Archive for the ‘blogging’ Category

5 Great Blogging Lessons from a YouTube Celebrity ISHATONU

December 11th, 2009

If you are an avid youtuber, you have probably watched or heard of the character called –ISHATONU.

If you haven’t, then let me introduce him to you.

ISHATONU is a YouTube celebrity who rose to that status in less than a year. He was recently featured on CNN and is one of the most subscribed figures on YouTube.

You can check his channel at www.youtube.com/ishatonu

How did he get that big ?

Great question, in fact the answer to this question is the core of the lesson you are about to learn.

It is the same thing that has made some businesses boom and some doomed.

It can be applied to almost any endeavor in life.

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN  FROM ISHATONU

1. Mystery

ISHATONU is a mysterious fellow; he wears a mask that has kept people wondering what he really looks like. This has become his distinct trade mark. This alone has added subscribers to his channel eager to see if he will one day take off his mask.

So how can this help a blogger or anyone succeed?

Well, you may not be able to add a lot of mystery to your blog (it could be counter productive because your readers must trust you-but you never know and depends on what you blog is about) but you must have a distinct style.

You have to be known for something? You have to be distinct in a way? You have to be different from others?

2. Recent , Controversial , Relevant And Current

ISHAT make videos on recent, controversial, public, and current events. Especially, events that are in the news or is making wave on the internet.

This keeps him and his videos current and relevant to people. His subscribers want to hear what he has to say about the next event, the next controversy, the next news.

Added to this, he curses and swears and even seems to insult his subscribers. All of this adds controversy to his personality and style.

For bloggers, you need to also be current. you need to know whats happening around you.You need to use recent events and occurrences to drive home your points.

Cursing and swearing at your readers may not be the best approach —but still you never know -but standing out in the crowd will surely work.

Using other forms of controversy on your blog will stand you out and move you to the next level.

3. Have A Unique Voice

Apart from his ever worn mask, ISHAT sounds very different (his voice), not like T-pain but something close. I have no idea if he uses a computer program to do this or maybe it is his natural voice, but one thing is sure, this has added to his distinctiveness and style.

This still drives home the point that you need your blog to be different and distinct even if it means in a somewhat bad way.

Your unique voice could be your style of writing, your content, your opinions, etc. Just be distinct.

4. Air Your Opinion Without Fear

ISHAT speaks his mind about issues and events; he says how he feels. He says it with curses and swear words. He doesn’t create a video to make you happy or amuse you, he makes it to air his views and people like him for it. Some don’t, but at the end of the day he doesn’t patronize any one and people love him for being himself.

Sometimes he goes out of style and goes very serious, sober and human. All of these still adds up to make him ISHAT.

As a blogger, do you love to follow everyone’s opinion? Do you follow the crowd? Do you wait for others to talk before you react? Are you afraid to air your views? Do you keep wondering what other bloggers or readers might say or think?

Acting like ISHAT, might just be your ticket to success, air your views but respect the views of others.

5. Engages Your Subscribers

ISHAT creates different ways to engage his subscribers. He asks them to do stuff, watch other videos, flag a video etc and guess what? People are happy and are willing to be involved.  It makes them feel like a part of the show.

He also creates competitions and gives prizes… (I personally have to start doing this on this blog).

He gives back to his subscribers. Shocking but true.

As a blogger, do you engage you subscribers? Do you give them tasks and assignment?

Do you have contests on your blog? Do you give back to your readers, maybe be way of links, exposure, recognition or information.

Many tools can help in achieving this on your blog. Do you have these tools or plug- ins?

Is there any other lesson you think we can learn from ISHAT or is there another fellow similar to ISHAT that you know?

Leave a comment to share.

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COPYCAT BLOGGERS-WOULD YOU LOVE TO BE ONE?

November 27th, 2009

Before you quickly answer a yes or no to the question above you must first know the meaning of term – copycat blogger.

Who is a Copycat Blogger?

Am sure you have heard of the term, copycat. The term stands for someone who doesn’t do his own thing but copies others. It describes people who try to be like others instead of being themselves.

There are some bloggers who are chronic copycats. They copy what every one else is doing.

These are the bloggers I call copycat bloggers.

He is not different from other blogs in any way and does not strive to be.

He is just another WordPress blog or just another blogger in the blogosphere.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A COPYCAT BLOGGER

There are many ways to identify a copycat blogger, here are some.

1. They Copy From Others

Copycat bloggers like was mentioned love to copy from other people. They go to a blog or website, find what the like and copy it.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a few good things you should copy from a blog or websites when you see one but copycat bloggers do it a bit differently.

