Blogging for fun or blogging for fortune?
Okay, so maybe I won’t make my fortune directly from my blog but you never know!
When I started down this road with John Thornhill’s Masterclass I was clear that it was to learn how to market a product via the internet. Along the way I have learnt a lot more about internet marketing than I bargained for!
For a start, there’s this blog. I never imagined I would be learning how to set up such a thing. Even when I realised what it was John wanted us to do I was absolutely adamant that I had nothing to write about! But here I am, 23 posts down the line and thoroughly enjoying this ‘blogging’ thing!
You can check out some of my fellow students comments about their blogs and where they are going. Mostafa Alid tells a story of how difficult he found it to blog first off. Take a look here. And Andy Cockayne tells his story about having to restart his blog from scratch here. That must be a complete nightmare! I can’t imagine how I would feel having to start this all over again. But all credit to him, he has ‘put in the hard yards‘ and got it back on track, and I suppose in one sense there must be a certain feeling of beginning with a clean slate. I might have done some things differently if I started again.
So, blogging for fun or fortune? Well, there is always a chance that some income might result from running a blog without making too much effort, but it is clearly those who make an effort and put the time into their blog that see a pay off at the end of the day. You see, it’s all about getting traffic to your blog and if you let the whole thing slip and people revist and it all looks the same they may not come back again.
Cathy Perkins states that there are 5 common mistakes people make with their blogs.
1. Posting infrequently, 2. Regurgitating content, 3. Insulting your readers (talking down to them), 4. No call to action (not telling them exactly what you want them to do), 5. Posts that go on and on.
So, if you blog, avoid these 5 common mistakes and it will mean more repeat visits from your loyal followers and hopefully you will see an increase in traffic over time.
Hi Mandy, great post and well written. It would be an absolute nightmare if we had to do it all again, wouldn’t it. Those 5 points you mentioned are very true, i will keep them in mind.
As we’ve been creating products for the last couple of weeks i knew that i hadn’t posted on my blog for some time so was really releaved when John said to have a day off. I caught up with so much, especially my blog post.
Thanks for leaving your comment.
Take good care my friend, Barry
Thanks, Barry. Glad to hear you’ve caught up with your blog, I visit most blogs often so it’s lovely to see new content and hear my fellow students have been up to.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
As a classmate of yours in John Thornhill’s Masterclass, I am in agreement with you on learning a lot about internet marketing from this training. Your blog is looking great and you have well written content.
I am definitely guilty of posting infrequently. On the bright side, I don’t think I have insulted anyone yet, or at least I hope not. It is hard to continually come up with new material, but I find that if you just sit down and write, something always comes to mind. I am sure you know what I am talking about. Have a great day and keep up the good work!
Mark
Hi Mark. Nice to hear you haven’t insulted anyone! Hopefully I haven’t either! And yes, the words just flow, don’t they.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Mandy,
I am always amazed at how well written your blogs are. A lot of us have written more blogs and seem to be ahead of you in some ways, however the content of every single one of your posts have fantastic content. I love coming to your site. I feel refreshed and re-invigorated. You are a very special individual.
Jay
Thank you so much, Jay. It is really nice to know I am doing something well, and I think we should all share those positive comments with each other when we see someone getting something right. Some of us (definately me!) are so new to this it makes a great difference when people take the time to praise our efforts.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
It is a great post. It reminds me how difficult was writing a 200 words text. But I just sit down and start writing and surprisingly the words start coming. It still not easy but I’m definitely progressing.
Thanks for putting it clear. To bring traffic, a blog needs regular posting, good content, time and work. I do believe that success come when we do not give up.
Keep bringing us nice posts like this one.
BR, Mostafa
Mostafa, thank you. Your comments are so true, we sometimes don’t have to try, we just have to make the time to sit down at the keyboard. I firmly believe in the blog I read and the advice that was given. If we post often and have good content the traffic will come.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Great post!
Have printed out the ’5 common mistakes’ when blogging and pinned it above my desk!
All the best
Andy Cockayne
http://www.andycockayne.com
http://twitter.com/andy_cockayne
Hi Mandy, Another nice post. You keep up a constant level of quality postings. I am just starting to get a grip on the importance of keywords and starting to plan my posts a little better than my usual top of the head ramblings. Though I admit that I enjoy those as well.
Yours, Aye.
Brian.
Thanks for this, Brian. I don;t know much about keywords right now. I’m hoping all will become less foggy as we go along!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Very useful post Mandy,
I soon came to the conclusion that to avoid your mistake number (1) I would simply write posts on anything that interests me and hope that traffic and money would come later.
John
Exactly, John. I have to say I have done the same. Very random posts about more or less everything.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Mandy, Speaking of keywords, you might want to take a look at fellow Masterclasser Gordon Bosnjak at http://www.gordonbos.com He has an article entitled ” Lets generate some traffic.” In fact all of his articles are well worth the visit.
