Blogging is pretty easy to implement - if you have the patience to dedicate yourself to the process on a regular and prolonged basis. You simply need to decide that creating quality, inspired content is what you are going to do. Decide to do this consistently for a minimum of the next six months - and don't stop. 

Some good news. Even some of the more elusive tactics and strategies that help your blog rank better are not difficult to implement - once you have done and repeated the process several times. 

It's kind-of like riding a bike... I know I know, cliche, but it's the best analogy that I can think of since there are many moving parts and factors that keep you from eating pavement, but once you have your balance and feel how 'riding a bike' works and the physics behind it, you will soon be pulling tricks and maybe will even be mountain-biking down some insane terrain! Maybe. 

Having a voice and being heard requires some skills, but your content is given a louder voice through the effective use of video, social media, and being an active citizen in the blog, forum and basically (the Google, Bing, and Yahoo) content world. 

Just remember that everyone is different and not everyone reaches the same height in anything in life. Just do your best and be your best and you will have reached success. YOUR SUCCESS! :D And with your authentic voice you will have provided the best, most valuable contribution to the digital world - YOU. the real, authentic, imperfect, quirky, and 100% YOU!

So why not just pay for traffic and forget about this tedious blogging thing? Valid question. Creating a balance between the two is actually the best way to go. Consider the analogy of getting healthier. Just go with it. :D Are you simply going to eat healthier or will you also add a workout routine that includes muscle building and cardiovascular exercises in addition to the good fuel that you are giving your body? 

Will doing only one or the other improve your health? Sure. Absolutely. Will doing both - on a regular and consistent basis - super-charge your efforts and get you to your desired health sooner? Absolutely.

The Three Main Tools or Areas of Focus for the Beginning Blogger:
  1. Your Site
    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Is the process, configuration, or method of improving the visibility of your site to the search-engines through a natural/unpaid/organic search result channel. The more "optimized" your content is, the more it will have an improved dialog with the search engines and thus get better rankings in searches based on the "key words" that you have optimized your content for. Later on this.
    • Platform: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Concrete5, among other content management and blogging platforms - including some that are already hosted and free to use (typically with some limitations). These are considered "content management" because you actually don't need to know HTML or any coding skills - all you need to know (or learn) is how to navigate and configure the software platform of your choice. These are highly customizable and reasonably user friendly, however do take a little time and patience to learn their relative configurations and flow... Which is easiest? I would say that WordPress is.
  2. Your Content
    • Should be written with inspiration and have real value. Ask yourself, "why would I read this," or "What value does this have for me, the reader?
    • Find your niche, blog regularly, and just flow. Write as often and as much as possible - as well as having some focus on your niche in your writing. A ball-park minimum should be in the neighborhood of about 500 words per blog. Don't forget to add images and video to your blogs as well - both for aesthetic and SEO reasons.
    • Do these things regularly and you will see results! Both in the quality of your blogging as well as in the attention that you attract!
  3. Your Connections
    • Who are you linking to and who's linking to you? This is really important to your rankings.
    • What social media sites are you connecting to? Does your blog and do your links flow naturally throughout your site?All of this is important to consider when creating an online, content driven presence.

In summary, all of this here is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Having laser-focused intention with your decision to start blogging, having patience - realizing that it will take time to see results - and finally the consistent and regular effort in creating valuable content and in polishing your blog are all necessary in order to reach your blogging and online business goals. 

In closing, just remember what the search engines - especially Google - in the business of... Yes, you guessed it. They are in the business of finding relevant content to our searches. If you have relevant blog posts and the right authority associated to your site, you will be ranked favorably...

 
So what are these secrets?

Well don't get mad because they are really simple, yet not many people have the discipline to implement them on a consistent basis.

  1. First, you have to treat your business like a business. This is the most important of all. If you don't make the switch in your mind, you will not get the results that you want and deserve. I like how one person put it, "treat your business like a million dollar business and it will pay you like one!" Yes Sir!
  2. Work with laser-focused intention. You need to have a target and a reason to hit that target! Choose your target and a reason to hit that bull's eye and you will dramatically improve your results!
  3. Create a realistic strategy and STICK TO IT! Don't stop!
  4. Keep things simple. Don't over complicate your business!
  5. TAKE ACTION!!! NOW!!! NOT TOMORROW... Take laser focused action in the must-do activities as well as your actual income generating activities NOW!!! AND EVERY DAY FROM HERE FORWARD! In 90-days, 180 days, a year from now you will be glad you did!


This is my shorty for now! 

To your success!
Gabriel
 
Heading to bed but just wanted to provide some content - even if it isn't mine...\

Great info: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4846c9f0-b8b0-11e2-869f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2UcCZA4GT

Enjoy and good night!
 
You may be hoping for some insane secret, but I am afraid that if you are looking for something that is new or a hidden secret that I have uncovered you will be very disappointed with my post. 

The answer can, in my opinion,  be summed up in one statement - which I will do - but will then have to be dissected into some broad subcategories.

The one, biggest mistake people make with internet marketing and any direct sales such as multilevel marketing or affiliate marketing as well is... 

...Internally not making the change - the psychological change that has FULLY accepted this new business vehicle as something that is part of their every day life. 

Treating your business as a hobby is detrimental to the success of your business. Of course there are MANY things that you can do to see better results, but this one - this base concept - has the BIGGEST direct affect on whether your business will succeed or fail. 

COMMIT. 

Just decide or don't even start.

Find something that you believe in - something that you can put your name behind and own it! Commit to it and you will see results!

In brief, when you FULLY COMMIT to your business some obvious things will have to happen:
  • You will have a regular, daily routine working in your business.
  • You will have clear, attainable, and measurable goals set for yourself.
  • You will feed yourself with business and/or relationship building training - through video, audio, and/or reading daily.
  • You will be deliberate without being pushy or desperate with sharing your message (business).
  • You will create a mission statement with a strong WHY as to why you are doing the business that you have chosen to align yourself with.

With this mindset you will start taking the steps towards your success! Without it, good luck! :

Just a nugget for now!

To your life success!
-Gabriel
 
I love Brazilian Holidays!

Top Three things to do today:
1- Finish my final report for my international business degree
2- Work on my online presence (websites and blogs)
3- Clean the house and finish setting up my kitchen sink.

I'm loving the programs that I have embraced and am seeing the light at the end of my  financial tunnel! hahaha!!! It's awesome!!!

Missing San Diego! Shout out to everyone!!!

To your success in life!