Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

How Can I Help You In 2010?

January 4, 2010 | Personal

2009 was an exciting year.

question 2009 was my first full year blogging about blogging. :) I began this blog in 2008. Before that, there was nothing but a placeholder page here with goofy images of myself.

As my long-time readers know, I’ve been blogging since before this was even called blogging. However, I was a tech blogger. I managed to make my living at it fairly comfortably. Then, in 2008, a series of events led me to the idea of starting a second blog where I would talk about what I did for a living.

It has been SO rewarding. I really enjoy helping and interacting with others with the same goals as I have. I love helping bloggers realize their goals in this medium. So, this has been very rewarding for me on a personal basis.

And, yes, I’m not going to lie, it has been rewarding on a financial basis as well. This move has brought my online business in a different direction than it was and the effect on income has been a positive one. I may provide a final year-end income report later (it has been awhile since I’ve posted one), but I will say that I surpassed $200K in gross revenue in 2009, increasing my income about $60K over 2008.

I have big plans for 2010, and I want you to be involved with them. I’ll post some of my 2010 goals a little later, but overriding all of it is this….

YOU.

That’s right, because I wouldn’t succeed in anything if I was not providing value to you.

Money, traffic – all the things we like as bloggers – all of it comes from delivering a result to your customers (actual customers as well as blog readers).

Our job, as bloggers, is to take our market and provide them with results. And, even higher up the totem poll, to give them HAPPINESS.

That’s what all people are after. More happiness.

So, the question has to be asked…

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

What would you like to see from me in the coming year which would really help you? How can I make you happy?

I hope this doesn’t seem like a corny question. I could have asked this in a private survey to my list (and maybe I will), but I figured just starting a public discussion would be interesting. And, hell, maybe some other probloggers out there who blog about blogging can learn from my audience. ;) We’ll see.

So, the ball is in your court. Now is a time to put your order into David’s kitchen. ;) Let me know what I can “”cook” for you this next year.

I look forward to helping you in 2010.

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  • Well, I'd really like to try your course, but it's been closed for the past 6 months... also, if you do open it up, could you perhaps offer a 12 month payment option at all, to break up the payments further?

    I absolutely love your writing style in your blog - it makes you very approachable, and the information you share is always useful, so keep up the great work! :)
  • Milton
    David,..I created a free report to offer my visitors. I am building a mailing list as well. How do i use Aweber to automatically offer up my free report, rather than me manually sending it to each person that asks for it?
  • Techno_pen
    What I like about Dave Risley: good solid info without empty calories. Dave, this year, the best thing you can do is keep the info-overload to a minimum- keep doing what you already have been. Short, sweet, and to the point. I deleted half of my e-newsletters from 2009 because only a fraction of the material had value and the rest took up way too much of my time. Not so with your material. Even if I don't use everything you post, it's quality meat, not a cheap nano-wave dinner with little substance. You tell it like it is in basic terms so I don't have to waste time guessing at your intent and motivation.
  • Gary
    I'd like to see a new photo of you instead of the old one, cmon bro!
  • Hey David, I am also new to your blog and emails on a regular basis. I had the pleasure of having you on my weekly radio show and meeting you in person, which I so enjoyed!
    I've been blogging for about a year, but I am going to get serious in 2010, with a redesign on WP and a commitment to make it a resource center for all of the areas I serve. For me, I'd love to hear more about building community, engagement, interactivity. The making money part is kind of a result of that. Thanks for all you give and share and I have also learned a lot in just a few weeks! You are the real deal!
  • Hi David,
    firstly I'd like to say a big thanks from over here in London, your blog is a great read. I really believe that your transparent approach, not just to your blogging but also the way in which you discuss your life on general, really makes for a great 'blogging model'. I for one, can connect with that approach.
    Secondly, in terms of how you could help me in 2010. I run a trading website www.atticmantrader.com and have for sometime considered ways of leveraging my growing readership in an attempt to sell useful and related product. You've blogged in the past about methods to increase readership, but I don't recall any detail about the costs involved in doing this (for example Adwords campaigns, exhibitions etc). It would be really If you could blog about costs and ROI for various methods you have used in the past to generate eyeballs on the blog. Cheers and keep up the great work.
    AtticManTrader
  • I am being told that mobile apps will be the coming thing in 2010, Google is about to introduce a tablet product that will surpass anything we have used before. What is it that us bloggers can do to take advantage of mobile apps.
  • I look forward to many realistic posts on making it in the blogging world. Lets hope for a successful 2010!
  • I agree with BrianJUY. Would be really good to know the exact things you did and how we can duplicate it.

