Just a few days ago, like two to three times a week, I wrote an article. Only this time I decided to syndicate it, something I and you should be doing at least every couple of weeks, but I admit to being lazy in that respect and doing it only about once a month, and that's if I'm feeling up to it.
The response was overwhelming. It was one of the biggest traffic draws from a single article that I have had in a long time. At the time of writing it is still producing a steady stream of traffic and ad clicks, generating quite a bit of extra income.
It has been well over a year since I have gotten that much of an appreciative response - or that amount of attention - for an article that was not widely syndicated. In fact, it only appeared in one major article directory.
Why this sudden attention?
As you may have already guessed, there was a controversy surrounding said article. First, there were numerous typos. Normally I'd edit the article so carefully that by the time the article finally got published it was (almost) perfect, but by then it would be a month since I first wrote it.
Since I had been trying very hard to get content out faster, even if this means that it isn't perfect, I decided to just send this one out the way it was. Oh boy, were grammar, typing and spelling riddled with mistakes!
A number of people emailed me that they passed my article around at their offices as an example of what not to do. But does it count as a backfire when some of the people who see it Google you and become subscribers?
What else was so bad about the article?
I called a curently successful popstar a “wanna-be”, and her fans "punks" - in the title.
This was a calculated risk – later I´d run another version of the article, a blog post, and from sharing on StumbleUpon alone it got over 2000 visitors. In the new version, the article went on to tell my readers to basically open up their ears and find some real music to listen to, then gave them a couple of examples of what to buy or download.
There was, of course, a very vocal minority of outraged responses about this too. But, curiously, even more, and louder, readers of the article - people I have never met or spoken to - came along and defended it.
To make things short, my slang-ridden, typo-laden, in-your-face article brought me more profitable traffic and attention than any other article I have written in the last sixteen month. It was written in a moment of passion I had at seeing a couple of friends getting ripped of at a so-called “live” concert, mostly because to many people do not realize when they are being duped.
Seeing this overwhelming reaction led me to go back and look at all my other articles. I write all articles myself – it is way more profitable for those of us who are at least halfway decent writers to write an okay article injected with personality than it is to pay someone else to write generic content.
If you have the ability to generate controversy with your content, do it. Not yet convinced? Here are seven good reasons why you should consider it.
1. It is Effective
Nothing - and I mean nothing - gets more attention than controversy. That is why reality shows are so popular. It is the reason why Howard Stern became famous and has so many listeners. That is why we read a book the title of which is making an absolutely backwards prediction about something we care about. It is why people gossip and debate.
So, why merely participate when you can be the topic of discussion?
2. Negative Attention is at Times even Better than Positive Attention
Nothing spreads faster than outrage (or gossip, for that matter). Wide exposure for a controversial view is much better than no exposure for rehashing conventional points of view.
3. Display Your Skill at Dealing with Diverging Viewpoints
Let people see the deliberate way you react to the rude comments from people who take your words personally that WILL follow. I have gained friends, subscribers and followers from them witnessing what is often called poise under pressure - and I simply call common courtesy.
You should never respond from the same type of energy that is being directed at you. Do not let someone else having a bad day ruin your day.
4. It Vets Prospective Buyers
For example, if you want to attract more clients that will take your advice to heart, get off their butts, and stop making excuses, make a video that takes a hard stand and tells people to get off their butts and stop making excuses!
You will get a lot of flak for it - by people who make excuses. They will be offended and will never, ever sign up to your newsletter.
Great!! Because these people will never take your advice to heart. The people who are looking for someone who believes in swift kicks in the butt, on the other hand, will take said advice and hungrily seek more of it.
5. Doing it is a lot of Fun
What is more fun than seeing something controversial? Being controversial or doing something controversial. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you can take the heat, oh boy is it a fun ride!
6. It is an Entertaining Experience
When people are entertained, they come back for more. You probably haven´t ever noticed the music playing in the background at the grocery store. It is there because studies show that people browse longer, and therefore buy more, when they are being entertained.
That is the reason why you see more and more TVs at gas stations and in convenience stores.
And then there is the classic example of commercials during our favorite TV shows.
7. It Sets You Apart
Do you know why big companies are afraid of controversy?
Me neither. If you find out, drop me a line. All I know is that I am not afraid of controversy because I see it as an opportunity, and a great one at that. It is another way to connect, to have something to discuss, and - in some cases - to help people.
And even if you are not going to make a controversial audio, video, blog post, or article - do something different.
No one watches boring shows on TV, invites boring people to parties, reads boring books or listens to boring music unless they have to, for study or evaluation or because it is their work.
Try a little controversy and find out where it takes you. If that is too scary for you, at least risk being extraordinarily passionate. The spotlight can be fun.
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