October 10, 2006

Writer, Coach, Strategist Girl — Not Seller Girl

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 10:35 am

I've been thinking . . .
This is the 1009th post on Successful-Blog and soon I will celebrate the one-year anniversary of my first post here. A lot has changed since then. I’ve grown up as a person and as a blogger with this little blog by my side.I’ve met so many dear, and deeply close friends in that time. We’ve made each other better.

I love every reader who takes time to comment and every reader who simply reads what I write. I look forward to coming here every day to see what happens and who will stop in to say something.

I love this little blog. I remember the first post I wrote and every post after that. This blog has grown so much it’s now half my life. It’s part of me, and I’m part of it.

Now that a year’s coming to a close, and I stop to breathe. I look around at where things are, at what I see. I realize that sometimes folks make a big deal about this blog and me, but truth is, I’m just a working writer — supporting my family and a big university.

I’m finding that as a only one person, who writes for a living, to be fair to my family, and to be able to keep doing what I love so much, I need the time spend on Successful-Blog to be earning for me.

So after much thinking, I’ve decided to add some affiliate products to the sidebar. I want you to know how I’m going to choose them. The products will only be those that I would personally use or buy to give to my friends. End of story.

I value my name, and if a product is there, my name is on it.

That is the what, the why, and the promise behind my doing it. There will be no sales pitch. If I write about a product, every word I say, as always, will be what-I-would-say-to-my-best-friend true.

Of course, you can always hire me, too. I am the nice one. :)

Liz's Signature


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38 Comments to “Writer, Coach, Strategist Girl — Not Seller Girl”

  1. October 10th, 2006 at 11:24 am
    Big Roy said

    There are many blogs out there that seem to focus on one thing, ads. Even some so called A-Listers seem to be writing for one thing, get traffic for ad money.

    When I first left a comment or emailed you. (I can’t remember which) I said I know a bullshit artist when I see one. You are not one. You have original material and write from true life experience. It’s obvious to anyone who reads your blog you care about your readers and write from the heart.

    You have every right in the world after a year to make a little money from your blog. You have proven to your readers what’s important to you.

  2. October 10th, 2006 at 11:26 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Roy,
    Thanks for saying that. You don’t know how much that means to me. :)

  3. October 10th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
    Joe said

    Hey Liz,

    What Roy said…

    If anyone deserves to make some money from Blogging, it’s you. Your readers have always come first, now it’s your turn, no one will fault you in the least. More likely, they will support your decision. Believe me.

    Joe

    ps My 1 year anniversary is coming up very soon too. :-)
    J.

  4. October 10th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Joe,
    That’s cool that you’re gonna be one year old. :) My writing blog was one this summer. It didn’t want a party though.

    Thanks for your words up there. You know I value them, like I value you.

  5. October 10th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
    Starbucker said

    Heck Liz, by all means, make a few bucks - we need you out here! You wear your integrity on your sleeve for all to see, and that’s a darn good thing my friend. Oh, and sometime down the road we’ll talk about that little book editing job……
    All the best!

  6. October 10th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks Starbucker,
    I don’t know what I’d do without a dance partner every now and then. :)

    I’ll figure out how to make this blog-baby keep on going. :)

  7. October 10th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
    ann michael said

    Liz -

    If I were wealthy I would support you myself in the tradition of the masters - you would of course have to write books only for me!

    So it’s much better this way - we get to share you.

    Good luck!

    Ann

  8. October 10th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ann,
    If I had to write only for you, would that mean I would be writing content management system proposals and documents? I’m not very good at that . . . :)

  9. October 10th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
    ann michael said

    No, no, no - your writing would be my escape from all that :-)!!!

  10. October 10th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Whew! Ann, What relief! Then I’d write serenades to your dogs!

  11. October 10th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
    Tony D. Clark said

    A - Talent is a tool, and a wonderful gift to have.

    B - Passion is a tool, and a joy to express.

    C- Money is a tool, and a great one to have access to.

    Whenever we can use tool A and tool B to attract tool C, we create abundance all around us and true happiness in our lives.

    Seems to me that’s what you’ll be doing, and I think it’s awesome.

  12. October 10th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Tony Clark,
    You are a lovely thinker and I think that’s a lovely thought that you just put together there!

