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Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category

WordPress, originally developed as an open source blogging platform is now used by approximately 18% of all websites on the World Wide Web and this number is growing every day. I use WordPress for all my sites and highly recommend it, the platform has many benefits the main thing I like about it is the ease of set-up, many web hosts have the script already installed on their servers this means you can set-up a site in seconds.

If your host doesn’t have the script installed wordpress installation can take 5-10 minutes and is a little bit technically, fortunately in this day and age it is quite hard to find a web host that does’nt have these scripts pre-installed.

It’s not just the installation that’s easy with wordpress though, there are many free plug-ins available, plug-ins add funtionality to the site with a little research you can make a wordpress site do virtually anything you want and best of all is the fact that most of this functionallity can be installed with one click, more on my favourite plug-ins in a bit. Let’s talk about content first.

Benefits of Easily Adding content

 As mentioned wordpress was originally intended to be used as a blogging platform, the idea of  blogging started in the 90′s, blog is an abbreviation of weblog. The trend started life as a personal online journal or diary, a record of a person’s life and experiences that combined text, pictures, and maybe some video. Early blogs needed their authors to be technically savvie, with the development of platforms like wordpress, blogger, etc. they became easier to update and therefore more mainstream. In this day and age you can find all kinds of sites on all kinds of subjects most of these sites use some kind of blogging platform or CMS.

Regularly adding unique content has many benefits one of them being SEO and improving your sites ranking in the SERPs, (Search Engine Results Pages). Search engines love sites which regularly add new content, the more relevant content you have on your site the more chance you have of showing in the search results. Adding fresh content to your site can help you become an authority in your field and attract links to your site.

These links could help your site directly by sending traffic from the referring the sites and indirectly by improving your sites search engine rankings, search engines count incoming links as a vote for your site so the more high quality and relevant links you have the higher you will rank and the more traffic you will get from the search engines.

Using wordpress for your site means you and your staff members can easily add this new content, there is no need for you to employ a full-time web master, anyone that can use word processing software like Microsoft word should be able to use wordpress. If your business address, phone number, etc. change they can easily updated with no knowledge of HTML.

Optimising Your WordPress Site

 As mentioned above attracting links and frequently adding new content can help you get free targeted traffic from the search engines like Bing, Google and Yahoo. WordPress is quite search engine friendly in it’s standard form but a few changes to your site can help you get even more free and highly targeted search engine traffic.

The first thing I do to any site as soon as I set it up is change the permalink structure, as standard wordpress post urls look like this example.com/?p=123, this type of structure doesn’t given the search engine spiders any help in understanding what your page is about. I like to change this so the URL contains my keywords like this example.com/keywords.

The second thing I do is change the meta title tag and meta descriptions for all the pages and posts, the meta title is a very important part of your on-page SEO, it is important to use your keywords in this meta title tag. The meta description is shown in the search results, Google say meta description is not a ranking factor but it can increase your click through rate. It is a good idea to take some time and to create a compelling meta description relevant to all the pages and posts on your site.

A very good free SEO plug-in is The Yoast WordPress SEO, this plug-in enables you to make meta title and meta description changes as I have described above for every post and page on your wordpress site. The plug-in can also create an XML site map, robots.txt file, breadcrumbs, canonical urls and much more.

The plug-in also enables you to check each page is optimised for your target keyword ensuring your keywords are included in the page title, URL, content, meta description, etc. If you already have a wordpress site and don’t use the Yoast plug-in I would recommend you try it.

Other wordpress plugins I like include Better WordPress Minify which helps your page load faster by minifying your css and JavaScript files and Quickcache, quickcache is another plugin to speed up your page load speed.

This guest post was supplied by Mark Stubbles, Mark owns a number of sites on topics that interest him like cycling, cars and SEO, he offers guest blogging and other SEO services on a freelance basis.

Many bloggers prefer to use Drupal over WordPress. I can understand the appeal, because there are many advantages to using the Drupal content management system. However, one of the primary limitations of Drupal is that it is difficult to make it more scalable (although many of those features are still superior to those on WordPress). You can’t expand the capacity of your site without allocating a considerable amount of capital to new hardware.

Fortunately, you can scale your Drupal site by taking it to the cloud. There are a number of cloud solutions that Drupal site owners can take advantage of. Some of the solutions are simple, but they can work very well.

Google Docs

You can actually host files on Google Docs and then embed the files within your Drupal site. Uploading a Google Doc can take a couple of minutes. This can be a particularly effective solution if you need to store large files that could cause your site to run more slowly or consume considerable amounts of precious resources.

Amazon

Amazon provides a number of great services that you can utilize. One of the features Amazon offers is a CloudFront service. You can coordinate CloudFront with a number of other web services such as Drupal content management systems. You can transfer data between users quickly and easily.

One of the advantages of using Amazon’s CloudFront services is that it can transfer data between your site and the cloud server. Amazon provides servers in a number of countries, so you can utilize them regardless of where your blog is located. They have recently installed a server in Madrid. Many cloud providers have a single server that is best suited to serve clients in a specific region of the world. You would have to worry about data losses if you were using a cloud provider based in Indonesia while your visitors are based in the United States. Amazon can help you minimize these risks if the servers are located near your clients.

Private Cloud Hosting Company

There are a number of companies that provide cloud hosting services. I have heard good things about Scale Matrix and a few other providers. You will need to check the features these services provide to ensure that they will meet your specifications and are likely to be compatible with Drupal features.

Cloud services have created a number of opportunities for Drupal site owners. Take these considerations in mind when you need to start scaling your site more. Have you taken your Drupal site to the cloud? What were your experiences? Please share your thoughts below.

Maxwell Groff has written this article on behalf of Scale Matrix, a cloud computing private cloud provider.

Many bloggers overestimate how secure their WordPress sites are. Make sure you don’t make this mistake. WordPress sites are sophisticated applications, but they are far from secure. Make sure you take the proper steps to keep your site from being hacked or infected.

The following steps can help you minimize the risk that your site will be hacked.

Don’t Think Your Site is Off Hackers’ Radars

The hacking stories that make the news tend to be the most high-profile cases. This has led some bloggers to assume that hackers are only drawn towards sites belonging to Fortune 500 companies, government intelligence agencies or agencies with a political message. This isn’t the case at all.

Many sites are hacked automatically. Unscrupulous entrepreneurs may hack your site to build backlinks to their own sites, steal visitor information or simply because they want to annoy random bloggers. Never assume your site won’t be vulnerable to hackers.

Set User Roles Responsibly

A guest blogger wrote an entire post on Problogger dedicated to setting up user roles responsibly for your WordPress site. Make sure you understand the different roles (super-admin, admin, contributor, subscriber, author and editor) and assign those roles responsibly. You don’t want to make someone an administrator if they have requested to submit a guest post to your site. I have a client that actually made that mistake once, but the guest blogger pointed it out and asked to be reassigned so they wouldn’t be liable for any security problems that could arise in the future.

Also, you should try to make sure you have more than one user role assigned. Publishing all your blog posts under the role “Siteadmin” or something similar can be particularly dangerous. A hacker will have full access to your site if they can guess your password.

Set Secure Passwords

Setting an insecure password is the biggest security risk to WordPress or any other application. Many WordPress bloggers surprisingly set their password to “admin” or something equally easy to figure out. Your password needs to be secure from both password crackers and humans who can figure it out through social engineering tips. Here are some tips to make your password more secure:

• Make sure your password is sufficiently long enough to be difficult to crack. Many experts use to advise that eight character passwords were considered secure. This rule of thumb no longer holds. Keep your password sufficiently long, but make sure you can still remember it without having to write it down.
• Use a mixture of different types of characters. Using special characters such as punctuation marks will make your password harder to crack.
• Don’t make it easy for a hacker to guess your password. They are becoming increasingly adept at using social engineering strategies to guess login information. The best passwords will be totally random or won’t be referenced in your social media profiles or obvious to anyone who knows you. Also, make sure you never use a password such as “admin.”

A strong password is one of your most important lines of defense against hackers. Keep it strong and keep it secure.

Update Your Site Regularly

WordPress is constantly trying to improve the site’s package and look for security holes. As new security flaws are discovered, they are usually patched in future updates. While that should be encouraging for bloggers, it won’t do you any good if you don’t take the time to update to the latest version.

WordPress is an invaluable Content Management System for bloggers. However, you must always remember that it isn’t foolproof to hackers. Take the right measures to keep your site as secure as possible. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

I had the pleasure of looking at some really cool posts this week. Why not check out some great tips as you start building your online business?

The Secret to Making Your Writing Stand Out Online

Logan Marshall of the Free Life Project just did a guest post at Young Pre Pro. Logan gave a detailed overview of storytelling and how effectively it can be for online writing. Storytelling can be a great way to engage your writer. Logan even said that it crucial and can be a deciding factor. I agree with him that it can be both points.

 Social Sharing Buttons Are The New Comments

Morgan  at Sociable Boost created this cool post detailing how social sharing buttons are becoming a bigger indication of a blog’s community presence than comment streams are. I totally agree with her. However, I hope that we don’t see the day that comments disappear completely. I find the comments are the best part of some articles. Nonetheless, I agree with Morgan’s points, especially that the best way to show that your article has authority is to make sure it is well shared. Sharing buttons are essential to making that happen.

 How to Source and Host a Guest Post Series

Blogging legend Darren Rowse just shared a really awesome post on how you can create a guest blogging series on your blog. This is a really great way to generate worthy content and I found the recent series Darren’s guests wrote on generating more comments was pretty sweet! They certainly seem effective. I am proud to have published my first guest post from Michael Chibuzor from Blast 4 Traffic. Someday I hope to launch a guest post series like Darren discusses here as well!

How to Get More Pins and Repins on Pinterest

Dan Zarella just created an awesome post on the different ways you can bring in more shares with Pinterest. I have yet to try Pinterest because it doesn’t fit my core demographic. However, I think I will need to get into it soon. Dan Zarella is definitely someone to listen to and he had some great tips.

 4 Search Engine Optimization Tricks That Can Destroy Your Business

Michael also wrote a post on his own blog that I thought was definitely worth sharing. He talked about a variety of SEO tricks that can undermine your business model. I wrote a similar post for Michele Welch at New Biz Blogger about a year ago and a similar note on my own site, but Michael added a few additional tips I didn’t think to mention at the time. Remember, you don’t want to do SEO at the expense of your business.

I suggest you take the time to read these posts and thank all these great entrepreneurs for sharing such awesome tips! Have a good weekend!

The following is the first guest post I have ever published on Online Rookies. This post was submitted to me by Michael Chibuzor of Blast 4 Traffic. Michael provides some ideas on how bloggers can make six figures with their craft. Thank you for the great tips Michael!

Can you earn $100,000 annually from blogging?

Absolutely, you can. It’s not going to happen overnight, and there is no shortcut to make money online. It doesn’t matter what niche you’re, provided it has an active readership-base, you could easily leverage on existing tools to profit massively.

I’m not going to bore you with marketing hype and exaggerate on what’s not obtainable; rather, this post is a light to lead your journey seamlessly.

I looked at various business models around, and resolved that blogging is the best, legitimate and proven way to earn extra income on the internet. Anyone can get started, with less than $50 for domain name registration and web hosting, you’re good to go.

And if you already have a thriving blog and wants to make six-figures from it, here are steps to make it happen:

1. 1.    Believe You Can

Grossing $100,000 in 12 months is a big goal and if you must achieve that, total believe in your abilities is crucial. A lot of bloggers still doubt their inner strength to embark on a profitable project and succeed. I think one of the reasons is the experiences of the past.

Every successful blogger I know today, have failed at some point in her life. But some people take this personal – failure isn’t an excuse not to move ahead and do something worthwhile. You’ve got to get started; pick up the pieces of failure and get back on track.

Your blog might be new, intermediate or aged, it doesn’t matter at this point, but the ‘belief’ you hold inside carries a greater weight.

1. 2.    Pick A Proven Business Model

A lot of bloggers are on the verge of giving up and go back to an offline business, because no money is coming forth. Truth is, “you cannot generate significant income from your blog all by itself. There should be well-planned business model which would act as the base for money making.

I’m yet to see any successful blogger who makes money blogging, without having plans and offers in place. When I talk about proven business model, it means you should choose a profitable affiliate offer, or a service to render.

One of the proven business models for bloggers is freelancing. It’s the quickest way to monetize blog’s traffic, earn extra income and move closer to earning six-figures annually.

The rest of the steps will focus on Freelancing as the best system to earn six-figures from blogging. Read on…

1. 3.    Start A Freelance Business

Getting started as a freelancer is easy if you run a blog. Those bloggers who smile to the bank every month with huge paychecks have mastered one form of skill and the other. This, they render to a targeted audience, thereby, earning from it.

What special skill do you’ve which can be turned into a profitable venture? Can you write readable articles, it doesn’t have to be perfect English or win a Pulitzer Prize, but can it solve a problem, help someone become better and add strong benefit to her life?

That’s what makes for a perfect freelance writing. Aside this, are you good with graphic designs and T-Shirt branding? A great source of income for bloggers and social media marketers is the T-Shirt branding business model, the profit margin is exceptional good and competition is still very low.

When you decide on the freelance service you want to render, it’s time to move on with marketing. Are you ready?

1. 4.    Market Your Expertise

I told you earlier this journey is hard work and dedication. Marketing is the most delicate aspect, and it determines how much you earn. A lot of bloggers do not approach marketing with both arms, they do it with half-baked minds, which is why we hear all the complaints that clients are not coming forth.

I strongly believe that spending more time marketing would yield better results for freelancers. It doesn’t matter what services you render, there are potential customers who can pay handsomely for it.

But you need to find them. They might not come to your blog willingly, in fact, they won’t. It’s your duty to attract them – write quality guest post and get featured on A-list blogs. Become active on niche discussion boards and eventually, the high paying clients would come your way.

1. 5.    Increase Your Value

Do you wonder how successful freelancers make it to the top? There is no magic bullet anywhere, they simply increased their value. What does it mean?

As a freelance writer, if you’ve been writing 500 – 600 words article for a $20, why not increase the quality of your articles, thoroughly research your topic and churn out 900 – 2000 words article.

Clients are looking for freelancers who can go the extra mile to meet their needs. Such lengthy articles could earn $50 – $100/post, instead of the peanuts you were paid earlier. The way to increase value is to study successful freelancers in your niche, and find out how exceptional their services are.

Interestingly, if you can add search engine optimization skills to your freelance arsenal, you would earn more money from current clients. Clients are desperate to drive targeted prospects to their websites and blogs. And they prefer organic traffic, because, it’s more targeted, could generate more sales and it is consistent once you make it to Google homepage.

1. 6.    Outsource To Produce More

Do you outsource tasks which tend to slow you down?

Outsourcing is the best way to concentrate on things you can do well. For instance, if you’re not good at niche research and article writing, you could outsource these tasks to freelance writers.

When this is done, you’ll then focus on things that are ‘second-nature’ to you. I found out a few months ago that keyword research isn’t my meat, and so, I went to Odesk, found a good keyword-researcher and paid for his services.

But I enjoy writing and it flows naturally from me. So, if writing can generate more money for me, and get me closer to earning six-figures in 12 months, I would rather outsource keyword research and every other task to capable hands.

If you could only outsource, I’m confident your earnings would increase by 85%, if you do the tasks you’ve flair for.

Six-figure Takeaway

A decision to earn six-figures from blogging isn’t a bad one, but getting to work is often the difficult part. If you can follow these simple steps, $100,000 is possible in 12 months or thereabout.

It’s time to get to work; nothing comes easy including six-figures from blogging. Remember, blogging itself will not make you money, but the business model you choose (freelancing) would!

Take action today and share your success story. See you ahead!

About The Author:

Michael Chibuzor is a creative Freelance Writer and the editor of SEO content writing blog. If you’re looking to grow your business, generate better leads and improve sales, hire Michael to write quality and persuasive contents for you.

One of the very first posts I wrote on Online Rookies was a post about the importance of behaving properly online. Although the rules I outlined in that article apply to every online community you will ever participate in, they are probably even more important on your own blog.

Unlike many other social media mediums or online communities, your blog is where people come solely to get to know you. There are no privacy setting on your blog to filter who sees what (unless you aren’t interested in creating a blog people are actually going to read). Also, the people who are coming to your site are coming solely to hear your thoughts and you can bet they are going to be paying much closer attention.

Too many bloggers think that it is okay to treat their blog as a medium for self-expression rather than a place to create a voice to promote their business. This can obviously lead to any number of branding problems.

You need to use a consistent voice. The last thing you want is to use different styles and different levels of formality with your posts. Your readers come to your blog with certain expectations and are going to be turned away if they have no idea what you are really about.

At the same time, there is no right or wrong way to blog.

I know one blogger who routinely shows pictures of himself playing beer pong with college kids half his age. I find his blog fascinating and these pictures and posts fit in very well with the message he is trying to get across. That style of blogging tends to resonate with his readers, because he does very well with it.

Other bloggers have no problem using profanity on their sites. I don’t pass judgments on any of that.

Where I do pass judgment is when people fail to understand their audience or the tone they are looking for. If you are trying to create a professionally laid out blog for corporate attorneys, you are probably going to avoid the types of posts that I mentioned above. At the same time, if you are writing a blog that is geared towards members of a college fraternity, you probably want to stay away from the dull writing style that an attorney would use.

Before you start blogging, you must get away from the idea that something is inherently right or wrong in and of itself. Your words are only wrong if they are inconsistent with the voice you have set for your blog.

At the same time, you should remember that if you use your real name, anything you say on your blog can come back to you in the real world. Don’t use a type of language or cynicism that you wouldn’t want your grandmother, boss, wife or potential employer reading.

You may want to either use a pseudonym or censor yourself a little unless you don’t care about making a good impression to your grandmother, prospective future employers or clients or the hundreds of other people who might Google your name think.

Before you start blogging, start thinking to yourself about your audience. Make sure that you understand your audience and can speak to them on their level and using their language. Developing a good writing style is one of the most important things you are going to do when you start blogging.

Image by Timbobee

Deciding whether or not to host Google Adsense ads on your site is a very personal choice – though there’s no shortage of “expert” opinions out there that paint the program as everything from a godsend for cash-strapped webmasters to a foul debasement of otherwise good sites.  So today, let’s cut through the rhetoric and take a look at the pros and cons of the program to help you determine whether or not it’s right for your site.

But first, let’s get some background info out of the way.  Google’s Adsense program is the publishing arm of its pay-per-click (PPC) Adwords program.  Essentially, Adwords advertisers pay to create text ads that will be displayed in the natural search results and on websites like yours and are charged every time someone clicks on the ads they create.  As an Adsense advertiser, you display these ad blocks on your site and receive a portion of the advertiser’s click charges as your payment.

The biggest advantage of the Google Adsense program is that it’s incredibly easy to get started with.  All you need to do to start making money is to integrate a small block of code into your website.  If you run a WordPress blog, this process is can be simplified even further through the use of Adsense plugins that automatically insert Adsense ad blocks into your site.  The ease of use makes it a great option for new web marketers, especially compared to affiliate marketing or info product development – both of which involve significantly more effort and risk when it comes to monetization.

Of course, the downside to the Adsense program is that, while affiliate marketing and info product development can make you quite a bit of money, the payouts associated with Adsense advertising are pretty limited.  Unless you target high CPC keywords (that is, keywords that cost Adwords advertisers a lot to advertise for) and plan a business around building and promoting Adsense sites, simply integrating a few Adsense blocks into a single site probably isn’t going to amount to much.

How much, exactly?  Well, consider that, as an Adsense publisher, you earn roughly 60% of the click price that Adwords pay for each ad click-through.  If you’re targeting keywords that cost upwards of $30 a click, this can be a great deal, but these keywords are few and far between – not to mention competitive!  For this reason, it’s much more likely that you’ll earn anywhere from $.05-$.50 for each ad click-through, so your income will vary based on your site’s industry and traffic volume.

One final consideration is the way Adsense ads make your site look.  To really encourage click-throughs (and, thus, profits), it’s important to use large ad blocks placed prominently on your site’s content pages.  However, some bloggers feel that taking this approach can make even good blogs look junky, while many internet marketers feel that focusing on these ad blocks diminishes the potential for more profitable activities (like affiliate marketing and info product development) to succeed.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to utilize Adsense ads will depend on your goals and your success with other monetization strategies.  If you’re running your first website, Adsense can be a great way to learn about web monetization, though if you’re attempting to be taken seriously as a blogger or internet marketer, it may be best to pass on this opportunity.

Image: Bramus!

Starting a blog is a lot like trying to institute any other major life change – no matter how excited you are at first, a time will come when the fun wears off and the thought of slogging through yet another blog post sounds about as fun as peeling wallpaper.

Chances are you’ve experienced this effect if you’ve ever tried to lose weight, learn a new language or tackle any other big project – although you might start out strong, eventually, you’ll lose the motivation to push through with the big goals you set for yourself. So before you hit this wall, it’s important to put the systems and incentives in place that will encourage you to keep going when writing more content seems like the last thing you want to do.

And when it comes to blogging in particular, one of the best things you can do to keep yourself on track is to set a standard blog posting schedule. Blogs tend to do best when they’re published at least 1-3 times per week, as this attracts an audience of repeat visitors who come back again and again to see your new content (although you can certainly publish more or less often, depending on your unique needs).

Once you’ve set your publishing schedule, you’ll want to do two things:

1. Schedule blog posts in advance using WordPress plugins, and
2. Find accountability partners who will keep you on track.

Although it certainly takes a good amount of personal commitment to stick to a regular blog publishing schedule, WordPress can make it even easier to stick to your schedule with a few neat features. The first is the ability to load posts in advance. Simply enter your post as usual, then click “Edit” next to the line that says “Publish: Immediately.” From there, you can enter a date in the future and your post will launch automatically on the date you specify.

Of course, the ability to work ahead is only good if you use it, so get into the habit of having at least 2-3 weeks worth of content pre-loaded and ready to go. This will help you avoid missed posts due to busy schedules, illness or other interruptions. To schedule blog posts this far in advance, check out the free “Editorial Calendar” plugin which provides a better graphic interface for scheduling articles.

But tools can only go so far, which is why it’s also a good idea to enlist a group of people to be your “accountability partners”. These people could be your friends, your family members or other contacts you make online. The important part is that they’re willing to hold you to the schedule you set for publishing to your blog. Try to get together (virtually, if necessary) at least once every week or two for best results and implement a system of light “punishments” if members don’t follow through on their goals.

As you’ll come to find out, it takes a good bit of effort to schedule blog posts in advance and stick to a dedicated publishing schedule. It’s amazing how often life gets in the way and conspires against you, but by loading your posts ahead of time and making sure you’ve got a good support team keeping you on track, you’ll start to see success much faster as a result of your committed schedule.

Image: counting chest bullets

The question of how long it will take to turn a baby blog into a powerhouse content publisher that takes in visitors and spits out cash is one that nearly every new blogger asks at one point or another. Even if we tell ourselves that we’re in it for purely altruistic purposes – to share information freely or save the world somehow – the reality is that most of us wonder at least a couple of times when we’re going to start seeing some payoff for all the effort we’ve invested.

Unfortunately, the answer to that question isn’t one that most bloggers want to hear – “It depends…”

Yes, there are some bloggers who hit it out of the park from Day 1 – like Passive Panda’s James Clear, who built a full-time living from his blog in just six months. Others – like Steve Kamb of Nerd Fitness or Dragos Roua of Brilliantly Better – struggled for months before understanding what their audiences were looking for and how to meet those needs.

The point is, there’s no way to say for certain how long it will take your blog to be successful – although there are some things you can do to accelerate the process…

Tip #1 – Be Unique

There’s a finite number of topics out there, so the odds are good that someone’s already launched a blog on the topic you’re considering (especially when you take into account that there are already millions of published blogs on the web, with more being added each day). You don’t need to go out and find a unique topic, but you do need to figure out what unique elements you bring to the table.

For example, say you want to start a blog in the competitive personal finance niche. That’s fine, but if you plan to publish generic articles on debt reduction or interest rates, understand that people aren’t going to get that excited about content they’ve seen before. Instead, think about what you can do to make your coverage unique. Maybe you tailor your information to absolute beginners or share your own personal experiences with financial topics – whatever you do, just make it interesting enough for people to want to come back!