    I am also with Gina about the slow loading.
  • Hi David

    Your e-mails are one of the few that I actually read in the many subscriptions that come into my Inbox so well done on the quality information. My question is what tool od you use to write your blog posts. I see that Wordpress is your CMS of choice and of course you can write in WP (which is what I do sometimes).

    Is there a good offline tool for writing posts and even putting the tags, categories and even SEO Tags in? I use Scribefire in the browser to post to a few blogs and find it OK but would love an offline tool for when I am travelling and have some down time.
  • Windows Live Writer. It is fantastic. And free.
  • Thank you for the reply - I will check it out!
  • bill1211
    David, I have already benefited from information you have provided. I can't think of any additional information that would help to me at the present time, but I will certainly ask if I do.

    Thanks for the information you have provided. I wish you and your family the best.
  • Thanks for the well wishes, Bill.
  • Its really an encouraging statement by u. As new blogger s definitely find useful stuff from every post of yours. I am gr8 fan of u. Recently you got the position in world's topmost blogger s.
  • Every blog about bloggin talks about traffic and seo and bla bla bla, I got it. I do SEM for a living. I need help with the tech stuff so here are some post ideas for you that would help me:

    how you emplement the sale of an ebook do i use ejunkie or clickbank to sell it? Whats better?

    How do you added that customizable newsletter sign up form in the sidebar. How do you customize it to begin with. What software do you use?

    How you added a free ebook download with each sign up.

    If I wanted to change the permalinks for all my post from month/year/title to postID/title how do i do that? NOT how do I change permalinks, I know how to do that, but post writen a month ago that have backlinks, how do you make it so it re-routs to the correct url if you change the permalink?

    Forum: Whats the best most customizable software. How do you run and manage a forum? I could use an ebook on "everything you need to know about building manageing and profiting from a forum" Maybe ill make one when i figure it out :)

    How do you create a password protect features on a forum?

    Membershipsites: Is it best to make it its own url or a subdomain? How do you make a password protected wordpress backed membership site with automated affiliate management?

    How do you do videos and editing/interviews/audio recordings? What products do you use? Do you host all your videos on Youtube the hotlink to your site? For audio do you use a service like odeo? or do you just put it on your server? Bandwith is the issue obviously.

    How do you find qualified people to hire? You dont write PCMech all by your lonesome. How did you find someone to write? How much do you pay writers? How do you manage them?

    Ok thats everything. You asked so here ya go lol
    Thanks and take it easy
  • David, I love your blog. What about once a month asking bloggers who need help to submit their sites for your suggestions of what that blogger can do to improve, revise, focus, edit, market, monetize his/her blog. Your readers can add their 2 cents worth,too,

    Also I have really liked it when you introduced other bloggers who are successful, but what about presenting topics other than how to blog, you know like Mike, the coffee guy. That was interesting and helpful.
  • Warrencito
    David -

    Great blog and great book. I am a new reader/follower, and have been a part-time blogger for 9 months.

    One question that comes to mind is norms. I have information about visits and page views for my blog, but nothing in my niche with which to compare. How can I determine if my results are good relative to others?
  • Hi Dave,
    May be a daunting task but maybe give us a little info on how to physically build our blogs, may be a whole new area for a whole new blog but just tidbits here and there. Maybe stuff like adding a new sidebar, get a rotating footer and other fun stuff like that!

