“PB126: How to Create a Blogging Will (and Why You Should)” plus 1 more

PB126: How to Create a Blogging Will (and Why You Should)

Posted: 23 Jun 2016 02:00 AM PDT

Creating a Blogging Will

Today, I want to talk about something that may come across as a little morbid or depressing, but something that I think is important – particularly for those of us who do generate a living from our blogs (or at least a decent part time income).

It's all about how to prepare a 'blogging will'.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your blog if you were to pass away?

Over the years, I've known a number of bloggers who have sadly passed. Many of them, I only knew online and didn't know their families. While reflecting on their lives, I often wondered how their families dealt with the bloggers online affairs after they were gone.

Every time I thought about this, I also wondered what would happen to my own blogs and business if I were to pass away.

Ever since 2006, I've had a 'blogging will' to help my family work out what to do if that were to happen.

As a solo entrepreneur, I realized that much of what was needed to run this business was locked up in my head—a dangerous thing if something happened to that head!

I remember waking up in a bit of a panic one night wondering what would happen if Vanessa didn't know how to access my blog or understand how I'd set things up business wise.

I got up and created a little document for her to use in such circumstances.

In Today's Episode What Does My Blogging Will Contain?

People

Names and contact emails of people I trust and work with
15 people who I have different working relationships and friendships with who could help with different aspects of my business from:
- Server setup
- Income streams
- Business partners
- Team members
- And more
I include a brief description of who they are, where they live, and what they can do to help
With the right people around my business could be sustained at least to a point where parts could be sold

Business overview

General business structure and overview of blogs, eBooks, courses, sister sites, job boards, teams, and income streams.
Advice
- In the will are a few paragraphs of advice about what I'd do if I was in the situation of having to run the business without much prior knowledge of it.
- I explain what I'd try to sell, who I'd try to convince to run things, what products I'd release, and so on.
- While none of it is legally binding, I want to leave my family in the best position to be able to sustain themselves in the long term if something were to happen to me.

Passwords, login details, access codes

Many parts of my business are reliant upon third parties, and anyone wanting to keep things running would need to access those services.
For example, they'd need my PayPal account login details, affiliate program logins and ad network access details, domain name registration access, servers, bank accounts, email accounts, social media access and of course passwords to the blogs themselves.
I guess ultimately email access is key as so many of the others can be accessed with being able to reset passwords and send them to that.
Without these, it would be almost impossible to keep things running profitably.
While I don't include the passwords in the document (security reasons) I give information on how she can access them!

How did you go with today's episode?

Do you have a Blogging Will, or any other kind of plan in place for your blog in the case of your passing?

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The post PB126: How to Create a Blogging Will (and Why You Should) appeared first on ProBlogger Podcast.

If You’re Seeking Fans, it’s Time to Podcast! Here’s Why.

Posted: 22 Jun 2016 07:00 AM PDT

Colin-06

By Colin Gray.

Fans. That's what it's all about really.

Fans are why we write blog posts. They're why we rave about our subject – week in, week out – giving out oodles of value for the sum total of zero pennies. Whether you blog, vlog or alog (I just made that up…), it's all about creating fans of your brand. We rely on the promise that they'll pay you back at some point down the line.

Of course, that doesn't have to be money. It might be community, support, authority or any number of other aims. But, the aim is to nurture a squad of fans who loyally consume your content, and consistently spread it far and wide around the 'net.

I genuinely believe that podcasting (alog wasn't working for me…) is the most effective way to create true fans of your brand. It's not the only way, but it's the most powerful, for me. Let me tell you why…

The Small Business Advantage

When you decide to nurture a squad, a tribe, a community… a crowd of FANS… the biggest hurdle is visibility. How do you get yourself found in the first place?

Unless you're either darn lucky or darn smart (hopefully both), it's likely you're in an established sector with a whole host of existing brands. That means you've got to stand out, and this is the trickiest part, particularly online.

Readers are skimming through search results, trying to find a solution to their problems. If they stumble across your content, you need to differentiate yourself, and quick. Darren's been talking about this for a long time…

The advantage we have as solo-preneurs and small businesses is that we've not lost our humanity yet. That's one of the biggest struggles for any growing company; "How do we keep hold of the personality that people loved in the beginning?" It's the problem that has management consultants banging on about company culture from every rooftop they climb.

