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6 Keys to a Successful (Fitness) Blog: The Stuff I Didn’t Get To Yesterday

Yesterday I spent a little time marinating around the topic of fitness blogging, and discussed a handful of characteristics (or tips) I felt would help anyone interested in starting their own blog.

To recap:

  • Serving as the umbrella over this whole conversation is the notion of experience. I feel it’s important to have a few years of experience under your belt actually training people – and getting good at what you do – before you start writing about it and “disguising” yourself as an expert.
  • It’s a bit old school, I know (especially considering the digital age we currently live in).  But there’s something to be said about practicing what you preach.  Sadly, there are many (MANY) fitness professionals out there who don’t even train people, yet because they’re a prolific writer (and good for them if they are), are seen as an expert.
  • This isn’t to say, of course, that one can’t start a blog just for the hell of it to help educate friends or family members (and to gain valuable writing experience), but in general, it helps to gain real life experience.

With the “ranty” stuff out of the way……..

  • Just start.  Quit procrastinating and talking about stating a blog and DO IT!

 

  • Set a schedule and be consistent with it. You know how when your girlfriend gets mad at you for not taking out the trash when you’re supposed to, and then she gets all pissed and you don’t get any action for like three days?  Well, not sticking with a consistent blogging schedule is roughly the same thing.  Except not really.  You get the idea, though.
  • Content is king. People recognize s*** when they see it.  You can use all the snazzy graphics, fonts, bells, and whistles you want, if you don’t write good content, people won’t want to read what you have to say. Period.

In case you missed it, you can go HERE and read in more detail what I had to say.

Full disclosure:  I should have known better than to dedicated two full days to blogging specific content.  Yesterday’s post wasn’t as popular or “shared” as much as I had hoped, which makes sense given that there’s only a small percentage of people who read this blog who actually blog themselves.

Nevertheless, I need to finish what I started, but I’ll try to keep this one as succinct as possible.

 4. Be Patient

When I first started blogging 30 unique views/vistors was considered a good day.  If I somehow hit 50, I was immediately outside doing cartwheels and kissing babies.

Building a successful blog that garners a decent amount of traffic (and if you’re lucky, results in some additional side income) takes a while.  Usually years.

The cold hard truth is that you’re NOT going to become an overnight blogging sensation.  Despite what many will have you think, you’re not going to have thousands of people flock to read your latest post fledgling on every word and exclamation point you write.

I don’t think I reached 1,000 unique views until 2009 (three years after I initially started blogging). Today, my more popular posts hover around 2000-2500 visitors and my Alexa.com ranking (a free web based analytics ranking site) is 307,303, which ain’t too shabby considering anything under a million is considered respectable.

I’m not saying this to brag. Rather, I’m just saying that it takes a looooong freaking time to build a popular blog.  Unless you’re an analytics Terminator like Jon Goodman.  That guy knows how to do it, and do it right!  He’s built the PTDC into a very successful, very popular site in less than two years.

Now, this isn’t to say that there aren’t ways to do so faster – you’re not handcuffed to Mediocreville forever.

Admittedly, I was a little behind the curve back in the day and didn’t understand the power of social media, but there are some tried and true ways to help increase traffic:

– It bears repeating……..write good content.  If you’re stuff is good, people will find you.

– Write for free.  Offer to write free posts or articles for other sites to help get your name out there.  Their “payment” to you is a link back to your site.

– Write guest posts.  This is probably my first choice as it serves a purpose for both parties.  1.  You get your name out there.  2.  The other guys (whom you’re writing for) don’t have to write a post that given day.  It’s a win-win.

That said, there’s a right way and wrong way to approach the whole guest blogging thing.

What not to do:  Hi, my name is Douchy McDouchyington and I want to write for your site.

I get requests like this ALL….THE….TIME, and I can tell you that those types of emails go straight to my trash folder.

Cold emailing someone out of the blue and asking them for a pretty big favor – when they don’t know you from a hole in the wall – is a ballsy thing to do.

What to do:  Try something like this.

Hi, my name is “Eva Mendes” and I’m a huge fan of your work.  I always love your stuff on T-Nation, and I make it a point to check out your blog on a daily basis. I work as a trainer in “x town or city” and I’m trying to reach out to those people whom I look up to and respect just to say hi and to see if there’s anything I can do to help them out.

And, if I might add, you’re exceptionally brilliant, witty, and good looking.

Okay, that last part isn’t necessary, but something like this is bound to get you on one’s “good side” more so than the first example. Building some semblance of rapport at the beginning is just common sense and will go a longs ways in reducing one’s bullshit meter exponentially.

Speaking firsthand, eventually if he or she offers to write a guest post, I’m usually more than happy to help out assuming what they have in mind is a good fit.

5. Be Yourself

I think a lot of what makes my site so “successful” is because I’m not scared to be me.  I think it’s safe to say that how I write is how I am in person.  I’m not afraid to use a little self-deprecating humor, talk about my cat, and then turn right around and discuss the intricacies of the deadlift.

In his book Writing for Fitness, Rob Fitzgerald  mentioned how some people are internet tough guys, some are nerdtastic and want to quote research, and others play the motivational coach card.

The key, though, is just to be yourself.  Don’t be someone you’re not.

