SubscribeThese are my confessions. Usually I stay away from writing “personal” stuff, but after taking a look at some of my older posts from when I just started blogging, I realize I have lost some of the personalization to the site that gave it…well…personality. Before, I would openly dog on Rick Ross because that was how I felt. I would say Kanye’s “Love Lock Down” is terrible because that was how I felt. But somewhere somehow, I became too safe. Too politically correct. Too quick not to offend. As a result, I feel I lost some edge and with that I have lost some of that excitement to blog and just say what I want. Report on what I want.
Do any of you fellow bloggers feel the same? Do you feel trapped by your own blog that you created with your own hands? (well a keyboard and your hands). For me, the “trapped” feeling (no, not trapped in the closet) started when I realized I could make money off this and traffic was EVERYTHING. I felt I had to be as broad as possible to get the traffic hits. But I realize…I’m like vanilla now…when everyone else is freakin’ chocolate mint chip. I admire fellow bloggers like Clyde at ProHipHop who is not afraid to call out ANYONE, or Rizoh who is able to give his site personality but still delivers consistent hip-hop news.
So my fellow bloggers and readers, since today is the day of change, moving forward I will attempt to bring back some of the personality to this site. I will not let traffic compromise what I want to write. After all, it’s my site and it’s time I take control of it. At the same time, to my fellow readers out there…it’s your site too. So please hit me up anytime with suggestions, changes, or whatever.
I know you guys are out there so let me hear from you. WoooHa, Inc. is back. And if you don’t like…then go fu*k yourself.
Peace,
Scott Yeti
WoooHa! Gotcha muh’fuckas in check. Get ‘em!
I feel you on this yeti, however your site is not vanilla. You just have to add a little more opinionated discussions and continue to be original like you are. I have tried to not crossover to much over to the mainstream and such. Alot of hip hop sites though are vanilla. There’s only a small % that really keep it real. I think that if you just continue to adjust the layout, be honest and forthright about your opinions things will come. When I changed from blogger to wordpress, my traffic went down however I feel better about my site because i believe it to be original…like yours. Please try to avoid being like the sites in Rawkus.Com network that just perform a “Circle JerK” so to speak and post the same crappy material. Try to venture into art, maybe do a weekly column to voice your opinion on things.
I feel you Scott… I was writing for a blog and felt trap. The owner wanted me to water down some of my topics and not bad mouth certain artist cause he is working on some their albums. So do you Scott.
i feel you man. i think we all need to check ourselves on that every now and again. but i go in if i care enough, even though i’m supposed to watch what i say since i work with some labels. blogging is a new industry like hip-hop. whereas there’s always a group who feels we have to take it back to the essence of hip-hop…same here. When we start something, it’s usually just us. And when we become more successful sometimes there are outside influences that tend to sway our original judgment in order to become more successful. Whatever the case, it’s all good yeti. You got great material. Keep it ill.
I’m not a blogger but I am a faithful WoooHA reader. I got friends who blog just for fun and they are the opposite, they doing everything they can to make some of that money. YOu got a great thing going here and it sounds like its a common “bloggers dilemmea.” Keep up though, I always find interesting stuff I cant find no where else on your sight.
Yeti – I see what you are trying to do and the adjustments going on. With that said, yes I’m a daily reader as well. To tell the truth, I’m not even that into hip hop but you deliver interesting news so I keep coming. I started a blog to make money at one time, then I got burnt out and stopped. Not worth it. I think there is a balance, where you can be you, and not turn off readers.
Just started reading your site. Its ill. but to me u got an identity issue. You a news source or u a blog? Im no writer but seems to be hard to be both things.
I feel you Scott! Sometimes I get so consumed on the topics and celebrity subjects that drive more traffic and forget the up and coming artist and unsigned hypes. But I’m slowly breaking out of that by adding music reviews and new artist spotlight to the site. On another note, I’ve been a avid reader of Woooha since Wooohah! Luv it!
I hear you Yeti. Personal tone is important in blogging, even if you report on news and events. That’s what differentiates blogs from the mainstream media; the fact that blogs are the voice of individuals as opposed to the filtered voice of a bigger media company with too much at stake to offend or exclude any particular group. Not only are bloggers allowed to have an opinion; it’s expected.
You’ve been doing your thing since day one so I definitely believe you know what’s best for WoooHa. Just like an artist whose sound develops throughout their career, so will your site and your core audience will always remain loyal for that very reason because they develop along with you.
Keep doing your thing man and best of luck.
Hey guys – thanks so much for your words, support and suggestions. Glad to know that there are so many out there that feel the same way. I’ve worked with most of you in one capacity or another, but I know I drifted off lately.
Some sites like to help out emerging artists, I want to get back with helping out emerging bloggers and sites, that’s how I got my “breaks” although, obviously, I still got a ways to go. So I’ll be reaching out to many of you in the near future!
You gotta do you… i fucks with your site harder then The Things dick after watching new porn on Bangbros… so what ever you want do is going to have to be what is best for you.
And for the record Love lock down ain’t wack… its not hot tho… but not wack at all. Ok ok your right the shit is a lil wack, but I’m be in line beat’n the shit outta slow cashiers when 808 drops.
Waddup Yeti. Its actually nice to hear from you every once in a while. It lets us faithful Wooohanites know there is a person behind this. Not just some news site like they saying. My only suggestion would be to keep that personality and dont be afraid to say what you want, like you say, its your site. We actually enjoy it all. Props!
That’s what blogging is all about though. I feel like if I don’t give it a slant they won’t have reason to come and check me out. I feel somewhat the opposite of you. I feel my opinions in person are a lot less stringent then they are on the blog. Introspection is not a bad thing. I salute that.
I know exactly what your going through. This has been happening to me lately and right I’m in the process of becoming a little bit more personal in my blog. I remember when I first started out, I was all about pushing out content without giving my personal opinion or favor in fear that I would turn someone off. Now I’ve come to realize that the traffic,comments,and monetizing doesn’t matter to an extent anymore. I realized that in some of my posts where I expressed my own personal opinion I gained more hits and comments which helped me meet some pretty great people.
I felt the same way you do Scott. I felt piegon held by my site for a while, but another blogger helpped me realize thats its mine and i can do whatever i want to do. Thats why i took down the old site and started anew. with now chains, maybe you should think about a redesign. I know ou just did one not to long ago, but show says you can do it again. Its your site.
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