Blogging is More than Selling

26 Nov 2009

Lately, I’ve had a lot of people ask me why I’m blogging a lot but not selling much. Although I’m definitely working on a variety of new products for this winter/spring, the truth is that I am not blogging solely with money in mind.

I hear the gasps in the crowd now…”why is he telling us to make products if he isn’t doing it himself?”

Don’t Rush to Monetize

Well the truth is that blogging comes down to more than just making money by selling stuff – in fact, there’s a lot more to it. Yeah, I have a dozen or so blogs that make money, which is one reason why I’m not in a rush to monetize.

But the other reason, which is probably the most important reason of them all, is that blogging can be a powerful tool for building relationships, authority, and a platform that is capable of much more than selling ebooks.

Building a Digital Empire

The reason I blog here, and why I don’t believe in rushing into creating products, is because of the importance of building relationships with people like you. With every post, I add another brick to the wall of my platform.

I add more Google bait, grab more ears and eyeballs, and reach more people than I did yesterday. I’m following through with my most important promise.

Thanks to my blog, I’ve been able to build relationships with other A-List bloggers, get guest posting opportunities all over the internet, and be invited to dozens of joint ventures. These are all things I wouldn’t have been able to do without my blog…without building my digital fortress.

With one fortress set, you can build another, then another, and then another. From there, you’ll have a digital empire that you can use to change the world. Think with the end game in mind…always.

Legacy is Currency

Of course, I’m not opposed to selling stuff, but my point is that unless you take the long approach with your blog, then you are missing out on a great amount of opportunity down the road. I can’t remember who said it (maybe Brian Clark), but there is no reason to sacrifice the long term dollars for the short term dollar.

Think legacy, not currency. Think about how you can make millions in 5 years rather than how you can make a few hundred today.

Sure, the two are not mutually exclusive, but don’t think that your blogging efforts are wasted just because you aren’t selling anything. With every post comes a new opportunity, and as you start to string those opportunities together, your authority and presence will start to multiply.

From there, people will be beating down your door to work with you.

So remember, although you might not feel like you are making any progress – you might feel like you are wasting your time or that you aren’t good enough. As long as you are building relationships, building content, and building networks…then you are doing something special that will be off so long as you have the patience and perseverance to make it do so.

How Can I Help You?

With that being said, I want to learn more about you. I want to learn how I can help you achieve you dreams. Feel free to stop by and comment or send me an email.

More importantly – Happy Thanksgiving!

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anna

great post Nathan i really like ur post it will be helpful for me thanks

mxrios1

You stated "I want to learn how I can help you achieve you dreams.".

I think you hit the nail on the head in terms of military personnel moving into Civilian life. So many enlistees and officers stay in the armed forced for the security factor, not because their values, passion and soul are in it as well. Perhaps a niche business could be geared toward those transitioning from military to civilian life. Maybe you've already thought of it. Just puttin' it out there :)

Nathan Hangen

Thanks for the comment :)

You are absolutely right about security, and it's something that I once desired, but now have no interest in. There's too much fun it going for it all :)

Jimi Jones

This is such a great post. I realized early on that it would be quite some time building trust, authority and establishing digital real estate, so I've continued to concentrate on all aspects of blogging. Sure I'd like to draw down 15K or 20K monthly but that's an unrealistic expectation early on.

Businesses take time to establish and grow. The important thing, in my mind, is to stay out there and keep posting and fine tuning the mechanics of the machine. Building a fortress is a major construction project, requiring a solid foundation first and foremost, followed by the precision placement of each stone. The window dressing (monetization) comes much later in the process.

This is one of the main reasons for failure, many people are too impatient.

Nathan Hangen

Building an online business is just like building one elsewhere. Sure, you could make money early, but if you don't have a long term strategy then your income streams will eventually dry up anyway.

I like what you said about construction projects, as it is the perfect analogy.

Srinivas Rao

Hey Nathan,

I think you make some key points here. I don't think most people realize that the people who are "famous" didn't get there overnight. There's a side of success we never see and that is the struggle and the battle to get there. It's easy to buy into the illusion that things were always this way.

Gordie

Hi Nathan,
I have struggled for a while with confidence in my ability to succeed in what I want to do. When you see these other lifestyle designers and entrepreneurs launching products and making money, it can make me wonder what's wrong with me.

However, now I'm slowly realizing that I can do things on my timetable. If I get there in the end, all be it slowly, then I'll still be happy.

Nathan Hangen

Gordie, I'm glad you could share that, because you aren't the only one. It may be just my model, but long term, I want to be much more than a blogger - so I don't mind not getting tied into something that will keep me from growing as an entrepreneur.

Some might do well just blogging and launching products, but I'm thinking of things like book deals, startups, and other investment vehicles outside of information products.

Antti Kokkonen

*This* is exactly what I've been thinking during the last couple of weeks. About building the digital empire; building up the momentum, blogging, not focusing on money - it will come when the time is right.

But I've been doubting myself. I've been wondering if the approach I've taken has been the right one. Now I do - I'm happy for the road I've taken: blogging, helping people, build that fortress one brick at a time. Thank you Nathan, thank you very much. That pretty much sums it up.

Nathan Hangen

It's really hard to take that approach and feel good about it, especially when you hear about everyone else launching products, making cash, and doing well. I've always believed that my time will come when it is meant to. My only job now is to enable it to happen.