Dead Wings takes a look at and offers a helping hand in the problem area of content saturation among the residents of the blogosphere.

Shortly after the first of the year, Angie and I noticed an issue with content saturation. So many beacons of information populating the blogosphere, and all attempting to capture their share of the online readership. Unfortunately, so many are doing it the wrong way. By regurgitating the same content as so many others. There are too many sites that are no longer trying to create their own content, as much as they are trying to copy others. Herein, lies the issue. So we thought we would offer some advice in this area for the new year.

We are not saying that there is no place for topic revisitation and the like, but as content creators we need to be crafting our subject matter in a way so that it matters. Also, we need to be mindful of the competing content that is out there in our various markets to make sure that we are not stepping on any recently placed toes. Not just for communal courtesy’s sake, but for the sake of the information you are trying to share. Take a step back and ask yourself, am I filling a need and serving a purpose with my post, or am I simply serving myself. Hopefully, your answer is never the latter.

Another area that causes this saturation to become rampantly pandemic, is site purpose expansions. We have to be careful as we extend the reach and scope of our sites, or worse yet, start a new site when it is completely unnecessary to do so, that we do not overreach or overlap. Overreaching occurs when you try to open up the focus of your site to cover more areas without the staff to do so, and thereby stretch your own capabilities thin, and possibly work from a less solid foundation of knowledge. Overlapping occurs when you start up a new site to cover an area that you could easily incorporate into one of your other sites when there is no threat of overreaching. If either occurs, then both the readers and the subject matter will suffer as a result, relegating your site to a second thought, rather than an instinctual go-to location.

Once again, we are not saying that there is no place for this kind of expansion, however, you must remember that it should all be about the content and the community, not about ego and self aggrandizing goals. If there is a niche that needs to be filled given a communal neglect on that area or perspective, then by all means, if you have the time and know-how, throw everything you can at it! But if you have neither of those commodities in spades, and generally they go hand-in-hand (having time but no know-how, or vice versa tends to not work out well), chances are you are not going to be helping anything or anyone by trying to take it on.

Bottom line, we want our contributions to the community to have a positive impact, rather than a negative one, so we need to be aware of content saturation on both a personal and blogosphere-wide level. We do not want to put too much of the same thing out there only to end up diluting the content and overall pool that we pull from. Fresh perspectives and ideas are always welcome, and always have better chances at a positive influence on the community, so that is where we should always try to keep our focus fixed.

Breakdown of tips on fighting content saturation.

1. Make a consolidated effort to over-saturate the market all at once…wait, I think I got that wrong. Actually, it is quite the opposite, only post when you have good cause and something worthwhile to say. Creating filler content, just to have content, can often lessen the impact of your contributions. The more you make sure you have a point for your readers, the more readers will point your direction. (little bit of ‘The Sphinx’ for ya…no? No Mystery Men fans in the house? Okay, moving on.)
2. Repetition, repetition, repetition!…is not really where you want to steer in this case. You want the info to stick, but not because you posted on the same subject for a straight month. You want to keep things fresh as often as possible. Fight the flood by staying informed as to what content is out there, and where the community is missing out. Focus there and put thought into your postings.
3. Distance yourself from your content…wait, that’s not right either. In fact, you are a key ingredient in the content pie. It is all a matter of perspective, yours. This is the time to let your light shine as bright as you can, for you are the part of the puzzle no one else can place into the whole. If it actually comes from you, then it will always be more unique, and less of the same old thing.
4. Go overboard on the ‘Overs’ for over-the-top success! Would be really bad advice in this case, since the ‘Overs’ here are overreaching and overlapping which lead to overloading and over-saturation which will often keep you in the ‘Unders’. Under-delivering and undervalued! Going beyond your niche or knowledge base does not serve the content or produce viable, valuable contributions either, so keep your focus.
5. Timing is meaningless when you have something to say! Hold on, that seems a bit off, as well. I think it goes more like, Timing is everything! If you have put time and effort into a post that you thought would be timely, only to have someone else put up a very similar post, then put it off a bit. Save it for a rainy day. Chances are what made the post timely will still keep it relevant beyond the initial window you had opened for it.

That is all for now

That is until you have something you would like to share or add in the comment section. In that case, have at it, let us continue coverage on these thoughts or more.

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