Wednesday Wisdom Including: 3 Steps to running your blog like a business
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Wednesday Wisdom is all about sharing actionable information which you can take action on before the end of the week. Wednesday wisdom is where we share articles related to better blogging, advice to grow your business, and most importantly advice to live a better life.
This week I saw a great reference on a links post refering to the article providing guaranteed awesomeness and bagels (you provide the bagels) – which I thought was a really great line. Inspired by this, I thought that if you’re still stocked up on bagels, then you’d welome a free coffee to go with our awesomenees (we’ll provide the awesomeness, you provide the coffee!)
So, what have we found in the blogosphere this week?
Last week I mentioned that you can get free audiobooks from Audible.com and I’d been listening to the audiobook version of the 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. If you’ve not gone and grabbed yourself a free eBook, go to it now!
This week I’ve been listening to Chris Anderson’s Audiobook: FREE – The Future of a radical price. Chris, if you’re not aware, is the publishing entrepreneur responsibile for the TED Talks which we often feature on this site. In the book he basically explains the history of ‘FREE’ as a marketing tool and it’s developement into the FREE business model. Along with different types of ‘Free’, Chris gives you some great ideas how to make money from FREE. Oh and guess what? The whole book, which is narrated by Chris, can be yours as a free iTunes download.
Better blogging
Slight aside here, but on Thursday 9th September, Apple announced their developer standards for the App Store with the much reported ‘we don’t need anymore Fart apps’. Apples’ plain speaking, expressed through writing, makes what would be for most businesses a dull technical manual, aimed solely at developers, engaging and entertaining and has far wider reach, not least all the free publicity it got. If you want some inspiration for being yourself and free yourself from blandness, check out El Edwards posts to encourage writing stories from the heart and if you want a specific article to read check out her 3 minute muse.
Talking of writing. In his guest post for Problogger, Glenn Murray from Divine Write provides 8 reasons why bloggers write better than copywriters. Which basically comes down to the fact that he believes that bloggers are not under as much pressure as copywriters.
In another guest post, this time on davidrisley.com, Srinivas wrote 3 Simple Steps To Running Your Blog Like A Business here he shared 3 simple things you can do to start treating your blog like a business.
Interesting post by Naomi Dunford on Ittybiz.com about Making Customers Love You, then Ask Them For Money. Taking the example of making $20,000 in 29 days from today – the traditional approach would be to aim to earn $689.66 a day, whereas Naomi sugguests making nothing until day 27, but market the life out of your blog, connecting and making relationships all over the place. Great advice.
Seth Godin wrote on his hugely popular blog 5 Rules for your About Page – where he shares some great tips / rules for your About Page – Adrian from AdrianSwinscoe.com gives a progress report on what he’s done since reading the post. At the moment, it’s on my to do list!
Better Life
A very thoughtful post from Karen Ruby over at ameaningfulexistence.com reminded us to get off our backsides and go and be a tourist in our home city. If you’ve been on holiday you’ll be familiar with cramming as much sightseeing in as possible in a few short days, but when did you last visit your local museum or go for a walk in your local park?
Better Business
Don Power gives some excellent advice about what a business should have on their blog – in his post he talks about ‘dissing’ your prospective employer could this be the way to get your next client?
Finally Steve Cleary from SteveCleary.com sent me an email about an article he’d wirtten on Green Business – where he shares some great tools which will not only help you with your business, but they’ll help the environment too. Go check them out.
So that’s it for another round of Wednesday Wisdom. But what about you? What have you found in your travels around the internet this week?
Related posts:
Thanks for the inclusion here Matthew. Really appreciate it. Using stories in business is something I’m playing with more and more. In fact, it’s the basis of the whole sales page for the thing I’m doing next week. There’s so many famous historical examples of great, world-changing story tellers I find it too inspiring not to try it this way.
Now to the important stuff. I’ve found that podcast in the UK itunes. Totally forgotten how to download all the episodes but I’ll get there. What I really need now is your recommendation for a book from Audible. I have Crush It! and 4HWW in hardback (the later thanks to you of course) so what I would really love is a recommendation for something I don’t already have a copy of.
