Are you an internet expert?
No, I’m not talking about being an expert on all things internet related. As some of you might already know, I’ve been pondering about choosing a subject for a new niche blog that I’m hoping to start in not too long. I’m adamant on finding something that interests me and that I will enjoy writing about, but also something that I know quite a bit about already, as people “in the know” suggest that you should always choose a topic that you’re knowledgeable on in order to be able to write interesting content.
This has gotten me thinking about on my past experiences, and just how easy the internet makes it for us to be an expert on more or less any subject. When I first started a website about the Legend of Zelda, I had only played two of the games in the series. But as I started the site, I learned more about the series, and eventually it came to the point where a lot of people, because of what I had accomplished with the site, held my opinions regarding the games in the series in high regards.
Likewise, when I started Bloggst, I wasn’t all that much of an expert on blogging. But because of my willingness to learn as I go, I developed a grasp of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to blogging, and people started reading what I had to say and acknowledged my opinion (and of course, disagreed). My point is that online, you don’t have to be an expert on the niche you pick, you can simply be an internet expert and learn as you go. To be a little cheesy and use a metaphor, if your knowledge on the subject is represented by a forest, a single tree is all you need to start with as long as you’re willing to keep planting seeds and grow new trees. And with all the information in the world available to you at the click of a mouse, or the very least a simple Google search, could it be easier?
Does anyone actually believe Darren Rowse knew everything about blogging and for instance the top reasons to build your RSS subscriber numbers back in 2005 when he startet ProBlogger? Or that Daniel Scocco over at Daily Blog Tips knew that social bookmarking sites love blogs around the time he started his blog? I doubt that they even thought about things like these when they started their blogs, and their journeys to establish themselves as experts on blogging.
My point is that on the internet you don’t need to be an expert on a subject before you start branding yourself as one. If you have a genuine interest in the subject, and a willingness to learn about it, you can be as successful as anyone, so why waste your time becoming an expert before you start to teach people when instead you can teach as you learn. In fact, I have during my days both as a student and an internet publisher found that communicating and teaching continually while you’re in a learning process is one of the most effective ways of learning.
Think about it, and if you have any thoughts on the subject, feel free to share them with the rest of us by posting a comment. I know I’d be interested in hearing what other people think about this, as I’ve never actually heard anyone talking about it in specific before - Perhaps because what I’m saying isn’t plausible? I’d love to hear from people who disagree with me as well!