    Also, someone else mentioned demonstrating how to monetize a difficult blog topic, seems like blogging about blogging isn't that difficult (no offense meant) because everybody is looking for ways to make money. People can obviously do it as you have shown, shot of coffee, acne blog and a few others but it seems like I am looking up a staircase to the new Dubai tower (2717 feet tall) and I want to make it shorter!!

    Good luck in 2010, will be following!
    Ty
  • Yeah, common concern. And, no, you don't have to talk about making money to have a chance.

    I'll need to do something on this. Seems like a very common issue.
  • David, I love what you currently offer. I'm pretty much stuck in dream mode and not getting anywhere. I do like your emails with the subtle psychological pushes you offer. I could use some info in bringing MLM business's into a blog forum. I'm comfortable with the established content of those business's but not comfortable with making it my own in a blog setting. I hope that makes sense.
  • I am aiming for 10,000 hits a month so any suggestions on how to get more traffic would be totally welcome..:) Also - have enjoyed your blog throughout 2009 because of the helpful and practical information!!!
  • Congrats on the successful year, David. I've learned a lot from simply observing how you run your business. That's been big for me.

    You're by far my favorite "guru." I follow Darren and Yaro, but your stuff seems to hit home the most for me. However, one thing I'd love to see from the guru's is more examples of how people who AREN'T in the internet marketing niche are making money from their blogs.

    You obviously have PCMech, which is great, but I think a lot of us would love to see regular "case studies" of niche blogs actually making money in their respective niches.

    Perhaps you could feature one of your Blog Masters' Club students every month (or week), and let them tell their story of going from $0 to making good money. That would be obviously helpful for someone like me, but it would also probably raise a LOT of interest in the BMC (whenever you open the doors again).

    Cheers Dave. You are the man.
  • Thanks for the ideas and the complements.

    That "guru" label is always a little weird. At the end of the day, I'm only a guru if somebody says I am. Because in real life, I'm just another chump. ;-)
  • A chump?!?! I should have known... :-)
  • David,

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the info that you provided in 2009 and whatever content you write in 2010 I can't wait to read it. I find your information is always useful and appreciated.

    Congratulations on a successful 2009 and hopefully you can continue the growth. It would be nice to see you change your tag line to "Confessions of a SEVEN Figure Professional Blogger" in the next couple years.
  • 7-figures. We'll see. I wonder if I'd have any life left at that point. :-)
  • Thank you for being so open to human to human discussion. I'm continuing to learn from your eBook and really appreciate your positive spirit.

    As I provide web technology services I have yet to determine a packaged product to sell online. My email contact list is growing, I'm working on copy for a campaign, and my leaning is to do a video product. I'd really like to learn how incorporate video like you have in your presentations.
  • Jim
    Hi David, I'd like it if you could provide audio versions of whatever you produce - it's great for people like myself who spend a lot of time commuting by car. I found your audio book of 6-figure Blogger Blueprint very useful and might not have got round to reading it in print (would have been my loss).
  • Hey David, I wish you more success at 2010, I would like to hear your opinion about Multi-authors blogs and how to get sponsors and foundation for a blog! someone could say wait for it, but I would like to go for it!
  • Hi David, I've only stumbled across your blog recently but I have to say I check it out daily now, soaking up so many of your ideas for my own sites.

    Tough question but I guess that I really want to read about bloggers who are succeeding in non-internet marketing domains.

    I read the recent post on the shot of coffee blogger who got to 1000 daily visitors and that really inspired me. I think so many information products and blog posts come from people who focus on internet marketing or similar derivations, operating in a hyper-niche market I'd love to read accounts from others who have succeeded in more constrained markets.

    So, interviews with other niche bloggers or practical advice for developing successful blogs in sectors where most people don't even know what a blog is would be gratefully received.

    I would gladly pay for that type of content too as it is so rare.
  • Good suggestion.

    Yeah, it is always interesting. Blogs like this one talk about making money, but that's because that's what we're all interested in at the end of the day. It is easy to assume that you have to play "me too" and also talk about making money to make money. It just isn't the case.

