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Home » The Famous Blog » The Golden Rule of Successful Blogging

The Golden Rule of Successful Blogging

July 21, 2010 - Last Modified: February 14, 2013 by Nick W Bennett

Successful Blogging

The Golden rule of successful blogging is, The Golden Rule. People, whether defined as consumers, customers, readers, subscribers or any other noun used to describe those who participate in this new information world we call the Internet, do not want to be used, swindled or taken advantage of. Okay, nothing ground-breaking about that statement. When we deal with our family and friends, The Golden Rule comes quite naturally, and we often times do not even realize we are applying it.

However, when it comes to the world of business, marketing and advertising, The Golden Rule does not see nearly as much application and implementation.

Why is that?

Well, in my humble opinion, for far too long, companies did not look upon their customers as people to forge a legitimate relationship with. We were seen as nothing more than a warm body that could be used, persuaded, and often times deceived into purchasing a product or service. Corporations spend a ridiculously-inflated amount of money on marketing and advertising campaigns in order to convince us that our lives would be ‘oh so much better’ if we would just spend our hard-earned dollars on their products. This model has been effective for big businesses over the past several decades, as seen through the endless barrage of television campaigns that interrupt our favorite TV shows.

However, this approach to marketing no longer holds the same weight it once did. I believe Bob Dylan said it best, “For the times they are a-changin’.”

We are becoming less and less influenced by the unrelated gimmicks and pointless cartoon characters brain-stormed by companies who are constantly looking for new ways to peddle their products and services. The proof comes in the form of TiVo and DVR, which viewers are increasingly using as both a commercial filter and time saver. Can I get a show of hands of those who recently bought car insurance because you thought the little green gecko was just too adorable to ignore?!

But I’m not a business, just a blogger, you say?

If there was one piece of advice I could give to bloggers, it would be to consider yourself a business, and approach your blogging accordingly. Even if you do not participate in affiliate marketing or the selling of products, you are providing a service in the form of content. People who read your blog for the first time will decide rather quickly as to whether or not you are a worthy source for what it is they are looking for. By simply publishing content online, you have entered a competitive environment whether you like it or not, and this is a good thing. Competition raises the stakes and challenges us all to find out just how great we truly were created to be. It is this spirit of competition in the world of business that sparks our ingenuity, and drives us to prove to people that what we have to offer is better than the other guys’.

So how do you compete as a blogger?

By taking the same approach you take with your family and friends, and applying it to your readers and customers. The Golden Rule should not be a philosophy that is dedicated solely to our inner circle of family and friends. In order to become a successful blogger, you must open the door of your inner circle to your readers as well. You must treat them with the same respect and honesty that you would your friends. Below are three important aspects to the Golden Rule that can be applied to your blogging efforts.

  1. Practice empathy. By placing yourself in the shoes of your readers, you will be more apt to know what it is like to be them. This will encourage you to try and understand how they feel, what they are going through, and how they may look upon you. By having a better understanding of who your readers are, you will be able to provide them with more targeted information and content, which can lead to a better retention of these readers. A practical approach to this could be as simple as posting a poll question or ending your blog posts with a question or statement that encourages readers to leave comments.
  2. Be helpful. It is natural for people to remember those who either wronged us or did something that made our day. Stand out from your competition by helping people solve a problem or answering questions they may have. This can come in the form of writing a well-thought out, informative blog post or simply replying to questions they may pose in the comment section of your blog. By being helpful to others, you are more likely to be remembered and have your generosity shared with others. Of course, the flip side of this coin can be very detrimental to your blogging success. Piss people off and they will tweet about it, post it to their Facebook wall and spread the word.
  3. Reciprocate. If a reader is going to take the time to read your blog posts and leave you a comment, then take the time to thank them with a response. If a reader takes the time to tweet one of your articles then thank them with a retweet. Take that a step further. If they are a fellow blogger, then check out their blog and tweet one of their posts which you would like to share with your followers.

The Technological and Social Revolution

This technological and social revolution we are currently in the middle of is quickly transforming how we communicate and relate to one another. The Internet has allowed the individual to have his/her voice heard and become a true player in the world of business and commerce. As a result, We The People have more freedom of choice than ever before, and as a result, are empowered to make decisions at a more rapid pace. We do not have to spend a great deal of time listening to the marketing ploys from a single entity, because there are a growing number of competitors who are vying for our attention and dollars. This is why, as a blogger, your first impression is very important. This is why, I believe the best way  to capture the attention of people, and encourage them to be a part of what you are doing is to treat them as you would your own family and friends. Employ The Golden Rule!

