Latest Articles

The Blogger's Guide To Hustling: Networking, Promoting & Getting Your Blog OUT THERE! (Part One!) ♥
July 15, 2010

''But your name isn't Perez Hilton or anything, what could YOU possibly have to teach ME about blogging?!'' an imaginary person might ask. At which point I would smile, shrug and say hey, pipe down, imaginary person! Sure, Perez Hilton my name might not be, but that doesn't mean that I haven't collected my own thoughts on blogging and the inevitable hustling, networking and promoting process that's so closely tied into it all if you actually DO want to get your blog or website out there, no, no, no! However: please note that when I say ''out there'' I definitely mean onto the laptops and computers of other people, and 100% not in a UFO, X Files style fashion, okay? Okay!

So! You've got yourself a blog. How exciting! Can you send me the link to it? (No, really - I want to read it!) Now that you've created a little home for yourself on the internet, the first question to ask yourself is: why? Why blog? Is it because:

x You want to use it as some kind of futuristic resume`/platform to create a name for yourself on the internet or real life/as a sort of door to open up new opportunities? Yes? Excellent! Read on.
x You created it with the intention of selling your handmade kites/earrings/lobster jackets or another product or service? Brilliant! Continue. 
x You genuinely enjoy writing and even though you would absolutely still be doing it regardless of whether or not anyone was reading it, knowing that people are/could/will be fills you with a sort of '''what? There's CHOCOLATE in the cupboard?!'' delight, and makes it all seem so much more interesting and meaningful? Wonderful! (Because after all, it's kind of like public speaking - why speak to an empty room when you could integrate others and share ideas and know that they were enjoying your words, instead?)
x You want to earn an income from it, whether through selling advertising or, as previously mentioned, offering a product or service?

Answered yes to any of these questions? Fantastic! (Answered no to all of those questions? Fantastic! Come along for the ride anyway!) Let's roll onto our next topic, building an audience. (Because really, while you can produce all the beautiful, unique rhinestone encrusted jackets for lobsters that you want, or slap all the affiliate programs or Google advertisements over your page that you like, what's the point of doing so or how will you truly benefit if nobody even knows that you exist or is visiting your page? Hint: there isn't one, and you will probably become disheartened and frustrated VERY quickly!)

How To Build An Audience, No, We've-Established-That-My-Name-Isn't-Perez-,But-Hey,-I've-Still-Learned-Stuff Style!

Create A Facebook Page For Your Blog/Website

And send invitations to your real life friends to join it! Now, I know that this is scary. It is. (I think I may have had a substantial glass of red wine before choosing to do this myself!) Because regardless of how comfortable you are with putting yourself out there or not worrying about what other people think, sharing your writing with people you know is a completely different ball game because it's just so personal! Seriously, you can discuss lip balm and you're STILL revealing a heap about yourself, because your personality/thoughts/opinions/sense of humour/hopes and dreams are so subtly intertwined in everything that you type. But don't let that deter you - why not just invite your closest friends, family members or anyone else that you think could be interested? (For example, if your website is largely written for females, then why not send it to all of the females that you know?) You don't have to inform Bill from Accounts about it!

Have Business Cards Designed

''What? BUSINESS cards?!'' 

Oh, jeez - there's that indignant imaginary person again! But seriously, having a set of business cards with your name and website information on a piece of cardboard isn't a ridiculous practice, because as soon as you start telling people about what you're working on (and it will come up in more conversations than you might think! Friends/family: ''so what's new, what are you up to at the moment?'' Everyone from shop assistants to strangers at parties: ''so what do you do?''), they will usually ask for the name of your project so that they can look it up at a later date; which is lovely! But, being only human, it's natural that they will probably forget what it's called or to do so. Not with a business card, they won't! Don't worry: you don't have to brandish one at every social event as soon as somebody asks what your name is, but if you find yourself engaging in a conversation and think that the other person could genuinely be curious in what you're doing, then what's the harm in allowing them to find out? You're right: there isn't any!

♥

Parts two and three to The Blogger's Guide To Hustling: Networking, Promoting & Getting Your Blog OUT THERE! ♥ will be coming soon, but in the meantime: tell me! Do you have a blog, and if so, why? And was it created strictly for personal use, or with the intention of publicizing and promoting it?

xoxo

Leave A Comment