    I'm going to continue to feature other bloggers as I can - and yeah, people who DON'T talk about making money. :)
  • David - Thanks for the opportunity to share.

    I think what will help me the most is creating systems for my business. How can I create a better management system so I can treat my blog as a business rather than a hobby.
  • Hi David..

    Just got myself back on track here for 2010.. So have to catch up with some of your articles here. See they are all related to some of the things I am working with.. so in a way the answers lays there..

    But my nr 1 blog issue is to stay on task, and be accountable for my own actions.

    Something I want to work on for 2010 is to accountable for my blog actions / goals. So have to work on some new innovative ideas there.

    I already know that I am not the most structured / organized person in the world.. So have some personal challenges that I have to work with..

    And also hope you launch BlogMaster Club as a stand alone offer in 2010..

    Cheers.. Are
  • Hey Are,

    What do you mean by standalone offer?
    Also, BMC will be relaunching this month. That's the plan. :)
  • Cool!!

    I think last time I got an offer about the BMC it was in combination with one of Yaro Staraks programs. Already have your 3DayMoney training, plus I have some great training through Chris Garett's Authority Blogger. So was more looking just for the BMC training.

    So this is really great news for me.. Looking forward to the BMC relaunch.

    Cheers.. Are
  • evanhadkins
    On blogging. For me it's about growing my audience and selling my own stuff.

    As to happiness. The above goals for blogging would need to be in line with my values. (After basic needs are met the relationship between money and happiness isn't strong.) My goal (the best I can put it) is: to become wealthy by making lots of friends and providing wonderful value. If you can show me how to do this I'll be happy.
  • Where is blogging and Internet marketing going? It's getting pretty crowded on the Internet. How do we cut through all the noise?
  • Hi Dave, thanks for all your great information. Thank God, I have other businesses. I would have starved to death as a blogger in 2009. But in reality I wasn't trying to make money online. But my goal is to build my list and influence on the Internet in 2010 in my expertise of video consulting and even make some money.You asked how you could help. Please download my new ebook at: http://www.viralvideoideas.com/Viralvideobook/V... Just give me your honest opinion. Feel free to email and I'd love to talk with you on the phone. Thanks, Mark
  • I don't think that you can top the help that I've gotten via the Blog Masters Club and the Meetups in 2009. I've been doing online marketing for way too long, but from the lessons I learned in the BMC and the advice that I've gotten from the meetups, I'm starting to see some awesome results. Of course, I won't give you all the credit, but it's definitely helped!

    That being said, I'd love to know more about how you would monetize difficult sites. Daily Shot Of Coffee is easy, but I'm helping out with some other sites that are proving more difficult to monetize. That and how to make more time in the day. If you can help me out with both of those, I'd give you enough coffee to last a year.
  • Hey Mike... Regardless if you meant it or not, that's a jackhole comment...

    If "The Blog Masters Club" and "Meetups in 2009" are the end all be all for you, you're sadly missing the point...

    If it was sarcasm... FAIL
  • Jeez, Brian, what crawled up your butt there, dude? Chill out. I hope you just seriously misinterpreted Mike's comment (even though I don't see how you could have).
  • Regardless if you have a brain or not BRIAN, that was ignorant.... get a frickin life man and stop randomly attacking people that are leaving genuine comments.

    If the blog masters club and the meetups helped Mike, then why can't he say so?

    Your Comment: FAIL!!!!!
  • If they helped him, great... that's fantastic... Tell the world... No worries there...

    The way his post read to me from the question that was asked didn't sound positive and sounded like a jackhole response... Obviously from his response, that's not what was intended...

    Keith, it's kind of like how you saw talk about seeing things differently in this post: http://www.davidrisley.com/2009/12/10/blog-comm...

    That's my perception of it... My perception isn't wrong... Either is yours... Either is his... They're just different...
  • I'm sorry you must have misread what I've said. The help that David has given me via the BMC and meetups has been amazing in 2009. I mean it's really helped me get my blog business going in an upward direction.