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Filed Under: Blog Comments, Online Business

About Nick W Bennett

Nick W Bennett runs WPresstic, a website that helps people launch and grow their WordPress-powered website. He is also a marketing strategist for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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{ 44 Responses }

  1. Murlu says:
    Great insights Nick and spot on about treating yourself as a business vs. just a blogger. When you think of yourself as a business you start looking at powerful business relationships. When you're a blogger you may just looking for something fun and cool for the day. The difference? One leads to success while the other is a pasttime
  2. Sandeep says:
    Good points Nick!! Interactivity is one of the main things for a blog's success. If you don't respond to your readers's questions, the chances of them coming back to your blog are very less.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Excellent point Sandeep. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
  3. Kimi says:
    Hey Nick, great post, i very much agree with the "helpful" point. I have a great experience of it, people asked me about some stuff, and when i succeed to help them (mostly small problems) then they asked me to put donations button, so they can sponsor my blog that has been helpful to them :) Very nice indeed lol.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Funny how that works ;) Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment Kimi.
  4. Julius Kuhn-Regnier says:
    Interesting article Nick. Still I am not sure whether I would see other bloggers as competitors. Yes you are of course competing on some level but I believe that you don't have to. It's the same thing on this blog. I don't think that people are competing here. It's much more a community where no one has to compete. Everyone has his place. Don't you think?
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thanks for taking the time to respond Julius. I agree that we all have our place and blogging is community-oriented. However, why can't there be a form of both community and competition coexisting at the same time? Competition is not one size fits all and has various definitions and degrees; see my comment below. Competition does not have to include a direct rivalry with another blogger, but when there is an aspect of limited resources, then competition, to some degree, is unavoidable. Again, this does not have to mean we are all competing in the sense that we are rivals.
  5. Holly Jahangiri says:
    The Golden Rule? What's that? Oooohhhhh. THAT. I didn't know anyone even remembered the term. :) Seriously, Nick, great post. I think most businesses could benefit from taking this to heart, as well. Want to take bets on how many really will? I'm not sure that blogging is necessarily a competition. There are a few bloggers left who blog only for family and friends, and that's fine. I don't think it's right to insist that their view of blogging is wrong, or to tell them "you're doing it all wrong." But if you fancy yourself a writer, and you want a larger audience, then what you say is correct - it is a competition in the marketplace of ideas, all clamoring to be heard and heeded, whether the action items are commercial in nature or not.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thanks for leaving a comment Holly. Ha!..I know what you mean about The Golden Rule possibly getting lost over the years. As far as competition goes there are various degrees of competition and it does not always have to be direct. Whenever there are limited resources competition for those resources is unavoidable. What would be the limited resource in blogging? The time and attention of readers who only have so much of both, thus comes the component of choice. Readers make a conscious decision as to how they spend their time and unless a blogger has absolutely no desire to obtain any readers whatsoever, he/she is competing for that limited time and attention of those readers. There are always exceptions but the vast majority of bloggers want people to read their stuff. Again, this does not mean I am directly competing with you in the sense that you or Hasham or other bloggers are my rivals. Below is competition as defined in Webster’s dictionary; I would argue that most bloggers would be aligned with 1b: 1 : the act or process of competing : rivalry: as a : the effort of two or more parties acting independently to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms b : active demand by two or more organisms or kinds of organisms for some environmental resource in short supply 2 : a contest between rivals; also : one’s competitors
  6. Laura Davis says:
    I definitely agree. One of the worst things a blogger can do is disappoint their audience. Its one thing if you have to shut down a blog because of legal matters or simply because a topic has reached its end point. Its another thing entirely to have a reading population and suddenly stop posting because you get tired or lazy or bored. The Golden Rule is definitely a good one to follow in all paths of life.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment Laura. I agree that disappointing your audience is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot. I do my best to employ The Golden Rule in everything I do as it helps me to grow as a person.
  7. element321 says:
    Nick, I agree, if you treat people poorly or use them in a negative way, it looks bad for your brand, website and a person. I always try and be positive when commenting. I never rude or be mean when commenting. Commenting is a way of marketing yourself and not all negative publicity is a good thing...
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Couldn't agree with you more; brand management is very important for bloggers and other businesses with an Internet presence. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!
  8. Colleen says:
    It's not just blogging, the Golden Rule covers all aspects of life. All good points Nick. Simply using others to achieve our goals is not in anyone's best interest.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      The Golden Rule absolutely applies to all aspects of our lives. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
      • Holly Jahangiri says:
        That it does - or should, Nick. Thank YOU for taking the time to write this post.
  9. Daniel Rose says:
