Darren Rowse emailed me a couple weeks ago and said he was doing a project called 31 days to a better blog. Its pretty slick basically every day in April you get a new post/chapter on how to make a better blog.
A.D.D Sidenote – If you are a blogger or thinking of starting a blog you should read Problogger every day. Its one of the few sites out there that
Anyway I was honored when Darren asked me to contribute to one of his posts (and many other bloggers) by asking us which of our posts we considered “must reads”. He then choose 1 of them and posted it. I thought I would share all 3 I submitted to him with you:
1) I Used To Be Fat – written May 14th 2006
This post was one of the most difficult for me to write but its by far the one that people email me about the most. The whole reason why blogs work is because you can be personable and connect with your readers. In this post I share the most life changing event in my life with my readers.
2) Why You Should Embrace Negative Press – written Feb 21st 2008
Every blogger who grows in popularity is going to get flamed. When they do many of them stop in their tracks and run for the hills. I have had about 6 years of dealing with this and In this post I not only talk about how to deal with negative press but how to embrace it.
3) Worst Ideas To Make Money – written Sept 4th 2006
I think a lot of bloggers miss the fact you need to show your readers you are the same dumbass they are… or sometime dumberer. Its hard to connect with people when you always talk about how awesome you are. In this post I talk about some of the dumbest ideas I had in 2006 ( I mean to update this with 10 new ones every year just never get around to it.).
Anyway these were the ones I thought of off the top of my head.
April 26, 2009 at 11:27 am
Being humble and patient are what worked for me and my Blog. I don’t try to monetize it in anyway, I just provide valuable real life content that will make your life better. Anything worth anything takes time and I have also found it takes time to build trust in your content and what you do. There are more important things in life than money. Like the environments health and spending as much time as possible with our families, etc. Money and consuming your life thinking about money is boring as fuck, get out into nature and experience real life. Time is of the essence. Full speed ahead with your goals and mine! PEACE
April 26, 2009 at 12:29 pm
i am agree with you eden. Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful.What great words to live by in our daily lives! As we search for happiness and success fulfilling our life’s mission, it is important to be passionate, driven and committed.
April 26, 2009 at 11:29 am
I was seriously shocked to see your photos
@ Blogging can make you lose 100 Kg’s – I did post all your photos around 2 years back here – http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/blogging-can-make-you-lose-100-kgs/
April 26, 2009 at 11:37 am
Yeah this is Shoemonies way of making deeplinking, and trying to get his website search engine optimized. Nice trick, but I have already read those posts money maker.
April 26, 2009 at 11:52 am
You SEO people are so amazingly pathetic. I feel for you =(
April 26, 2009 at 2:54 pm
You SEO people? What do you mean “you SEO people”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlVKgl_zCQ
April 26, 2009 at 3:22 pm
You SEO people are jealous?
April 27, 2009 at 2:17 am
I noticed through several of your posts that you hate seo but I don’t understand why considering that its great for getting traffic to your site
April 26, 2009 at 11:57 am
I smell a lame attack hook…
April 26, 2009 at 12:02 pm
nah i let them hang themselves. Its way to easy to own them publicly =P
April 26, 2009 at 12:31 pm
The truth is there is no secret. There are only true facts on how you should optimize your blogs, articles, ads or whatever.Most important is the content. Content is your best vehicle for driving traffic to your pages. Quality content will keep traffic flooding to your door.
April 26, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I just finished reading ProBlogger-Secrets for blogging your way to a six figure income written by Darren Rowse and Chris Garret. As an experienced blogger and owner of a popular blog directory I have read many books on the subject of blogging.
April 26, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I believe that resilience is a character trait that is often overlooked. Most successful people are criticized by others at some point in their career. It is their ability to take that negative energy and convert it into positive momentum that sets them apart from the pack.
April 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm
These are some great articles shoe no doubt. The first post about the weight lose is very inspirational. Keep up the good work!
April 26, 2009 at 12:53 pm
LOLHAHA, nice responses! BTW thanks! I go to OA and am currently on the upswing
.
It meant a lot to me to see one of my heroes who “has been there, done that”!
I met you at ADSENSE on Wednesday, thanks for your comments!
April 26, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I am a subscriber to problogger.net and do not miss out on any posts from Darren. As I read this post of yours I realize that this is one of the tasks that Darren had asked us to do in one of the posts in 31 days to a better blog.
Darren had asked us to create linking post which could link to our best posts that were nowhere to be seen on the first page and were lying buried somewhere in the archives. I was wondering how to do it and had sidelined it. But when a successful person like you did it today I realize the worth of each small piece of advice from Darren.
Thanks for the post and the indirect guidance in it.
