[Copyblogger] The Courage to be Wrong

The Courage to be Wrong The Courage to be Wrong I used to think being “right” was a big deal. I had to say the right thing, dress the right way, know the right people, read the right books, live in the right neighborhood, go to the right school. It wasn’t because I wanted to, exactly, but because I thought it was a prerequisite for success. If you want other people to respect you, then you have to look and sound a certain way, right? Makes sense, if conformity is all you’ve ever been taught. What no one tells you is the cost. Yes, conformity gains you a certain type of approval from others, but it comes at the cost of losing your sense of self. You have to systematically search out everything that’s a little bit “off” about you and bury it as deep as you can. You know that you can’t get rid of it — it’s a part of you, after all — but maybe you can hide it so deep that no one will ever see it, so that a world that only respects the “right” will never realize how “wrong” you really are. Maybe, just maybe, you can fool everyone until you’re in a position of power and no one’s opinion matters anymore. Then you can be free. Right? Umm… no. The Power of Misfits The people we pay attention to aren’t the masters of doing what’s “right;” they’re the misfits who have the courage to be wrong. They take whatever everyone else is doing in their industry and turn it inside out. It’s not just about differentiation; it’s about perverting the norm, destroying sacred traditions, and screwing with the way people think. It’s about doing, saying, or living something that’s so completely unexpected that people can’t help but pay attention. It’s about realizing that most people spend their lives breathing stale, recycled air, and then spending the remainder of your life finding and opening windows to make that air new again. Who would’ve thought a movie that told a story backwards would become a cult classic that people would talk about for decades? But that’s what Christopher Nolan did with Memento. Who would’ve thought paintings consisting of nothing more than splattered paint would sell for millions of dollars? But that’s what Jackson Pollock did with his art. Who would’ve thought a Jewish guy from the UK would become famous by playing an anti-Semitic, socially-retarded Kazakh? But that’s what Sacha Baron Cohen did with Borat. The one trait they all have in common: the courage to be wrong. The Fallacy of Right and Wrong By saying “wrong,” I’m not saying you should pander for attention, make lewd jokes, or otherwise do something bad. What I’m saying is you need to realize “right” and “wrong” exist only between quotation marks. Everyday, the world decides their definition, and everyday, we have the opportunity to influence what that definition becomes. Revolutionaries don’t just burn the rules. They write new ones. In destroying the standard, they create the standard. It’s creative destruction at its finest. Will some people dislike you? Sure, that’s the way it works. Real leaders are willing, even eager, to be disliked and even hated, not because it makes them feel important, but because they know it’s the price of change, and no one can pay that price but them. Do you have that kind of courage? If not, it pays to find it. No one pays attention to a coward for very long. And if all you do is what’s “right,” then a coward is exactly what you become. About the Author: Jon Morrow is Associate Editor of Copyblogger and Cofounder of Partnering Profits. Get more from Jon on Twitter. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change your subscription or subscribe

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

[Copyblogger] The Future of Copyblogger

The Future of Copyblogger The Future of Copyblogger What a wild three-and-a-half years, huh? Copyblogger started out as a way for me to demonstrate what I knew and could do in order to collaborate on new media projects with others. Now it's the hub of a business enterprise that supports three families, two single guys, and a host of domesticated animals. And we're just getting started. Of course, that means having a clear picture of where we want to go is pretty essential. Guidance from the Wise Bald One I'm not going to pretend that Seth Godin and I are best buddies who hang out on weekends and major holidays. But if there's anyone I'd point to as a mentor, it's him. For years that came solely from his books, which in many cases was more than enough. In the last couple of years, however, Seth has been very generous with his time and wisdom when I needed guidance. A couple of months ago, an email from Seth arrived with some unsolicited advice. Actually, it wasn't advice, but a question: What kind of tribe are you building? Over the last 8 months, we've been experimenting with stretching the bounds of what Copyblogger covered, reviewed, and recommended. I think Seth thought we had gone off track, or lost the path. In hindsight, maybe he was right. At first, I was annoyed. Then, I started giving it a great deal of thought. Then, Sonia and I started to talk about it… a lot. The result was what's become known as the Two Tribes post. And that turned out to be a defining moment. The Intersection of Pragmatism and Progress Sonia and I are both students of online marketing. Not any one particular kind of online marketing, mind you, other than marketing that works. That doesn't mean we adopt things as is. The key to effective marketing is to be context appropriate, regardless of the tactic or strategy. So we're very good at creative adaptation when it comes to taking, for example, an effective tactic that is being used in a sleazy manner, and making it non-sleazy. Or seeing a touchy-feely social media concept that makes sense, and tweaking it so it can actually convert prospects into customers. To put this in context, Copyblogger has always been extremely selective about what we recommend to you in terms of paid offers. We had to be convinced through our own direct experience with the product or service that it had value and worked. Products or tools have needed to be extremely useful. We've only recommended products that made it easy to make your money back, within a realistic timeframe and with skills that we are confident you already possess. We didn't necessarily care how those products or tools were marketed. We figured you'd just creatively adapt the tactics or strategies in a context-appropriate way. That's not enough any more. From this point forward, we're only going to recommend and promote products that truly embody what we stand for. It's all about the Third Tribe. What Does the Third Tribe Stand For? We seek to combine the practical, solid techniques of the Internet Marketing so-called “gurus” and the ethical, content-focused, high-quality approach of the blogging world. It's what we call the Third Tribe, and you're going to be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months. In practical terms, it means you'll be seeing many more Copyblogger products, and far fewer from other people. My greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that we strive to make our in-house projects like Teaching Sells and Thesis not just good enough… but as good as we possibly can (and that's an ongoing process). One of the best ways to ensure that standard is to do more product development ourselves. So that's what we'll do. If we do make an outside recommendation, it will be for someone who "gets it." They may not be household names . . . yet. But they're creating solid tools that work for real people, without hype and nonsense. Copyblogger products will be created for smart businesspeople (even if you're not too sure of your business skills yet), not naive "business opportunity" seekers who are constantly looking for the newest magic pill. They'll be products for people who take action, not dreamers who think about making millions overnight. The money really does roll in while you sleep with the right online business model… but only after you put in the time and hard work to get to that point. Anyone who tells you differently can't be trusted. Over the past few years, Copyblogger has grown thanks to a very high standard for the free content we produce, and that's not going to change. It's just that we feel that an even higher standard applies to things you pay for. Thought you might like to know. Especially since without you, there'd be no reason for us. Thanks for everything: past, present, and future. About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of DIY Themes, creator of the innovative Thesis Theme for WordPress. Get more from Brian on Twitter. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change your subscription or subscribe

