Blog Blazer Friday – Dane Carlson
Each week I am publishing an interview from the book Blog Blazers (in alphabetical order) which can be purchased on Amazon here. The interviews were all done in 2008 and the full list of bloggers interviewed can be found by clicking here.
This week the interview is with Dane Carlson of Business Opportunities Weblog
Dane Carlson
Business Opportunities Weblog
https://www.business-opportunities.biz/
Biography:
Dane Carlson’s Business Opportunities Weblog is a premier blog of ideas and opportunities for small business entrepreneurs and is one of the most widely read business blogs. In over ten thousand posts since 2001, author Dane Carlson has proven the notion that “ideas are cheap,” and pushed hundreds of inventors, entrepreneurs and small scale capitalists towards their dream of owning and running their own business.
His website https://www.business-opportunities.biz is currently ranked #12 (as of 12/21/2007) on the Technorati list of most popular blogs by citation.
Interview:
Steph: What makes a blog successful according to you? Is it traffic, reach, revenue, etc.?
Dane: Reach and revenue go hand in hand. Every niche has some way to make it pay, whether it’s through direct monetization via advertising, or indirectly by generating offline business.
Steph: When did you decide you finally reached success with your blog?
Dane: For me, success is a target, not a destination. At one point, my definition of success was one hundred regular readers. Then it was $5 a day in advertising revenue.
Today my definition of success is half a million RSS subscribers.
Steph: How long does it take to become a successful blogger?
Dane: Since success is a personal target, it depends on your goals. Give yourself six months on the low side, though.
Steph: Who do you think are the most successful bloggers on the internet today?
Dane: I was going to write my own list, but Forbes 2007 Web Celeb 25 is a great one (https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/18/internet-fame-celebrity-tech-cx_de_07webceleb_1218land.html)
Steph: Which five blogs do you regularly read?
Dane:
Steph: Which websites would you recommend for any new bloggers starting to blog?
Dane: Darren Rowse’s Problogger, definitely. But more importantly, every single blog you can find in your niche. It doesn’t matter if they publish once a month or eighteen times a day, you need to read them all.
Steph: Which book(s) would you recommend for new bloggers (these can range from marketing books, blogging books, etc.)?
Dane: I highly recommend the Cluetrain Manifesto. Don’t bother reading most of the how to make money online books. By the time they’re published, they’re outdated.
Steph: What is your most successful blog post ever?
Dane: How Much is Your Blog Worth ?
Steph: What’s your biggest tip on writing a successful blog post?
Dane: Always include a link to something else. It doesn’t matter if you’re the smartest and wittiest writer in the world, the web is about interlinking. Link to something that backs up your argument. Link to contrarian views. Link to related subjects. Link, link, link!
Steph: What’s your best advice in regards to content and writing for bloggers?
Dane: Post often.
Steph: How important do you think are the headlines of your blog articles?
Dane: People are lazy, and if you don’t write good headlines, they won’t bother to read your posts.
Personally, I use headlines to editorialize about the content of the blog post.
Steph: Do you spend any money and time on marketing?
Dane: No money, directly. Time, definitely.
Steph: What are your main methods of marketing your blog?
Dane: I network with other bloggers in my niche. I also write content for print publications and try to stay on Google’s good side.
Never turn down an offer to have your content used elsewhere.
Steph: Which marketing tactic has surprised you the most in terms of its effectiveness?
Dane: https://www.business-opportunities.biz/projects/how-much-is-your-blog-worth/
Steph: What are your quick and short five best tips for blogging?
Dane:
- Post often.
- Stay on topic.
- Don’t apologize for not posting.
- Post often!
- Post often!
Steph: What is the most common pitfall new bloggers generally fall into?
Dane: Not posting and then apologizing for not posting.
Steph: If you knew what you know now when you first started, what’s the one biggest tip you’d give yourself today?
Dane: I’d have chosen a shorter URL.
Steph: What repels you the most from a blog (animations, in your face advertising, etc.)?
Dane: No about page or contact information.
Steph: Do you make any direct money from your blog through advertising, product placements, etc.?
Dane: Yes, via advertising.
