Today’s featured blogger is Todd Goldfarb of We The Change
Welcome to the eighth edition of 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 feature the next group of exceptional bloggers who are making an impact in the blogosphere.
These bloggers are getting their messages out there and having their voices heard. They 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. You will benefit from their helpful tips, advice and insight.
The Next 45 Years is proud to welcome Todd Goldfarb of We The Change.
Goldfarb is both a business consultant and a holistic health counselor. This dichotomy is the essence and the foundation for We The Change. Todd Goldfarb created We The Change as a platform for sharing his unique and diverse perspective on how to be successful both in business and in life.
Todd’s passion for improving his life, and ours, comes across loud and clear as does his message that we are responsible for effecting the change we desire.
What prompted you to start We The Change
We The Change was launched September 11, 2007. I started the blog for two primary reasons: (1) as a personal outlet for my beliefs concerning conscious living and (2) as a platform for the growing philosophy that we are living in a time when fundamental changes need to occur in our culture to insure a more sustainable, peaceful and beautiful future for mankind and planet earth.
I know the second point sounds heavy, but I also started my blog to have fun and to explore how I can contribute my talents to being part of the solution. If I wasn’t having fun…I wouldn’t do it!
What is the focus of We The Change? How is it different from other personal development websites and blogs?
The site has certainly evolved in six months. As opposed to when I first began, I am not inclined to write about topics just because they might draw a lot of traffic or get We The Change more popular. The more I learn about the incredible efforts happening all over the world to create everlasting change, the more I want to write about them…and that has become the main focus of the blog!
And conscious living can manifest in SO many ways. For me it happened as I became certified as a holistic health counselor and I began seeing food and nutrition in a whole new light! I see We The Change as a platform that helps individuals expand their own consciousness. They may find it through nutrition (like me), physical exercise, spirituality, holistic healing, or any number of ways…but the important thing is that they are doing work to expand their awareness!
And I display these sentiments through my own personal journey and my beliefs about personal development…and that’s why I think the site has become somewhat popular, because anyone can relate to it!
Are you achieving what you set out to do with the blog?
Absolutely! It is personally very satisfying to write about topics that I am passionate about, and encouraging to see that so many people out there share similar values. I think the best part of my blog has been the people I have connected with.
I am going to Costa Rica this week for The Alliance for a New Humanity meeting, run by Deepak Chopra and Nobel Peace prize winner Oscar Arias, as a member of an exciting project that manifested from my site. We The Change has literally opened up so many doors for me, and I am thankful for it every day!
Where do you get your ideas for content for your blog?
Reading other blogs is huge. I also get contacted by many like-minded people regarding similar websites, books, and meetings and I always take time to explore them as you never know where the next great article is going to come from. However, most of my A+ content comes to me when I am in “quiet” mode or in meditation.
Recently, you were part a group that launched Worldwide Tipping Point. What is the purpose of this site? What are you trying to achieve with it?
Yes, one of my clients came to me with an idea and I helped launch this incredible site. The mission is ultra-simple: to quantify people from all over the world who believe in the movement I describe above, and who thirst for cultural changes to take place. Our goal is to create the largest newsletter group in the world.
Members receive one email a month from Worldwide Tipping Point which contains words of wisdom from some of the most influential thought leaders, writers and speakers in the world. The site just launched and we have not marketed it yet, but feel free to check it out and sign on…it is going to be awesome!
What do you find to be the more difficult aspects of blogging?
I love the social networking involved that is necessary to drive traffic, but the time involved with maintaining healthy relationships it hard work! I also have very little technical skill, so anything to do with the web-savvy side of blogging is a real challenge for me. Truthfully, I have someone I pay a monthly retainer that does some work for me on the blog (come on, who hasn’t read The 4 hour Work Week)! I need to, as I can’t do it all myself. I highly recommend this to anyone out there who works full-time, has a blog, family, etc…
Do you do anything special to increase your readership?
Yes, a few things. First, I always treat my blog as non web-based business. I write PR releases for it, make sure it gets mentioned in off-line newsletters and articles, and have it on my business cards. This helps tremendously. Second, I started a podcast called “Conversations to Change the World” which has been an amazing experience and given me a whole new reader base. I treat the podcast as a separate business entity as well, and it has its own set of PR releases, etc…
Ultimately, We The Change is a blog and most readers will come via RSS…but because of my efforts, I have over 350 email subscribers which tells me that my “offline” treatment of the site works.
As for more typical blogging tactics, I have used guest blogging very effectively. I have done several guest posts on Zen Habits and Dumb Little Man and many of these articles ended up on the front page of Digg!
Do you use SEO? If so, which techniques provide the best results?
Well, my freelancer does some SEO work for me when needed. I have not had the time to delve into the whole SEO world personally and was happy to read about SEO book in your interview with Peter from I Will Change Your Life.
I bought it and will read it. I always hear that good content is the best thing you can do for SEO…so I am focusing on that for now. We The Change also has a Google Page Rank of 4, and I understand that’s pretty good for a new blog. SEO is certainly going to be a much bigger part of the plan for month’s 6-12!
What do you find gratifying about blogging?
Oh man, everything…but let me name some things: I love having and working on something that is a pure reflection on my evolving beliefs. I also love the freedom to do whatever I want (like start a podcast).
I am especially appreciative of all the connections with bloggers and other individuals I have made, and am so happy to have found social networking realms like Stumble Upon and to see so much positive energy occurring in the blogosphere.
These six months have been an amazing time for me and starting We The Change has certainly helped to clarify my path in life. For anyone out there teetering on the idea of blogging…DO IT! And let me know if I can help you in anyway.
What are you future plans for We The Change?
Some of my blogging friends laugh with me (or at me) that my goals are so lofty…and I chuckle myself the fact that my mission is to become the #1 blog in the world. But that is my goal. As for specific future plans, I am going to a) expand my podcast; b) start doing SEO; c) play around with buying niche advertising; d) make even more social networking connections; e) do more guest blogging; f) re-design the site…and more all in the next six months. I foresee We The Change being a dynamic platform where real change is initiated…and I will do everything I can to make it happen!
What advice can you offer other bloggers?
Well, everyone says “making friends” is the most important thing to becoming a successful blogger…and I have to agree with them. Especially in the beginning. Give, give, give as you try and build your blog: Post on carnivals, do guest posts, offer free advertising, offer prizes for readers. Never think “what can I do to get ahead” because the wonderful world of bloggers is very friendly and non-competitive (another thing I love about blogging)!
Also, make your blog the truest reflection of yourself possible. There is so much information out there concerning “how to be a successful blogger”, and if you ever catch yourself doing something to be successful at the expense of being disingenuous…STOP! It is so much more important to be genuine and real. Transparency always leads to success, not just in the blogosphere but in life!!
Previous bloggers featured in this series:
Ellesse Chow of Goal Setting College
Peter of I Will Change Your Life and PickTheBrain
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Helpful Blogging Resources
• Unique Blog Designs: Nate and his team are excellent blog designers. 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.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:04 am
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