If you’re reading this post, I want to congratulate you. In a world where everyone seems like they are all the same, producing the same content, using all the same plug ins, doing all the same ideas, YOU, are the one who wants to be different. And that takes real leadership. I’m glad that you’re here. You are exactly the type of person that I love to talk to and I want to share some things with you today, that I think will get your mind thinking in a completely different direction than it may have been before.
As a blogger, our first and foremost job is to provide excellent content for our readers. It doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to figure that one out. The more popular our content is, the more effective we are at reaching more people and sharing it with the world.
But, is that enough?
Is it enough to provide great copy? Is it enough to write on a blog the things you think your readers may like? Or is there more to it?
Every day that I blog, I look around and I see the newest bandwagon out there. The latest plug in, do this, do that. Someone says something and all the sudden, some bloggers are all over it. The most important thing you can do for your blog today is to BE DIFFERENT. Be yourself. Be you.
There’s only one you in the entire world. Be that.
What you have to say is important. It’s vital and the world needs to hear it. But, a lot of bloggers don’t say it.
You know, one of the most common emails I receive from bloggers and readers alike is that I speak up. They are shocked that I talk the way I do.
I talk to you guys like you’re my best friend…and to me, you are. That probably sounds weird, that’s okay. 🙂 I love my readers. I love the people who read this blog. But just like a best friend, if they have a booger hanging out of their nose, wouldn’t you tell them?
You have a booger hanging out of your nose. It’s called fear.
So many bloggers are afraid to stand up and speak about something.
I submitted a guest post on a bloggers’ site a while back and they rejected it because I talked about God too much. I get it. Their income is dependent upon how many people like them and talking about God is not palatable in our culture. My own husband of 14 years of marriage walked away from our family BECAUSE of my faith. He asked me to give it up…or he’d leave. I totally get it.
I can’t say that I’m not tempted to not talk about certain issues.
Wouldn’t it make my life SO much easier if I didn’t say something was wrong when it is. Wouldn’t it be awesome if I could just go around making everyone happy.
But, that’s not me. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t go around trying to tick people off, but that it DOES happen, and it will. You could be perfect, and they will STILL hang you.
You can’t play it safe all the time; just as not playing it safe can cost you (traffic, money, popularity), so can playing it safe.
Your number 1 job as a blogger is to BE COURAGEOUS.
Standing up for what’s wrong. Telling your friend when they have a booger on their nose. Giving the tough love they need to change and grow. If you’re not doing that, why are you blogging? If you’re not standing up with courage, then your blog is just about making money or some other reason. It’s not about changing the world.
I’m not saying that every blogger has to be a blog that talks about these things. A recipe blog, deal blog, etc. they may not deal with a topic like a lifestyle blogger does. But if you ARE a blog that provides content and you’re not willing to be courageous, then that makes me incredibly sad. There are enough followers in the world.
What the world needs is you.
YOU to speak up for those that can’t. YOU to tell the truth, even when it’s hard (like what I’m doing now; do you KNOW how hard this is for me to say?! I’m literally writing through tears guys. But I LOVE YOU too much to lie to you).
You have to tell people the truth. Be honest. Love them, but be courageous and tell them the real stuff. We can’t hide behind our computers all day long and give great content without thinking of the person who’s reading it. What’s best for THEM. Sometimes, you have to show tough love.
When I published my book, How to Become Financially Free, I had a friend review it. Ruth from Living Well Spending Less said this…
“As a single mom who went from homeless to financially free, Sarah’s story is both compelling and inspiring. Filled with brutal honesty & no-holds-barred straight talk, How to Become Financially Free offers real life advice for even the most difficult of circumstances.”
-Ruth Soukup, New York Times bestselling author of Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life
I tell you, I’ve never been more proud to read something in my life. One of the best bloggers online, in my opinion, calling ME courageous!
Brutal honesty….no-holds-barred straight talk….real life advice. That’s me in a nutshell right there. I dare you to live your life in such a courageous way that others notice it. Because IT IS rare in our day and age.
Friends, be courageous.
Be bold.
Be YOU.
Don’t change for anyone, not a reader, not a sponsor, not anyone else.
The. world. NEEDS. desperately needs…YOU to be courageous.
If that’s you, if you want to be courageous, my new book, How to Turn Your Blog Into a Six-Figure Money Making Machine scheduled to release December 23, 2015 will help you do just that. It will help you become a leader. It’ll take you step-by-step, through all that noise online, and set you apart, helping you reach a higher plateau, so that WHEN you speak, people listen. When you are courageous and stand up for things, you’ll actually gain MORE followers instead of losing them!
That is a leader, that is a courageous woman, and that is why I’m here. To teach you to go after your dreams, to make them happen, and to show you HOW to accomplish them. Whether that’s saving money or blogging, you’re not just a stay at home mom, you’ve got something to say, so dang it, get out there and say it!
