Tara Gentile is a savvy business owner who runs her flagship online but is also part of a creative team blogging about the power of independence, creation and handmade art over at Scoutie Girl. It is within her post entitled The Art and Business of Crafting Your Online Self that I found some thoughts to ponder on.
So I asked myself:
Who am I online?
Who am I to my readers?
As I read this revealing post, Tara shares her thoughts on what has gotten her this far in the e-business world. Moreover, the post reads as a letter and the take away I got from it was building your relationships online defines your essence in business.
Now if you remember back when I talked about my history, I touched upon how I have grown as a blogger. Most importantly, I have clearly defined my online self in terms of the relationships I am building and it is this final element in the blogging process that kicked off the plateau for me.
You see, over the last few months a lot has happened and reasons why I keep at it is evident. I don’t document my discoveries to gloat but I know that readers who follow each other support one another in purpose. So I would not give up the work which went through into getting here even if I had to do it again. I only wish there was more that I could have done.
The thing that gets me pumped is the agility and persistence which has consistently driven me each and everyday. Here’s the funny part, I couldn’t have done it without my readers. It is because of them and other bloggers whom I have build a relationship online with that I am inspired, influenced and more motivated. I just couldn’t do it alone.
So what are the possibilities of making it happen?
I have come to feel much more confident with where I’m heading towards. As blogging is bringing forth greater challenges than I could have ever imagined, instead of focusing on crippling my vision to start, I put in the efforts to outline, share and disclose those worries with the readers here on this blog.
Along the way, I have surrounded myself with the necessary information which have so far secured me in my knowledge until now. On a side note, I don’t let the thought of being secured fuse the so-called false sense of hope which can encapsulate your mind when you’re excited. You have to keep challenging yourself to think further.
That lead me to overcome the obstacle towards guest blogging. It is through venturing out that I find myself anticipating the communication which comes from a community. So far, the journey has provided quite a ride. I’m lovin’ it! There’s so much to share and much to so provide. Stay tune for what will come!
Why not take a look at some of those guest posts below:
- Making Ideas Happen Review and Giveaway on Designer’s Digest
- Understanding Your Chances in Life on A Meaningful Existence
- Tools to Build Links With Any Blog Online on eBlogTip
In reflection, taking on the challenges that comes to you is part of accepting the responsibility towards your role in the business game and it is this game alone that your inner desire to become successful works.
With exposure comes responsibility
As this blog put me in front of more eyes, I feel obliged to present myself, especially to new visitors by assisting them in whatever way I can. Overall, convenience with information is my niche. Notice how, the subtitle of this site is entitled Relax, It’s Only Process. That plays on the underlying perception which I take towards tackling information.
So in rearranging the blog to present the topics, categories and even suggested sources clearly, each day as I look at the conversions, I ask myself ‘Who would read this?’ Sometimes, I feel the answers aren’t clear but in checking the stats, readers are clicking through. The numbers are there but the one thing that seems to stay slow is the comments. Without feedback to your blog, you’re as good as nothing.
Doing something about feedback
I decided to participate in a 100 Blog Comments Challenge which will put one post out there to see how it will be received. So far, this challenge has brought in a steady stream of 3-8 comments a day. By the end of the month, Jacinda Dean over at Creating My Online Business will tally up all the bloggers and their final results. Check out my challenges page to see more of how this works.
Another thing which I’d like to work on is connect with my followers on Twitter and Facebook. Reason being is I am focused more on the production part that the communication is suffering. So there’s a little juggling going on in terms of participation online as it is in reality. You can’t hermit yourself up and expect results. Marek Policha kind of brought that to my attention when he wrote Stop Ignoring Everybody. So who you are matters.
Here’s where you might be seen for it:
- in your comments
- in your tweets
- in the conversations with other bloggers on their blog
- in the posts you write
It was after the 100th post that I thought I would push myself a bit more towards being sociable besides keeping busy behind WordPress on my own site. I believe the efforts are clear. I’m committed but I’m also open to ideas which will bring me closer to my readers. ‘Nuff said.
Who are you online and how does that matter to you? Share your thoughts below.
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