12 Good Reasons to Start a Blog TODAY!

My friend and co-teacher of Develop Your Audience and Design Your Village with myself and creator of the courses, Russell Cox, is Your Book Publishing Coach. She’s written an article about why we recommend you start blogging today.

I’ll add a few comments of my own at the bottom of Diane’s article. Thanks you, Diane.

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Diane’s Article:  9 Good Reasons to Start a Blog

Do you have a blog yet?
 
If not, you should start one—today! As soon as you finish reading this article!
 
Why?
 
Here are at least nine good reasons why every author should have a blog.

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1. They are very easy to create, update, and maintain.

If you can write an email, you can create and keep up with a blog. Plus, it costs nothing! You don’t even necessarily need a web host (though it’s best to have it hosted on your own domain), a designer (most blogging platforms have templates from which you can choose), or anything fancy. You can literally set one up in five minutes or less.
 
You can go to www.wordpress.com  and set one up there for free. If you already have a web site, see if you can install WordPress on your site. (If you have a C-panel where your domain is hosted, they often have something called Fantastico, which allows you to install a WordPress blog. For instance, with my web host, HostGator, it installs with very few, simple steps.)
 
Although I personally don’t prefer blogger.com, that’s another quick, easy, and free way to create a blog. You simply go to www.blogger.com , and follow their simple instructions on how to set one up.

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2. The search engines will find you quickly.

While it may take up to six months for the search engines to index your regular Web site (unless it’s an XSite Pro site, in which case you have search engine optimization superior even to blogs, in my opinion), with a blog you get found and searched within 24 hours!
 
Plus, blogs tend to get you a higher listing in the search engines. Why? Because search engines love content, and blogs are almost always pure content. Search engines also like fresh material. All you need to keep the search engines regularly indexing your blog is to post at least one paragraph, three times a week. Surely you can do that, right?
 

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3. Blogs enable other people to find you easily.

Related to the point above, people searching on your topic will find you quicker through a blog.
 
Also, you can easily link to other blogs and Web sites that are related to your topic, and they to you. This will again help your search engine rank, it will drive traffic to your blog and/or Web site (mine doubles every month because of this), and allow you to begin to create a “presence” on the Internet.

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4. Blogs allow you to interact with your readers.

Blogs allow other people to interact with your ideas, because they allow people to leave comments.
 
You can ask people questions about what they are interested in knowing about your topic, which can help you create a better book or information product. You can test ideas. You can ask for feedback on an article, post, or topic. You can tell them about something you have available and give them a link to another page on your Web site.You can update your book’s material via your blog, or answer questions from readers.

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5. Blogging can get you into a regular writing routine.

Hard to find time to write? Get into the habit of posting to your blog regularly, and you’ll have established a routine for writing.  If you’re strategic about it, you can even write your next (for first) book via your blog—and get feedback along the way to boot!

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6. People can subscribe to your blog. 

People can subscribe to be notified whenever you post to your blog, and receive notice via email or a feed to their own news groups. This can bypass email and spam filters and get your messages read.

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7. Blogs help you cement your relationship with your audience.  

Readers love to feel connected to their favorite authors. If they know about your blog, chances are they will read everything you post. Don’t be afraid to share things about your personal life. Readers love it!

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8. Blogs help you establish your platform.

By keeping up with your industry and becoming a filter for your audience, you can establish your expertise via your blog. Find other people who are interested in your industry or topic, connect them to each other, and get them talking, debating, and sharing. In this way you become a thought leader, which leads me into the next reason….

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9. The media love blogs.

Media often pay attention to blogs. They too are looking for fresh content, new ideas, strong voices. They may find you, but it’s more effective if you  supplement your blogging with press releases and personal contacts with the media. Point them to your blog for more information, and let them be impressed enough to put you on their “contact these experts” list.

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Diane Eble is a book publishing coach who connects authors (aspiring and published) with the resources, skills, and ideas they need to be well heard and well paid for what they love to do. Sign up at her website for news of articles and teleseminars at http://www.wordstoprofit.com. Check out her blog at http:/www.yourbookpublishingcoach.com. You might also want to listen to the replay of a teleseminar she did on blog security with Cathy Perkins, “the WordPress Wizard,” at http://www.publishingcoachweekly.com/teleseminarreplays.html. Check out Cathy’s Wizard Weekly teleseminars at http://www.your-blog-coach.com.

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Here are a few of my own thoughts:

10. Establish youreself as an expert in your field.

In fact, it makes you a VIP with VIP:  A Very Important Professional with Valuable Information Products.

In case you’re wondering, Information Product is today’s buzz world for Intellectual Property. In fact, now you can get your knowledge, wisdom, and expertise, AKA your intellectual property, from your head into a multitude of media channels. Many of these channels serve as both the message and the channel through which you deliver your message. You become more visible and credible which leads to becoming more profitable.