April 26, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Darren has a really nice thing going with 31 days to a better blog. He also has a really cool forum to go along with this. I think everyone should sign up and visit the forum. Greg Ellison
April 26, 2009 at 2:08 pm
This is why I like Shoemeister, He just doesn’t give a fuck.
Showing up at top conferences in shorts and a tee…Man, I don’t care how grimy you are. All that matters is your eating…GOOD…
I would have showed up in a hoody with a bottle of liquor…
Later!!
Go Cavs!
April 27, 2009 at 2:21 am
haha your a funny individual you did make some funny points in your comment lol!!
April 26, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Everything is about optimization and good content and basically getting it out there to your readers. No questions asked
April 26, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I must say that you are doing great work, Shoemoney…
Have signed up for Darren’s program since you vouch for it.
April 26, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Shoe, how much do you weigh now?
You listed some of your very old posts, but come on Shoe, your posts now just aren’t as great. I know you’re busy, but what happened to the real content?
-Mike
April 26, 2009 at 4:11 pm
The fat one was really surprising. I thought always that you were as fit as you are now.
April 26, 2009 at 4:54 pm
My personal favorite is “Worst Ideas To Make Money.” I recall reading that one years ago and it really must have made an impression because I can remember to this day what a good reading it was.
April 26, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I liked the “Worst Ideas To Make Money”. But all of them are equally good!
April 26, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I definitely appreciate when successful bloggers have admitted stupid things they have done to make money. Failing is under-rated.
April 26, 2009 at 9:47 pm
WOW Shoe, you’re a dumbass sometimes? I can’t believe, and here I am perfect all the time!
April 26, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I am most moved by personal accounts. The weight post to me was what made me return a lot. I have family members with this issue so I learned a lot. To me sincerity and good information are most important.
Dee
April 26, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Passion and willingness to help other people is what makes one a successful blogger.
I believe to what others say, and that is content. Quality contents keep visitors coming back.
And so I write quality articles for my visitors.
April 26, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Pro Blogger is awesome Blog who always share secrets of Successful Blogging. When you start sharing your knowledge with other it automatically doubles up. You start becoming popular on Internet & many new bloggers starts following you.
As far as Blogging world is concerned according to me Patience always PAYS at the end…Cheers.
April 27, 2009 at 2:41 am
These were all excellent. The “used to be fat” article was very inspiring, your worst ideas post was hilarious – and the other had some excellent information regarding bad press. Great post – thanks for sharing.
April 27, 2009 at 3:33 am
I read your article carefully because a lot of very useful information that I get, thanks a lot
April 27, 2009 at 6:22 am
Hi,
A very smart and diplomatic answer. It is really appreciable and generous
Gracia
April 27, 2009 at 8:46 am
What was up with the ADD remark it just ended mid-sentence.
Also we all know how well you are with negative press from the Disa Johnson scandal thing.
April 27, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Thanks very much for this. I’ve always been inspired by your story, your struggle and what you’ve managed to achieve
Butch Decossas
April 27, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I liked the one about the worst ideas to make money. Very good read.
April 27, 2009 at 1:52 pm
First of all-I agree ProBlogger is awesome. ShoeMoney, ProBlogger, and BlogStorm are my top 3.
Secondly, kudos for the “I Used To Be Fat” post.
I used to be fat too, Jeremy. All through my growing up years up till my early 20s. My heaviest I was about 200 pounds. Then I moved to LA and took it off. But, talking about these issues makes us more able to relate to the public…and makes them want to subscribe to your blog, trust your advice, and finally… spend money based upon your recommendations.
Thirdly….I didn’t really have a third point, but I read some where that important posts come in 3s…
April 27, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Definitely the best posts on your sites. And for some reason, I don’t find Darren’s blog interesting, although the man surely knows a lot…
April 27, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Glad to see you giving Darren (ProBlogger) a shout out!
His blog is AWESOME and full of valuable tips for bloggers just starting out as well as those who have been doing it for years.
I always learn something new whenever I read his posts, which is why I continue tocheck out his blog daily.
If you haven’t done so already, go check out his site now, you won’t be disappointing!
April 28, 2009 at 7:17 pm
nah, the best (worse) idea to make money was some guy that was posting on your site that said “follow me” and I’ll show you how to get rich… and when you saw his site, he had 7 subscribers. lol
April 29, 2009 at 7:50 am
thank you, is a news and information that is valuable
May 4, 2009 at 2:00 am
Really?it is a great information.i love this site…very informative..
May 13, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I have to say that your “I Used to be Fat” post was pretty danged inspiring. Actually, it motivated me to start a new blog on the topic, not because I’m going to try to rake in the money with it, but because it’s about something I’ve struggled with ever since I was 17 (weight).
There’s a reason I read this blog almost every day!
July 15, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I had sometime back read a post at Problogger, where Darren had emphasized the need for writing a post that linked to other posts and the importance of these linking posts. Here I see one such post.