Wednesday Words
To Go Where Your VisionPoints, a few inspiration points for you and your business.
I walk slowly,
but I never walk backward.
—Abraham Lincoln
Growing your business, online or off, isn’t quick and it isn’t easy. Lincoln wasn’t trying to make blogging part of his marketing mix; he wasn’t huddled in a dark alley, wondering why business refused to find him.
Lincoln was just trying to change the world.
Slow growth is sustainable, recession-proof, long-term growth. Plan it out and work hard for it. Slow’s fine. Never walk backward.
For Amy.
Grow and be well,
Kelly Erickson
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16 July 2008, 6:48 am
Yes.
16 July 2008, 7:03 am
James,
Regards,
Kelly
16 July 2008, 9:06 am
I would have liked to have met Lincoln.
I bet you he was pretty funny. But he wouldn’t put up with any crap.
16 July 2008, 9:35 am
Can you imagine if Lincoln did have a blog? I wonder how that would go… Of course the name would be a no-brainer: “Lincoln bLogs”
I’ve said it before: often the biggest stumbling block for any successful writing career (or other artistic career) is the business side. This is certainly true for me. Extroverts tend to do better in business (sales, at least); writers tend to be introverts. Even artists can do the math there…
The business side of freelance writing has been my biggest struggle. I was channel surfing last night before turning in, and came across one of those reality TV shows they are knocking out lately.
This one was about a clothes designer, Amy something or other. The preamble during the opening credits talked about her having artistic talent but no business sense. Her (apparently) much-sought-after designs were in Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and a bunch of high-end stores, including her own boutique in Hollywood. Yet her electricity was about to be cut off.
If the show didn’t look like all the other “aimed-at-the-slowest-ship-in-the-fleet” schlock out there, it might have been worth watching.
One thing I do realize is that yes, you need a plan. And you also need to constantly evaluate that plan. Blogs can be a successful part of the marketing mix — that, I believe, has been illustrated. But what I’m learning is that the type of blog you decide to write is just as important as anything else.
In other words, Lincoln would likely gain a wider following with his political blog than his wrestling one. And what type of blogs will work best for us? Well, that’s the question, isn’t it?
~Graham
16 July 2008, 10:28 am
You and James are on the same brainwave today with your posts.
This is why I am so cautious with my blog and how it is growing. I am taking my time. No major flag-waving annoucements…no grand parades. Just post after post, building up readers, same amount of posts every week, reliable, predictable. Not every day, but the same amount each week…
consistent…focused…
I loved Lincoln. Have a couple of books on him. Smart guy. Bi-Polar…smart…creative…died on my birthday. That was sad.
16 July 2008, 12:23 pm
Slow is good, but fast is far more exciting.
I know, it’s not easy or quick. Rome wasn’t built in a day, blahblahblah. I know. I get told this a lot when people see me excited about something. And of course, it’s a cliché for a reason. Also, I guess you have to make sure it’s not too big too fast. You could end up spreading yourself thin and burning out and whatever. It’s what happened to Chapters before Indigo snapped it up.
I hate the thought of slow growth, but I fully understand the concept of planning well!
steph’s last blog post…Fantasy Freak
16 July 2008, 12:40 pm
Hi Kelly,
I posted a response this morning — but it must have disappeared into the ether! (I hate when that happens…)
Anyway, to summarize:
Planning and reviewing that plan is definitely key, and that was sort of the point of my original blog post. Before I started blogging, I read other blogs, got involved in the communities, deconstructed how blogs “work” and tried to find a niche I could get into myself.
Now that I’ve been blogging for several months, I think it’s important to evaluate its impact. Like any marketing effort, it’s good to review and tweak what is not working quite as well. Of course it depends on the purpose of your blog, but if it is a “business-related” blog then this is essential, in my estimation.
I was very glad at the response to that blog post, and got a lot of good ideas. I was also glad to see a ripple effect to other blogs. I think it is especially important to question all Web 2.0 tools from blogs to Twitter to whatever else comes our way. Not dismiss them mind you, but approach them with a critical eye. If we blindly use them, they will likely have no value. If we try to nail down how and why they work *for us*, we will ultimately be more successful.
But then, isn’t that just part of effective planning?
Equally important is *what* to blog about. If Lincoln had a blog for example, it would likely be more successful if he blogged about politics rather than his love of wrestling. Both would do well, but I think the one would “beat” the other.
Of course choosing a name for it would be a no-brainer, no matter what the subject: “Lincoln bLogs”.
~Graham
16 July 2008, 1:49 pm
Friar,
I’ve heard he had a wicked sense of humor. I’d love to have met him, too.
Graham,
Oops. First comment is moderated here, now you’re “in.” No more disappearing acts.
You make excellent points. I dunno about the wrestling blog, though… lowest common denominator thinking might work to its advantage, though I personally would rather read his political blog.!
Another good reason to focus, and not write about every interest you have. If he combined the two it would be awful.
LOL Lincoln bLogs!
I agree about questioning 2.0 tools, too. Where are we all getting these extra hours in our day, and to what end? Stealing time from business or family had better be worth it. (Personally, I stole from other hobbies, which now get a tenth of the time they used to, and from my sleep. *yawn*
Welcome, and thanks for your comment. I hope you’ll stick around!
Wendi,
He’s always stealing my ideas. Quite suspicious.
Slow and steady gets frustrating at times (Friar? frustrations?), but it really is The Way. Otherwise, burnout awaits, online or in brick-and-mortar business.
Steph,
Yes, as I said on Graham’s excellent post, I’d stand on my head in Times Square for a hundred-comment post or 1,000 daily readers. Fast growth is exciting.
If I did that, I’d have a whole different blog. It wouldn’t represent the best of me. Like Lincoln’s wrestling blog, it would represent me pandering to drive statistics.
Regards,
Kelly
16 July 2008, 2:57 pm
Kelly — Here I thought I’d come here to find more vulgarities offered up in my name… but this was good too.
16 July 2008, 3:24 pm
Amy,
Sorry to disappoint. (I think you started the vulgar ball rolling last time, I just noticed it.)
Yes, your post and the comments were so intensely felt yesterday, I knew exactly where I wanted to go with this quote that I’ve been holding onto for a long time. A ton of wisdom from old Abe in a very few words.
Glad you like!
Until later,
Kelly
16 July 2008, 5:25 pm
Lincoln bLogs….Graham, LMAO…..excellent points too.
16 July 2008, 8:10 pm
Lincoln Logs…and Bush Blocks!
Friar’s last blog post…Friar’s Random Rants (Part II)
16 July 2008, 8:26 pm
Friar—perfect.
16 July 2008, 9:05 pm
What about moonwalking, does that count?
(I’d like to see Abe Lincoln do the moonwalk. Except he’s dead, and I’m not quite sure if we’d be able to animate the skeleton. Minor detail.)
Speaking of vulgarity, the words “Lincoln Logs” always seemed a bit off-colour to me. I dunno. Just doesn’t seem like a good name for a toy.
16 July 2008, 10:38 pm
@Brett
Even worse: Truman Turds.
Friar’s last blog post…Friar’s Random Rants (Part II)
17 July 2008, 12:30 am
Did you all know that Frank Lloyd Wright’s son John invented Lincoln logs? Really.
17 July 2008, 6:31 am
Brett,
For his kids, Abe might do it. For you, no.
Friar,
….
Janice,
Ah, someone serious! I heard that in a class a long time ago, but I’d completely forgotten. Storing for my next Trivial Pursuit battle to the death with my Dad.
Later,
Kelly