    I'm not sure what your problem with that is, but hit me up an email or something that we can discuss. Not sure why I offended you. I'm not sure what's up?
  • Hi David I am new to your blog, but I too am interested in writing an ebook and would love to have an easy to read guide or tips on how best to do it.
    Many thanks, you have a great blog.
  • There's really nothing to an ebook. Just write something in any word processor, then print it to PDF. I understand it can be a little daunting... the idea of writing a BOOK.... but realize it isn't a book... it is just a little PDF file. It isn't that big a deal.

    Thanks for the comment.
  • Hi David,

    Looks like I'm the only one providing female feedback at this point so here it goes....

    I would love some fresh ideas about how to approach blogging from a new perspective. Maybe something that you tried that was completely new, creative, and out of the box - then let us know if it worked. If it does - I'd be more than willing to fork out $$ to invest in a program or product that shows me how too ; )
  • I clicked on all the comments' links and found most of them painfully slow to load. So, one way to help would be to tell bloggers how to get their blogs to load faster. People are too busy to watch blue bars move these days.

    Another way you could help would be to invent an alarm that goes off when bloggers spell "it's" instead of "its". ;)

    Happy New Year and thanks for all the advice in 2009.

    Gina
  • Detailed stats or information on which marketing techniques are working for you and which are not. Also, agree with John, how to walk the fine line of blogger and Internet marketer.
  • Hi David, along the lines of what has been said but different... More of what works and does not work for not only yourself but, what works and does not work for your clients (in general terms no identities). That meaning broad ideas not industry or blooger specific.
  • To give one spesific "wish", I'd love to see a timeline of DavidRisley.com, how you went about getting your name out there as a problogger. What you did and when, what was successful and what wasn't.

    You've shared these things in your eBooks and here on the blog, but seeing it all on one place would be great. In more general level, keep it as real and honest as you've done so far!
  • Form a musical group--perhaps with some siblings and call yourselves The Risley Brothers.
    I think this has potential.
    If this can't be done, keep doing what you're doing. I get a lot out of your posts and products.
  • that would be a sure-fire way to scare everybody away. ;-)
  • I would like to ask that you show us how to make great video blog posts. How to take a standard video and make it something that will help brand you/us as bloggers.
  • David... One thing I would recommend is along the lines of what Jordan said... I'm a cheap bastard too... Instead of writing an ebook, if you were to blog about some of the exact things you did and how we can duplicate your success that would be rad... Other than that, keep doing what you're doing... Happy New Year...
  • Tough one. Most of what I need is "get 'er done" type stuff. What Gary Halbert called LMS. Keeping the blog posts rolling and the discussion going would be fine for me.
  • Can you refresh my memory what LMS is? :)
  • Quick google shows "Lesser Mortal Sh*t"
  • Man tough question. I have gotten alot good info and help from you allready. I think if you continue to offer info on the connection between blogging and internet marketer and how to walk that fine line.
  • David, as you said in Blogging in 2010, there will likely be a big switch back to bloggers creating their own products and moving away from an ad-based monetization strategy. With that it mind, I think it would be very useful for you to create content that gives us a step-by-step guide to doing just that - from initial concept of a product to its launch.

    We're in the process of launching an retail eBook for the first time on another blog. While we're handling stuff fairly well without having any experience, it would definitely be a huge help to get a comprehensive "how to" guide (without BS) that can increase our success and sales. I would think it's something *many* bloggers would be interesting and I, for one, would pay for it. (and I'm a cheap bastard!)
  • I'm with you Jordan. I can't really see myself hawking my own products other than a couple of PDF's I would give away for registration info. But if someone like David came up with a list of products along with a step by step guide I would buy it too. And I'm cheaper than Jordan!
  • David... I just finished reading your free ebook and thought it was great. I really look forward to following your blog through 2010 and expect to learn a great deal.

    Thanks for what you've already done for me... Happy New Year!!!
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