And you can more easily than ever reuse and reuse and reuse the same information: a blog post can become a published article, a topic for discussion during a radio show online or off, which of course gets recorded and posted as a podcast as well as transcribed into another article.

Now you’ve got the makings of an e-book with a digital recording or two – voila, you’ve got a multi-media package. And it’s digital – once you’ve produced the original and set up the delivery channel – your website, clickbank, your blog, squidoo lense and more, the cost of selling additional copies is extremely low, which means your profit margin is extrememly high! Abd you’re now generating passive, residual income. How cool is that!

This is important to do if you’re looking to establish yourself as the go-to guy or gal in your profession.

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11. If you’re in career transition, start your blog right now!

Have you ever thought of starting a blog if you’re in or poossibly going to be in career transition?

If that’s you and you’re wondering yhy I’m recommending you start a blog, consider this:

If you were the person looking to hire someone, would you choose someone who is exactly who you’re looking for or someone who’s exactly who you’re looking for AND they’re a published author, well known in their field?

Having your own blog gives you a degree of credibility others won’t have.

And if you’ve got your own blog, you might get to start or take over the employer’s blog.

This two possibilities give you a strategic advantage. And how important is that in today’s competitive market.

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12. Turn your blog posts into articles.

With a little extra time you can polish a good post and turn it into a great article. Submit it to a few article banks, AKA article directories, and you’ve given yourself yet another strategic advantage. While search engines like blogs because they’re updated more frequently than the typical static website, they love articles archived at article banks that get a HUGE amount of traffic even more. Your article on selfgrowth.com, ezinearticles, and specialty directories like biznik.com will show up even higher in search results than your blog post. Check it out!

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Well, it’s after 8 am and I’m in Florida, so if I want to walk with my 5 pound dumbbells, I’d better get out there right now.

While I’m out walking, how about starting your blog, or if you’ve already got one, write a post and share it with me so I can comment.

And how about paying it forward! Find a friend who would benefit from having their own blog and help them start today!

Happy blogging!

Oh, how could I forget… having your own blog is one great way to take your message to YOUR World. Guess what?

That’s considered marketing! Breathe! I know many of you consider marketing a four letter word. Well, it’s abbreviation is. And that’s no reason to let your marketing resistance keep you from spreading the word about who you are, what you love to do, and who you want to serve, to help solve a problem, especially because they’re out there looking for you.

So, yes, you’ve just taken another huge action toward Shattering YOUR Marketing Resistance. Congratulations!

And if you know you suffer from Marketing Resistance Syndrome, if MRS is stealing your dreams, if you’re determined to be well seen, well heard, and well paid, and you’re ready to do whatever it takes to overcome YOUR Marketing Resistance, go to my website right now and register for my upcoming teleclass series, Shatter YOUR Marketing Resistance. The first session is free. AND there’s a huge savings if you register for the whole program before the first session. Instead of costing $197, you pay only $97, and you get to sign up a with Study Buddy for the same $97.

That’s a great deal, isn’t it? So before you start your blog or next blog post, go to my website and sign up with that buddy you’re going to help with their blog or someone else who’s ready to take their business to the next level and they know it’s time to shatter the resistance that’s been standing in the way

I’ll be announcing dates soon. And to insure we create a safe space for transformation through the class activities and sharings space is limited. So go sign up today and as soon as I’ve finalized all the details, you’ll be among the first to know.

Tags: Career transition, Develop Your Audience, Hi 5 Marketing message, Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, VIP with VIP, Why Blog

2 comments June 27th, 2009

So You’re in Transition and Wondering What’s Next?

Seems I’m being drawn into the world of people in
transition. I’ve been here so many times myself… not just
between jobs… between careers… searching for what’s
next. Where do I fit? What can I do with who I am and the
gifts I’ve been blessed with? Sound familiar?

Well, yesterday’s fabulous BlitzTime call ( don’t know what
BlitzTime is? Click here to read a previous blog post I did
about BlitzTime. I’m finding it’s the best way to do speed
networking from the comfort of your home or office!
Go to BlitzTime to sign up for your two free Blitz calls.
And of course, then come back to read the rest of this blog
post if you find yourself in transition wondering where to
go and what to do next…)

As I was saying, the topic of yesterdays’ BlitzTime
presentation was about what to do when you find yourself in
transition.

I’ll have to get the names of the presenters. For now let
me say they’ve developed a brilliant step-by-step
process for how to get from where you are to where you want
to be. It’s called Transforming Powerfully, the Formula for
Being in Transition.

These two wise ladies believe transition is the perfect
time to reinvent who we create ourselves to be. Isn’t that
such a positive, uplifting, juicy way to look at what could
otherwise be a scary, sometimes downright horrifying
experience.

