Well, let me rephrase that…I’m un-learned at the rest.  How do I know if I’m good, great, or horrible.

But all the books, blogs, etc. say you have to become an expert in a niche to have a successful blog, right?

Well I say it’s upside-down!

The Problem: Writing Like An Expert is REALLY Tough

My Editweapon.com blog is allegedly about software and website usability and learn-ability, something I am great at.

But I almost never write about that.  Why?  Nuance causes massive writers block and I start writing like an “expert.”

The Solution: Write Like An Idiot

In helping start-up Ashley’s new real estate website, Scottsdale AZ Homes For Sale, I realized there was actually a lot of things I didn’t really know about internet marketing, SEO, PPC, etc.  And it just occurred to me one day, “Well, I’ll just write ‘How To’ posts as I go along since I know those get good link juice.”

Most People Are Idiots Un-Learned

Who cares if there are 500 different version of How To Buy a Domain Name. Not every single person has read all 500 articles.  In fact, it’s pretty much guaranteed that 99.9% of the population has never read a single one of them.  Which means 99.9% of the population might find my take on the subject useful.

Writing As I Learn

Writing about the topic as I’m learning about the topic has completely removed my writers block.  And I’m starting to see that these posts are some of my best work.  (As judged by me, the amount of comments, etc.)

I don’t even have to reach a conclusion, and yet I’m still providing value in the content.  (For example, see my work-in-progress review of thinkBIGsites from yesterday, or 5 Steps To SEO Domination from August.)

Research. Write. Publish. Repeat.

I research things well.  In fact, now that I think about it, I over-analyze everything.  Well, on second thought, not quite everything.  Probably 70%…no, 65%…well, hmm…let me export my posts to a spreadsheet and categorize them by on a keyword…

(You see what I’m talking about?!?!?!  I’m a menace to myself.)

Seriously though, just like so many other small business owners, I have to research a very wide variety of topics to get myself learn-ed.

But now, instead of researching until I’m an expert (which never really happens anyways), my content creation strategy is to write and publish while I’m still an idiot.

What’d you think?  Am I an idiot for suggesting this as a winning content strategy? And by that I mean, good for inbound links.

It was a fantastic class.  I especially appreciated learning about the physiological differences between men’s and women’s brains. (At lunch Michele and I talked about how this might relate to Skip Moen’s, The Scriptural Role of the ‘ezer.)

Our homework assignment was to write copy for one of the four “buying modalities” that she discusses in her book.  (I blogged about buying modalities in my post, Why the First 30 Seconds at Mint.com are Way Better than the First 30 Seconds at Your Website.)  I chose to write this text for the “Spontaneous” modality, mostly because I don’t feel like I write very well for that modality.

Spontaneous is characterized by words like “flamboyant”, “unpredictable”, “unconventional”, “free-spirited”, “dynamic”…greatest fear = “boredom”.

Here’s my first take, which was created the last 2 minutes of my morning shower, plus another 5 while dripping wet:

You mean you’ve already done the work for me?

We know you love adventure, romance, galavanting around Italy shooting bad guys and blowing up evil lairs with your secret agent lover.

But Vitamins? ugh…Boring!!!

And yet you know, know, know that you need em, need em, need em!!

Well our expert team of agents at Jigsaw Health has meticulously pieced together the exact combination of nutrients you need every day into one product — Jigsaw Complete.

And with our handy packets, you’ll be out the door in minutes when you get that assignment in France.

So don’t put this quick purchase off another minute! There’s no commitments or contracts. Just a simple phone call to our agents at 1-800-007-0077 or order online at our secure, secret portal, jigsaw007.com. That’s 1-800-007-0077 or jigsaw007.com.

And don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

The class got a kick out of me commercializing it up with sound effects, etc.  And to be honest, I spent more time on the explosion sound than the copy.  But that’s just how I roll.  (Sorry Michele.)

And then Michele and the other students got all editweapony on me!  Maistro, play Take 2:

(Changes bolded)

Your life is all action!

We know you love adventure, romance, galavanting around Italy shooting bad guys and blowing up evil hideouts with your secret agent lover.

But Vitamins? ugh…Boring!!!

And yet you know, know, know that you need em, need em, need em!!

Our cracker jack team of agents at Jigsaw Health has meticulously pieced together the exact combination of nutrients you need every day into one product — Jigsaw Complete.

And with our grab-and-go packets, you’ll be out the door in minutes when you get that assignment in Istanbul.

Don’t put this purchase off another minute! There’s no commitments or contracts. Your next assignment, should you choose to accept, is to go to jigsaw007.com

Not bad, eh?

Btw, I threw together this “secret agent” landing page for jigsaw007.com.  And I might just actually have this spot produced professionally (or at least, more professionally) and then buy some space.  What the hell…stranger things have happened.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  Or just buy Jigsaw Complete and use the 007 coupon code for $10 off so I can see if it really worked.

Thanks to the members of the Pokey Little Pup-inators class for a great 2 days. =)