From: Ayo
To: Readers/ Subscribers
Subject: Feedback Please!!!
Dear Readers/Subscribers,
I’ve struggled with the thoughts of writing this letter for weeks but………..
The blogging journey is an experience that’s so humbling and it’s always encouraging to receive emails or read comments from you.
Taking two/three minutes out of your precious time to read the blog provides the motivation to keep it going.
It’s also interesting to see my views or approach to handling life’s struggles, acknowledged even if it’s controversial lol!!!
I am also thankful for the huge support received from other bloggers with regards to contributing to The Life Skills Magazine, leaving comments, promoting/tweeting blog posts, guest posting……….
As we move into the final quarter of the year 2010, it would be great to have your feedback on the blog ‘Discovering Purpose’.
Blog Concept
I get asked the question ‘Am I blogging to make money?’ Er!!!!! No.
However it’s important I learn or discover legitimate avenues for making money through blogging and also cater for the running costs such as The Life Skills Magazine (it costs money!), web hosting, web designers, pictures…….(A story for another day)
This blog aims at providing information which :
- Creates a fulfilling and purpose driven life
- Is a source of inspiration and encouragement to people.
- Focuses on life skills development.
- Gives/Promotes hope and optimism.
- Improves Relationships
Specific areas for improvement are as follows:
- Blog Content
- Grammar(Very Important!!!)
- Web Traffic
- Subscribers (Currently there are 460 subscribers and my aim is to have 1000 plus subscribers by December 2010)
- Suggest New Features.
- Web Design or Layout
- The Life Skills Magazine
- The Life Skills Challenge(thinking of having it every quarter….)
- Anything else you can think of …………………. (please)
I am open to constructive criticisms, suggestions, advice, comments, ideas(if you don’t mind) ………..
Once again, it would be great to have your feedback.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
Ayo
P.S. If you’ve never left a comment on this blog, now would be a good time to do so (don’t you think?)
{ 1 trackback }
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ayo,
I think it took a lot of courage for you to reach out to your readers to see what is working and not working. Good for you.
I for one, really appreciate the time and effort (and money) you put into the monthly Life Skills Magazine and would like for that to continue. Maybe you can get sponsors and place ads on it to recoup some of your costs? How are other online magazines recouping their costs? It might be worth it to find out.
I love the eclectic array of articles that you provide here. There’s always something really interesting and thought-provoking for me to read so I wouldn’t dally around with what’s working.
I know that you say that you don’t blog for money (I don’t either) but it does help to have an amount come in that will cover the costs of hosting and associated costs to blogging. Maybe you can add some uninstrusive affiliate products that you swear by? As a lifecoach you probably are exposed to products in your coaching business that others may not have had a chance to check out.
I think if you spend some time on other sites and see what’s working (no use reinventing the wheel) you’ll be inspired to make changes on your own site. Of course, there are tons of people to help you. You’ve taken the first step, which is great.
Karen
Karen´s last blog ..Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You eBook Launch
hello karen,
how are you?
thanks for the feedback and wow!!! it was detailed.
i would look into ad spaces/sponsors for the magazine as it expands.
with regards to affilate products hmmh!! i need to exercise caution. i get emails every other day regarding coaching/counselling products and i am very skeptical.
thanks once again karen i will look into it and act quickly
have a lovely weekend
Hi Ayo,
You don’t have to be leery of actual products that you use in your coaching program. Are there books or ebooks or physical products that you refer your clients to? Any amazon books you tell them to check out? See if your everyday use of products have affiliate programs and join them. If you use something and it helps someone else, why wouldn’t you refer it to your (larger) audience online?
Experiment. No one says that you have to hawk everything under the sun. Pick a couple of products you believe in and see if they convert to a couple of bucks a month to cover your hosting or magazine costs. No one will think you are selling out if you earn a few bucks from all your hard work. Not if you believe and use the products yourself.
Karen´s last blog ..Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You eBook Launch
hello karen
lol @ selling out (that made me laugh! )
thanks for your follow up comment. i will spend time during the bank holiday looking into books and amazon (i promise)
i also need to spend more time on the book i am writing and turn it into a product once completed.
in the mean time i will work hard at building the readership( which needs to grow), INTEGRITY(very important) and the ad spaces on the magazine.
th
I support all of Karen’s views.
As mentioned already, supporting your magazine by placing ads in it is a good idea. However turning this blog into a hub for ads isn’t a good idea. It damages the aesthetic appeal of the site. However, the site design needs to be improved.