Tip #2 – Focus on Your Audience

Thousands upon thousands of teenagers have blogs dedicated to pouring out their feelings, but I’m guessing that’s not the type of site you’re going for… Another important key to running a successful blog is to remember that it’s more about your visitor than it is about you. Understand what your visitors are looking for and then provide them with the answers they’re looking for, and I guarantee they’ll come back.

Tip #3 – Hustle Everyday

The thing about blogging is that nobody ever tells you how hard it’s going to be. It’s not enough to simply publish good content – although that certainly goes a long way towards becoming successful. You’ve also got to hustle to get your site noticed amongst the competition, and that means spending hours doing keyword research to plan out your future posts, commenting on other blogs or writing even more content for the guest posts that will get you noticed.

Sound like a lot of work? It is – which is why most people aren’t successful A-list bloggers. In general, most people estimate that the “blog life cycle” of a popular site requires at least 6-12 months of hard work before the community becomes self-sustaining (although it can take much longer to see results).

So if you haven’t yet reached the level of success you want, hang in there. Keep hustling, and with time and continuous improvement, you’ll be on top eventually!

Image: Laura Henderson Design

That Resume Doesn't Mean Jack

I have been working closely with other people who want to get into the Internet marketing profession. Some of my own friends have expressed an interest in SEO, blogging and social media as a profession. I love sharing my ideas with them.

One friend in particular asked me how to structure your resume as an Internet marketer. I had to bite my lip before I started laughing. I had to politely explain to him that resumes mean nothing as an Internet marketer.

When you look for clients as an Internet marketer, they are interested in one thing: results.

I just read a great post from Onibalusi at Young Pre Pro. Oni’s own words were:

“Your clients don’t give a damn about whether you had straight As in high school or whether you have PhD in English. They are spending their money and as far as they are concerned the only thing that matters to them is results.”

I gotta give it to Onibalusi, he has a knack for giving it to you straight. What he said is so true. When you look for a freelance Internet marketing job, all your clients want to know is what you’ve done before.

I have applied for dozens of Internet marketing positions over the past year. At first, my results weren’t too good. I probably got four jobs out of the first 30 ones I applied to. After that, my odds improved substantially.

So what does it take to sell yourself? Getting clients is an art, not a science. I don’t have a perfected formula, but I read up on the process and applied the following system. All I can say is that it worked for me.

Writing Samples

When I first started writing, I made exactly the same mistake Oni mentioned in his post. I talked about the fact I had an MBA. I talked about my work experience. Biggest mistake of my life.

Perhaps the best thing that happened to me was that I got a job as a guest blogger for Consumer Media Network. I don’t know why they gave me a shot, given my writing samples weren’t the best. Nevertheless, they did.

I wrote dozens of guest posts for Consumer Media Network. At first, it was all about doing it for cash. Then I realized I could use these posts in my portfolio. Potential clients want to see you know what you’re talking about.

I find most clients want to see at least three writing samples you’ve done. I generally list these at the end of the email. Alternatively, you can create an online portfolio and link to it in your email.

As a I applied to other positions, I showed my guest posts for Consumer Media Network. These posts were on diverse topics and helped me get additional jobs.

Over time, I started my own blog. That was the other turning point. Many people are stuck in the days when you need a resume to get by in life. Fine. They just need to rethink what their resume is.

When I started blogging, I realized my blog was my online resume. One of my biggest paying clients was the founder of 1stwebdesigner (ironically the same company Oni talks about in his post).

Oni’s post got me thinking. What exactly was it that set me apart when I applied to the position at 1stwebdesigner? I had no idea there were 250 applicants and only 50 of them looked good. Then I remembered Dainis saying that he liked my other posts, but the ones I did on Online Rookies were the best. Had I not managed this blog, I may not have gotten the job.

What does the client need?

I also learned you need to learn who the client is and what they want. When I found a blog or online business looking to hire someone, I took the time to look around. A lot of people don’t do that. I know I didn’t when I first started.

When I can respond to the hiring manager by name, I can show them I took an interest in their business. I can also connect with them personally and tell them what I can do for them.

Any job requires some research ahead of time. Looking for a job in Internet marketing is no different. Your clients want to know that you can do for them. Academics don’t mean squat unless you are looking for work as an academic blogger.