VBL043 – Beginning Your Blogging Journey, with Pro Blogger, Robb Sutton!

September 29, 2011 13 Comments

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I first met Robb Sutton when I was looking for a designer for this blog. The design you see before you today is very different to the initial VBL Blog. I’ve focused heavily on building a brand for the VBL Blog, and myself to a certain extent, over the last year. However, that first design was sweeet, and Robb was the man that crafted it all. Including the logo that you STILL see today!

Robb is one of those guys that you instantly enjoy being in the presence of. Although we’ve not met in person yet, we’ve spent more than enough time hanging out on Skype for me to know that when we do finally get to meet, we’ll instantly have a blast.

The Journey of Blogging

Recently I’ve been getting more and more emails and comments from people asking about blogging in general. How to get started, how to promote a blog, how to keep one updated properly (without killing yourself) and much more.

I talked a little on this subject with Leo Babauta of ZenHabits fame, in VBL Podcast Episode 23, but always felt we just grazed the surface! I’ve got a solid couple of years under my belt blogging now, but I still class myself as a student of sorts. So, I figured I would have Robb on the show to fill in those missing gaps and to take everything to the next level..!

Throughout the course of our conversation we touch on the following, and more:

  • Why you shouldn’t have a ‘solid’ blogging schedule.
  • How focusing on quality content, more than anything else is what you should do from day one.
  • How making your content easy to digest is paramount to making your content go viral.
  • Why losing certain plugins is important to making sure your site loads fast.
  • How making a checklist and sticking to it everyday is so, so important as a blogger.
  • So, so much more…!

Hit the ‘Play’ button below to listen to this VBL Podcast now. Or, download to listen in on your iPod, iPhone, or iPad later on. DON’T FORGET: Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, too!

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:34 — 53.3MB)

Getting started in blogging is easier now than its ever been, thats for sure. With hosting and domain companies such as Bluehost (which I use), awesome, professional looking themes from providers such as WooThemes, and email list building providers like the phenominal AWeber, you can be up and running in as little as an hour. Literally. (Yes, those are affiliate links! Thanks in advance, if you end up clicking them)

What Robb has done for himself is carve out great niches, and focus on them to the point of becoming well known, highly respected and considered a thought leader in those niches. You can do this, too.

Be sure to check Robb’s ‘BloggingLabs‘ site out for more great free content on blogging, and if you have any questions for him (or me!), feel free to comment below, as always!

Filed Under: Building Your Brand, Business Start-Up, Entrepreneurship, Personal Branding, Podcasts, Productivity Tagged With: , , ,

Comments

  1. Tshepo Mashigo says:
    September 30, 2011 at 2:29 am  (Quote)

    Hi Chris

    This just came in as i just revamped my blog as well. With Blogging, i have learnt not having a schedule of writing creates better content as you are not faced with the pressure of having to put something out for your readers, and you have time to add more value in the writing.

    Plugin wise, i’m a developer as well. I agree, Keeping the plugins at a minimal to the ones you really need is ideal, or else just hand code the basic stuff…

    Great Podcast.

    Keep up the awesome work.

    Reply
  2. Felix says:
    September 30, 2011 at 9:54 pm  (Quote)

    Hi Chris,

    This is a great video having with Robb Sutton. I learn about Robb in my early days of blogging when his blog named under his name before. In fact, I also read his give away ebook and it was really beneficial to me. The thing about his give away ebook is just a compilation of quality information about blogging from all over the blogosphere.

    Anyway, about the WP Plugin you Pat Flynn is talking about is the “GrowMap Anti-Spambot Plugin”. It was really useful.

    I guess, I should also deactivate and delete some of my plugins I’ve use in my blog which is not really useful. And yes, Yoast SEO plugin is really great. It counts your Title Characters so that you don’t have to count every characters that suits until 71.

    Thanks…

    - Felix

    Reply
    • Chris C. Ducker says:
      October 3, 2011 at 1:03 pm  (Quote)

      Hi Felix

      You know what? I figured you would like this podcast, I thought of you when I published it… Seriously.

      Robb is bloody excellent at what he does, and I personally have learned a lot from him, too.

      Yeah, cleaning up those plugin’s is certainly important. Go for it!

      Keep rockin’.

      C

      Reply
    • Robb Sutton says:
      October 7, 2011 at 6:57 am  (Quote)

      Felix! Thanks for following for so long and I am glad I was able to help. That’s why we all do this!

      Reply
  3. Bojan says:
    October 2, 2011 at 9:16 pm  (Quote)

    The show is new and awesome, having two people talking on video is simply amazing. What software did you use to record this show?

    Also your guest is down to earth person and looks honest, unlike sleazy marketers out there. Kudos for the choice!

    Reply
  4. John Colley says:
    October 4, 2011 at 2:44 am  (Quote)

    Hey Chris

    Another great episode thank you. Its late now but I am definitely checking out Robb’s site tomorrow.

    I like the look and feel of the revamped site too. I shall have to have a go at producing a little 60 second intros video.

    I just revamped my landing page with a video combination using animated slides and a voice over.

    Have a great day and thank you again
    John

    Reply

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