Ranjith´s last blog ..Happy Birthday to my Friend
Karen’s right Ayo. The time you put into your fabulous magazine is much appreciated. And it always looks and reads like a gorgeous cup of tea. And who doesn’t love tea?!
I do use my blog to make money. It’s a showcase as well as an opportunity to connect with people I can help. To that end, have you considered offering coaching via Skype? If so, you could include links to allow people to book you.
The other thing I thought of as I read Karen’s comment was a resource page. It could include books you find useful (like Karen said) but also things like the hosting you use, autoresponder, thesis. All of these could be affiliate links which, over time, could increase your earnings a little.
Hope that helps some and thank you for all your time and effort.
El
El Edwards´s last blog ..A gorgeous cuddle to lead you into the weekend
hi el,
how ae you?
i certainly need to get tips from you.
it’s great to you like the magazine and i would definitely try out the skype idea.
have a lovely weekend
Dear Ayo,
I’ve been taking a vacation and just came by to see what you’re up to. You’re one of my favorite people to check out and I enjoy your blog.
I’d love to provide feedback and will block off some time soon so your valuable question can be given the proper attention.
Basically, though, your blog is one I love to come back to over and over again and I love that you’re publishing The Life Skills Magazine.
Warm regards,
Lauren
Lauren´s last blog ..The Truth Of A Lie- Part 3
hi lauren,
how are you?
i hope you had a lovely vacation.
thanks for your kind words and once more it’s great you love the magazine
do have a lovely weekend.
Hi Ayo,
I’ve been visiting your site and catching up, plus I’m trying to come up with a post to submit to you for a guest post.
I love your layout, I always like clean cut sites.
I will come back by and add a more in-depth comment with answers to your questions (promise).
P.S. I think the grammar is fine.
Take care,
Evelyn
Evelyn´s last blog ..Healthy Vegan Sweeteners
hi evelyn,
how are you?
with reference to the grammar i don’t think my supervisors or tutors will agree 100% lol!!!
as for the clean layout i just love a clear background.
i look forward to receiving your guest post.
do have a lovely weekend.
Hi Ayo,
I’m back!
If you have certain products that you use that have helped you, then you should consider endorsing those products. There is no need to put a block of ads in your sidebar, if you are concerned with clutter. You can create a product page and tell why you like those products. The products could be books that you recommend. Make sure you link to the affiliate program. Have a favorite book, then write a review and recommend that book to your readers.
Traffic:
My traffic has increased by doing the following:
1. Writing quality content while making sure to stick with keywords. (What are people searching for on the internet?) I try to make sure the keywords are in the headline.
2. Sharing posts on other social networking sites. I am having success with Twitter.
3. Guest posting. Currently I am a regular author on 2 blogs and when I write a post for the blog owners, I get a little traffic from that.
4. Stumbleupon. I don’t know if you use stumbleupon, but since I have been using SU, I’ve noticed an increase in traffic coming from this site too.
5. Joining blogging networks and communities (Blog Engage). Blog engage has also helped with traffic too.
6. Commenting on other blogs. This is time consuming, but is worth it, especially if the blog owner has CommentLuv installed.
Subscribers
Keep writing quality content your numbers will increase.
Take care,
Evelyn
Evelyn´s last blog ..Sluggish Food Results in a Sluggish Body
hi ayo#
whats going on bro?
i love the blog and the content is simple to rea and practicable.
you might wanna try videos but you dont want to get too bogged down.
i think your mag is ace. if theres anything else it’s you keep at what you are doing cuz you are making impact in yur small way
safe bro!!
hi emmanuel,
how are you?
thanks for the support and kind words.
regarding videos i have some tutorials from my friend ben on how to produce good videos.hmmmh! i might look into that later.
enjoy your weekend.
Hi Ayo,
I love your blog and the magazine (I also like the picture of you, it just looks as if you are enjoying every minute of life and that makes me smile!).
Not very helpful but I can’t think of any improvements off the top of my head…..if anything springs to mind I’ll let you know. I do think the layout of the magazine is lovely – it looks really well thought out, designed and professional.
Keep going:)
Kate.
PS Enjoy yout bank holiday weekend.
hi kate
how are you?
lol! at the picture comment.
it seems the general consensus is the magazine and i’m glad you like it too.
Matt the designer will be pleased with all the comments here.
you also have a lovely bank holiday weekend.
Hi Ayo,
My 2 cents. I don’t read list posts – I know that I’m not going to sit down and do 25 (or 99 or even 15) new things.