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

[Copyblogger] Blogging is Dead (Again)

Blogging is Dead (Again) Blogging is Dead (Again) Welp, it's time once again to log out of WordPress and turn out the lights. Once again, blogging is dead. Seems at least once a year, a flurry of discussion erupts around the eminent demise of blogging. And then the rest of us shrug our shoulders, grab some coffee, and get back to creating content that further solidifies our web presence. Don't get me wrong… as always, change is definitely happening. But it doesn't mean blogging is dead this time around anymore than it has every other time this discussion pops up. Reports of Blogging's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Like the last time I addressed this topic, the basic argument is that the rapid growth of Facebook and Twitter has dampened the urge to blog. Since social networking is much easier than creating long-form content, why bother blogging? Chris Brogan delivered the immediate logical response—that while snack-sized social networking content has its place, from a marketing standpoint it only works in conjunction with longer, more thoughtful content. And while blogging veteran Steve Rubel worries about long-form content in a short-attention-span world, he'll continue to blog—because he knows he has valuable ideas to share that don't fit in 140 characters. The impact of Facebook and Twitter is a powerful trend that shouldn't be dismissed (in fact, content creators should be using at least one of them). But the story remains the same: people who mainly want to socialize, share links, and post pictures of their cat should be using social networks instead of blogging, and that's exactly what's happening. Those of us with different aspirations continue to blog, and smartly use social networking sites to promote our content while adding value in those venues. Whether you're trying to build an online business, market your stuff, or promote a cause, those who seek maximum influence know that creating valuable longer content is the way to go. Charles Arthur of the Guardian pins this donkey of a discussion on the tail: People are still reading blogs, and other content. But for the creation of amateur content, their heyday for the wider population has, I think, already passed. The short head of blogging thrives. Its long tail, though, has lapsed into desuetude. So, are you in the short head (or “short tail”) of blogging? What's the Short Tail of Blogging? When people think of the "short tail" of blogs, they generally think of the large blogs that reside in the Technorati Top 100. The blogs that are really new media versions of traditional publications, but have a lot of unique social media characteristics that set them apart from mainstream media (at least for now). I think that definition of the short tail is short sighted. Big blogs that rely on a CPM advertising model are naturally prominent, because they have to attract massive amounts of traffic to make any real money. But there are plenty of business-oriented blogs that drive significant revenue without massive traffic, because they use content to attract prospects and convert them into new customers. Software, training, freelance services, real estate, wine, art and more are sold thanks to the power of attraction, trust, and conversion that blogs possess (when done well). Those who recognize the decline in casual blogging also admit the power serious blogging retains: It's also essential to remember that unlike the transient nature of Twitter and the great walled garden of Facebook, blog posts are effectively conversations that are eternally visible through Google, meaning they have more inherent value to brands. In the broadest sense, a "brand" is anyone with a message with a point beyond what you're having for lunch. If that sounds like you, better stick with the blogging. Even if you never call it that. It's Content Marketing, Right? Here at Copyblogger, we've been teaching the intersection of content and copywriting for three-a-half years. We started well before the term "content marketing" came into vogue, and yet content has been the driving force behind online marketing since the inception of the web. Content marketing is really what this is all about. Blogging (in the sense of the software and the best practices that help content spread and community grow) is simply the centerpiece of the effective and efficient practice of online content marketing. So forget blogging as a movement, if you'd like. But keep the content marketing rolling. Image by Hugh. About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of DIY Themes, creator of the innovative Thesis Theme for WordPress. Get more from Brian on Twitter. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change your subscription or subscribe

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

your website

I can put your site at the top of a search engines listings. This is no joke and I can show proven results from all our past clients. If this is something you might be interested in, send me a reply with the web addresses you want to promote and the best way to contact you with some options.

