The Second Year
It seems that this is your first time to my blog. Welcome! In this blog I will share my ideas on how you can make a living in a way that feels good to you, your family, your environment and everyone around you. If you want to know more about me and this blog, check out my about page. And if you want to stay updated on my new posts, subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for stopping by!
Yesterday, I posted a look back at the first year of this blog’s existence, and highlighted some posts from every month to show the progress that has been made throughout the past twelve months.
This first year has taught me a lot about blogging, life, and what I want to achieve through this blog. Now is the time to switch to a new gear, and start the second year.
I gave some hints about my plans yesterday, when I linked to my new web store, the Insanely Interested Store.
But before I get ahead of myself, let’s look at the three distinct goals for the new year.
1. Moving the blog
When I started my blog, I had no idea what I would be writing about, so as I noticed that jarkkolaine.com was still available (for some reason, the other Jarkko Laine had picked jlaine.net for his blog) so the choice was simple, I used my name for my blog.
Another reason behind this decision was that I had just finished reading Scott Ginsberg’s book, Make A Name For Yourself, and thought that having a blog bearing my name would be a great way to implement the things I was learning from Scott.
All the reasons were valid, and in fact during this year, I have been able to secure the number one position for the words “Jarkko Laine” on Google - so, in a way, I guess I have made some name for myself. But it’s not quite that simple.
A few days back, James Chartrand wrote a good post about why personal branding might not be the best way to go that summarizes some of the thoughts behind my new direction. In short, the name is limiting my options for growing the blog outside the boundaries set by my personal resources.
So, during this summer, I am making the bold leap of faith of turning my personal blog into a clearly defined niche blog for people insanely interested in everything. The topic will be the same as what you have learned to expect from this blog - just a bit better defined and marketed (the first signs of this change will be a new version of the about page and the definition of a person insanely interested in everything that are still coming up this month).
If you follow the blogging site, North x East, you have probably read my new post, “The Blog-Myth Revisited” about building a blogging system; working on a blog rather than working in one. I am now taking my own advice, and in a few weeks I’ll have the first version of my blogger’s guide ready for a test ride.
And for that, I need you.
If you enjoy writing, and feel that you have something to contribute to this blog, get in touch! I’m looking for two bloggers to write one to two posts following my blogger’s guide to put the guide to a test. And no, I’m not asking you to work for free: I will pay $50 for each post.
Right now, it’s just a test run, but I hope it will turn into something more permanent in a few month’s time.
2. Growing the readership
When I started the blog I had no readers. While this is no surprise as every blogger has to start from the bottom, what amazes me is that in just one short year the number has kept growing slowly but steadily, reaching the all time high today with 449 RSS subscribers. If you don’t yet belong in that group, now is your chance to become subscriber number 450.
For quite some time already, my goal has been to reach the magical limit of 500 subscribers. That still remains my first goal.
But that’s also something we should be able to reach rather soon, so it’s time to start coming up with new big hairy audacious goals:
- Keep most of my readers in the move. Some of my favorite bloggers, including Dave Navarro, have made a blog move in the past months, and from reading their reports it has become clear that getting everyone to follow is not something easy to do. But I hope I can learn from their experience - and of course, you guys will help me.
- Grow the subscriber count to 1000. Doubling the subscriber count during next year would mean continuing the same growth rate as the first year, so that should be doable.
- But it’s not big and scary enough, so I doubled it for this second year’s goal. 2000 subscribers? It’s good to have some impossible goals.
3. Making money online
This is actually a topic for another discussion, and I’m already looking forward to writing the next make money online report. But as the new web store is a part of the new blog domain, I feel that I need to write some words about it.
At first, the new web store will contain the four books that I have already been promoting on the blog. Out of them, three are already up, and I’m adding the fourth early next week:
The idea of this store is to complement the offering of this blog by highlighting more quality content that I have found useful and interesting. Every product is something I have tried myself and can be proud to promote. So, first of all it’s about value to you, the reader.
But of course it’s also about making money. This month, I have sold seven products, out of which my affiliate share is about $50, which I hope to grow in the future months to enable me to outsource more of the writing and grow the blog.
I’ll write more about this, along with detailed reports of my May progress in the Make Money Online challenge at the end of the month.
Looking forward to another exciting year
This was it. It’s all still really high level, but I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the ideas and the direction. Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Making a big mistake? And what makes you think so?
One thing is for sure: this second year will be at least as interesting as the previous one! Cheers!
If you enjoyed this post and don't want to miss any of my new content, subscribe to my RSS feed or have the latest posts delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Jarkko,
I adore the idea about the “niche blog for people insanely interested in everything”. It’s amazing how these two contradictory words go well together!
As for the goals for the second year of your blog, I believe that the doubling of the number of subscribers can be expected without all the enhancements and the narrowing focus. So, yes, if I were you, I’d definitely set the 2000 subscribers as one of the (reachable) goals for the following 365 days ;)
Keep rockin’ Jarkko!
May 16th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Yet again, another nice read! 500 RSS subscribers is a major accomplishment. Pat yourself on the back for that one. I’ve still yet to make it over the 100 mark, but I have no one to blame but myself for that… my blogging has slacked off the last few months as I’ve been working hard developing a new site. Hopefully once the dust settles with the new site I can focus more on blogging. I have no doubt you’ll make it over 1000 in your second year.
Can’t wait to read your bloggers guide!
Deron Sizemore’s last blog post: Random Jabber Turns One Year Old!
May 17th, 2008 at 1:47 am
As I said over at NxE, I thought your post was fantastic. I’m all for the changes you want to make and your clearly defined goals.
You know where to reach me if you’d like a blog post. I’m in for that.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
@Dren: Good to hear that the idea makes sense to someone else than me as well! Thanks for the encouragement.
In a year from now we’ll know if we were right or wrong :)
@Deron: Well, I’m still about 50 subscribers short from 500. So close, yet so far… Thanks anyway!
I’m actually surprised to hear that you are still below 100 - for some reason, I thought that you are way ahead of me. Anyway, I’m sure if you spend a bit more time on blogging, you’ll have no trouble reaching 500, 1000 and above in your second year either.
@James: Thanks! Good to hear. I’ll need posts after the domain switch, so I’ll get in touch with you in a month or two (or whenever the domain change takes place)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Yep, still looking to cross that magical 100 subscriber number. But you’re right, it’s all about blogging and I don’t do enough of it. I’ve had my nose stuck in the development of a new site and by the time I stop for the night on the development, I don’t feel like blogging. ;)
The weird thing is that my CSS gallery received about a quarter of the traffic that my blog receives and it’s already over the 100 mark on subscribers. Go figure.
Thanks Jarkko.
Deron Sizemore’s last blog post: Random Jabber Turns One Year Old!