I think your writing is great and the grammar is fine. The topics are good and the information valuable. The layout and look is good – but it is information that people come to blogs for (usually in answer to a specific pain or problem) – despite what blog designers tell you about how important they are.
As to money. Not my area of expertise – I’ve been blogging for three years and made pretty much zip. This is partly because it is not my first priority and partly because I had no clue to start with and only want to do it in particular ways.
What I know about making money. Blogs themselves aren’t a way to make major money until the readership is huge and you can then sell advertising for a lot. What they can be are ways for people to get to know, like and trust you, so that they are inclined to buy what you have to sell – which you can tell them about on the blog. Having said that, there probably are people who will pay something to reach your readers and even if small this can be steady income. Yaro Starak had some suggestions about how to set up the page for advertisers which you may know already or I can probably find them if you would like me to send them to you. Basically he suggest having pre-defined packages and it all set up so that people just have to click to buy.
In a situation as new and complex as blogging I don’t think there are many ways to know anything apart from trying stuff, seeing what works, keeping it, trying out more stuff. You can do research on keywords and what people are buying. But I think it comes down to testing both posts and products.
Affiliates are a problem for me. I’d never recommend a product I hadn’t bought – and because I haven’t got much money at the moment I don’t sell any. I would also want to be able to back it completely (not seeing it as perfect but being able to completely stand behind my recommendation), which means there aren’t many things I’d be an affiliate for – I think the bottom line is that the currency of blogging is credibility – if we lost that we’re gone, so I’m very picky about what I’d be an affiliate for.
Hope this is useful. On the money stuff, I hope you get some advice from those much more successful than me.
wow evan!!!
hello and how are you?
we share similar thoughts and values on this subject apart from list posts lol!!!
thanks for sharing your thoughts on the issue. it was really detailed. i totally agree that it’s information people look for in blogs . money isnt a first priority on the blog at all and it wont be.integrity for me is key!!!
karen has provided so much information and i will definitely look into it.
take care and have a lovely weekend.
Ayo,
How are you buddy?
I’ve personally always enjoyed your site, your magazine is one of a kind! I like how it has some of the best blog authors online all in a bulk package, your magazine
Maybe you can start gearing your site towards an idea where it’s a place to find some of the web’s best self development authors around by featuring their work and sites (since you’re already doing something like that already)
I hope you’re doing well,
-Parker
Parker Lee | howtomingle.com´s last blog ..Let’s Start Our Mondays Off with A Bang!
hello parker,
how are you?
i am doing well and thanks a lot for you contributing to the topic. i read your article and it’s given me some food for thought.
i’m yet to get a response from you about octobers edition please.
take care and have a lovely weekend
Hi Ayo! How are you?
I’m not familiar with your magazine I’m affraid, but I agree with Karen, you could look at adverts or sponsorship, but to be fair, you haven’t got that many subscribers for the sponsors to want to pay big bucks for.
So, I think that you could look to monetise the site with affiliate links to the products that you use in your daily life. Maybe you could put a resources page together and include the books your recommend using the amazon affiliate programme?
You don’t need to be pushy, you’ve already built up a loyal following so they are more likely interested in buying things you recommend.
It’s important to reflect and ask your readers opinions. Too many people don’t do this often enough.
have a great weekend Ayo.
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..A time for reflection
hello mathew,
how are you?
it appears both of us are night crawlers lol!! your comment came in at 12.57am & i am still up at 1.46am.
i’ve looked into karens suggestion, read a few blogs and will continue during the holiday. thanks for stressing that fact on being pushy.
i cant and wont be because pushy blogs, sales teams, …… get on my nerves lol!!!! i am in no rush at all.
it was great to have your input matthew and now i’m off to read about reflection.
have a lovely bank holiday weekend
Ayo:
) I like the clean and sophisticated feel of your layout. One piece of advice I recently received from Steve at (CYT) was Aweber. If you are not already doing that for your email subscriptions, you may want to try that out. I am still trying to figure it out myself 
Keep up the great work … Is it really almost 4th quarter of 2010??? …time flies.