I was tempted by Seth until I read the slating reviews of his delivery style. It sounds like his books were made to be read rather than listened to! Ben has promised to lend me the book he won here with you so that’s that one covered. I have Made to Stick and Rework so don’t need those. So tell me, what would you suggest I go for?
Thank you
El Edwards´s last [type] ..How I accidentally used genuine kindness to build a business and how you can too
El Edwards Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Actually, I think I’ve found one to try. It’s a book that Jade Craven highly recommended called “The Referral Engine” by John Jantsch. Do you know it?
El Edwards´s last [type] ..How I accidentally used genuine kindness to build a business and how you can too
Matthew Needham Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Hi El, I don’t know that book, sounds like I should check it out.
One book that I think you might enjoy on audio book is
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz.
The E-Myth revisited is another very popular audiobook though.
I listened to the 4 Hour Work Week on audio book, even though I already have it. It’s interesting how listening to things, different stuff catches your imagination to what it does when you’re reading it.
Matthew Needham´s last [type] ..What to do with your hands
LadyBizBiz Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 10:10 am
Morning El
This is one book I’d recommend for Autumnal evenings curled up with a cup of hot choc: Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”.
He talks about ‘social epidemics’ and how they evolve, and explode – when this happens they have reached their ‘tipping point’.
Very interesting if you impose his premise onto the social media scene. You’ll be picking out maverns at every juncture.
… Rhianne
LadyBizBiz Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 10:12 am
Oh! and purely for entertainment value: anything by Barbara Pym!
R
LadyBizBiz´s last [type] ..Some incredulous statistics on corporate social media participation
Matthew Needham Reply:
October 2nd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Rhianne, Tipping Point is one of my all time favorite books. I devoured it. It’s packed full of so much really interesting stuff which make you want to read more (or listen to more!)
Matthew, thanks for reminding me to take in Chris Anderson’s “Free.” It’s been on the back of my mind for a long time, but I think I’ll give a listen tomorrow during a long drive to San Francisco.
John Soares´s last [type] ..Why All Freelancers and Entrepreneurs Should Get a Flu Shot Now
Matthew Needham Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Hi John,
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad I’ve made your journey more interesting!
Have a safe journey.
Matthew Needham´s last [type] ..What to do with your hands
John Soares Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 5:03 am
Made it safely to SF. Got distracted by Sacramento rock and roll stations and then Bay Area traffic, so no listen…
John Soares´s last [type] ..Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don’t Give a Sht
Matthew Needham Reply:
October 2nd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
John, you won’t make your fortune listening to Rock and Roll!! Still you can always listen to it on the way back!
Looks like another great list. What is wrong with fart apps though? LOL
That was actually a brilliant ploy by Apple. I Have only one app on my iphone…so not what you would call an app junkie by any means..but it got me interested enough to want to read it.
Steve´s last [type] ..Info Income Coaching Class Week 13
I’m not the Apps police!
Drinking beer out of your iPhone has got to be a great app. Although doesn’t really quench your thirst.
Fundamentally I think it’s a great idea though – making stuff that people really want to read rather than stufff people have to read. I’ve read enough of them over my time!
Thanks for the comment Steve!
Matthew Needham´s last [type] ..What to do with your hands
Thanks for a another blog packed full of FREE … there’s a tipping point to everything Matthew.
I’m off to Audible now to download your recommendation, Chris Anderson’s words of wisdom.
Hope your weekend zings!
Rhianne
LadyBizBiz´s last [type] ..Some incredulous statistics on corporate social media participation
Matthew Needham Reply:
October 2nd, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Thanks for the comment Rhianne! I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Get Free stuff whilst you can I say!!
Hey Matthew,
You’ve got some great links for this week. Many of whom I haven’t had a chance to check out yet, as it’s been quite busy on this end and I’m way behind on reader.
Thanks for the shout-out, and especially thanks for the audible.com reminder. That’s something that I’ve been meaning to download and check out.
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..The Victim Myth
Matthew Needham Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 1:55 am
No problem Karen. I like readers to benefit from free stuff!
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