact thing in Chicago or some other big city, where live jazz might be more appreciated, he might actually rake in more than he could carry. But getting there might be a challenge for him, especially if he has no money to fund the trip. If he’s adventurous, he could, hitch-hike a ride, perhaps.

Many bloggers are in the same predicament, blogging in the wrong places. A new blog, that showcases awesome content runs the risk of playing to an audience of none, leaving you with an empty tip jar everyday. The solution is the same, get to a better location!

Hitchhike your way to a better place by guest posting. There are tons of sites that are accepting guest posts that will help bloggers get their talents noticed. The great news for bloggers, is that they don’t have to try to flood the big cities (i.e. the A list blogs). There’s tons other blogs all over that are less flooded with guest post inquiries.

We Blog Better is currently accepting quality original guest posts, but there are many others, such as Fuel Your Blogging, and of course this blog – just to name a few.

If you’re a talented blogger, you’ve just got to find the right corner in the right city to blow your horn. Instead of playing your horn for an audience of none, you’ll be playing for a crowd many and maybe even have them dancing in the street.