Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
Lessons Learned From THE ProBlogger
Almost 2 years ago when I joined the SITS Girls 31 days to a better blog challenge, I learned amazing strategies from Darren’s book. Some of them I implemented, some of them I didn’t. But that’s how it is when you learn from others. You pick and choose what methods works for you. You take their guidance and build your foundation and then continue building as you develop your own methods.
They say a good way to be as successful as the guy with the 6 figure income is to copy exactly what he did. But I can’t go that route. Not that I wouldn’t like a 6 figure income cause I’d be a bloody fool to not, but because I, like many, have the need to do our own damn thing. But again, I’m not stupid, and when a pro gives you good advice, you take it!
One thing that has stuck with me that I learned from Darren, from either his book or his blog, I can’t remember, is the importance of not confusing your audience, or at least that’s how my brain processed what I learned.
And I’m giving y’all this from memory, so if i’m incorrect in my retelling please let me know.
Anyway, just like my blog in it’s early stages, Darren’s blog covered a few of his interests. As the blog grew he realized that some categories were popular with some readers and others were popular with other readers. This lead Darren to create topic specific blogs and he did great with it. I figured I’d give it a go too. Make my blogs niche specific.
So, besides the affiliate blogs, I have this blog and my personal blog and the DIY business blog that I just haven’t had time for. I recently realized the need for a 4th blog. And then I asked myself, when the hell am I ever going to find time for that?
Importance of the Daily Blog Post
Another important lesson I learned from Darren is the importance of blogging everyday.
I mean, for my BLOGS, the ones that i put my name on, I need them to have ME in them. I need whatever I personally want to share, whether it’s personal or business, to have ME in it. And those who read this blog regularly know that when i blog about something that’s actually trending, it purely accidental. I either blog about whatever is on my mind or to fill a need i recently came across. How can I do that for 4 blogs? Shit, do I even have that much in my head on a daily basis?
Anyway…
Because of this and the latest Panda update, this blog has been repeatedly bitch slapped. This one’s my baby, so changes need to be made.
Time to consolidate the blogs.
The affiliate sites are coming down, since the Google update requires them to have more content, I have absolutely no time for it. I’ve got way too much client work to have time to write more content for affiliate sites that I have no passion for.
But this blog, my personal blog, the DIY blog for my local market and the 4th blog I’d like to put up, are ALL ME. Even the DIY blog which should be focused on my local creative clients is ME. Coming from my industry experience.
I need to focus on these.
But four blogs?
The DIY blog barely has one post up. Not even a custom designed theme yet.
So how am I going to do this?
Finding a New Way to be a Pro Blogger
I’ll tell you how I’m going to do it.
I’m bringing the personal blog back to this blog. So, along with my do-shit-this-way posts, you’ll get a good dose of ME.
I’m going to combine the DIY blog and the 4th blog (yes I’m not revealing this one yet, but it’s something my clients keep asking me for).
Two blogs.
Hell, maybe I’ll get more than 4 hours of sleep a night.
True I’m not doing it the pro way as Darren has guided us with his fabulous book that’s been proven to work, but I sure as hell am doing it MY way.
It’s going to be challenging in the SEO sense, as I’ll be diluting my blog’s keywords which will hurt me more than the Google slap did in search engine ranking.
I’m hoping y’all will stick around. I’m hoping readers from these combined blogs will get to know each other through the commenting section and be exposed to other bloggers to connect with.
I’m hoping the new design I’m working on will help avoid confusion.
Two insider updates I want to share before I end this post.
1) The ebook is done. Editing stage is next. I was hoping to publish tomorrow, but I decided to step back from everything this week so I can clear my mind about this whole consolidation thing.
2) I recently worked out a great giveaway retailed at $3K. It being $3k is not what makes it great. What makes it great is that so many of my blogging sistahs could benefit from it as I have been. Nope, I’ll say no more. Just be sure to sign up for the RSS Feed so you don’t miss out on the easy entry.
So that’s all for now peeps. Have an awesome week!
Photocredit: composite of © rolffimages – Fotolia.com and © Arcady – Fotolia.com
Very very kickass, Vanita. I admire what you’re planning to do. I had that dilemma some time back. And I wasn’t even making any cents with it
(Or sense, for that matter). I was just excited about wanting to write about different topics. I still have all those blogs, though I’ve had the sense to hide them from view 
. Now I just write three, focusing on them. And follow my own schedule.
You’re right about choosing what works for us. That’s a very important lesson.
You have a fab week ahead!
(I just figured out how to get email updates from the RSS feed. Yay!)
Vidya Sury recently posted..Oh, My Goddess!
Vidya! Hey girl. So glad I’m not the only one hiding blogs. hahaha. thank you for sharing. i really do appreciate it. how long were you able to maintain all those blogs? how have you been doing with 3? i’d love to check out your other blogs!
