Joe Carter of EO made a cogent point in the April 25th Outtakes when he said,
"One of the saddest ironies in the blogosphere is that so many talented pundits waste their skills on national politics. While writing about local government and media probably won’t get you linked by Glenn Reynolds, it could lead to a ten-fold increase in readership. A low-traffic blog, for example, may have trouble finding ten people who care to hear their opinion on federal matters yet could have a hundred neighbors willing to tune into their daily musings on the local school board. "
Very good point.
I am not interested in being a high-traffic blog. However, I am interested in influence. Joe is probably right. Blogging on national issues turns a blogger into a small fish in a big pond. Going local turns the equation around -- making the blogger a big fish in a small pond.
I recently met a blogger from Greensboro named Joe Guarino. Joe and I met at a conference where I spoke on blogging and influence. Joe's blog, Guarino, is focused on public policy with an emphasis on local politics. Though he has not been blogging for a long time, but he is already having an impact with his biblically based worldview. An editor of a regional newspaper reguarly reads his blog and engages with Joe, as do some lefty bloggers and local politicians. Joe is an excellent writer and worth a read.
Want to have an impact? Think local.
( HT: Joe Carter and Joe Guarino )