Thanks in advance,

Jason Fitzpatrick
Vertical Listings Optimization
3636 Gateway Center
San Diego, CA 92101

[Copyblogger] Why Preaching to the Choir is a Good Thing

Why Preaching to the Choir is a Good Thing Why Preaching to the Choir is a Good Thing "Hey man, spare some change?" Rain or shine, the professional panhandler works a busy corner every day in my neighborhood. He sets up shop right by the ATM, on the theory that people who have just withdrawn a hundred bucks are more likely to give him a dollar or two. The location is good, but prospecting is tough. Day in, day out, he sits on a stoop, asking people for a couple of bucks. He sees it as a numbers game – 98% of the people who pass by will say no or just ignore him, but if he asks enough people, a few will pony up. Is panhandling effective? Strictly speaking, I guess you could say it works . . . but most of us would agree that asking random people for money isn’t a great career choice. You have to deal with continuous rejection, your income is wildly unpredictable, and you get wet when it rains. Too Many Marketers are Like Panhandlers "Hey man, spare some change? Check out this great offer I’ve got . . . it's just what you need, you’ll love it, really." On an intuitive level, most of us understand that it’s better to deliver our message to the right people. We know that we shouldn’t panhandle – but then we go out and do the opposite of what we know is right. We model ourselves on the salesman who goes door-to-door hawking vacuum cleaners. Sure, he might sell a couple by the end of the day, but do we really want to be that guy? I call this approach evangelism. The goal is to change someone’s mind and convince them to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do. Why Evangelism Doesn't Work Most of us have deeply-held beliefs about everything from religion to politics to what kind of sandwich we like to eat for lunch. You probably aren’t going to change my mind about almost anything, and I’m probably not going to change yours. So let’s not try to sell unwanted vacuum cleaners to each other. The alternative to evangelism is recruitment. Instead of knocking on doors or begging for spare change, recruitment is all about opening your own doors to the people who are already naturally predisposed to your message. Instead of needing to be sold, these people are dying to hear what you have for them. At its best, recruitment involves welcoming a select group of people and challenging them to be a part of something bigger than themselves. When people feel simultaneously welcomed into a group and challenged to go above and beyond their current limits, you’ve got a group that's eager for your attention. I call this a small army of remarkable people. Seth calls it a tribe, Gretchen calls them super-fans, Sonia calls them a village. Regardless of terminology, these are the people you want in your group. You can think of them as your basic church choir. And preaching to the choir is a good thing. “Come if You’re a Good Fit” Instead of “Come As You Are” Recruitment also requires the gentle filtering out of people who aren’t a good fit for what you offer. Wish them well . . . then wish them to go somewhere else. Most people won’t pitch a dollar in the panhandler’s bucket, and most people probably aren’t suited to what you have to offer. That’s okay. Ignore the atheists outside the church. Rise above the noise, recruit a choir of your own, and start preaching. Here’s wishing you well in your next sermon. About the Author: Chris Guillebeau preaches to a choir of remarkable people at the Art of Nonconformity site. His 279 Days to Overnight Success manifesto offers a free case study of how to build a career in new media. Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisguillebeau. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change your subscription or subscribe

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

[Copyblogger] New Bloggers: Need Traffic?

New Bloggers: Need Traffic? New Bloggers: Need Traffic? If you’re just getting started with blogging and you’re struggling to attract traffic to your site, check out this video (no opt-in required). It’s free content that explains some smart traffic attraction strategies. You can also opt-in for The Roadmap to Becoming a Blogger report. Back when we asked you about your blogging frustrations, getting a decent amount of traffic to your blog was one of the top concerns (among many others). Yaro Starak has carved out a niche for himself helping beginning bloggers make the move to a real online business, and he practices what he preaches. If you’re having a hard time, Yaro can help. As you might guess, this great free content is a lead-up to Yaro’s paid course - Become a Blogger. We here at Copyblogger don’t offer any sort of entry-level blogging course, so I’ve always partnered with Yaro over the years so our newer bloggers could access this kind of training. It’s a valuable education in the fundamentals of smart blogging presented in a clear and compelling fashion. Watch the traffic video here. Download the blogging report here. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change your subscription or subscribe

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498