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
Not very long. But I’ve stuck with my main blog (www.vidyasury.com) for ten years, and my health blog at yourmedicalguide.blogspot.com and personal blog at devividya.blogspot.com consistently for over two years. When I let go of the pressure to keep up, I found that I could actually keep up easily.
It is nice to think niche. I don’t know – I may revive some later – but right now, I have client writing work and an offline job to keep pace with – I enjoy doing both. I haven’t yet begun to seriously monetize my blogs, though obviously I would love to.
I am yet to receive a check from Google AdSense even though I started featuring ads in 2007. Imagine. 
Vidya Sury recently posted..Oh, My Goddess!
I can barely keep my head straight with my one blog, contributing every 2 months to another and being active in SITS, so kudos to you for doing so much, and doing them well!!
Sounds like exciting times ahead for you, good luck and I’m sure your readers will appreciate the progress!
Alison recently posted..The Second Time
lol. so NOT doing well. i’m running on 4 hours of sleep most days and i don’t even have a newborn to put them blame on! thanks for your kind words and encouragement girl.
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
Good gravy, girl! No wonder your head is spinning…
I have just my personal blog that is under my control. The sites where I contribute (one post weekly for one, two for another) are maintained by other entities, so I’m just writing for them. If I was in charge of all of the extra content… well, nothing would get done. Heck, I’m lucky to get a picture posted on my personal blog once in a blue moon. Oh, well…
IASoupMama recently posted..Sound Bytes {A Bloodbath, I Tell Ya}
lol girl it’s crazy. it’s why i can’t do it anymore. and yeah, barely anything gets done around here. thank god for hubby and the teens. and for my littlest toddler who’s for god knows what reason has been cleaning up after her (one year) older brother. otherwise it would be a bloody disaster around here. lol
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
yep, along with my gigs this week, i’ll have to mush it all together. it may mean changing my design a bit more than i want to which kinda pisses me off, but something’s gotta be done. the ebook sadly has to wait a bit longer but im glad. i came across something i did today that changed the game a bit and i want to add it to the ebook.
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
I had separate blogs for a long time and it just wasn’t working for me. I consolidated them all to ColorMePink and focused on two topics (food and technology) with the occasional tangent into homeschooling, or photography. In the end, I prefer it that way. Good luck!
Christine recently posted..Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Butter, Capers and Parsley
thanks Christine! just wondering, what was your hardest challenge having separate blogs? was it not being able to blog on both everyday or blogging on both everyday and not finding time for you?
I’m so busy listening to the pro’s I have no time to blog anymore… But seriously, I’m still searching for the right format and I’m reading a lot to learn and test things out. Darren has some pretty good advice about a lot of blogging subjects and techniques.
Way to go, Vanita. I can’t wait to see what you got in store for us.
But hey, maybe I’m just being impatient (again)… The new blog has been up for only one month now.
JanB recently posted..The Internet is Down
why do u need to listen to pros? palease your blog is just bloody awesome.
Darren has great stuff. did you watch that video? it’s his second youtube video lol.
it was awesome.
these have to be the only two methods that just don’t work for me
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
Thanks Vanita. Oh and I don’t do vids… I wouldn’t have the worlds downfall on my conscience. His vid is awesome tho. I have been doing some reading on his blogs and what I see is interaction. That’s a skill I will have to learn to master. And nope… I didn’t overdo the SEO
Oh well, it’s just one learning experience. I’m a firm believer there’s always room for improvement. You are one of my ‘role models’. Just saying!
JanB recently posted..The Internet is Down
Jan flattery will get you everywhere my friend.
Strictly niche blogging is so 10 years ago. Been there, done that and trying to RECOVER from it. I’ve condensed and sold off so much. I work hard at not kicking myself because I missed the critical point of it all. Be successful in the FIRST niche before branching out to others. Also, once you are successful in that niche, have a plan in place to keep that niche updated and rocking while you move to another niche
Val recently posted..How To Overcome Your Fear of Failure
ah, Val, sometimes i feel like i’ve known you forever but then i realize you weren’t around 2 years ago when this WAS a mommy blog. lol. then it morphed. so i decided to flow with it and i cut back on personal posts and finance wise it went well, but time wise it’s a suck. and i really can’t do plr or outsource writing for the blogs that i’m present at. the affiliate blogs maybe, yes, but then i tend to scrutinize everything that’s written for them and it’s like i’m writing all of it over so that’s another time suck. and i just can’t write what i’m not passionate about unless it’s for a client who’s motivating me with the security of payment, (with niche sites you’ve got to wait to see the money come in)
Vanita recently posted..Why Darren’s Blogging Method Doesn’t Work For Me
4 blogs is a lot, so I think consolidation should give you a much needed break! I like you so I look forward to the new direction you’re going towards! That’s awesome! I have thought about starting another blog, but at this point, I really don’t have the time or motivation (too tired). lol.