But, your culture is defined by your personality. When a company's small, it's personality is almost indistinguishable from the CEO's. The leader then takes on staff who match that perfectly (if she's smart) and exude the same values.

That's the first thing we need to do: showcase that personality. Show the world our humanity, the real people and stories behind the brand. People become fans of an ideal, of a culture, of values and ethos. That comes from personality, and that's what you have to put out there.

Guide from Static Words to Dynamic Messages

So, how do we put it out? That's the simple part: deliver your personality through media.

Now, I need to be careful here. This is ProBlogger after all… Let me say, before I'm shown the door, that writing does, and always will, have a top tier place in everyone's fan building strategy. Text has the reach, the simplicity and the flexibility to brings hordes of people to your shopfront.

But writing can be a tricky way to really develop that relationship.

Of course, good writers can make us laugh, cry or smash a prized Star Wars mug (a story for another blog post). They're adept at broadcasting their personality in spades. But, that kind of writing is hard.

Instead, what we can all do is create valuable content. Content which is so useful that it compels your reader to seek out more. That more, for me, should be media.

Media, whether audio or video, showcases YOU. This is nothing new, so I wont dwell, but when people see your face, hear your voice, they identify with you in a much more potent way than through the written word. Again, thinking here of the average writer.

Most of us are better speakers than writers. We speak a whole lot more than we write, after all, and our passion comes through much more clearly. By presenting, we often showcase ourselves in the best light.

The Intimacy of Voice

Presenting works well in both video and audio, but podcasting has it's first advantage here. That comes in form of barriers: they're lower, both technically and mentally. We've covered the technicals of how to start a podcast many, many times, so it's the mind-set I want to cover here.

I've worked with a lot of media creators, and it always surprises me how presenters freeze up on film. It's totally superficial – they worry about their hair, their clothes, their hands (who has ever thought about their hands when not on film or on stage!?). In many people it completely strips them of their personality: they're wooden, formal, boring…

Bring out a mic and start a conversation, though, and people come alive. There's something really personal, informal and intimate about breathing into a mic, and allowing the voice alone to convey your message.

Now, video does have advantages too in that it offers visual cues, body language and stimulation for both eye and ear. I think we're on a tie right now in terms of fan building potential.

But, that's before you start thinking attention.

The Attention Multiplier

Attention is why podcasting is the most engaging medium. This is why it's the most effective way to nurture a fan base.

Video and audio both showcase your personality, but Podcasting brings it home by keeping listeners on the line for hours – literally hours – every week.

We've all heard the stats: if you manage to get more than 4 or 5 minutes of view-time on a YouTube video, then you're a presenting superstar. It's easy to understand why, too. With every view, you're asking for one of the most valuable assets we have as human beings: time. Video requires full attention. You have to make time for it. That's why we move on quickly, giving presenters only a few minutes to convey their message.

But, podcasting is different. The listener doesn't have to make time to listen. It's a 'wasted time' or a 'rote task' activity. People will listen in the car, mowing the lawn, walking the dog, lifting weights, cooking dinner. And, because of that, they'll listen for 30 minutes, an hour, even more.

Two of the biggest shows in the world right now – Hardcore History and the Tim Ferriss show – regularly run for 2 to 3 hours per episode. Dan Carlin commands a listenership in the 6 figures despite the length and his solo format. That approach is difficult to pull off in the best of circumstances, and then add the fact that he's teaching you…dread… history! But, it works because he's being himself, offering huge value, and delivering it in a form that can sustain that attention.

Engagement X Attention

Podcasting holds the power it does because of a simple equation: engagement multiplied by attention.

Other mediums create engagement. Other mediums command attention. But, podcasting combines them to huge effect, building trust and rapport at an unheard of rate.

You mission is to turn readers into viewers, and viewers into listeners. Do this by offering great content in exchange for more and more of their time. When you have their time, their attention, and truly engage them throughout, that's what creates fanatical fans.

So, get talking! I'll be listening.

Colin Gray has been helping people to podcast, and combine it with their wider content, for nearly 10 years. He does it through courses and services at The Podcast Host, and via the Podcraft Podcast. He's always happy to answer podcasting questions on Twitter or Snapchat, so get in touch!

The post If You're Seeking Fans, it's Time to Podcast! Here’s Why. appeared first on ProBlogger.