Guidelines For New Blog Owners
For a few weeks or months now, you have your blog. Layout is fantastic and have a few guest articles published on other blogs. Because of that, you’ve gained some backlinks. Despite all these, traffic is still slow. You are beginning to lose interest because of this. Things are not moving the way you want them to be despite your efforts, despite your hardwork. You’ve read a lot of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) stuff and it seems you’ve followed but still nothing. Pretty soon, you’ll give up and eventually lose your blog into the world of anonymity. Does this sound familiar to you? What else can you do in this situation?
If your blog is meant for business and it seems like you are in the verge of bankruptcy and have few options left, let me tell you one thing that I strongly suggest. Read on to discover.
Collaboration
Did it ever occur to you to team up with other blogs from the same niche as you have? Yeah, I know you wanted domination all by yourself, who wouldn’t? But at this point, teaming up with someone is sometimes a viable alternative. There is nothing wrong with collaboration. There are numerous businesses out there that would be happy to team up with you.
Collaboration is often valuable and has its advantages. However, before you plunge into it, ensure that the collaborative relationship is win-win situation. Formulate a plan and agree with your partner in writing and you have to stick with what you agreed upon. Everything has to be clear upfront. Additionally, with this collaboration, you get a lot of benefits such as: (1) you have a partner that will push you to do more rather than doing it half- heartedly. It’s similar to going to a gym alone rather than with a buddy, which could be more enjoyable than just plain working out; (2) two minds are definitely better than one; and lastly (3) you have someone to strategize with.
It’s a proven fact that when you work with someone else, there is an added bonus of sharing knowledge, networking, skills or personal qualities. Adages like:
1. “Two heads are better than one.”
2. “The sum is greater than parts.”
3. “In union there is strength.”
4. “Achieve synergy.”
5. “One-stop shopping.” (sharing content to widen your market reach)
These are all highly applicable and would bring great benefits for both you and your prospective partner.
Strategic Alliances
On the other hand, you could also decide on collaborating on certain areas of your business. You can collaborate technologically, such that you share advancement of your layout or PHP programming or anything related with technology. On the other hand, you could also collaborate in terms of sharing contents or just enriching each other. Similarly, there are other areas where you can collaborate strategically. This can include:
• Market response and trends – together you can respond faster
• Market development – together you could try to enter new markets or develop one through combined efforts.
• Product-Market (PMC) – jointly you could develop one and put it out in the market
• Scaling or profit improvement
• Research and investments – together you could share the costs
• Expansion – together you can perhaps expand your hardware and share
There are endless areas you would want to consider and experience the benefits it will give you and your strategic partner.
Additional Considerations
As in any team effort or team building, there are several additional considerations that you have to consider. Both of you should be on the same wavelength, so to speak; have the same priorities and both of you make strong agreements. Be wary of people who are dishonest. Of course that’s one risk you have to take, but nevertheless, you should always be on the look out for these people.
Additionally, before thinking of collaborating with someone, you should ask yourself the following important questions:
1. Do I know what I want to achieve with my blog (vision)?
2. Do I share with my partner the same visions?
3. Can we achieve our common goal within our limits?
Teaming up with another blog brings a lot of new beginnings and perspectives. With the dawn of minimalism in terms of technology, perhaps collaboration with other blogs is the next best thing. In the future, shared blogs in the form of social networks is highly possible for those Smartphone owners who would want blogs to appear short but informative. With people clamoring for faster information on their hands, collaboration can perhaps be an answer. Maintaining the identity of your blog is a must but giving what your readers want is of your prime consideration.
But before I go way off from what this topic is about and doze off with my dreams, let me pose you guys a question. Is teaming up with other blogs possible? If so, what are its advantages and disadvantages? Share me your thoughts. I look forward to reading it.
