Guest Speaker: Chris Cree
Most of us are at least a little bit familiar with how valuable a blog can be for a business.
Improving search engine rankings, raising company visibility and awareness, driving traffic to the main business web site, and building business reputation are among the many benefits that can be seen when a business starts blogging effectively.
Turn About is Fair Play
Tonight, though, let’s turn it around.
Let’s talk about the idea of turning your blogging hobby into a business.
How do you do it?
How can you make the transition from hobby blogger to business blogger?
Placing ads of some kind on your blog is one way to start.
But what else is there?
Here are some ideas to get the conversation rolling:
- Freelance writing
- Publish and sell e-Books
- Become the go-to expert in a narrow niche
- Consulting
- Blog set-up and maintenance
- Blog Design
- Create plugins & widgets specific to individual businesses
The ways to earn money on the internet are only limited by our creativity and we’ve only begun to scratch the surface with things like AdSense.
Let’s think outside the box and kick some ideas around.
Thank you, Chris!
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Chris Cree helps business fuel growth through blogging at his SuccessCREEations –ME “Liz” Strauss
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Letââ¬â¢s open the Q&A . . .
Iââ¬â¢ll go first. Chris, what is the single greatest benefit of business bloggers?
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In answer to your question Liz, there are so many different ways businesses can incorporate blogging, that it makes “one” answer to your question hard to nail down.
But I think the biggest benefit for business blogging can be that it forces someone inside the organization to be thinking about how it is being seen from the outside at least once per day.
Of course if someone is blogging as a hobby, a huge benefit can be that they may be able to turn their passion into an income stream. Then they are earning income from something they already love doing.
How cool is that?
I’ve found blogging to be hugely useful in ways I didn’t ever think it would be. I think one of the main things is that it seems to keep me in people’s minds – people are constantly reminded I’m there (they may not think that’s such a good thing though!).
This has been really valuable especially recently in getting new projects.
It’s way cool, Chris. I might take notes this hour 🙂
Antonio, That RSS feed is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
Blogs are proof positive that the slow drip method of marketing really works!
Hay Carolyn! You might teach us a thing or two tonight. You just wait.
Antonio, What are some of the other unexpected ways you’ve found blogging to be useful?
Hey, anything can happen.
Chris, I’m quite interested in this “turn your hobby into income” idea. I’ve seen how people package their blog postings as a book (or an e-book) – do you really need to be an “A-lister” to get any traction with that?
Terry, I guess it depends on what you mean by traction.
Depending on your blogging niche, an e-book may balloon over time into a nice little income even for us non A-listers.
The thing to remember with blogging in general is that most of the return on your effort builds slowly over time.
Or maybe you could turn it around. If blogging has revealed a passion for writing, maybe you might be able to publish an anolog book on-dead-tree.
I think one of the most interesting things that I’ve found is that by writing a blog, it forces you to really think ideas through.
I see it as a progression: First there’s a thought – then you have to really think it through before you vocalise it. If you’re going to write it down that then takes more thought. If you’re going to publish it on a blog (where quite a few people might read it) you really need to have thoroughly considered each angle of what you’re going to say.
The great thing about this is that I find this often means an idea gets developed far further than it would have done if I hadn’t blogged it. This has led to ideas being formed for me which have turned into projects.
I know these are slightly more abstract ways in terms of making money from blogging but they’ve turned out to be the most useful ones for me.
Yes, on paper. I’ve developed this vision about seeing a book that I’ve written on the shelves at Barnes & Noble. And then doing a reading one afternoon at the store. And smoking a pipe and wearing glasses while I do it, real scholarly-like.(Then I wake up).
[As an aside] Don’t worry if you feel like what you have to say or ask isn’t in line with the comment directly above. This is a free form conversation. We can test my juggling skills tonight. 😉
Actually, Antonio, that’s exactly what I had in mind with my first comment. Great minds think alike, eh?
Refining our thoughts is an important step in any income endeavor, I think.
Actually I just realised – I do know one guy who is in the enviable position of being paid to blog – that’s about as direct a form of monetisation as you could ask for!
Well, Terry. What do you think about that vision?
How could you use your blogging skills to move that picture a little closer to reality?
Antonio, do you mean he’s a paid writer? Why do you say that’s enviable?
Carolyn, If you’re there taking notes, let me ask: What do you like best about blogging?
Chris – I guess I say that because what he’s paid to blog about is specifically what really interests him, e.g. creativity, art, music and so on. He’d probably do it anyway even if he wasn’t getting paid.
Mmmmm…..I would say I just need to keep writing; as they say, practice makes perfect! That’s the refinement you and Antonio are talking about. I’m quite patient, since I do have another job right now that keeps me pretty occupied. Speaking of work, I need to scoot back to it. Thanks for the advice!
Hey Chris,
How do you think you can turn something like consulting into a paid venture? Since I post most of the things I find out for free, it makes it really difficult to ask for money for the same info I write about.
Antonio, Do you think you’d rather do more writing than consulting and media production?
