Checking out your competitors is a normal part of the online business process. Beyond just doing healthy research, we all play the comparison game when we look at other people’s blogs. It’s an inevitable part of human nature. Is their blog better than ours? Has more comments? Loads faster? Cleaner design? Other people’s content has a way of lighting inspiration or envy.
Be inspired by other people’s blogs
Inspiration is the best thing you can take away from another person’s blog. One, it’s confirmation to the content creator that their blog adds positivity to the world. Two, inspiration stirs up your creative urges you can channel into creating content.
Looking at other blogs can help propel you out of a writer block slump. Inspiration from other blogs can help jumpstart ideas such as…
… new article topics
… study a new point of view on a topic you are already familiar with
… find exciting methods for writing headlines
… understand how they structure their ideas]'x ms,
… a glimpse into a future you can achieve when looking at a successful blog
… jump-start your critical thinking skills
Vhinz, a commentor in an seoclerk forum, explains how he is inspired by other blogs:
My aspiration to become a blogger actually begun when I become interested in reading other people's blogs. It inspired me to learn how to create my own blogs. And every time I'm stuck or not motivated to write, I would go back and read blogs that inspired me before. Doing so gives me strength and new hope to continue striving and learning and put my brain to work to produce great ideas.
Turn comparison To Inspiration
Too often, comparison can lead to paralyzing, unhealthy scrutiny of your own content. Instead, focus on positive, constructive thoughts that will lead you to your goals.
1. Compare yourself with you. When you compare yourself to others, you don’t see the whole picture. All you see is their successes. Focus on how you can be in competition with yourself and how you can be a better person than who you were yesterday.
2. Stop “shoulding” all over yourself. Saying you “should” have done this or “should” have done that is counterproductive rumination. The past is over and what’s done is done. Use “want” and see how your inner dialogue shifts.
3. Be grateful for what you have. Oprah said, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Listen to Oprah.
