Outsourcing: the Secret to Blogging Success

This guest post is by Mark Collier is the author of Link Building Mastery. As an Internet entrepreneur, it’s easy to develop this sense of single mindedness—the if-I-can’t-do-it-no-one-can attitude. I call it RTODIY (refuse to outsource; do it yourself). Although the name does need a bit of work. Maybe I should outsource it… The symptoms are: excessive DIY, penny pinching when you could outsource for little or nothing, and learning the basics...

My 6 Favorite Blogging Locations

Where do you blog from? One of the most attractive parts about blogging as a profession for me is the independence and flexibility that it brings. I can work from anywhere that I can find an Internet connection. In fact, I don’t even need that at all times—I just need some kind of device to capture the content that I produce (something to type on, a camera, and/or a microphone). This flexibility, and the opportunity to be location-independent,...

I Do: Tips for Co-blogging with Your Spouse

This guest post is by Mr. Broke Professional: the husband in the husband/wife team behind Brokeprofessionals.com “I think you need to rewrite that last paragraph,” she said. “And this time, maybe try to be just a little more concise.” She said it gently. Yet the words stung. She could tell I was a little hurt, so she tried to smooth it over. “I really like this blog post. I think it is going to be well received by our readers.” I patiently waited for the “but.” And after a moment or two it...

How to Impress Blog Visitors Before they Start to Read

This guest post is by Darren of Findermind.com Isn’t the best way to impress readers by providing great content? My answer would be yes, because most people come to your site for your content. There are, however, some things you can do to impress and build credibility among your (first-time) readers even before they start to read what you have to say. How? Let me explain. Provide quantitative instead of qualitative statements People are not stupid....

Don’t Go It Alone: Relationship-building for Bloggers

This guest post is by Jane Sheeba of Find All Answers. Let’s get it straight. Blogging is not a standalone job. You cannot blog in a space that doesn’t exist and to a group of virtual people. You need people—yes, living human beings, not just pairs of eyeballs—to read your blog. You don’t just need people to read what you write; you need people to: agree/disagree with you give you different perspectives/thoughts/suggestions follow as role models/examples endorse/recommend...

Are We Having Fun Yet?

This guest post is by Justin P Lambert of Words That Begin With You . Quick question: are you having fun? I mean, you’re sitting here reading Problogger, so you’re likely a blogger, or at least thinking about jumping in. And you’re likely interested in making some money from your efforts. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. But are you having fun? Courtesy of Douglas R. Witt (flickr) Maybe you’ve been at it for a while, or maybe, like...

Niche Travel Blogging Demystified

This guest post is by Matthew Kepnes of Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site. If you look at all the travel blogs out there, you’ll notice many common themes. People tend to write a blog that falls into an overarching category like cruises, backpacking, solo travel, or digital nomad travel. They don’t refine their offerings any further. What readers are left with is thousands of blogs about the same thing, and a crowded field where no one really dominates. There are no leaders, no experts, and the bloggers’...

You Have a Niche! You Just Don’t Know It Yet

This guest post is by Heather Eigler of HomeToHeather.com Yes, you do have a niche. You’ve likely read it a thousand times on blogs about blogging. Two of the number one pieces of advice are ‘choose your niche wisely’ and ‘write what you know.’ So what if you aren’t wise and don’t know anything? What could you write about that qualifies as a niche? And what does having a niche do for you anyway? Having a niche has its benefits Your niche gives you focus. It gives you identity and purpose....

Don’t Be Paralyzed By Media Consumption in 2011

“I will be a producer, not a consumer.” Late last year a friend shared this resolution on Facebook. It caught my attention as being a great resolution that I think every entrepreneurial blogger could do well to have. Have you ever been paralyzed by consumption? As I write this post, it’s 11.49 a.m. on Monday morning. This morning, I returned to my computer after a weekend off with the intention of jumping into some solid blogging. My plan was to start early (8.00 a.m.) and whip out at least five...

How Cancer Changed My Blog

This post is by Karl Staib of Work Happy Now. I was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. Yes, the dreaded c word. It’s probably not what you are thinking. I don’t look at this health issue as an anchor. I look at this as an opportunity for growth. I’ve been blogging for over three years. Each year I’ve gone through unique pains. The pain of no one reading my blog eventually transformed to Forbes.com contacting me and naming my blog one of the top 100 blogs for women. It’s been an amazing...

How to Solve the Blogging Puzzle

This post is by Kiesha of WeBlogBetter. Have you solved the blogging puzzle? Or are you just puzzled? As a kid, when winter break rolled around, I found myself with too much time on my hands. So I would occupy myself with 1000-piece puzzles. They kept me entertained for days. But after several hours working on the puzzle, I always came to a point where I wanted to quit—a point where I became so frustrated that I just wanted to throw the whole box of madness up against the wall. I can remember...

Three Ways to Take Advantage of Being a Blogging “No One”

This guest post is by Chris, “The Traffic Blogger”. My name is “no one.” Well frankly, to you, being that you have no idea who I am, my name might as well be “no one.” However, just because I am a “no one” does not mean I have nothing to say! Many of you may actually know exactly what it is I want to say because you also are a “no one” like me. I am a “no one” and I have dreams. I have aspirations, a good work ethic and although there are others with the same name as me, there is only one person...

10 Blogging Myths You Must Ignore

This guest post is by Onibalusi Bamidele. I’ve been blogging for almost a year now, and like every other new blogger, I spend a large percentage of my time reading other blogs. While there are some great blogs out there, I have also read blogs that are otherwise. Most of these blogs are misleading and some helped contribute to a delay in my blog’s success. I also discovered that most of these blogs are owned by those who have no experience building a successful blog—they’re either blogging just...