Continuous improvement: tips on blogging and online stores

Found these tips on what might at first seem to be two opposite ends of the web. However, since they both prescribe ways to improve different facets of your online presence, I thought I’d mash ‘em up for ya.

First, from Chris Brogan, a list of 40 ways to deliver “killer” blog content.

I agree with all of Brogan’s points — except this one:

“Never write the me-too blog. Look to be ahead of the wave and feeding backwards, not behind the wave and eating someone’s wake. “

Brogan here is talking about precisely the kind of blog you’re reading now.

If I can choke back the tears for a second (sniff…) I’ll admit that I appreciate what he’s saying. It’s important to add something original to the blogosphere, because who has time to waste time on reading a copycat?

On the other hand, I honstly feel I’m providing a service.

By sifting through blogs and posting what I like or what I feel is important to read, I’m saving you the trouble of having to do the same yourself. Think of the Beamline blog as a one-stop shop.

And if these posts don’t do anything for you,  you can easily stop reading. That’s the beautiful (and frightening) thing about the internet.

In any case… If you’re not tired of “me-too,” here’s the other link:  how to stand out as an online retailer, from BetterRetail:

“If your store has none of these qualities I guarantee you’ll never pay off that loan you took to build the estore.”

There… Did that little teaser make you want to read the BR blog?

Then, me-too or not, I’ve done my job.