2. Lack Confidence

The biggest reasons why some bloggers become copycat bloggers is the fact that the lack confidence in themselves .They don’t believe what the have to offers is worth anything.

They look up to others and copy every thing they do or say.

They believe in others more than themselves.

3. Jump Around

Copycat bloggers jump from ideas to ideas, from theme to them ,from niche to niche ,from system to system .They remind you of the Hollywood flick – Jumper -where some people had special powers to disappear and jump from place to place .

They pick something new from another blog, try it out, and do not perfect using it before jumping to another one. They keep going around in circles.

Picking, dropping and picking anew and dropping again.

4. Afraid To Lead

Copycat bloggers find it difficult to get up and lead. Copycat bloggers will make  the rendition of “Tribes” by Seth Godin a complete waste of time because they don’t believe they can lead or have what it takes to lead.

They are contented with being followers. They prefer the leadership of others.

5. They Don’t Stand Out

Because they try to be some else they don’t stand out or make and hence make no impact on the blogosphere or themselves.

They blend well with place with other blogs because nothing really belongs to them

WHAT CAN COPYCAT BLOGGERS COPY?

Copycat bloggers can copy any thing but the most common things are:

1.Ideas

If you have an idea and share it, copycat bloggers will jump all over it.

2.Style

They will try to copy your style instead of adapt or evolve a style for themselves

3.Niche

Copycat bloggers do not want to do a research for themselves. They just want to know what niche works for others and will soon be seen jumping around it.

4.Opinion

They don’t really have an opinion; they listen to the opinions of others and take it as gospel truth.

Now don’t get the concept wrong, we all copy, that one way of learning, but the way and what a copycat bloggers does it makes the difference.

If I saw a plug-in I loved in a blog and used it on mine, I have copied but I am not a copycat blogger because the plug-in always comes with a standard look.

There are so many other things on copycat bloggers we cannot cover here.

So back to the question, would you love to be a copycat blogger.

If you are doing the things discussed above, then you are already a copycat blogger.

And copycat bloggers always end up being unknown, a number in the millions of look a like blogs, a failure and obscured.

Don’t be a copycat blogger. Find your voice, be unique, be yourself and finally-

Be different or die trying.

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THE EASIEST WAYS TO FIND “MUST –HAVE” PLUG-INS FOR YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG

November 12th, 2009

If you are new to blogging or have been blogging with wordpress for a while, you will notice that the default wordpress theme and plug-ins usually looks drab.

In fact, without a new theme and some good plug-ins, you will be embarrassed by the look of your blog.

The best way to pimp your blog is to find, upload and use great plug-ins – good quality plug-ins.

So How Do You Find Great Plug-Ins.

WordPress provides and allows you to search for plug-ins to add to your blog using the add new button on the plug in tab found on the dashboard.

But wait a minute, how do you know the right plug-ins to search for?

How do you know the plug-ins just right for your blog?

Great questions but…

Before you add any plug-ins, you should consider and ask the following questions:

  1. Will the plug-in work for my blog?
  2. What will the function of the plug-in be?
  3. Does my blog really need it?
  4. What are the benefits of having the plug-in?

It is important to do this so as not to clog your blog with junk and also not to increase the time taken to load your blog. After you have made these considerations you can now go ahead to search and load them to your blog.

How and Where To Find Good Plug-Ins for Your Blog(s)

These are some of the best ways to find good, relevant and great plug-ins for your blog.

  1. Visit Other Blogs And See The Plug-Ins Used

This is the easiest and best way to find plug-ins for your blog. Simply go visit other blogs (especially authority blogs) and see the kinds of plug-in they using.

Top blogs and bloggers have tried and tested and will likely be aware of newer plug-ins. So as a rule when you get to any of these blogs, look around you might find a great plug-ins for your own blog.

  1. Read Resources (Blog Post Or WebPages) On Plug Ins

Once in a while, you could search for resources on the web about wordpress plug-ins. A search on Google will reveal some of these resources. You may have already used some the plug-ins that will be showcased, but I bet you will find a new one that could be of great benefit to your blog.

  1. Search YouTube

There is nothing you cannot find on YouTube. You can also find video resources on wordpress plug-ins you can use. The great thing about YouTube is that you will also get to watch what (names of plug-ins) to search for and how to set up them on your blog.

  1. Search Twitter

A search on twitter also can lead to the discovery great, latest or updated plug-ins discussed on blog post, websites and retweeted links.

Remember twitter gives you real time search results so you will be getting recent information about plug-ins.

I hope this post was helpful, now go get that great plug-in.

An Assignment for You

Here is an assignment for you, whenever you visit a blog, look around to see if you can find a plug-in and other resource you can add to your own blog.

