Successful Blog

Problogger – Second Edition Is Here!

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Go Darren and Chris!

Two of the best probloggers on the web have just released the second edition of their bestselling book, ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income and it’s available today.

I’m very partial to this book because

  • Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett are both personal friends and heroes.
  • it’s filled with honesty and wisdom … much like the guys who wrote it.
  • Wiley shared a copy of the first edition with everyone at SOBCon08.

Can’t wait to read this second edition. I hear it has a few significant updates including:

  • New examples, screenshots, updates of new tools, a few deletions of references to old tools, an update to Darren and Chris’ stories in the intro.
  • Chris has added a fairly significant chapter on social media and how it impacts and can be used by bloggers.
  • Darren has added a case study chapter that goes through the first 4 years of his main blog – Digital Photography School. He works through how he launched it, what he focused upon in years 1-2 and then in years 3-4, how he monetizes it and he shares the secrets to how I drive significant traffic and income through email newsletters, social media and other ways.
  • Bonuses come with it – Anyone who buys the book is offered a series of bonuses (some interviews with successful bloggers, some extra teaching … check it out)

Hope Chris is bringing a bunch to SOBCon2010 this week!!

Congratulations Darren and Chris!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

See you at sobcon-vmc

Mini-Session 6: Blogging Blunders

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Guest Speaker: Chris Garrett

Liz left a comment on my blog about bloggers who talk down to their readers. It got me thinking (as Liz’s comments do). I don’t think it was aimed at me but at the same time don’t want people to think I believe I have all the answers.

I firmly believe we are all learning, and should make every effort to. We all have experiences to share. Experience is gained through doing things wrong as much as getting things right. Sometimes I think we learn more from goofs than successes. I expect we have all made some mistakes that others could avoid.

The biggest blunder I have made quite a few times is switching blog URLs. My sites have broken links through switching domains, changing hosts or changing software platform Whatever the cause the end result was breaking the paths people were using to find me. In the early days it meant broken bookmarks and links. More recently having to start over with zero feed readers. You should always make the effort to keep consistant URLs. If necessary redirect the old to the new.

Another major mistake was at the launch of performancing. I posted too much too fast. Readers couldn’t keep up with it and I burned out. At times I was posting four long posts a day. Our readers would have been just as happy with one day, perhaps more so. Yes when you launch a blog it is important to have a good archive of posts but this was overkill.

My most recent mistake was going off on a self-righteous rant. It’s not my style. I can’t even do it very well. There are very few occasions where I regret posting, even fewer where I go back and change a post once it has gone out to feed, but this one didn’t sit well with me at all so I edited it. My lesson here was to never post angry.

What blogging blunders have you made? Share your “shame” in the comments …

Thank you, Chris!
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Visit Chris’ Blog Chrisg.com where he keeps us all thinking straight on the ideas of new media –Me “Liz” Strauss
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Let’s open the Q&A . . .

I’ll go first, my second week at Successful Blog, I asked a programmer with limited SEO to help me do a simple series on search engines. I had no idea what I was talking about, and didn’t realize that his ways were no longer current. I learned a lot about SEO, negative feedback, keeping cool under fire, and why you should stick to what you know.

Who’s next?

During the Virtual Conference today, you can take $100 off registration to SOBCon 07.