Bloggy Question 40: Um er . . . Your Enthusiasm Is Killing Our Ebook

This Wasn’t Part of Our Winning Strategy

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life hypothetical question. . . .

You and a close friend each started a blog a on the same day. Friends since childhood, you’ve always enjoyed exploring new things together. Together you built a strategy for making a blog with influence. Your strategy was built on having a clean-coded, SEO-friendly template, quality, targeted, relevant content, ample link love for other bloggers in your respective niches. Each of you has begun to show up when people name the top blogs in the areas you serve.

About two months ago. you and your friend developed a resource — a phenomenal ebook for new bloggers that basically outlines the strategy you had developed together. Both of your names are on it and you share in the meager income it produces. One side effect that you had not counted on, but now enjoy is that the resource has increased your visibility and people have started turning to you and your friend as blogging experts. The Wall Street Journal called to include you both in an article they wrote last week.

But lately, your friend has become somewhat obsessed with the ebook. He can’t seem to write a blog post without flogging its benefits. He starts with a brilliant teasing introduction and then starts selling the ebook again. You’ve noticed his comment count is going down and you suspect his subscriber numbers are as well.

It’s hard enough to watch your friend lose track of his readers and your original strategy, but it’s even worse that your name is also on that ebook.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss