There’s More to Life than Blogs
It seems sort of counter-intuitive to write this post, because in all likelihood you’re here because of this blog or the book, Beyond Blogging (also about blogs).
I mean, it would be easy for me to say that I can teach you to become a problogger, but is that really the way you want to live?
Blogging as a Platform
I’ve said it before, that I treat blogging like a stepping stone or a platform more than anything else. The only way it scales is if you hire a team of writers and media managers to support you. But at that point, you’re much less a blogger and more an entrepreneur, aren’t you?
Take Pete Cashmore, of Mashable, for instance. He could be consider a blogger, but if you examine his business, you’ll find that he’s built an entire media platform…so much more than a blog.
Mashable rakes in money as a result of their blog and blog advertising, but they also act as the premier social media news network. They are a full scale media firm, and are looked to as one of the authorities of social media, new technology, and the mobile web.
But how many times do you see Pete Cashmore post? Do you think he could have created Mashable, in its current state, if he were tied to blogging on a daily basis? Probably not.
Another example is Shama Kabani, founder of the Marketing Zen Group, who blogs at Shama.TV. Yes, she’s a video blogger, but as we talk about in Beyond Blogging, she does it simply to connect with her audience.
Her real money is made on the consulting side, where she consults with small and large businesses and teaches them how to market in today’s business climate.
Having a Goal
Unless you’re just trying to have some fun, you shouldn’t start a blog just because people say you should. Blogging is a means in and of itself, and like any other promotional tool, shouldn’t be started until you have specific goals and an action plan ready to put into place.
I started this blog at first because I wanted to share random thoughts. That was fun for a while, but then it became work. At that point, I had a choice to make…I could either quit blogging and focus on other projects, or use my blog as a branding tool for my business ventures. Obviously, I chose the latter, but it wasn’t easy.
That choice forced me to spend some major time deciding not only what I wanted to do in the short term, but more importantly, what my exit strategy was. I set out to create a very specific 5 Year Plan, which became the guiding force behind everything you see here today.
Now, my blog serves as a platform for a mix of digital products and soon, a variety of media platforms. I don’t blog about AdSense and RSS Feeds because I don’t want to get trapped in that niche. Where do you go from there?
Now, if that’s your thing, then that’s fine…there’s nothing wrong with that. But most people I talk to start blogging about passions other than problogging, and I’m betting that 99% of you are in that same spot.
So, if that’s the case then, what are your options? How can you use a blog as a platform to expand your digital empire?
E-Commerce
If you have a product to sell, or one that you would like to sell, you can easily set up an e-commerce site using a service like Shopify. If you’re not comfortable setting it up, you can hire someone to set it up for you.
There is no barrier to entry in today’s e-commerce game, so don’t think that you need a lot of money to get started…you don’t. If you need a few hundred and don’t have it, consider doing some freelance work to fund your business. That’s how I got started, and it worked perfectly.
Look at Threadless for an example of how you can sell clothing, or LoveJingles for how you can sell something unique, like Jingles.
Web 2.0 Service Businesses
If you’re in the service business, take a look at 37 Signals, Shoeboxed, Dropbox, or any other service provider with a cool service to sell. Yes, you’ll spend a little bit of money on development costs, but if you’ve got a banging idea, partner with someone that can help you make it happen…many startups were created this way.
Consulting
If your product can’t be packaged in a nice little box with a bow, and you depend on clients to pay the bills, then consider doing a bit of consulting work. You’re probably doing this, or considering it, already, which is great. My take on consulting though, is that you’re trading hours for dollars.
Why not find a way to improve your ROI by dealing with more than one client at a time, via membership/mentorship programs. Dave Navarro did this recently with his More Buyers Mentorship, and it worked very well. Prior to this, Sonia Simone, editor of Copyblogger, launched one of her own..also selling out rather quickly.
Consulting packages like this allow you to make more money in less time than 1on1 consulting would, while being able to help as many people as possible with the small amount of time you have available. You can do the same with B2B services as well, although you’ll need to tailor it for that target audience.
Brick and Mortar
Lastly, dealing with local businesses is one of the most powerful ways to create an income and hone your skills. Dealing up close and personal with a business gives you the opportunity to see and fix real problems. It’s a great way to cut your teeth and build a virtual resume at the same time.
I don’t recommend selling skills that you don’t have, but generally, local businesses face problems that are much easier to fix than those of big businesses. If you’ve got the skills, then start small…build your chops…and then go big.
Don’t Get Trapped
Blogging is an awesome promotion and marketing tool, but it’s not the only path to building an online business. You can sell an e-commerce platform, but it’s much harder to sell a blog like this, which uses my name as a brand.
Think about that when you’re planning your online business ventures, and decide which platforms you’re willing to be tied to. Take those that are left and create a business plan with an exit strategy, and you’ll be ahead of a large percentage (I’d say something like 99%, but I can’t back that up) of online entrepreneurs.
As I said before, it’s all about the endgame. Think empires, not castles. Emperors, and not kings.
Recommended Posts
Like what you see here? Click Here to check out my guides and courses or make it simple and Hire Me. Also, please leave a comment and click that cool RT button. Thanks!
PodcastDigital Empires Radio - How to Build an Online Business Empire
Digital Empires TVMy take on good marketing and the future of platforming
Consulting ServicesFind out how I can help you make more money doing something that you love
iPhone AppsThe next phase of expansion - mobile apps and software.
