Building Your Personal Bat Signal

This article is a collection of lessons learned over a decade of professional writing, specifically for tech and startup enthusiasts. It's a follow-up to Andrew Chen's previous blog post on lessons from 10 years of living in the Bay Area, highlighting how writing can be a powerful tool for building your professional brand and network.

Andrew Chen emphasizes the importance of writing to send out a "bat signal" on your aspirations, ideas, and interests, particularly for those new to the Bay Area tech scene. He acknowledges that starting a blog is challenging, focusing on finding your voice, identifying interesting topics, and developing a long-term writing habit.

The Lessons: 10 Steps to Build Your Blog

The article outlines ten key lessons that have shaped Andrew Chen's writing journey, offering actionable advice for those seeking to establish their own blog and make their writing visible in the tech world.

• Titles are paramount - 80% of the work lies in crafting a compelling and shareable title, often written after the content is completed. Think of titles that pass the "naked share" test - captivating enough to be shared even without the accompanying article.
• Knowledge x Communication x Medium - There's always room for high-quality content in the tech space, as the intersection of knowledge, communication skills, and unique medium choice creates vast opportunities.
• Writing as a scalable network - Writing is a powerful tool for networking and building a lasting presence compared to traditional events and conferences, as your content can reach a broader audience and continue to resonate for years to come.
• Long-term perspective - View your writing as a multi-decade endeavor, focusing on building a lasting platform and audience rather than solely relying on fleeting platforms like Quora or Medium.
• Prioritize writing frequency - Consistency is key. Schedule regular writing time and prioritize the act of writing itself over building an immediate audience, as the intrinsic joy of writing is paramount.
• Develop the habit - Set aside dedicated time for writing, such as two hours every Sunday, to foster the discipline and routine necessary for consistent output.
• Opinions as titles - Many writing ideas stem from lively conversations and discussions. Provocative opinions and strong disagreements can serve as the foundation for compelling blog titles and essays.
• Embrace the journalist mindset - Think of yourself as a journalist covering the tech industry. This approach allows you to write frequently, build upon others' ideas, and contribute to a broader narrative without feeling pressured to generate entirely original content.
• Email as the king of engagement - Focus on building an email list, as email subscribers are significantly more valuable than followers on social media platforms. Email provides a direct and lasting connection with your audience.
• Give and receive value - Sharing ideas, insights, and opinions through consistent writing is a valuable form of contribution, and the rewards will follow over time, including brand recognition, networking opportunities, and even financial benefits.

Titles are the Key

The article dives deeper into the importance of titles, highlighting how a compelling title can make or break the success of your blog content. Titles are the first point of contact with readers, serving as the hook that draws them in and prompts them to engage further. Andrew Chen emphasizes the "naked share" test, encouraging writers to craft titles that are strong enough to stand alone and entice sharing, even without the accompanying article.

The Power of White Space in the Tech Blogosphere

The article argues that despite the abundance of tech blogs, there is always room for high-quality content that bridges the gap between knowledge and communication. Even in specialized niches like cryptocurrencies, there is always room for a new perspective or a different medium of presentation, such as highly visual content.

Writing: The Most Scalable Networking Tool

Andrew Chen recounts his early days in the Bay Area, where he spent countless hours attending events and networking. However, he realized that writing was a far more efficient and impactful way to build connections and reach a wider audience. Writing can transcend time and location, reaching readers beyond the constraints of physical events and conferences.

Beyond Fleeting Platforms: Building a Lasting Blog

The article emphasizes the importance of creating a lasting platform for your content rather than relying on temporary platforms like Quora or Medium. Building a self-hosted blog with an email list allows you to maintain control over your work and build a long-term audience that you can nurture and engage with directly. Andrew Chen highlights the perils of platform dependence, sharing his experience with Blogger and Typepad, which lost momentum after being acquired by Google.

The Importance of Consistency: Schedule Your Writing

The article stresses the importance of consistent writing, even if you're just starting and your audience is small. Creating a regular writing schedule, even for short periods, can foster a writing habit and allow you to explore different topics and styles.

Andrew Chen recommends setting aside dedicated time for writing, such as two hours every Sunday, to cultivate a consistent routine and overcome the initial resistance to writing.

Turning Conversations into Content

The article encourages writers to tap into the richness of conversations and discussions as a source of inspiration. Lively conversations can spark provocative opinions and disagreements, which can be used as the foundation for compelling blog posts.

Embrace the Journalist Mindset

The article recommends thinking of yourself as a journalist covering the tech industry. This approach allows you to write frequently, build upon others' ideas, and contribute to a broader narrative without feeling pressured to generate entirely original content.

Email: The Undisputed Champion of Engagement

Andrew Chen highlights the importance of email marketing, emphasizing its effectiveness in engaging a professional audience. Email provides a direct and lasting connection with your readers, fostering a sense of community and ensuring that your content reaches its intended audience. He encourages writers to optimize their blog's user interface to collect emails, utilizing various methods like homepage forms, essay footers, and pop-up prompts.

The Power of Giving: Building a Platform for Future Success

Andrew Chen emphasizes the long-term benefits of consistently sharing ideas, insights, and opinions through writing. By offering valuable content, you build a reputation as a thought leader, foster meaningful connections with your audience, and create a platform for future opportunities, such as raising funds for a startup or gaining exposure for your company.

Beyond Writing: Embrace Your Creativity

While the article focuses on writing, Andrew Chen emphasizes that there are many forms of content creation, including videos, photography, podcasts, and open source projects. The key is to start creating and sharing your knowledge and ideas, building a platform that can support other endeavors.

A Call to Action: Start Sharing Your Ideas

The article concludes with a strong call to action, urging readers to embrace their creative side and start sharing their knowledge and ideas with the world. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort.