You know, I’m good at giving advice. Sometimes people don’t take it. Sometimes they do, and when they do, things always seem to work out well for them. Not that I’m perfect or a know-it-all, but I’m pretty good at analyzing other people’s habits and troubles and helping to find a solution that helps. After all, I am a consultant. lol
Kind of me lol
Often, people follow my advice… after someone else tells them what I’ve told them. I’ve recommended to some people to start blogs. I’ve recommended to some people that they should be doing videos. I’ve recommended to some people that they should be doing interviews, even podcasts. Eventually they all do it… after someone else tells them after I’ve said it.
I don’t get mad; I figure I’m more the visionary, the one who knows what could come, and maybe I’m so far ahead of the curve that it doesn’t make sense… until it does. It’s like what I say about motivation and motivational material. It’s all pretty good, but sometimes a person isn’t ready for it at that moment. But when they’re ready to consume it… it can be life changing for the good.
Why the preamble? I figured that I’d boost myself up before I break myself down. Because, when all is said and done, there’s a lot of things that I’ve written on this blog that, for one reason or another, I haven’t always done on my own. Thus, I might be holding myself back from some of my long term goals… actually, forget the “might”; I am.
This is a cautionary tale that’s also an open admission. Come along for the ride.
You see, I like to consider myself a content producer. Back in the day, I used to write 5 days a week on this blog. At that time I only had 2 blogs, and on the other one I wrote 3 times a week. Even now, I have 5 blogs, I’ve written two actual books, and I do a lot of writing for others. I’m hoping to make more money writing for others… but that’s another thing entirely.
What I’ve always been hesitant to do a lot of is marketing and promoting. It felt a bit self serving, even though I want more people to visit my blogs, read my articles, and possibly hire me for all sorts of things. I did mention I’m a consultant; yet, even there I’ve always been a pretty reluctant marketer and promoter.
Earlier this year, I shared the results of a short personal study on traffic, which was the result of planning my Twitter posts and writing articles on LinkedIn. I also talked about the disappointment of trying to get things going on both Facebook and Google Plus.
While a part of that was good, it wasn’t close to enough. I’ve had to start thinking about shifting a part of what it is I do, and some of that has come from my conversations with my friend Yasmin Shiraz. Over the course of the last few months, she’s been working hard as getting more traffic to her sites while promoting her latest book and a film project at the same time. I’m tired just hearing about all the things she’s been doing.
However, a big part of it all has been putting into place some suggestions I’ve made. After all, I’m the guy who wrote a post about driving more visitors to one’s blog, and those same tactics can be applied to websites, YouTube, etc.
That’s been working out great for her. At the same time, it’s gotten me to think more about some of the things I do… or don’t do. It’s pretty illuminating stuff, that’s for sure.
She’s in media, and she knows the value of promotion. I’ve written about promotion and done a bit of it, but I knew I needed to step it up… a lot. I also needed to do it better and smarter, and get more attention to my newer content at the same time. You know, striking the iron while it’s hot.
So, I’ve already made some changes, and I’m going to be making more. I don’t expect anyone to follow what I’m doing because our overall goals are going to be different. After all, I’m trying to become more influential in many different realms. With a name like Mitch Mitchell, I have to jump over the former drummer for Jimi Hendrix and try to out-swim a reporter for the Dallas – Fort Worth newspaper for attention, and probably a thousand other Mitch Mitchell’s who came later to the internet party. lol
What are those changes? Well, I think I’ll talk more about the rest of it next week, but the first change is that, unless I’m paid, I’m going to cut back to one article a week on all of my blogs. Since I have 5 blogs, that should make them all easier to write consistently on, and if I have the article go live on different days, it’ll make them all easier to promote. After all, I’m the guy who told folks what the secret to success was… which I’m not going to say again, so you’ll have to check out the post I just linked to and possibly the video that’s there. 🙂
The one thing that’s not going to change is what this blog is mainly about… well, actually, since it’s about whatever I want it to be about that’s not much of a change overall. lol I talk about blogging, social media and writing most of the time, and marketing is a big part of social media for a lot of people. If it’s not… y’all are either doing it wrong or you’re just writing to be writing, which I’ve been accused of often.
It’s never been true… I’ve always said that I write for myself first and hope that people will enjoy it. After all, if I won’t like it & read it myself why should I expect anyone else would?
So, come back next week for the next round of information. It could be valuable advice and, like I began this article, it seems that when people follow my advice they do very well. It’s time I did the same for myself. 😉
I would say it is about time that the doctor took host own medicine. lol.
BTW, the proper way is “ya’ll” and not “y’all”. The apostrophe is used to shorten what follows, not what preceeds.
Looking forward to next week.
Actually, that’s not true across the board Rasheed. It depends on which part of the south you’re from and how you use the tenses. Although I was born in Texas, my mother’s from Louisiana and her people pronounce it the way I write it… as do I lol Truthfully, when I’ve heard it the way you’ve spelled it my ears always feel assaulted lol
And yes, it’s time I took some of my own medicine if I’m going to get to where I want to be. 🙂
Having too many pots on the stove is something I have been trying to fix myself this year. Earlier in the year I had several websites allegedly infected by malicious files. The webhost told me they were gonna pull the sites if I don’t fix them so I pulled them (and quarentined them myself) which took some things off my plate to have to worry about. Now I can concentrate on just a few things instead of a lot of things.
Now why don’t you capitalize of that drummer having the same name as you? Is he high in the search engines?
Wait a second. Let me see for myself…
…
I am back. Yeah, that is a challenge isn’t it? Still, maybe there is a way you could piggy back on it? Write some posts on drumming or Jimmy or whatever and maybe that will ‘trick’ the SEs? Surely you have already thought of all that though.
Finally, this was funny- “since it’s about whatever I want it to be about that’s not much of a change overall.”
Looking forward to hearing what the rest of your cunning plan is.
LOL! Troy, the best thing about my name is that I’m the only one participating on Twitter; I’ll take what I can get. 🙂
Actually, what I need to do is spend as much time promoting the new stuff as the older stuff. I’ll talk more about what I’ve been doing since February, but one of the things I’ve been making sure I do is to promote the new stuff when it’s new. That’s one reason why I decided to opt out of this year’s World Blog Day, which is on Friday; it’s a post that’s actually only good on that day, and with what I’m trying to do now that just won’t work for me this year.
Hi!
First thank you very much for this quick post.
Great share you have here! After going through the process of writing content, the next step is to make sure that the content gets exposure because no one will read it otherwise. I agree that in writing your blog post, it is very important to give something back to those who contribute to your research, link and socialize with fellow bloggers.
I always try to create big posts ..but forget to market it, so this can help.
Exactly Uttam. It’s another concept that took me some time to learn, but I’m making up for lost time these days. 🙂
You are right @Mitch Sir. That is not true across the board
Mitch,
From what I’ve been observing you are doing a much better job at self promotion and you are not beating anybody over the head with self indulgence. Self promotion is about promoting yourself while offering VALUE. That’s the key most people miss. They are so busy talking about themselves and how good they are at what they do that they forget about offering the REASONS WHY–they are as good as advertised.
Thanks Bev; coming from you that’s a major compliment! I am trying to make sure I’m being found but I’m also making sure I share what others are putting out there as well, especially if it falls in line with what I’m trying to promote. Sure, I still have to share those occasional news stories and fuss about them, but it’s not as often that I do so… that is, unless I’m having a major Flipboard moment. 🙂
Yes I am agree with @Purushottam
Content has no value if it not get appropriate social media exposure, Well this is not only about a blog post every off page activity what we have done like articles and links must be voted up in a social media.
I have read your previous post “personal study on traffic” which was useful for me.
Well thank you @Mitchell for sharing this wonderful post.
I’m with you Jenifer, making sure we take the time to promote ourselves, even if we don’t have a business interest, makes sense if we want people to know who we are and what we do.
Hey Mitch, one time a week sounds like a good plan. That will free up a lot of time to work out ways to promote yourself and your blogs.
I know it’s not going to be easy and you’re probably going to feel guilty about it for a little while but I know it will get better.
You’re right about the guilt part Pete. However, I can always go back to twice a week and, when I want to, I can add a post here and there. Still my blog right? 🙂
Isn’t that the beauty about being a blogger. At least when you host your own blog. You have total control when, where and what you post.
Exactly right. I do understand the part about the cost, but in this case it’s a necessary one, and not all that much at that.
Isn’t it amazing that people want an online business but they don’t want to invest any money into it. When you consider that you can get hosting for less than $10 a month. It’s just a matter of prioritising your income, doing without something that’s not important so you can pay for something that is.
Well… it is & it isn’t. I think MLM has scared people from having blind faith in things they don’t always understand. I mean, if anyone has watched you and I for all these years they’ve probably discovered that you can make money, but it’s hard to make enough to live on. Ever since Google did its animal thing a few years ago my extra income took a nose dive and it’s never recovered from that. Before that it was looking up; now its heart is barely beating. We know how to promote, but make money? Nope, not us…
True, I don’t make enough to make a living on, at least not yet. However, I am making enough to have 4 seperate hosting accounts one of which is a VPS hosting which costs considerably more than your shared hosting packages. All that and I’m making a profit as well.
Like you I continue to do it because I’ve discovered I love being a blogger. That and I’m sure in time it will make me a nice steady income which will add to my retirement package very nicely. 😉
You and me both! 😉
Hi Mitch!
Nicely written post. It sounds funny that people always take your advice – after someone else has given the advice to them. Might be that you are starting a process in them but it takes time for the process to finish. I ha a friend telling me she could see me as a writer. At this time I thought she was nuts. Now I am a writer.
I think as much as we dislike self-promotion; it is a very important part of blogging. You are doing the right thing in promoting your writing and I wish you success with it. Best, Ilka
Thanks Ilka. Yup, promotion & marketing is the name of the game when we want to progress… heck, sometimes even when we’re just looking to get started. We have to be willing to be our own squeaky wheels; now there’s some imagery. lol
Hey Mitch!
I doubt seriously if you’d even if normal, if
you didn’t have several irons in the fire!LOL!
And hey, why shouldn’t you finally take your own
advice, especially since you’ve got a proven track record of helping others!
Man, probably any time you get ready, you’v got an ebook and course on effective time management!LOL!
Explain how in the world, you find (both) the time and energy to successfully manage five blogs simultaneously!LOL!
Thanks for your comment Mark. Actually, overall it’s one of the easiest things I have to do. Truthfully, I really only concern myself with 3 of my blogs, and I only write one post a week at the present time for each of those. The other two I hope to write weekly but if I have other things to do then I’ll get to them when I can. And, since it usually takes me less than 15 minutes to write most of my articles, time isn’t a major issue with me. That is, unless I have to do some research… in which case it might take a little longer to pull together in my mind what I want to write but the process of writing most of the time is a piece of cake.
Hi Mitch,
I’m here again on your blog and I so love your topic today.
It all starts with creating valuable content, without valuable content, promotion will be a futile exercise.
And Valuable content without promotion will be a waste of time, so at the end of the day, we’ve got to create content worth sharing and we’ve got to promote our valuable content so people can see it.
Thanks for sharing.
Dan
True Dan, there needs to be a symbiotic relationship between quality and promotion for marketing to be truly effective. It’s not easy, that’s for sure.