Steph: What is your best monetization method (Ads, affiliate marketing, etc.)?
Dane: Direct ad sales.
Steph: Do you find you get more from direct monetization of your blog or from opportunities that come because of the existence of your blog?
Dane: Most of my revenue is generated directly via ad sales, but I also generate revenue indirectly because of my blogs. I often do consulting, both for bloggers on blogging and small business entrepreneurs.
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Blog Blazer Friday – Dan Lyons
Each week I am publishing an interview from the book Blog Blazers (in alphabetical order) which can be purchased on Amazon here. The interviews were all done in 2008 and the full list of bloggers interviewed can be found by clicking here.
This week the interview is with Dan Lyons of The Secret Diaries of Steve Job
Dan Lyons
The Secret Diaries of Steve Job
https://www.fakesteve.net
Biography:
Dan Lyons has been in journalism for 25 years, with the last 20 covering high tech. He initially started at PC Week and then moved on to various other trade magazines.
Dan is now at Forbes, where he has been since 1998. He has also published three works of fiction including: “The Last Good Man” (short stories, 1993); “Dog Days” (novel, 1997); and “Options” (novel, 2007).
Interview:
Steph: What makes a blog successful according to you? Is it traffic, reach, revenue, etc.?
Dan: Traffic is a big deal, obviously. But I also care about who’s reading my blog. I have a great readership with lots of smart, funny people.
Steph: When did you decide you finally reached success with your blog?
Dan: I think when I had my first month when I had more than 1 million page views. That kind of blew me away.
Steph: How long does it take to become a successful blogger?
Dan: It took me exactly one year to hit the 1 million page view mark. I think you have to be patient and keep building the audience and keep writing even when it seems that the traffic is not growing.
Steph: Who do you think are the most successful bloggers on the internet today?
Dan: Andrew Sullivan is the best and most successful blogger, in my opinion. I also like Ryan Block of Engadget and Brian Lam of Gizmodo.
Steph: Which five blogs do you regularly read?
Dan:
Steph: Which websites would you recommend for any new bloggers starting to blog?
Dan: Read Andrew Sullivan. It’s a great mix of serious essays and funny stuff.
Steph: Which book(s) would you recommend for new bloggers (these can range from marketing books, blogging books, etc.)?
Dan: No idea. I didn’t read any. Maybe the Robert Scoble book (Naked Conversations) just for ideas on what NOT to do.
Steph: What is your most successful blog post ever?
Dan: I wrote a post on the day iPhone shipped – June 29, 2007. It managed to be both funny and smart, if I do say so myself. Was widely linked and passed around, even mentioned as some of the best stuff written about iPhone anywhere.
Steph: What’s your biggest tip on writing a successful blog post?
Dan: Write about something you care about. Don’t censor yourself. Let it rip. Write from your heart.
Steph: How important do you think are the headlines of your blog articles?
Dan: Headlines are very important. I put a lot of work into them.
Steph: Do you spend any money and time on marketing?
Dan: No.
Steph: What are your quick and short five best tips for blogging?
Dan:
- Only do it if you feel like you can’t NOT do it.
- Be passionate.
- Write quickly and don’t edit too much.
- Post frequently. At least five a day.
Steph: What is the most common pitfall new bloggers generally fall into?
Dan: Writing about their own boring lives. Who cares? Write about something else.
Steph: If you knew what you know now when you first started, what’s the one biggest tip you’d give yourself today?
Dan: Volume matters. Post frequently.
Steph: What repels you the most from a blog (animations, in your face advertising, etc.)?
Dan: Boring writing.
Steph: Do you make any direct money from your blog through advertising, product placements, etc.?
Dan: I get paid by Forbes and they go sell ads to run on my blog.
Steph: What’s your most interesting story related to your blog and blogging experience?
Dan: I was blogging anonymously and hadn’t told anyone at Forbes (my employer) that I was doing it. One day the publisher of Forbes wrote to me and, not knowing who I was, asked me if I wanted to come work at Forbes.
Steph: What’s the one biggest opportunity that came to you because of your blog?
Dan: I’ve published a book based on my blog. It’s called “Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs.”
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