I am a fan. I don’t know that I really have anything that I would want to see you do differently. I think you express such an honest and candid perspective and I really look forward to hearing your perspectives and pieces of advice. The magazine is great (so impressed that you can do that in addition to the blog
Sibyl – alternaview´s last blog ..Why You Should Aim to Be Thoughtful … Not Smart
hello sibyl,
how are you?
thanks for your kind words and as for good old steve he sent me a personalized video on how to set up aweber links which i did last week.
yes it’s going to be the 4th quarter of 2010 and i just have this feeling of taking the blog one step higher. i would definitely not rush things, put in the hours concept, hard work and just go with the flow and see the results.
take care and do have a lovely weekend
I think all you have to do is work from your heart and nothing others will say will matter. Just do you! AYO!….Just do you!
jonathanfigaro´s last blog ..Thirteen Lessons From the Lord Himself
hello jonathan,
how are you?
thanks for contributing to the topic .
i totally agree with notion working from the heart & also ‘just do you’, but i also believe in rubbing constructive minds together and reflecting on helpful points or suggestions that have been or may be raised which will aid the growth & further development of the blog
take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Hi Ayo,
One of the best things you can do is you can offer your services to people who need help to change their life and you also can create you own products (ebooks, cds) etc… I personally enjoy your blog Ayo and the articles you write. Keep up the good work my friend.
Dia´s last blog ..How to make a decision that will benefit you
hello dia,
how are you?
thanks for your kind words. i am currently working on an ebook and will finish it shortly.
take care and have a lovely day.
Ayo,
I love all that you do and provide for readers here. I am big fan. I totally hear about making money enough to cover hosting and other costs. I wish I can help as I have yet to make any money from my blog.
Like Karen suggested maybe getting a sponsors for the life skills magazines, a few affiliates would be a good idea. You are a life coach, may be offering services over the web or skype could be a ticket!
Good luck! Let me know, I will be happy to support in anyways I can.
Preeti @ Heart and Mind´s last blog ..Web Design- Overwhelm and Good Reads
hello preeti,
how are you?
thanks for contributing to the discussion and also volunteering your support.
hows the home schooling going? hope you’ve got the full swing of things.
take care and have a lovely day.
Ayo,
Homeschooling is hard work and expensive! I am never about doing things easy way, as long as I am doing what I believe in. Life is still hectic but I check out my favorite blogs.
Good luck on new Life style magazine, looking forward to it.
Preeti @ Heart and Mind´s last blog ..Wisdom gained from our camping trip
Hello Ayo!
I guess I am writing as more of a fan that having actual ideas on improving things here because I really dig what you are putting out there. Your blog content is great quality and so often infused with your humor and zest for life. Please don’t change that! Oh…and I’d buy your ebook.
Clearly Composed´s last blog .. Tuesday’s Thought
hi cc
thanks for your kind words and we would just have to wait for the ebook wont we lol!!
Dear Ayo,
First, I loved reading that you’re not blogging for money. Not that it’s a bad thing to blog for money (it’sa great thing), but this has been apaprent to me from the beginning and I love that about your blog.
I think your posts are always so rich with so many creative ideas (and solutions) and you never fail to show what a warm person you must be in real life. And I really like your relaxed way of sharing content — no pressure, no know-it-all vibe, just friendly and caring suggestions.
So, I guess, I don’t really know how to give feedback that is helpful to you. However, if you have specific questions you’d like to ask me, please feel free to e-mail me and I’d be happy to respond.
Be well,
Belinda
hi belinda
how are you?
thanks for your feedback and kind words.
enjoy the rest of the day
Hi Ayo
How are you?
I saw this post a little while ago – sorry it has taken me a wee while to drop back and leave a comment!
I really like your blog. Like everyone else is saying here it’s an eclectic mix of different subjects that cross the self-development spectrum. I would personally change nothing about your design, writing style etc. The only thing developmental that crosses my mind is to challenge you on whether you think of your blog – even if not as a commercial/business thing – as something that is of value. That your presence in the self development blogosphere is of value? You have a right to have at least your costs covered, otherwise you’re eventually going feel pretty resentful about all of it. What dynamic do you set up with your readers in that scenario? And how differently do you need to think of your blog to shift the balance?
In short: do you need to shift a belief in yourself more than do anything fundamentally different in the blog?
Hope this bit of thinking is useful to you even if only in some small way. I enjoy knowing you and reading your blog and am very keen to see you and it blossom and flourish.
Christine Livingston´s last blog ..How We Use Work To Avoid Our Selves
I stop by to read and be inspired. I believe our purpose is to alleviate human suffering by using the gifts we were born with. Our real purpose isn’t to buy more stuff, or hold onto the temporary things, but to contribute to the good of all in some way as we go on this journey. So the title of this blog appeals to me and you write fresh and wonderful thoughts about our relationships and a higher meaning outside of the day to day existence. Thanks for your inspiring words and thoughts. Blessings.