A Simple Plan for Success

Thanks for reading the second article in The Next 30 Blogging Heroes series. Inspired by the book Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers by Michael A. Banks, this series will spotlight the next 30 blogging heroes.

A blogging hero is someone who is making an impact in the blogosphere. These are the people who are getting their messages out and having their voices heard. These bloggers have long-term goals and are working very each day to reach them.

Blogging heroes create quality content and build a loyal, and very large, base of readers. This series will center on their best blogging practices as well as tips and advice.

John Wesley, creator of PickTheBrain, joins the series today. Wesley’s blog is one of the fastest growing self improvement sites on the Internet. With a focus on personal productivity, motivation, positive psychology, and self education, PickTheBrain takes a broader approach to self help. Over 11,000 daily subscribers find useful and valuable content to live smarter and more prosperous and satisfying lives.

What prompted you to start PickTheBrian?

I started PickTheBrain because I was in a day job that really wasn’t satisfying me. I wasn’t happy and I wanted to find a new way to develop my writing and hopefully generate some income in the process.

Are you achieving what you set out to do with the site?

It’s worked out better than I ever really expected. PickTheBrain has grown quite well, but in addition to that it’s also lead to new career opportunities that never would have happened otherwise.

What do you find to be the more difficult aspects of blogging?

You know, it all depends on what you want to do with your blog. If you just want a place where you can vent, express yourself, and keep in touch with family and friends, then blogging can be as easy as you want it to be. But, if you want to blog for business reasons and build a large readership, then you have a long road ahead of you. With so many blogs out there, I’d say the most difficult part is standing out from the crowd.

What do you find gratifying about blogging?

I think it’s amazing that I can write something in an hour, post it, and within moments it’s being read by people all over the world. It’s amazing how far communication has progressed and the potential this creates for sharing ideas and building relationships.

Do you do anything special to increase your readership?

I don’t think this is unique to me, but building readership all comes down to service — what are you giving to the people who read your blog? Giving readers value, and in addition to that being genuine and exposing yourself are the best ways to build readership.

Do you comment on other blogs very often?

Hardly ever anymore. I used to make an effort when I first started out, but now I’m more inclined to email the blogger personally if I really want to tell them something.

What techniques did you use to build traffic for your blog in the beginning?

Working really hard to create great content, agonizing over the perfect headline and opening paragraph, and developing a network of bloggers in the niche to collaborate with.

Was SEO a part of your blog development in the beginning?

Not really from the beginning. At the start, when your blog has few links coming in, SEO doesn’t really make much of a difference and it can become a distraction. The key is write great content, build links, and once you’ve got some momentum you can use SEO to bring in some good search visitors.

What advice can you offer other bloggers?

Be in it for the long haul, and be prepared for hard times. Blogging is not easy, and even if you do well, it’s still not a great way to make money. Do it because you love to write and because you have something to share with others. Unless there is real passion and drive beneath the blog you won’t have much of a chance.

What else would you like to share about PickTheBrain?

Well, one thing that I think sets PickTheBrain apart a bit is that it’s an open community of writers. We’re always looking for new perspectives and voices to enter the mix, so if you have some great knowledge you’d like to share with the world, we’d love have you as a guest writer.

Key Blogging Points from John Wesley of PickTheBrain:

• With so many other blogs out there, it is important to be unique and to try to differentiate your blog from all of the others.

• The best way to increase readership is to provide service to your readers. Offer value and be genuine to your audience are also important to growing and maintaining readership.

• The most successful method to build traffic is to focus on content and to network with other bloggers.

• SEO is not important in the beginning stages of a new blog. Rather, the key is to write good content, build links and then consider using SEO once momentum has been established.

• Blogging can be hard. Make the commitment to be in it for the long haul. To have a better chance of becoming a successful blogger, use your passion!

Please join us next week when Leo Babauta of Zen Habits joins the series. If you would like to be considered as a next blogging hero, please contact me at calexblackwell@aol.com.

Recommended Blogging Heroes:

• Gina Trapani: Lifehacker
• Robert Scobe: Scobleizer
• Mark Frauenfelder: BoingBoing.net
• Kristen Darguzas: ParentDish
• Victor Agreda, Jr.: DIY Life

Helpful Blogging Resources

• Unique Blog Designs: As many of you know, I just completed a blog redesign. Matt and his team were excellent. They provided expert design advice as well as much need technical support. If you are ready to take your blog to the next level, I high recommend Unique Blog Designs.

• ProBlogger is an outstanding online resource for learning effective blogging tips. The site has many useful and relevant articles to help you build a better blog and to earn money, too.

• Michael A. Bank’s book Blogging Heroes is as informative as it is inspirational – a must-have reference book for serious bloggers.

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