See ya, Terry! Thank you. (Besides you gave yourself the advice. 😉 )
Oh, geez, Chris. It’s a bag of things. The freedom to use my writing talents would probably head the list. A close follower is (at the risk of sounding repetitive) the community. And, I’ll bet each of us does it for the ego stroke.
At this point, it ain’t the big bucks 🙂
Why do you think blogging about it makes it hard to ask for money, Joe?
Bye Terry
So Carolyn, If using your writing skills is the thing you like most about blogging…
How do you think you’d feel about getting paid to write?
Chris: I find the two complement each other very well. I’m doing more blogging as I decide over time what kinds of things I want to write about. That’s the most difficult thing for me – putting the right frame round it. I don’t think it’s a good idea with a professional blog to tell everyone what you had for breakfast for instance! I find it very difficult to decide what my audience is and what I’m trying to achieve – partly because I don’t particularly know yet!
My solution to this is just to write about whatever I think is interesting. That seems to work quite well for me.
Chris, I can’t think of a happier way to make a living.
Antonio, are you saying a pro blog needs to have a single topic?
Chris, maybe it’s just me, but it ends up being easier to just refer people to a post I have written. Asking for money has never been one of my strong suits. 🙁
Antonio, I am totally with you on that. In my case, if you go through my archives you’ll find I started writing about self-help stuff. Basically my blog was an open source self improvement project.
Well it actually worked. And I found I had a passion for blogging and for business. So here I am consulting!
Bing!
Well Carolyn, what are you doing to pursue paid writing opportunities?
Don’t forget the corduroy coat with the patches on the elbows, Terry. 🙂 My experience with the pipe has been 80 year old ladies telling me I remind them of their fathers, so you may want to think about that part of the dream.
One of the things I’ve been working on is using my blog as a vehicle to build a brand so I can be published – including ebooks and on dead trees.
Joe, repurposing content has been done (Seth Godin and as Liz is working with Phil Gerbyshak). Several authors have published books electronically and then had them published on paper. Books in the public domain are sold in pdf format and on paper. Give people something of value, and they will happily pay for it.
Joe: I think that’s a really interesting question. If the internet provides everyone with any information they need to know, why do we need consultants and ideas people any more?
My answer is that what’s required is usually someone who can put these ideas together in a creative way that solves a particular problem. The great thing about blogging (and other forms of marketing) is that they get you in that position in the first place.
Also I think there’s something to be said for the fact that it’s impossible for one person, company or organisation to know everything so they need to hire in external producers or consultants who are experts in their fields. A blog is a great way of saying “I’m an expert!” and being able to back that up much better than just giving someone a business card.
Joe, Is it easier because you don’t want any money? Or do you feel your ability to produce answers isn’t valuable?
One thing to think about when it comes to repurposing content is that the folks who have already read your stuff are happy to recommend it to others, especially others who may not be into blogs, podcasts, and ebooks. Remember: There are only 55 million blogs out there, which isn’t close to the population of the world.
If you’ve got great stuff, people will pay for it 🙂
Hey Rick! I’m hearing the “brand” word a lot tonight. 🙂
How is your blogging building your brand towards future more traditional publishing one day?
Speak of the man. Here he is!
Carolyn – not necessarily but I must say I do find it annoying when I’m reading a pro blog and they’re going on about the last album they bought. I love music but if I want to read a music blog I can!
I think the important thing is to focus on what you do, but to be too heavy handed about it. My blog’s pretty wide but then so is the work that I do.
Now that the move is finished and the computer problems seem to be minimized (got the blog working again today), the plan is to contact some of the paid blogging networks: Know More Media, Suite101. Also, look into some of the freelance work sites. That should keep me busy, get me out there, and line my pockets (in that order).
PHIL! With great words of wisdom and encouragement. Go figure! Thanks, man!
And I agree with you.
Provide value and people will find it worth paying for. No matter whether it is good writing or tech help. [Elbows Joe in the ribs]
Hey Rick! I’m up in 20 minutes, but I’m here to support Chris and listen to the rest of y’all. Great stuff Chris (and everyone else)!!!
Agreed – people will always pay for good content however much of it there is.
Carolyn, One thing that you can do is build relationships with other bloggers. (Which you are very good at, by the way.)
Who knows you may run into someone in the publishing industry.
Also it doesn’t hurt to let the word out. Let people know you want to get writing gigs.
It is always easier to find work through referrals than it is to walk in cold.
Antonio, I’m with you when it comes to those posts that seem to come from nowhere.
Chris,
I watched a friend develop a blog over a nine month period. He started out with a theme, but it quickly evolved into a successful blog because not only did he know how to say what he wanted, he found his voice.
I think we have business skills, but must also find our voice — a particular way of presenting goods or services. Did you find that was true as you switched from self-help to business?
Content is king folks. Whatever you do, do it with gusto and power and be true to your brand, and you can be great!
Antonio, when talking about blog focus how much personal, show the humanity behind the blog, do you think is too much?
Or maybe it is better to ask how to know where the line is?