Instead, consider seeing this transition as an opportunity
to spread your wings and fly! If you’re like the rest of us,
this isn’t the first time, is it?

You’ve been here before. You’ve survived and thrived before.
This time will turn out that way, too. We live in an ever
expanding universe. Our attitude, our belief, our faith,
and the actions that follow in line with this consciousness
lead to new and wondrous ways out of the dark tunnel faster
than anything else you can do.

Which leads us to the four steps of Transforming
Powerfully …

Step #1: Start by releasing your past identity!

Yes, we need to let go of who we were to make room for who
we are becoming. Loosing a job, or more challenging, a
career, is reason to mourn. Grieving is good. It’s healthy.
In fact, it’s necessary.

So give yourself ample time to sit like a lump in the
middle of the floor. Cry. Scream. Kick your feet and wave
your arms. Get that energy out of your body. When you hold
it in it hurts you. When you let it out, you’re creating
space for what’s new.

I know. You may not have the luxury to take days off.
Immediate action might be required. There are always those
moments in the shower, while driving in the car, walking in
the woods or along the beach, or alone in your bed.

You’ve cried and grieved before. You know in the moment it
may be downright scary. And the inner peace that comes
after the release…. ah…

Now you’re ready for Step #2: Create and be the vision!

Allow your imagination to soar… who would you love to be?
What would you love to do? If you knew you would succeed,
what would you reach out and embrace?

Now’s the perfect time. You know how hard you’ve been
working ~ probably for someone else if you’re in transition,
though maybe you’ve decided to take a break from being
self-employed and are wondering what to do next. You might
as well go for what you really want. Why work ‘that’ long
and hard for someone else’s dream or even your second
choice? I know that one ~ done both!

And if you feel a bit lost, like your vision is hiding in a
fog or up in the clouds or some place else where you can’t
quite see or grasp it, read on, I’ve got a great Success
Activity for you further down in this post…

So let’s take a look at Step #3: Active Sharing

These two women said to talk to everyone and anyone you can.
Tell people you’re in transition. Tell them about who you
are, what’s important to you, your vision, your mission,
your purpose.

Once we’ve made the commitment to go for ‘IT’ ( whatever
‘IT’ is for you, ) the Universe has an amazing ability to
open doors and windows previously hidden, clear the fog,
and have the most amazing miracles happen. Know this. Trust
this. Because you’ve experience this magic before, haven’t
you? Many, many times before, right?

So shout it from the highest mountain ( even if that means
standing on a bridge or inside a tall building like I have
to do here in Florida.)

And here’s the most exciting step of all:

Step #4:  Be Uncomfortable!

Spread your wings and fly. Do what scares you – just a
little Stretch until you feel that delicious sensation.
Avoid pain. Avoid injury.

You don’t even need to ‘get out of your comfort zone.’
Sometimes even that’s too big a jump. Just expand your
comfort zone from the inside!

Why? Our comfort zone can so quickly become our danger zone.
And that’s worse than choosing to stretch, isn’t it?

So back to Step # 2: Create and Be the Vision.

I got an email from a woman who was in T. Harv Eker’s
Train-the-Trainer 2 with me last week. She said she’s been
a stay-at-home mom for about 20 years and now is ready to
do what’s next. She’s been searching and still hasn’t
discovered what she wants to do on the next leg of her
life’s journey. Can you relate?

Here’s what I suggested to her:

If you’ve beensearching for your life purpose and not
having found it yet, not to worry. Let go and enjoy each
moment of your life. Sometimes we actually push away
exactly what we’re wanting when we’re searching and trying
too hard, thinking we’re missing something or something’s
wrong with us because we haven’t figured ‘IT’ out yet. I
know! I’ve suffered from that pressuring myself alot and
many times.

How about opening your heart and mind. Go on adventures…
like go to a bookstore and wander around – up and down the
isles until you find something – a book, a section, a cover,
a CD, a game, anything that speaks to you. Sit down and
hold it, explore it, maybe do the same for other things on
either side of where you sit.

Do this a few times, maybe even on different days, in
different stores, maybe a mall – wander in and out of
stores, isles, departments, and just notice what talks to
you, what calls to you.

Journal about what you are pulled to… maybe what you are
pushed from… Discover the treasures within your
experience.

I will be as surprised as you about what you discover – I
just made this up on the fly… it just ‘came’ to me as I
started writing you.

Whatever you do, wherever you go, know you are perfect,
you’re right on time…

Here are the words to a song I’ve been singing to myself
alot lately:

I give myself the gift of the present.
I bless the past and leave it behind.
Trusting life, divine right action.
I’m in the right place right on time!

As I said to her, please do stay in touch. Let me know if
you go on adventures and what you discover!

Tags: Career transition

1 comment June 25th, 2009