9 Keys to Building a Blog You Can Be Proud Of

I don’t claim to have all the answers on how to create a successful blog – in fact, I’d be wary of anyone who’d say he does. I don’t claim to have a wildly successful blog either, so investigate what I say. But there have been lessons along the way, running Life Coaches Blog for near 3 years now. And these 9 points are how I’d summarize them.

1. Know What You Want Out of It

To be successful, you have to define how you’re going to measure it, or you’ll always be chasing after rainbows.

2. Money Goes Second

Profit is a worthwhile and practical goal, but if you don’t make something worthwhile first no one will ever pay for it.

3. Be Original

There really is no use opening another candy store along a street of candy stores. Don’t copy. Stretch. Create original.

4. Make Something Worth a Damn

How does your blog change the world? People visit your site to improve their lives. It doesn’t have to be emotional surgery, a blog about funny cats cheers me up everyday.

5. Find Your Voice

Be you. You might want to write like Steve Pavlina but find you swear like Naomi Dunford. It’s okay. Stay honest. You can’t make a voice, but you can find your own and sing it with all your might.

6. Evolve

You can’t say the same thing today you were saying two years ago. You have to grow, and your site has to grow with you. This is not an option.

7. Live a Life Worth Reading About

A life unlived is not worth reading about. You don’t have to climb Mount Everest to write a kick-ass blog, but you have to make your life – either inner, outer or both – interesting enough to make people interested.

8. Blogging is Publishing

Tricks like SEO are important. But don’t mistake the tools for the craft. Learn the tools of your craft and then make something great with it.

9. Brand Yourself

Don’t be generic. Create your own personal global microbrand. Stand out for you…otherwise what are you working so hard for?

And as a bonus, here’s key number 10.

10. There Are No Rules

Someone can break all these rules and still become a successful blogger. Who knows? The world is big enough. Listen but don’t be a slave to advice. There are no guarantees. Find your own path by walking.

5 Responses to “7 Things You Should Know Before You Start Blogging for Profits”

  1. Tay Siang Hui
    September 6 2007 at 9:36 am #

    Hi Alvin,

    I am a producer writing from a local production house. Stumbled upon your blog and would like to talk to you more about a TV program I am working on. Please email me @ taysh@threesixzero.com.sg/ taysianghui@yahoo.com. Sorry abt havin to contact you thru comments on your blog but do get in touch. Thanks a million!

    Cheers!

  2. Kloudiia
    September 6 2007 at 1:24 pm #

    Wow Alvin, going on TV again ya dude.. haha :)

    See, that’s where your passion begins to roll in fruits for you, as well as those gems that we always get from your posts!

  3. Remote Backup
    September 6 2007 at 5:04 pm #

    Do what you love. Personally I would have put that at number 1. If you don’t do what you love, and you’re only doing it purely for the money it will show through. By being truly passionate about what you do this enthusiasm will capture other people and make your blog worth visiting. This is true not just for blogs but for pretty much anything you do in business

  4. Alvin Soon
    September 7 2007 at 1:19 am #

    Pretty darn good point, Remote.

  5. Funner
    September 7 2007 at 6:29 pm #

    It’s very important to do what you like to do; if you don’t like blogging, then it’s useless to start a blog…