Thank you, Chris. You have a valid point; if no one knows what you want, you won’t get it.
It’s not brand related, but blogging makes me write and order my thinking so it is understandable for others.
Brand-related, how can having a name that is known, a platform from which to stand as they say, not help in the publishing world. A developed body of readers is something to show to publishers and say “Look, this is the base. Here is a market.” At least that’s the theory.
Antinion, Rick, Chris,
Thanks, I honestly think what I do is valuable to some people.
The repurposing of content may not be a bad idea afterall.
Thing is, I used to consult for a Company I had worked for and it was easy to charge them (I was involuntarily resigned).
It’s the regular guy (gal) that I don’t want to charge. When I first started out, I couldn’t afford my own domain let alone pay someone for advice.
I just thought of a nice example of all this:
http://bobbiejanegardner.blogspot.com/
My flatmate Bobbie is just starting up as a community musician and is going to be blogging as she goes through the process of setting up. She’s going to use blogging both as a way of educating others in the future about how to go about it but also as a way of marketing what she does, by using text, podcasts and video. She’s only just set it up.
This brings up a question for me about honesty. What I like about what Bobbie’s done is the way she’s been so upfront about the fact she’s just starting out. In the past this would have been a no-no but now I think it’s becoming much more acceptable. It reminds me of the Cluetrain Manifesto ethos.
Tariq, that’s funny. I was about to ask you what you meant by finding your voice and you went ahead and explained yourself! Too Cool.
For me I’ve always had about the same voice. I tend to be a Popeye person. I am what I am. And that’s all that I am.
Doesn’t matter whether it’s self improvement, Business Blogging, or dealing with ships and cargo (which is my professional training), I’m still just Chris. So I speak with his voice no matter the topic.
But Joe, be careful of making that decision for others. Just because they are starting out doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to pay to avoid the mistakes you learned about the hard way.
Time is money to a lot of folks. They’ll pay through the nose for convenience. And you giving them a quick answer rather than their having to dig for it is very valuable.
Chris, I’m interested in your take on using a blog as an indirect income stream. That is, as opposed to direct income streams like advertising, you would use your blog primarily to call attention to your work, like consulting.
I’ve had surprising success with my blog aiding my career in that clients will say “I’ve read your blog, and I like your ideas, tell me more”. However, I’m more interested in how someone can establish their blog as something that draws in clients, besides simply saying “I do consulting”. What kind of topics should be covered in posts,etc?
In other words, how can I use my blog to further my career, get consulting clients, and so on?
Antonio, I’m totally in agreement about being honest about being new. My main blog, SuccessCREEations is barely over 6 months old. And a big chunk of that time I was doing my own searching. Publicly, of course.
Most people appreciate honesty.
And, ya know what else, Joe? You might want to consider a sliding scale. People are willing to pay for the information they need so they don’t need to pay for the information they never got.
Ilya, What type of consulting do you do? From your blog I can’t tell how you are consulting on the startups.
My first suggestion would be to get a little more specific so folks know you are a go-to person for that sort of thing.
(Besides you are from Wisconsin. GO PACK!)
Ilya,
I’m also using my blog in the indirect way you describe. One thing I’ve found so far however is that I’m not intentionally trying to do anything except write what I’m passionate about and that seems to work best. It’s definitely a long game from what I can see.
Thanks Chris…
And everyone else 🙂
I’ll see you over at Phil’s post. 😉
Bye Joe
You might also want to think about case studies. Doing 1 client for free/low fee, and then talking about it. Talk about the process, the struggles, the fun, the joy, and get an endorsement after you do a great job. That’ll help.
Guess this is finishing now. That was great fun – thanks!
It’s 12am here so I might have to get to bed soon but thanks Liz for putting this whole show on – what a great idea.
Best
Antonio
To follow up with Carolyn’s idea, maybe you could “micro-package” information for folks. Offer to point them to the right solution for a small fee.
It might get nuts trying to scale something like that. But what a cool way to start out!
Whoop! Outta time. (Officially, anyway.)
I’ll still keep an eye out over here. But I don’t want to cut into Phil’s time.
Head on over to the next post when it pops up in a minute.
Thanks tons folks. Y’all taught me a bunch too!
Thanks, Chris. This was a great hour.
And Ilya, What you describe about indirect income is exactly what I do with my blog. So far I get paid exactly zero directly from my blog.
But because I’ve been pretty focused about Business Blogging and I made it known that I was available for that kind of consulting, I’ve been getting more and more consulting business.
(This goes for you too Carolyn) MY suggestion would be to be intentional about what you want. Let others know.
You don’t have to be obnoxious about it. Just set it out there. Let it cook. Keep writing. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised what happens in a few month’s time.
Thanks so much for the advice…I will definitely be thinking about it!
You’re welcome, Ilya. It comes down to deciding what you want and then being intentional about moving towards it.
At least that’s the way I see it.
Too many times we think about what we want and let it stop there. We gotta get into motion if we want to see any action.
It may be slow going at first. That’s OK. The point is we are going. And if we keep going we’ll likely pick up steam.