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Step 6 Worksheet: Continuing to Learn
Part One—Should You Stay Or Should You Go?
Before we address ways to develop your Yawp further, it’s essential to really think about whether that’s the best option for you. Don’t assume anything—the right answer will differ according to the person asking the question as well as the Yawp they have to share.
10 Growth Issues to Consider:
Let’s consider some important questions about growth—and whether your Yawp should change and, if so, how. Answer these questions as completely as you can. If a question suggests a list, write one down to consider the issue as thoroughly as possible.
1. Are you happy with what you have?
The most basic—and important question. Questions to consider:
a. Do you like your Yawp as it is? Why? If not, why?
b. Do you enjoy devoting time to it?
c. If you were to change it in any way, would your sense of satisfaction change as well?
2. Is it sufficiently unique?
A Yawp should be something special—a voice of passion that means something to you because it is special. Questions to consider:
a. Now that it’s in place, is it as special as you want it to be? How is it special?
b. Compare it with other blogs or websites. Are you satisfied that it’s sufficiently fresh and unique?
3. What would be the goal of any change?
Don’t consider any change to your Yawp without thinking about the why. Questions to consider:
a. Why would you want to change what you have?
b. Do you want a bigger audience or to make more money?
c. Has your Yawp grown a bit stale? How?
d. Identify why change might be a good thing. Pinpoint drawbacks as well.
4. Would change affect your original goal?
Think back to when you started your Yawp. Questions to consider:
a. Would any change depart significantly from that original objective? How?
b. If you changed, would that be OK or run counter to the reason you started to Yawp in the first place?
5. If you want change, what would you change?
If you think your Yawp could be more than it is, think about what that might be. Questions to consider:
a. Not every form of change has to be drastic. Specifically identify what you’d like to work on and, from there, think about the impact.
b. Will that make your Yawp better and more rewarding or just different?
c. Could you change your Yawp in subtle ways that would improve it without looking like a complete makeover?
6. Would you commit to change?
Saying you want to change is simple; following through can be more challenging. If you want to change your Yawp, think about what might go into that. Questions to consider:
a. Would you be willing to commit extra time to change? If so, estimate how much time would be involved.
b. Would you need additional training or technology?
c. Would you require someone else’s help or services to institute the change?
d. Would you need to spend money to implement the change?
7. How you would introduce the change?
Questions to consider:
a. Would they happen all at once or over time?
b. Would there be any advantage to slow change or an immediate overhaul?
8. How would your audience react to any changes?
They may seem great to you, but your Yawping audience may feel otherwise. Questions to consider:
a. Before considering any changes, solicit feedback from readers or website visitors on how they might feel about something new or different.
b. Would you alienate the people who read your Yawp merely for the sake of change?
9. If it didn’t work, would you change back?
Not every change works out. Questions to consider:
a. If your change didn’t, would you scrap what you changed?
b. Would switching back and forth alienate your audience or affect the continuity of your Yawp?
10. If change seems good, does it have to be right away?
Questions to consider:
a. If you’ve gone through these questions and change seems like a good idea—but you do have some misgivings—can it wait?
b. Would you benefit by letting the idea simmer for a while to see how it holds up over time?
Part Two—Change, Change, Change
If you decide that your Yawp would benefit from change of some sort, the next step is to consider what you need to do to bring about the change you wish. Here’s a guide to five forms of change—and ways to bring them to life within your Yawp. And, as an added bonus, advantages and drawbacks to each form of change.
Five Forms of Change
1. More comprehensive treatment of current material.
If you want to go deeper into what you already cover, you need to know more about your topic. Read everything you can find about the topic, including other Yawps. Take a class on the topic. Ask others to contribute material to your Yawp that would broaden its topical coverage. Think carefully about what “more comprehensive” means—is it the topic as a whole or one particular part?
a. Pluses—Lots of readers and website visitors like something that’s comprehensive and sophisticated. It’s helpful as a “one-stop” destination.
b. Drawbacks—Lots of others are just looking for basics. Put anything more involved into the mix and they may go elsewhere.
2. Different material.
Here, you branch off from what you’re already doing to hit on brand new topics. Again, do your homework. Start by choosing a subject with which you have at least a rudimentary familiarity. Then, read, take a class, talk with others and pursue any means of broadening your knowledge. Again, solicit material from others.
a. Pluses—Variety can be good. Many people like a mix.
b. Drawbacks—With so many blogs and websites available, specialization can be an advantage, instead of a Yawp that covers a lot of topics in quick fashion. And, with a new topic, if you don’t lay the groundwork properly, you can come off as ill-informed or ignorant.
3. Greater contact with your audience.
Here, you change by keeping in greater contact with your audience. Put another way, instead of them coming to your blog or website, in a sense, your Yawp comes to them. This can happen with:
a. Email updates—Automatic updates to let people know something fresh is available.
b. RSS Feeds—Here, you distribute links to content in your Yawp site that you'd like others to use.
c. Subscription—With this, you solicit someone’s permission to send them new content.
d. Reader interaction—A chat board, a question and answer feature and other way readers and visitors talk with you and others.
These will be discussed in the Advanced Worksheet launching on April 30.
Pluses: A sense of energy and involvement can boost readership and activity.
Drawbacks: Some people feel it intrusive to receive unsolicited contact.
4. Other technology.
Written words aren’t the only means of Yawping. We’ve covered this earlier, but features such as podcasts let you expand your contact with your audience to the spoken word (and visual, if you incorporate video podcasts.) With a website, that might mean video features.
These will be discussed in the Advanced Worksheet launching on April 30.
a. Pluses—Definitely cool for a lot of people. And, technology does let you Yawp in a variety of ways, increasing your range of expression.
b. Drawbacks—A learning curve for some. And, depending on your audience, some may be more receptive to technology than others.
5. Greater income.
Content issues aside, you want to earn more money from your Yawp. Possibilities:
a. Downloads—Ebooks, articles and other material that others pay to access.
b. Sell products and services—Much like a store, visitors can buy your goods and services online.
c. Advertisement—More advertising on your site to generate income through click throughs.
d. Affiliate program—Greater number of this type of referral network where you receive income when some whom you referred signs up for another service.
e. Donations—If yours is a Yawp that others may wish to support, you can solicit financial help.
These will be discussed in the Advanced Worksheet launching on April 30.
Pluses: Depends on your goals. More income is rarely a bad thing.
Drawbacks: Some people are turned off by Yawps that come off as too commercial in nature. The message can be drowned out.
This Above All:
Never lose sight of the passion that drives your Yawp. No matter if your Yawp changes or stays the same, make it an ongoing expression of your heart and mind.
Now go out there and Yawp and make your voice heard around the world!
Are You YAWPING? |
