All the rage in blogging and business online right now is to talk about what goals are being set for 2013. Many are concentrating on social media or SEO goals. They are analyzing what they believe will happen to social media and SEO in 2013. I find it a bit obsessive.
I too have been thinking about my online goals. But I found a different approach.
Being Online in 2013 is NOT About SEO or Social Media
I have had 2 weeks offline and off work to think about what 2013 will bring in terms of social media and SEO. But yesterday morning I started to wonder why we are so obsessed with social media and SEO? Yes, I know they are the 2 main ways we get traffic to our blogs.
But, really, why are we so obsessed over 3rd party platforms we have no control over?
What if Google decided to take your blog and place it further down its search engine ranks? It has done it to me. And in a sense to my friend, Wade. (I am so upset about that I am still trying to figure out what went wrong that I have not written about it yet.)
What if Facebook decided to take your page away from you? Or Twitter took all your followers away? This happen to Ana Hoffman.
You have no control over these circumstances. Sure, you can start over or try again. Most do in these horrible circumstances.
I believe social media and even SEO to a certain extent have become our crutches.
They are fast and easy ways to build communities. They are fun ways to talk to others. They are great ways to get traffic.
But I believe we have relied on them just a little too much.
Don’t get me wrong, we need them. But do you ever wonder if we are doing just a little too much butt kissing? We seem so obsess over the idea that Facebook is changing its policies. Or Google has released yet another update.
I am done worrying.
I spent too much time in 2012 trying to backlink and make sure I have headings that comply with Google’s SEO policies.
I spent too much time reading about Facebook strategies and building followers.
What I didn’t do was actually work with people.
Stop Using a Crutch and Take Part
I found that when I am part of a group of like-minded people I not only learn but I get more visits to my blog. These people tend to be more loyal to each other and the group so we all support each other and our blogs.
I am part of private groups of Facebook and Google + but was never that active- until I got my Kindle Fire HD for Christmas.
During the last few weeks of December 2012 I sat at night while watching TV with my husband, I would get on Facebook to talk to people in the groups I am a member of. Guess what happen? I got to know them, I learned and I made some friends. During that time period I didn’t post anything much to my blog except for simple holiday greetings but my traffic remained stable because of my discussions with people. (Remember above, Google took my SERP rank away so I lost a lot of traffic.)
These groups can be anywhere, I just happen to be part of Facebook. But they can be on forums or social media platforms. Or even at a blog in the comment sections.
People are what build communities, not the platform.
I have decided this is what is best for me and my blog. And I love this way more than SEO and all those social media strategies. I have decided to make an effort to be a part of interest groups to not only gain but give too.
That’s Not All…
The worst thing I did in 2012 was neglect my email list. You know, my true Ramblings of a WAHM community.
My list, the only place I have people that actually took the time to fill out a form to join and accept emails from me. The only people that said I can come on into their inbox to talk to them directly. They opened up to let me in, basically tell me it is perfectly fine to send them information.
I worked hard on learning and implementing social media and SEO strategies when all that can be taken away overnight. My list cannot be taken from me. Why have I neglected to see that?
I have a small list, about 100 people. That is only 100 people out of millions all over the world that accept my newsletters. BUT they are the ones that truly count. They are the ones that took time to open their email and then open that newsletter. They didn’t just look at a quick post on their Facebook timeline or glanced on their Twitter stream. They had to take extra steps to get to my newsletter. Do you know what that means? I have their attention. Me and only me. That is golden. That is where community starts.
Yesterday I switched from MailChimp to Aweber*.
From free to paid. Because I want my newsletter to mean something to me and my readers. When I have to pay for something it means I really can’t neglect it. It’s a mindset that I do believe many take. “It’s free so I don’t have to work as hard.” Admit it, you do that at times. We do this with social media.
Let me give you an example. If you are given a free smart phone, say you won it. If you break it or lose it you think “oh well, it was free, no biggie.” But if you buy one and you lost it or break it, I’m going to guess you would get very angry at yourself for being so irresponsible. Now you need to come up with that money all over again to get another one.
I’m not saying paid is better, I’m saying my mindset toward my newsletter list is going to change because I am forcing it to. I’m forcing myself to become more serious about it.
Allie’s WAHM Newsletter
That said, I am changing it up a bit. I once sent out monthly newsletters. This will not suffice. I think a weekly one is way better in terms of staying in touch with my readers. What do you think?
If you have already signed up for my newsletter, thank you so much!!!
If you have not, you can sign up now. I am still working out some kinks, because that is what you do when you start something new, right? Don’t let that stop you. Click the above link to find out reasons you should sign up for my newsletter.