Are you having problems getting results from your blogging efforts? You can continue to go unnoticed or you could learn how to grow your revenue with it.
I had to read George Clasons, “The Richest Man Babylon” twice to really understand it.
The first time I read it, I was too immature to pick out the real lessons from the book. So what I kept underlining were quotes.
Really?
On my second reading, I wondered how stupidly naive I was the first time. It was a complete goldmine, but before then, I thought it was just another book.
In fact, I got so many points and so much knowledge, that I started implementing right away.
Now if I didn’t take anything away from reading the book, here’s something even the dumbest person in the world would learn:
The importance of saving 10% and how to make money (and it’s children) work for you even after the first investment.
And according to the testimonies of people who also read the book, I heard this was one of the main key points most of them took away.
However, the most fascinating thing about the book was how it made me understand the awesome power of online content and how it’s related to saving 10% of your earnings.
Just stay with me, I’m going somewhere…
What Blogging Isn’t
When we hear “online content”, we automatically think “blogging”. Yes you’re right to think that, but in what context?
You see, if your blog (and its children) cannot work for you several years into the future, then you’re wasting your time blogging.
People have talked about why everyone should have a blog and the role it plays in your marketing. Heck…even I have talked about that several times.
But if you don’t understand the “why” of it, then your blog content would be a waste of internet space.
A blog is not a platform for you to just publish content. It’s not a platform for you to rant about how your cat tore your favourite outfit (well, there are exceptions).
It’s a platform for you to contribute value that would be useful to readers several years from now. Underline “several years from now”.
My Personal Experience
One fateful day, I got a client request from a blog I once had.
But the funny thing is I hadn’t updated that blog for over a year. It was my personal development blog in fact.
So, seeing the request in my email was a bit shocking. And it got me thinking…
Despite the fact that I hadn’t updated this blog in over a year, I could still get clients from it?
Was I wrong to think that consistency was what would get me clients?
Well…
The two metrics every content creator (yeah, I’m talking to you) should use to measure their content is Quality and Reach.
However, your blogging consistency makes client attraction…consistent.
Going back to our Richest Man in Babylon example, your initial investment of 10% goes into untouchable savings to be invested later.
When you initially create and publish content, that’s your initial investment. You’ve already made some progress by actually creating that content.
Even if you don’t promote it, you have something you can look back on and say, “At least, I’ve got content in my purse”.
However, in our example, the 10% is not just for you to keep. It’s for you to invest, get returns and reinvest the “children”.
Here’s what I mean…
If you don’t promote your content, how do you expect to get “children”? How do you expect your initial 10% to work for you?
This is where reach comes in.
By promoting your content on social media, you give it children that can come back to work for you in future.
Now you see why you need to have all the promotional tactics you can think of under your belt? Kim Roach over at BuzzBlogger.com created a really handy list of 101 ways to promote your posts.
That client I got could have come from a guest post I wrote or probably from one of the “children” on social media.
That was my investment working.
By creating the right type of content, and sharing it (which is more important), you not only do yourself a lot of good, but you create an everlasting resource that could work for you months and years after you’re “long gone”.
Blogging is not a one-time thing. It can benefit you over and over again. Just ensure you do it the right way.
How has blogging affected your income? Please share in the comments.
You’re right, Lanre. Blogging isn’t a one-time thing. I got my first client through posts shared on Facebook…from my blog.
Now, you mentioned “several years to come”, I’m torn as to the future of blogging. Is it worth it dedicating good chunk of our time (and lives) to building blogging empires, where nothing is consistent on the web? (That’s still in the research phase)
BTW, thanks a lot for the link to Buzzblogger. It was useful and relevant!
Once again, you nailed it with this post.
Hi Busayo,
Blogging has existed since the beginning of the internet. Yes web technology evolves, and the purpose of evolution is to get rid of the weaker entities. A blog (or business) solidly built on authenticity and value creation for its audience doesn’t have to worry about nothing being consistent. It only need to worry about adaptation.
Hope this helps. Thanks for your comment :).