    You are so correct. These concepts apply not only to blogs, but to all brick and mortar businesses too. You can take it a step further by thinking about "customer engagement", where the customer actually drives the direction of your business. This is much simpler to accomplish with todays technology.
  10. Mia says:
    You are right if you don't respect your reader, how are they going to respect you? Being respectful not only that's the best blogging policy, but also it makes people to trust you can to come back on your blog.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      It is definitely a two-way street Mia. Thank you for the comment!
  11. Shiva says:
    Hey there Nick, You are certainly right when you speak that having a Good relationship with the people (i.e. customer, readers) is the Golden rule of success in Blogging. Blogging, I think not only means to be a business and a money making medium but also should be used to help other people around, make relations with other bloggers/readers and socialize with them. An awesome post, I am sure many bloggers who still do not understand the significance of people/readers/customers will understand about it after reading this post Regards, Shiva
  12. ashok says:
    Your point about reciprocation needs to be e-mailed every single day to a host of bloggers. I've been leaving a ton of decent comments over the past couple of weeks on a number of sites, as well as stumbling things and adding them to delicious. While I've gotten a great group to help me out, I'd be lying if I ever said "grateful" describes the majority of bloggers I've run into.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Very kind of you to say; thank you for that. I've experienced the same issues but have to continue to do what I know is right. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
  13. Ryan Biddulph says:
    Hi Nick, Thanks for sharing your take on the blogging Golden Rule. I agree fully. By thinking about your reader's point of view you will best be able to write for your audience. Sometimes bloggers write only for their voice to heard, forgetting the audience who is to hear it. Treating like your blog like a business - even if it isn't a business for you - helps to create a professional experience which readers respond to. Craft an attractive-looking blog. Respond to every comment. Frequently engage your readers. You will reach your blogging goals by sharing oodles of value with your readers. Ryan Biddulph
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Well said Ryan. I am constantly reminding myself that there are people on the other end of my blog posts who are reading what I write, thus I do my best to know who they are and what they are looking for. Thank you for the comment.
  14. Aaron says:
    Awesome blog Nick. I completely agree that blogging is a 2-way street. You must be willing to help others out if you ever want to become a big name blogger. Some of the great bloggers do this quite well and seem like they truly care about their readership and how they perceive each post.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      I couldn't agree with you more Aaron. I take my ques from several blogging veterans and am learning everyday. I am still relatively new to blogging but the Golden Rule concept is not hard to understand. People adapt well, are very intelligent, and will pick up on the 'fake' and the 'selfish' rather quickly. Stay out of this realm at all costs and approach people with sincerity.
  15. Julie says:
    The Golden Rule - treat others as you would like to be treated! I think of this often as a blogger. "Be helpful." This REALLY goes a long, long way. I can not tell you how quickly I increase my respect for a blogger (especially a A-list) who takes a minute to respond to my question or even comment. I have had great (and I am sure busy) bloggers actually take time out to help me with my blog design! Impressed and I never forget that!
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thank you for the comment Julie. "be helpful," simple but too often overlooked by bloggers who get caught up in solely trying to generate money from their blogging efforts. People in general are good (in my humble opinion) and will be more inclined to help those whom they perceive to be trustworthy and sincere.
  16. DazzlinDonna says:
    Love this one, Nick! I was just having a twitter "discussion" last night about kindness. This post goes right along with it. If everyone in this little earthly world of ours would simply employ the Golden Rule, and just act out of kindness, in any situation - work, home, play, shopping, travel, etc., imagine what the blowback of that would be. Maybe that's unimaginable, but if we continue to remind others as often as possible, maybe some of it will "take". Thanks for the reminder. If I had 10 thumbs, they'd all be "thumbs up" right now.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thank you for the kind words Dazzlin Donna! I think the emergence of social media is tied to this, and we will see more of this kind of communication and interaction among people as this revolution evolves.
      • Stephanie Smith says:
        The Buddhists call it acting out of compassion, but empathy is probably easier for most people to understand. If people acted out of compassion, nasty things like spam would go away. Even if they do not, we can at least leave the blogasphere in better shape than we found it.
  17. The Bad Blogger says:
    I agree with what you say about the 3 golden rule but, within those 3 there i s an opposite site of it, which is of course to becoming a blogger who need to know what he or she is doing. What I mean is, of course you need to know as a blogger what you are doing is right. Look, if you do all 3 golden rules but doing it the wrong way, which most blogger aren't really realizing, then those rules are just not going to work out well. For example, you say "Reciprocate," not everyone is up to this task of taking time to reply or go to the commentator's blog to comment or send an email to thank him or her, although most of the blogger is talking about comment but not doing it, is not going to work.
    • Nick W Bennett says:
      Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. This post was simply meant to give people another perspective on blogging; definitely not an all-encompassing guide to finding success. But you are right, if people do not take the time to reciprocate kindness, then finding success with blogging will be more difficult.

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