Each beginning of the year – I put together some long winded post about my goals and, more often than not, just a handful of them ever come to fruition. This year I want to take a different approach. This year I want you to join me on this epic quest.
Two things covered:
- A big challenge for you
- A big change for me
Onward …
A Business Beyond Blogging
Some of you may have already noticed …
I’m re-branding Murlu.
Yup. It’s an end of an era but like a phoenix – something new rises from the ashes.
I launched Murlu (a play on my name Murray Lunn, get it?) as a platform where I could talk about what I had been learning while working as a full-time webmaster and product developer for TRK. I finally left my position some time ago and during that away time – I put full time into blogging.
Problem with going full-time into blogging is that you start folding inward because there isn’t outside motivation and stimulation to try new things. You begin to cover the same topics, talk with the same people, promote the same stuff.
Murlu hit a glass ceiling.
So the new idea is Business Beyond Blogging.
The focus, in some ways, will remain on using blogs as self-promotion but the goal is to help you escape the clutches of blogging and get you into the next level: business.
Like I said, you have all the skills required to work the web in your favor – you just need a product/service.
My goal is to turn Murlu into an incredible resource for getting into that next level.
No more blogging bullshit.
No more playing with ourselves over some new social platform.
Real business shit.
I’m talking about freelancing, eCommerce, product development, and beyond.
It’s about tapping your connections.
I’ve still got some work to do but you’ll see the shift.
Make it Known: 2013 is the Year for Going Full Business
Starting a blog is stupidly easy.
So easy that people rush into launching one without really thinking about what they’ll do with it once things start to take off. Bloggers continue to push out content, comment, network, and promote their work but the vast majority of them are just spinning their wheels.
Why?
Because they don’t really have anything to promote besides information … and information is free.
This means that what you’re doing, with your blog, isn’t anything particularly special. Hate to say it but I’m sure you can feel that there is something lacking from all that hard work. You slave away at creating great content, you probably pick up some affiliate sales or adsense earnings, but you’re not doing a major return on investment.
Hell – just think: what if you put that entire time you spent blogging toward learning a trade or going back to college? Wouldn’t that give you better options, overall?
So here’s the challenge, for 2013 …
MAKE SOMETHING
No more dicking around.
No more creating content aimlessly.
No more lack of direction.
What I’d like you to do (and this means ALL of us) is finally get down to work and create some kind of product or service to sell through the blog.
Finally give your blog some kind of direction.
Something to promote.
Something that gives your brand significant weight than just being known to share free information.
You’re already experienced doing basically anything and everything required to get found because you know the routine of self-promotion. Now channel that time and energy toward a product or service.
I don’t want you guys and gals to share what you have up your sleeves.
I don’t want you to make up some goal plan.
We’ve done that before.
What I DO want you to do is start thinking.
Think about what you want to make of 2013 – business-wise.
I want you fired up, ready to rock, and itching to expand well beyond what you’re doing now.
Get on board. Let’s leave the bullshit behind and embrace business beyond blogging.
“Something that gives your brand significant weight than just being known to share free information.”
This is definitely what I’m going to be doing more this year. I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but I’m probably going to end up either rebranding The Backlight or starting over completely. The blog is going to be the blog of a business/product, not just a blog by itself.
Looking forward to what you’re going to be doing in 2013!
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Tristan!
How’s that FKB site doing? I tell everyone I know that has a Kindle about it, even my girlfriend and daughter now have Kindle Fires (ok, I bought them both, but hey!) and they use the site as well, my Dad added a Kindle app to his iPad and uses it…. great idea man! I hope it is paying off for you!
I think that’s a good idea, Tristan.
A blog is a great way to get started in online publishing but it’s very limiting because you get stuck in this “blogging mindset” whereas you’re just doing content for the sake of content. You end up relying too much on passive income and, as we know, that doesn’t really work out unless you have uber traffic or if you’re not anywhere near the “blogging/make money” niche. Going the freelance and digital product route gives you a lot more authority and something to promote – a focus – which definitely gets you in high gear.
Best of luck to ya buddy – I’m cheerin’ for ya.
Fuck. Yeah.
That is all.
If there was a ‘like’ button, I’d be spamming it right now.
Hellz ya Murray!
Was down in Florida a bunch over the holidays, and thought of our session over a couple of beers, time to get out of that “blogging” funk and make shit happen!
I stopped blogging long ago, unless I feel a need to rant about something usually or unless it is for a business/SEO reason. IE: I built a site recently added some basic articles, a little info about products, SEO’d it to the top of the searches, then sold it to a local contractor for $500 per month (for a set number of months, then I turn the site over to him)… now that is a reason to blog!
Any, site looks good, you are one of the few I have kept in my Reader so I am looking forward to watching what comes next from you bro!
I’ve always really liked the idea of blog flipping, Keith.
A while back I was testing the format and, like you, found that it was quite easy to get a decent ranking site for local search. I was going to offer it to a few local businesses to see if they’d bid on it but I let the project die off but I definitely think it’s something that could be viable in 2013 especially considering that there are a TON of elements of online operations besides websites these days – and businesses need that quick connection to their online community without dropping major cash or time in the development.
We should get in touch because I’d really like to talk a bit more about this digital real estating with ya.
Hey Murray,
I just found your blog because I was looking for info on PLR content of all things! This post really resonated with me because I think that it’s really important to diversify your income streams.
Like you, I freelance my writing skills but, it’s time to start branching out and start creating assets. After all, freelancing is great, but you’ve got to have an exit strategy.
I love the fact that you talk about not creating content for that sake of it, finding something to promote (preferably your own product) and giving your blog direction. These are all things that I’m working towards this year.
You’ve got some great stuff on here and I’ll be following along and participating in your challenge.
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