This week, we are focusing on small time blogging and all the while using a pseudo case study of Frank who is a small time blogger and writes about designing and programming iOS applications.
For some, small time blogging is just one step towards the ultimate goal of reaching the big times. For others, they do not seek out any bigger audience, but their content is so extraordinary that they are forced into big time blogging. Some love the new focus on monetizing their blogging while others hate the business end of it and a lose of the creative writing time they once had. Regardless of why you are their, we wanted to provide you with some tips to make that transition easier on you and your audience.
- Avoid Burn Out Do not overdo it. This may seem like a simple concept but too many people get frustrated and quit blogging after only six months because they did not achieve the goals they set out to do. Maybe your goals were unrealistic and too lofty or maybe you did not put in the required effort to make it succeed like great content consistently or marketing properly. Irregardless of why, you may want to take a step back, reevaluate your blogging strategy, and when you feel that passion return, jump back in and go for the big time.
- Build Momentum For those seeking out a larger audience, do not expect it over night. You need to have a series of “wins” through lucky and strategy. It will not happen over night and probably will not happen in the next several months to a year, but in time the cream of the crop writers will get discovered and so you need to put your due diligence in and keep at it. Consider networking with those in your field of blogging that have more reach than you or a reach on a section of people you have not connected with yet. Hard work, creativity, and great posts will help you get their.
- Remember Your Roots I have seen many bloggers get to a certain point, decide where they are at is not for them, and give up. Even those who always thought they wanted to be in that position realize that it is too much responsibility, requires more time and energy than they have, or lose that creative inspiration. When you get to the big time blogging audience, be intentional about focusing on where you came from that brought you here. It may be as simple as writing out a vision statement of why you blog and posting it above your computer or as specific as setting aside 30 minutes to an hour a week to blog whatever your heart feels to write on, even if it does not get posted. Do not lose that passion and drive that got you where you are today.
Many people, including Frank in our case study actually would not fair well in moving to the big time. Blogging is very personal and their passions lie elsewhere. For Frank, he simply wants to program and if the blog got too big, he would lose his first love of developing iPhone and iPad apps. Be careful what you wish for because once you get the big audience, there is no going back.
For those in small time blogging, what do you think would be the hardest part of moving to a bigger audience. For those in big time blogging, what are some other tips to making this transition?
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