1. Blogging is a THE springboard.
A starting gate for the new and exciting. I’ve changed my business direction, and within 1-3 years I plan to expand this enterprise and roll out another. The practice is a catalyst for new ideas.
2. You develop better habits.
I now write for at least an hour every day. The daily writing habit brings out your voice, and it’s good for the old noggin. When you write, you flex your creative muscles and if research is involved, you learn. Learning is good.
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I was listening to this interview with Michael Hyatt when the discussion turned to voice.
Voice: That incomparable you on display for the world to see.
You realize how important this is right?
When it comes to platform-building, your flavor is a major reason why people read your stuff.
So what about the narrow blog niche that so many bloggers harp on?
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What are your plans for marketing?
What is your model to keep potential customers engaged? To make your brand sticky? To have design and copy work for you?
Here, Joe Pulizzi (with help from Robert Rose) describes the difference between Inbound and Content Marketing. Blogger, small business owner, goat milk soap aficionado, you should read it, because it’s so spot on, even for a late 2011 post.
And his description of brand evangelism really struck a chord with me.
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I feel like we’re reaching a boiling point in our blogging wonderland.
1. On one hand, a certain cynicism is on the rise. A crowd sick to death of the BS.
2. The other? They’re ready to jump on board the ever-elusive blogging gravy train. To join an entrenched group of “elite” online marketers making money hand over fist.
You?
A. Cynical much? Think blogging is built for suckers? That rainbow bombs are filling our space with pipe dreams?
or
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How clear is your online messaging?
Let me guess – you’re pumping out great content. You have a site design you’re proud of … and you’re putting in the work each day.
But things are not quite panning out as expected.
You have the blogging disease of the many headed hydra.
(I sure did)
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If you’re blogging, I imagine you seek a commanding online presence.
As a small business owner, you need to set yourself apart from the competition.
But you must know where you are going.
What are you offering? How do you wish to be perceived? Can you define your target audience? Know exactly what they need?
If not, you need to get some answers on paper.
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What is your purpose?
If you were sitting across the table from me, could you answer this question?
You might conjure up something just to have a reply.
Or stare at me blankly.
You might tell me to shut up, but that would be rude and wouldn’t help your case.
Well, I wouldn’t blame you, really. We don’t need purpose.
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Weeks ago I wrote a post about purpose and two people I know and respect commented on the importance of relationships.
You might call it the power of customer service. Or the effectiveness of just being nice, but there’s more right?
It’s part of a mix that brings people back, in life and in business.
People return because they like you.
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Whenever I listen to a Seth Godin interview, I come away smarter.
And this interview is no exception.
When discussing the Connection Economy, he dispensed this splendid little nugget …
“In 1740 there was zero percent unemployment because there were no jobs. If you worked, you worked for yourself. We are heading there really fast, again. And it’s going to be bumpy and painful along the way. And the question is do you want to get out in front of that?”
And a little pearl of wisdom …
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When I first dipped my feet into the blogging pool in 2011, I was focusing on all the wrong things.
And ignoring the business I spent 17 years building.
Enamored with praise, comment count, and an increasing number of visitors, my dopamine center was in overdrive.
I was ignoring my business, writing with no end in mind, and I figured it would all pay off, somehow.
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