Jessica recently posted..Success is a place
Aww Jessica, you KNOW i like you too. Thank you for your support girl, you’re just awesomeness.
Hey now, Superwoman
You are a workaholic in the truest sense of the words and I think that being able to reel it in a little bit is a good idea. Like you said, you’re still gonna be you, we’ll just get the condensed version. I think it great.
Waning Woman recently posted..How do you dress while losing weight?
Waning! I’m going to move the healthy lifestyle blog posts here and torture you people to take my badges down from your site. Aren’t you sick of me? Taking you my friend for sticking it out with me as I continue to grow. Hugs to you!
I did Darren’s 31 Days program back in the day and really enjoyed it. Nice guidance for a newbie blogger. I was not looking to monetize my personal blog, and had a hard time determining what kind of niche my personal blog fell into. So I just tried to understand how the blogosphere worked, ways to keep readers reading and things like that.
I always enjoy hearing a personal side behind the blogger. It gives me someone to root for and makes me more likely to utilize their products or turn to them for advice on my needs. So injecting personal tales is a plus for me.
I most value when a blogger keeps things consistent. A consistent blogging schedule – doesn’t have to be every day but make it the same days so I know when to stop by (says the Bumble who blogs once every week or two randomly as she finds time). A consistent message (here is where you will find blogging and tech tips for novices – including how to blog in between diaper changes). You get the idea.
I have my personal blog and contribute to a group book blog – that is a terrific way to branch out and separate subjects without sacrificing sleep – collaborate with other bloggers you trust and value.
Bumbles recently posted..ON FUN: Luck Has Nothing To Do With It…
Molly? Is that you girl? Long time…lol. Lady, I have to tell you (especially since I know you’ll get this response via email) your captcha and google sign in for commenting kills me. Really. I’ve written long comments just to have them go poof!
Maybe it’s just me via mobile. I’m heading over to your blog while here at my desk to test my theory that my android smartphone and tablet are not so smart. Heck, I’m suppose to be signed in to Google while on those devices and yet I’m still requested to sign in to comment.
Gosh darnit lady, I’m just so glad and kinda pissed you stopped by! how dare you drop in on me while I’m redecorating? LOL. I was working on my “message” when I received the notification that you left a comment. I agree with you, a consistent message is important for many. Mine has changed several times, but only because this blog is just always growing and expanding. Sometimes I outgrow the current tagline and have to change it.
Darren’s book is great and I went on to buy another of his books too. Hell, it’s why I signed up as an affiliate. By the way, did you know, personal blogging is considered a niche by itself? I’ve read a couple of good posts on the subject, if only i could remember what I googled to find them, hahaha.
Daily blogging with 700 words IS killing me. I can do it for one blog but not for three. My three blogs are too different to be merged so I am going to focus on my baby and let the others languish a bit. This new draconian Panda/Google rules are too drastic and I guess I’m just have to take the bitch slap.
Do you think Darrin’s 30 day program still is relevant with the new changes to Google? I read his stuff and while it’s very helpful, it doesn’t all work for me either.
PragmaticMom recently posted..Are Crabs Crabby? And Other Egregious Misconceptions
Pragmaticmom, good to see you lady! thank you for all the shoutouts too!
Darren’s book is great for producing quality content. it’s pretty much evergreen. panda 3.4 is targeting shallow content amongst other stuff, so i fully believe Darren’s book would be a great help. as a matter of fact, i think after i move the other blog over, i’ll dig up his book and try the challenge again.
Lack of time is killing me lately- can’t blog with reckless abandon the way I need to or want to.
Jack recently posted..How To Write Funny Posts That No One Will Read
I hear u my friend. I feel the strain too.is there anything at all u can automate?
vanita recently posted..Why I Will Not Comment On “Big Blogs” Anymore
managing multiple blogs is indeed a huge demand on one’s time & thinking. i definitely can’t do it – managing one itself is quite something
but i kind of liked how you read Darren, got influenced/motivated and then redrew the suggestions to suit yourself. customizing what the Pros say is what works i guess in the end
oh, an e-book?? that caught my attention
sujatha sathya recently posted..Looking Young
lol, girl it is bloody hard and stressful, but i just completed the import and redirect to merge my other personal blog with this one, so big relief. next i’ll take that personal blog and merge it with the other business blog i was working on and make it just a business blog and i’m finally down to two blogs! yay! i can feel sanity returning already. and yes, i wrote an ebook, but because the need for the consolidation of the blog came up, i had to put the editing stage on the backburner. blah. i’ll get to it soon.
thank you for stopping by girl. i definitely love your blog and so glad we came across each other!
This was interesting! I definitely only have time for one blog!!! Is there an update on the ebook?
Ann recently posted..We have egg-citing news!
i think i want to sit here and write that sucker now. i wrote the first draft, but now, with all the google changes, i think i need to start again
testing commentluv