Yours, Aye
Brian.
I read Gordon’s blog regularly, Brian. I will pay particular attentiont o that post, thank you.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy just wanted to say very well written, you make a very good point I have folloen foul of some of these points its difficult to find the time but you have to make the time.
Keep up the good work and thanks for your comments.
bye for now take care.
regards. Adam.
Don’t worry, Adam, we’ve all fallen foul of some of these points. We just have to do our best.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hello Mandy,
Your site looks great and there is always some information that I can take away with me that is useful. This post is no exception. I have been juggling work (I recently changed jobs at the same company I have been with for years) family life and school. My job is taking a lot of time and my school is a killer since I have been doing so many research papers. The graduate level is fairly serious. My MBA program has taken so much out of my time that I have suspended it for few months to get through this. While all this has been taking place I have neglected my site but in the last couple of weeks I have begun to post again. You are right that we have to pay attention to our site. When I first started there was a lot of activity at my site but as I concentrated on other things it has slipped. Keep up the good work and the very interesting and informative posts.
Thanks,
Gary R Turner
Thank you so much, Gary. I really feel I achieve the most when I treat this as another job. I make the time for it and nothing interferes with that time. If I don’t think of it as work I could always find something else to do.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for the 5 tips I will keep them in mind.
Best Wishes
Ann
Thank you, Ann. I thought they were a real reminder of the importance of regular blog posts. And an interesting blog will bring traffic.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hey Mandy -
Great post and one that I definitely needed to read as I am guilty of letting my blog “slide”. Granted, my mom became very sick quite unexpectedly and we are all still trying to find our footing in that regard but to make any money at all from internet marketing I am going to have to find a way to focus on my blog and internet business at least an hour or two a day so your post has gotten me thinking again. Thanks so much for your diligent efforts – I really enjoy both of your blogs!
Susan (a fellow Mastercalss student)
Hi Susan, thanks for visiting. Sorry to hear about your mum. It’s hard to fit everything in sometimes but don’t feel too pressured. As I said to another MC student just make a little time to do one thing. If you try to do everything in each computer session you will feel overwhelmed.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy
Initially it is very hard to get into blogging, I found it quite hard to begin with and there were times when I started a blog, left it and started it again. This last 8 months or so has been the period when I have finally started to do it properly. You tend to get a feel for it.
Speak soon
Ben
Thanks for visiting, Ben. I think I’ve got the hang of it now but am surprised how quickly I took to it. I have had such positive reponses it’s been a great journey.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy.
Hello Mandy,
Not surprised to see so many positive comments as your posts are always worth reading, also noticed you also make time to visit the forum and help people. I haven’t had too much time to visit many people’s blogs but I’m pleased I found yours as it is always good and as someone else commented, often uplifting, so thanks and I hope you do well with it all.
I am not too concerned with trying to make an income from the blog yet, I think John will be introducing many ideas for us to apply to increase traffic later, and for the moment am well behind with the ebook but as always I expect I’ll catch up (have a history of leaving everything till the last minute and then putting heaps of work in!).
Good luck and will look forward to your next post.
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for visiting, thanks for commenting and thanks for being so positive! I do try to help on the forum (I realise how little I know a lot of the time too!) Good luck with the product.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy!
Great post. I can learn a great deal from you. My problem is that I have been hit by life running full tilt at me recently (who hasn’t?) and I forgot the importance of visiting others’ blogs in favour of getting on with my own stuff.
I got an email the other day which basically said “every day you don’t make a new friend is a day wasted”. The thrust was that in the social media Web 2.0, people matter and you need to cultivate friends. You are. Just looking at the sheer number and variety of people commenting on each and every one of your posts, it’s clear, that you’ve got it spot on! I don’t think it matters what you post about. People will come because you are generous and always “Give” first with your blog hopping. A lesson I must learn!
Cheers!
Susan
I so admire you, Susan, you keep on going even though your journey is complex. I feel I have made many new friends here on Masterclass and I know there will still be a MC community when we have completed our 36 weeks. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to be on this journey with you all.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy great post, as you say I’m amazed that I have found so much to write about! Writing my ebook has taken so much time that I have rather neglected my blog, will have to take my own advice on time management here I think!. Keep it up always quality content.
Rob
admin@robert-corrigan.com
http://robert-corrigan.com
Thank you so much, Rob. I know we are all trying our very best to get this right. Sometimes there are tasks that seem more important than others but we must recognise the importance of our blogs at this stage. It is so easy to pass it over.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
[...] each day. Blogging can be fun, and could make you a fortune, if you get into a regular routine. Mandy Allen’s blog should give you enough incentive to prioritise [...]
Hey, John, thanks so much for the pingback! Hope to return the favour.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy