The Most Important Lesson
I’ll Ever Teach You
By Bryan Clark on Aug 27, 2007 in Uncategorized
Okay, so now that I’ve written it, I really hope I can live up to the expectation of the title. It’s kinda heavy. What’s the most important thing that I can teach you when it comes to success?
Establish Relationships
I see too many people out there that throw up some Adsense code and a few affiliate banners and wait for the money to flow into their Paypal accounts. It doesn’t work that way.
Blogging is a business. One of the easiest and most cost efficient ways that businesses make money is by establishing relationships. Relationships with suppliers, employees, customers, and their community. Blogging is no different than running a brick and mortar business (in this regard). Relationships will make or break you. The blog-o-sphere is a community just like any other. The only difference is that our community exists almost entirely online. If you don’t take the time to meet a few of the locals you aren’t going to gain many new customers (readers).
Just like in the outside world - if you aren’t good to your neighbors, they’ll find a way to cut you out of the community. Respect this. Allow yourself to meet new friends, and to help people out along the way.
People ask me all the time how I gained popularity so fast. Besides countless hours of promotion early on, I can honestly give you this advice. I grew so fast because people realized that I was genuine. Everyone wants to get behind a goal, or a person that they believe in. If you aren’t believable to your readers, or if they can’t relate - you’ve lost them. Nobody wants to get behind a someone that JUST wants to make money.
People enjoy the way that I interact with them, the way I try to better the community, the prompt response to email, etc. All of these actions take time, but people know that I’m willing to put in the time if I can help them out in any way. I’ll continue to do this because it’s what I believe in.
“You can have anything in the world you want if you’ll just help enough other people get what they want. ” -Zig Ziglar-
This quote is something I live by. You’ll find that most successful people will put others first. The easy way to find out who is a success and who is faking it, is by their willingness to help others along the way.
It’s up to you to reach out to your community and form lasting bonds. A simple comment, an email telling someone how much you enjoy their writing, or even linking back to their articles is a great way to build these relationships. Allow yourself to make some friends along the way. This isn’t JUST about making money. It’s about pleasing your readers and making yourself accessible to them. This is one reason I have such great respect for Darren Rowse, and Yaro Starak.
These guys are uber successful and they are great at what they do. They are also pretty busy. However, anytime I email either of them, they always respond promptly. Even when we don’t agree about certain methods, I still get an email explaining why they disagree. That means something to me. What have you done to help your readers lately?
Without readers, you will never make any money. It pays to establish these crucial relationships early on. Without them, you are nothing more than a Wordpress theme with some Adsense code and a few posts here and there.
Popularity: 2% [?]
27 Comment(s)
By Lillie Ammann on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
So true, Bryan. I have been in business for many, many years, and I can attest that relationships are critical to success in business. And even though my blog isn’t monetized, relationships in the blogging world are very important to me.
By Jeane Goforth on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
You’ve lived up to your title. Subtitle should be ‘that you already know’. I knew it but hadn’t practiced it routinely until recently. You and Mr. Ziglar are correct–when you put others first, good things happen.
By Bryan on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Lillie - Nice to see you again!
Jeane - It’s all about karma
By maneesh on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
hmm.. the fact you mentioned about people finding you genuine is the catchline. In a way even your customers (readers) are helping you with your business( blog)… they place the trust in you becuase of the genuineness much like it is in case of any offline firm…
good post!
By Kirsty on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
I think in the world of blogging that definately rings true but it’s not quite as important if you’re building traditional, static type websites.
I started out this way and blogging is new to me. To get established as a blog then relationships are key (and what I find the most fun about it) but it’s not quite as important if you build old school websites. I rarely get emails from anyone but they do a pretty good job of bringing in the dosh.
I think though if I were to add a blog to those sites that I might be able to take things to the next level, so something to think about.
By EverythingFinance on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
You are absolutely right, Bryan!
I have been blogging for just 6 months, but communicating with fellow bloggers is something I have just started to do!
Thanks for the reminder!
Also, thanks for the link love!
-Tushar
everythingfinanceblog.com/
By Sly from Slyvisions.com on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Seriously, Bryan, that was one of the best post that I have ever read. You are right about the importance of building relationships. I have only noticed it too after I met you. You have given me a very big tip ever since I saw you start blogging. Thanks again!
Sly from Slyvisions.com
By Contamination on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Well Bryan, you are certainly the neighbour I wouldn’t mind loaning the lawn mower to.
Though you stay away from my beautiful robot daughters, you hear! (even if it is the crushinator)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recurring_robot_characters_from_Futurama
By Meg on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Very good post! And it comes at a perfect time for me. I’ve only been blogging for a few months now, and I realize that forming relationships is THE way my site will grow and I will begin to reach a wider audience.
I sort of stumbled into forming relationships on accident. I was focused on my articles, not on the technical or business aspect of blogging. But I responded to everyone who left me a comment, and I started putting links up to other blogs i found and liked. I didn’t even realize other bloggers could track stuff like that and might notice that I had put their links on my site–but lo and behold I started getting traffic from those people. One blogger actually featured my blog in a post! I think they appreciated my that I was “genuine,” as you put it. I liked their sites, and I was linking to them without even letting them know or asking for anything in return.
Sometimes bloggers might over-analyze the business aspect of their blog (just like traditional people might over-network without actually caring about who they’re meeting) just to get traffic, readers, and subscriptions. All that’s important, but it’ll come naturally I think, if you just focus on the relationships.
Keep up the good work! I love your blog and am putting a link to it up on my site.
By Matt Wolfe on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
That is great advice and I couldn’t agree more. I read an article the other day about successful blogging (by a pretty successful blogger) and the author basically stated that he thinks establishing relationships was overrated. He said that you need to spend time on content and that should be your main focus. But I completely disagreed. I believe blogging is about community and helping others. It’s not a competitive business it is a co-operative business. Everyone can help everyone else succeed. Content is very important. It’s probably the 2nd most important thing but I do believe relationships are the key.
By Davy on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
I agree. I’ve always been a fan of “customers first” slogan. Customers may not always be right, but you certainly have to put them first.
And in our blogging world, our customers are readers/visitors/commentators.
By shaun on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
very true words, theres nothing wrong with having a large network of friends no matter what industry you are involved…school friends, business friends etc.
By Bryan on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Some great comments from some really wise people. I’d be curious to know who the successful blogger who didn’t think relationship building was important was Matt! I couldn’t disagree more!
The thing I hate hearing is how “competitive” the blog-o-sphere is. What are we competing for? The same reader can’t read 2 blogs instead of one?
There is room at the top for all of us.
By Terence Chang on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Bryan:
I can definitely see you making huge progress. Especially your alexa traffic ranking. Very well done!
You are getting much closer to you goal. I am so glad to see you making good move.
Keep it up!
Terence Chang from Hong Kong
By Webd360 on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Great points indeed Bryan. Building relationships and networking is a vital part in blogging, which is one reason I like it so much. The blogosphere to me is just like one big family in many ways.
By Contamination on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
Very true. I read about 10 blogs every day, if one blogger recommended a site I usually check it out.
Most of my bookmarks are from sites recommended by other bloggers. It’s nice to get to know other authors and what they are interested in.
And it’s even better when they stop by your own site and leave a message.
By cooliojones on Aug 27, 2007 | Reply
And once you establish those relationships, do not take them for granted! They must be nurtured for as long as you want them. Same can be said of real life! Good post.
By James - Visualized.Feel.Abundance on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
Hey Bryan,
Judging from the number of comments you always get for you post, I know what you say IS true! Keep up the great work!
Cheers
James
By Sly from Slyvisions.com on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
After commenting on 50+ blogs a day, what else can you expect from Bryan?
Sly from Slyvisions.com
By Maneesh on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
you just gave out a trade secret sly hehe
By Jacob Braaten on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
This is very true, just remember, it’s not about what you know, its who you know…
This is another very good post Bryan! Keep up the great writing.
By Mark Mac on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
Nice work Bryan, it isn’t easy convincing people that the way to make money online, is to not try to make money online!
Small point … posting info about your earnings is contravening some of the programs TOS, wouldn’t want to see it all get taken away…
Good Luck
By Bryan on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
Mark - Posting your earnings doesn’t violate any of the programs TOS that I use. If you are referring to adsense - you just can’t give out the CTR or CPM information.
By Missy on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
You are doing really well. Good job, Bryan. Here is a question for you:
When you set out to create this blog (who) did you have in mind for it? As in who is your reader? Please be specific.
P.S. I subscribed today, buddy.
By Missy on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
Shoot! I meant to edit that comment, perhaps you can add the (comment edit) plug-in. For us prickly commenters. hehe.
By Veronica Routtu on Oct 3, 2007 | Reply
Great article! I agree 100% that building relationships is what it is all about….if we aren’t doing that, how can we give people what they want?
This is my first time to this blog but i will be back…one thing i really liked is that you actually interact with your users. I think that is really cool because this whole thread reminded me of a place where people of like minds could meet and discuss, rather than a blog people just post to to get traffic…I really liked the experience:)
I am new to blogging but a firm believer in helping others. It really is true that the more you help others and make that your primary goal, the rest will follow;)
Thanks for a feel-good experience!
Veronica Routtu
“Success Begins When You Take the First Stepâ€Â
By Deron Sizemore on Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
Very true. Relationships are a big key to success. In the short six months that I’ve been blogging, I’ve already developed so many good relationships with other bloggers and people in the industry.