Think of your site on the internet (i.e. blog, website,
youtube channel etc.) as your virtual real estate. How valuable your property is will be based
on an objective measure. In regards to
virtual property, you can check the number of daily site views and comments as
well as viewer engagement. These, I’ve heard, factor into Google’s search
engine algorithm as to how likely your virtual real estate (website etc) is
going to pop up when someone searches for words that are connected to the
specific content you provide. The higher your daily numbers, the higher the
value of your virtual property.
Spend less time trusting the advice or criticism of those
whose online real estate is measurably less valuable than yours. Always look to
those who have higher objective measures (#’s) than yours for advice. Next, seek
ways to emulate them in some ways while also trying, to some degree, to remain
original in the content you provide. You have something to offer that someone
else does not—by virtue of being YOU. You have unique experiences, style and ideas
that can be translated into views, more ideas, learning experiences and opportunities…even money (well, possibly).
If you think someone else has terrible content (has bad
ideas, is a terrible presenter etc etc) then use this as a catalyst to make
your own virtual content and compete. Everyone
has the “I don’t have enough time” issue, so please don’t use that as an
excuse. I personally work two jobs and
have been going to school for the past two years to get into a nursing program
and was just recently accepted into a program. I’ve gone through a terrible break-up and have
lost so much time these past few months. Time is an issue for EVERYONE. If you
are one to criticize, this obviously means you have better ideas/are a better
presenter, so create the content that you know is superior. Then, sit back, and let the numbers tell the
story.
When I think of monetarily valuable online real estate, I
think of someone like Jenna Marbles. The content Jenna Marbles provides the world
is spreadable and sticky. Her appeal strikes a wide audience. People that view
her videos have a memorable experience and will come back to her. I’ve read
several comments about “how addicting her videos are” and “I can’t wait for
Wednesdays!”. She now makes a decent living on youtube and her blog gets
regular visitors as well. Not everyone can be a Jenna Marbles in their overall
expression of personality, presentation, comedic display and her generation of
original ideas. This doesn’t mean you don’t have something to offer the world
though! You just need to find your niche.
What makes a piece of property valuable in the real world? We
might consider: How close is the
property to desirable land features? Is the property close to a beach or lake…
does it have a view of the mountains? What is the upkeep like on the property?
Is it in good condition? The list goes on and on.
What makes online property valuable is slightly (or,
considerably?) different.
While space is limited in the physical world, it doesn’t seem
so in the virtual world. The bifurcating nodes of the internet seem to spread
out in a never ending fashion—there is clearly enough space for everyone here! In the virtual world, you can easily create a
website, youtube channel or sign up for a blog.
The limiting factor in the virtual world seems to be users. (?) That is,
there are a limited number of people on planet earth. On top of this, there are
only a small number of people on planet earth who will be intrigued by the
content you offer—even if you are stellar.
The key is this: You give the user an incentive to come
back. The more people come back, the more valuable your online property
becomes. Advertisers will consider your site to be more valuable as well. You
add value to your property by making it “sticky”. Make some aspect of your
virtual property plant a seed in the user’s mind making them remember you in
some way and possibly want to return.
The internet has exploded this past decade and its network
will continue to expand ad infinitum. It
is time for you to create your virtual space.
If physical property becomes more valuable with time, why wouldn’t
virtual property? “User disengagement”, you retort. That could be true but it
doesn’t hurt to try. What do you lose?