  13. October 10th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
    TechZ said

    WOW, 1000+ posts. In just 1 year! That’s incredible Liz, and I bet they are all as good if not better than what’s to come in the next year or 10 of your blog :D

  14. October 10th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey TechZ,
    I hope they’re only going to get better and better. But then I’m getting older and older by the second. Whoops! I just got a second older again!

  15. October 10th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
    cat said

    Liz,
    It’s a wonderful idea. And besides, a growing number of people these days expect to make a little something off their blogging efforts, if only to cover costs. You deserve to have a GRAND return for the time you put into this wonderful community.
    Good luck!

  16. October 10th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks, Cat,
    I appreciate you saying so. It’s a great place here and I want to keep it that way as long as I can. :)

  17. October 10th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
    Mike said

    If any blogger out there deserves some return … it would be you.

    Thanks for the year-long education and for having contributed greatly to my knowledge of readin’, writin’ and blogmatick.

  18. October 10th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Aw Mike,
    You’ve been here for all of it. Thank you for that. Thank you for everything.

  19. October 11th, 2006 at 3:30 am
    Martin said

    You mean you’re going to try and monetize this blog to some extent - I’m shocked, horrified, staggered and well … it’s about bloody time ;)

    How dare you keep writing all this quality stuff and not getting some monetary rewards for it.

    But what you really need Liz, is a product(s) with your name on it.

  20. October 11th, 2006 at 5:59 am
    Rick Cockrum said

    The workman’s worth his wages, Liz. You give more value than you’ll ever receive back in income here. With everyone else, I say good on you!

    Only our bodies are getting older. We’re just along for the ride.;-)

  21. October 11th, 2006 at 6:09 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Martin!
    Thanks for your awesome shock and horror. I’m getting those products with my name on it going! Honest!

  22. October 11th, 2006 at 6:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Rick,
    Thank you!
    I’ve just got to make some packages that folks will think they want to take home with them — for some money.

  23. October 11th, 2006 at 7:27 am
    Martin said

    Liz … check out my link above.

    It’s what I’m doing now that I sold everything behind ePubDaily - this is my true passion and what I’ll be doing for the next few years. I’m settling on this as my thing.

    It’s a work in progress, but you know who to contact once this thing gets rolling (1 Nov) if you’d like to publish something.

  24. October 11th, 2006 at 7:30 am
    ME Strauss said

    Congratulations on the sale, Martin! That’s so very cool. I knew you wanted Kickstart going. I’m so happy it’s going to be a reality for you. Let’s email. :)

  25. October 11th, 2006 at 7:48 am
    Martin said

    Obviously, you haven’t got me on your rss feed - I posted this on the 20 Sept - Big News at ePubDaily (or why I’ve been slacking off)

    Trust me, we’ll talk. I think you’ve got a fan base to make anything you do a success - just got to pick a good topic and target.

  26. October 11th, 2006 at 7:49 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thank you, Martin. Let’s have that conversation. :)

  27. October 11th, 2006 at 8:02 am
    Martin said

    Give me 2 weeks - as you can see, the site is still fleshing itself out.

  28. October 11th, 2006 at 8:04 am
    ME Strauss said

    Let’s talk a bit before that. So I know what you’re thinking.

  29. October 11th, 2006 at 8:23 am
    Martin said

    I’ll email you tomorrow with what my plans are (it’s nearing midnight here).

  30. October 11th, 2006 at 8:25 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thank you, Martin.
    That would be fabulous!

  31. October 11th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
    Phil Gerbyshak said

    1000 posts in a year? Holy cow, you are pretty darn prolific Liz! You go girl! And if you’re choosing something, we can be assured it’s only because it’s battle tested by you, not because you’re shilling for dollars!

  32. October 11th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Oh Phil,
    You are right about that! I just couldn’t do it any other way. That would creepy. :)

  33. October 13th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
    John said

    Yay. :D I now go to scheme.

  34. October 13th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
    ME Strauss said

    John, I’m not sure what you’re scheming about. :)

  35. October 13th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
    John said

    Oh, but you will…

  36. October 13th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Oh, I’m smiling . . . this sounds like it could be fun!

  37. October 16th, 2006 at 5:27 am
    Alvin said

    Happy anniversary Liz! I love the way you write; funny, real and warm. Here’s to another sparkling year!

  38. October 16th, 2006 at 5:55 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thank you, Alvin.
    Please send money. :)

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