Ok – you have made the decision to start blogging. You have done your research and have decided on the five key categories of content that you want to create. You have dug down into those categories and found long tailed keyword phrases that your market is searching for and you have begun the process of blogging in those areas.
But … wait …. it seems that no one (or at least almost no one) is reading your blog posts or commenting on all of your great content. What’s up with this? How come nothing seems to be moving like all the ebooks, articles, and gurus said it would? Your frustration level rises and you wonder if this whole blogging thing is even worth it!
But, before you quit, before you throw in the towel, before you wash blogging’s “bad taste” out of your mouth, be patient. Take a deep breath and let your niche market find you. You have to remember that, until you have been around for a while, until you have been discovered by other successful bloggers, until you have established yourself as a thought leader in your niche, you are just part of the blogosphere “noise.”
Successful bloggers understand the patience of getting found. They know that like any form of advertising and/or marketing you have to establish yourself as someone that stands out from the crowd. To do this you must:
1. Separate yourself from all the noise. With millions of blogs and tens of thousands of “gurus” you must develop a strategy that says, “You need to listen to me!”
2. Become the “go to guy/gal” for value-added content in the areas of your expertise. Thought leadership is essential to the success of your brand.
3. Develop a thick skin and a never say die attitude that will allow you to keep going when things look bad and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
The story is told of a man who bought a gold mine during the American gold rush. He worked the mine diligently for two years to no avail. Broke and discouraged, he sold his claim and all his machinery and headed back east to sell insurance. The man who purchased his mine struck the “mother-load” just about one foot farther into the hillside. The first man lost his patience and the mother-load he had worked two years to find.
Don’t let a perceived “slow start” discourage you or even cause you to quit. Keep working, keep producing value-added content and trust in your ability to get the message out and the right people will find you in due time. Learn the patience of getting found that is a must to reach any level of success on or offline!