Thank you

Have you found a great plug-ins using another way or is there a special way you find them? Please share.

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HOW YOUR “ABOUT PAGE” CAN MARKET YOUR BLOG AND HOW TO DO IT RIGHT

November 9th, 2009

The about page of many blogs and websites is usually a page where the author showcases himself and the other authors of the blog. They usually post pictures of themselves and other personal stuff.

If this is how you have written your about page then you have made the common mistake made by many bloggers in the blogosphere.

WHAT IS THE MISTAKE?

The mistake simply is that you are not going to market your blog with that type of information. The truth is that people read your blog because of what they will get not because they know you or like you.

Of course after a while they will like you –but not because of you, but because of what you blog gives out.

I frankly made the same mistake until I watched a videopost on kissythecutie where I got this vital lesson.

SO WHAT SHOULD THE “ABOUT PAGE” BE ABOUT?

Your about page is not about you.

  • It is about the people who will read your blog or website.
  • It is about what they will see,
  • It is about what they are to expect
  • It is about what they are to expect
  • It is about what they will get.
  • the problems you can solve or the blog can solve

Your about page helps to pick your readers and your niche.

And most importantly, it is an opportunity to market your blog to the new visitors coming to your blog for the first time.

WHAT SHOULD I WRITE THEN?

Your about page should contain a summary of:

  1. What your blog is about(the focus of your blog)
  2. What people will get from reading your blog( they benefits)
  3. The preferred readers and people that will benefit from reading the blog
  4. A list of benefits that people who read the blog will get
  5. A mission statement or a mission
  6. your expertise

WHY DO THIS?

  • It helps connect with your readers from the first day they read your blog
  • It gives you focus
  • It helps your readers know exactly what to expect from you
  • Very importantly, it markets your blog to whosoever reads the about page

SO WHERE DO I WRITE ABOUT MYSELF?

You can do that after you have finished writing the important parts- that is marketing your blog.

It can come after doing the above exercise but it should not be too lengthy so as not to overshadow the important parts written above.

You can check out my about page to see how it should be done or check out other good about pages. Like examples 1

For further reading on how to write an about page, go to problogger .

Is there another way you write your about page or do you have a contrary opinion please share.

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HOW DARREN ROWSE BECAME A TOP BLOGGER

November 3rd, 2009

Darren Rowse needs no introduction in the blogosphere.He is deinitely a top blogger with a great blog.

other hundreds of top bloggers exist in hundred different niches.

How did they become top bloggers?

Have you ever wondered how they made it big?

I bet you have and i bet you have read hundreds of tips ,advice on their blogs and other blogs.

What is their greatest well kept secret ?

well,it is not really a secret just that most people do not want to use it.

I believe their greatest strength lies in the ability and willingness  to learn.

Don’t be deceived , years ,months or sometime ago these co called top bloggers were mediocre bloggers ,unknown and obscured.Even worse than what you are now.

But because they learn a lot ,there are now top bloggers.

THE BIG QUESTION

so how can you learn to become a top blogger?

How do you learn what you need to learn?

There are so many blogs that offer what you need to do right (tips) to become a top blogger.

what majority of them have failed to do is reveal how people can learn how to use or do these tips.

HERE IS HOW TO LEARN

There are many ways to learn how to use these tips.

1. practice, practice  and practice again

Any time you read a tip, try practicing it immediately and daily on your blog post or website. It does not make sense to know and not use it.

Remember ,information is not power.

2. learn from others

Visit other blogs and see how they have done it.Copy or adapt it to yours.

3. Read and study

Read and study everything related to what you want to learn or practice. Look for more resources and more details in e books, books,podcast ,videos and in other formats.

4.Search YouTube

Go to YouTube or any other video hosting website and and search for videos related to what you want to learn.Learning with videos are perfect and quick-my opinion anyway. For example ,search for how to write a  good headline.

5.Teach Others

When you learn any thing or read anything ,teach someone the little you know.

It works like magic.It might be very shocking to you but it works.How do you think Darren got so big.

Edgar dale proved it with the cone of learning.

when you teach others you teach yourself

Mk Akan.

6. practice practice and practice again

This was number one point and is still my last point.This is  to emphasize how important it is.

you cannot learn anything without practice.

you cannot become a top blogger without blogging.

you cannot be a marketing without marketing.

It is that simple.

summary

This could be the best path for you:

Get or read the tips->understand it by getting more information->practice->teach others->practice->practice and practice again->teach others

and the cycle continues.

now -WHAT DO YOU LEARN?

Thats another blog post i guess.

Do you have any other way you learn stuff or practice what you learn,please let us know.

Drop a comment.


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