You Must Learn A Craft
Last year I made an important decision about my business. I decided I would start to focus more and more on software and online apps development.
Why?
First of all because the growth potential for those is much larger (just think about Twitter, Facebook…). Second because once you become good developing those you’ll face less competition, as very few people/companies around the world are capable of doing it.
That’s why I started to study programming. I bought dozens of books, started reading as much as possible online, and I even enrolled in a local university to follow their Computer Science classes (I am about to complete my second semester).
I am having a blast, but this experience also made me think about a person’s career. The conclusion I came to is that if you want to be successful you have to learn a craft. That is, you have to learn to do something. Something that you can see or touch, and that other people will appreciate and get value from.
This applies to the Internet as well.
Being able to create simple websites/blogs and to write is not enough. Sure, you can make some bucks with it, but it
won’t become a real business until you actually learn a real craft.
If you like design, for example, you could learn the craft of web design. And by this I don’t mean simply learning HTML and CSS. I mean studying typography, design patterns, color combinations, JavaScript, etc., so that you because a real web designer. Once you master that you’ll certainly have a real business in your hands.
If you like to write, similarly, you could learn the craft of writing. Again, this is not simply being able to write cool blog posts. You got decide where you want to focus on (e.g., journalism, copywriting, humor writing) and then put some conscious effort to master that craft, be it by reading books or by attending classes and courses (and obviously by practicing a lot).
My point being: you have to learn to make something tangible, something you can see and be proud of, something other people will appreciate and get value from. This is the path to success.
If you are not there yet, what are you waiting for to get started?
source Daily Blog Tips newsletter by Daniel Scocco
Check These 3 Ways to Promote Your Linkbaits
As you probably know one of the best ways to increase the traffic of your website or blog is to publish linkbaits (also called pillar articles, killer articles, and so on).
When you land a successful linkbait you end up with thousands of new visitors, new RSS subscribers, and hundreds of backlinks.
The problem I see around is that most people focus on creating the linkbait piece only, and forget to promote it. That is, they spend a lot of time researching and writing the piece, but then they just publish it and hope people will start sharing it spontaneously. While this can happen, it’s certainly not the best approach.
If you want to maximize your chances of success you need to have a proactive approach.
How do you do that, practically speaking? I just published an article on my blog with 3 methods you can use to promote your linkbait pieces and to get some relevant backlinks to then. I am sure at least one of these strategies will be completely new to you.
Source Daily Blog Tips newsletter by Daniel Scocco
12 Ways To Encourage Your Visitors to Stay
We all want more traffic, more loyal readers, and more sales. I know I do. For most of us our blog is the precious stone we chisel our artwork into. We slave over making our website as good as we possibly can and don’t want our work to go unnoticed and unappreciated. I know exactly how you feel and that’s why I’ve put together 12 ways to compel your visitors to stay.
Whether you’re looking to increase your readers loyalty, improve your website’s accessibility and friendliness, or build a community these tips will help you achieve your goals.
1. Simplify your websites navigation – You should focus on the most important elements of your website and display those in your navigation and eliminate the rest.
It can be very confusing and annoying to make visitors click on everything.
Your navigation should give them clear direction to what your site is about and how to navigate it.
Forums: Are They Right For Your Blog?
Forums are a great place to discuss on various topics. If you have been part of a forum before, you know that it is one of the best ways to get answers for your questions, discover new tools and websites and network with other people.
Unlike blogs, where the content is generated by one or a few authors, forums take time to build up as they depend on the participation of the users. On the other hand, once the forum is established and rolling, the content would be self generated and the owner can take a backseat.
Dress Your Blog for Success
Have you ever heard the saying, “You should dress for the job you want, not for the one you have?” Obviously the point of this familiar line is that you need to prepare yourself and present yourself for the future that you want.
In a way, this saying should apply to your blog as well. Of course we’re not talking about a suit and tie, but rather the appearance of your blog that visitors are presented with the moment they arrive. This first impression can help readers to see you as the successful blogger you aim to be, or it can set you back if they see an unattractive look.