By that same token, have a little fun and don’t take yourself so seriously all the time. Poop!

 6. Interact With Your Readers!

What’s the point of writing if you never interact with your readers!?!?  I always try to respond to all the comments I receive here on this blog (as well as those on Facebook and Twitter).  By doing so, I convey to my readers that I actually care what they have to say (and I do!) and that I value their support.

If you’re going to build the brand of “YOU,” it only makes sense to recognize those who go out of their way to not only comment, but share your work as well.

Shunning or ignoring them is the last thing you should be doing.

And there you have it.  Six keys to building a successful fitness blog.  Were they earth shattering secrets?  No. But I do feel they’ll point people in the right direction.

Have any of your own insights?  Feel free to share them below!

CategoriesMotivational

6 Keys to a Successful (Fitness) Blog

Within any given week I get a handful of emails from people asking me how they can go about building a “successful” fitness blog. In today’s ever increasing digital world (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, The Matrix), it’s readily apparent that if you’re not up to snuff with technology – and all it has to offer – you may be left in the dust.

Do people have actual conversations anymore?

Believe me, I’m far from what you would call a technology geek. My cell phone would be considered an antique by today’s standards, I’m deathly afraid of Excel spreadsheets, and I can barely run a toaster without setting off a 5-stage fire alarm.

But one thing I do know – or, at least have a general grasp on – is blogging, and how fitness professionals can implement and use one to their advantage.

While a simple blog post couldn’t possibly come remotely close to explaining all the ins and outs of blogging, here are a few simple strategies/insights you’ll need to get the ball rolling.

Before we begin, however, let me address the elephant in the room.  Is having a blog even necessary? No.  Does having one mean you’ve finally made?  Um, no.

I can’t reiterate enough my sentiments that one should gain ample experience before (s)he worries about starting a blog.

More important than having a popular blog is actually getting good (really good) at what you do – and actually coach people for a few years – before entering the blogosphere.

Just because you trained five people last week and read a book doesn’t mean you should start a blog about how to train people.

I mean, I made a meatloaf last night, I don’t consider myself an expert.

It’s just my personal opinion of course. And some may roll their eyes at me for being so “old school,” but I really feel that one should have 2-3 years of training experience under their belt before starting a blog.  As a frame of reference, I started as a personal trainer in 2002.  I didn’t start blogging until the fall of 2006. I spent a solid four years honing my craft, trying to get better before I even thought about spreading my knowledge to the interwebz.  That, and blogs didn’t even really start gaining popularity until 2005.  But whatever.

Anyhoo, lets get on with it.

1. Take the Initial Step

I understand this is the Captain Obvious thing to say, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t quite “get it.”

The first thing to consider is why do you want a blog in the first place?

Some people start a blog because they have a lot on their mind. Others use it as a source of venting.  While others use it to build a brand and get their name out there.

Whatever the case may be, you have to start somewhere. Just saying you’re going to start a blog and then not doing anything about it isn’t going to get you anywhere.

Secondly, just write.  About anything.  One of the major deterrents as to why people are hesitant to begin with is that they feel they have nothing to say. More to the point, they feel as if everything has already been said and that they couldn’t possibly have anything more to add.

Let me let you in on a little secret:  nothing is new, and everything has already been said.

But not in your voice.  And not in your own context.  Using myself as an example: I’m not like Nick Tumminello, or Jim “Smitty” Smith, or Dean Somerset, or any number of other bright guys (and women) who are thinkers and have an innate ability to come up with new(ish) ideas.  I’m more of an interpreter.  I’m able to read what others say and teach and parlay that info to others in an entertaining fashion.

Tracy Anderson is a quack, doesn’t know her ass from her acetabulum, and is about as intelligent as ham sandwich.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK_A-A7PBXc

 

See how easy it is!

That wasn’t an original thought.  Many have thought the exact same thing before me, and many will think the exact same thing years from now. In fact, I’m willing to bet that even when aliens visit Earth – when we’re all dead –  they’ll somehow come across that video, scratch their heads, and think to themselves, “who the hell was that idiot?”

Suffice it to say, much like we would tell someone the hardest part about training is actually showing up, the same can be said about blogging.  Just start.  Go to blogspot.com, or blogger.com, or WordPress.com (which is what I would recommend), sign up for free, choose a template, and write.

2. Set a Schedule (and Be Consistent).

Once you are blogging, it’s important that you set a schedule and actually stick to it. Traffic isn’t going to come right away (more on this below), but one of the biggest traffic killers – in other words: deters people from visiting your site – is inconsistency.

This is going to be highly individual depending on one’s schedule. Pick a frequency.  2x, 3x, 4x per week?  Whatever it is stick to it.

I strive for 4-5 posts per week, 3 minimum, and the fruits of my labor have paid off because I’m consistent.

Nothing turns people off than someone who blogs like a champ for a few weeks – providing killer content, increasing people’s level of awesome – only to disappear for a week.  Stuff happens, life gets in the way, and there’s nothing you can do about that.  Giving your readers a heads up (hey sorry everyone, I’m going to be away for a bit fighting terrorists) would go a long way as far as keeping them on your radar.

But if you just disappear, and it’s a running trend, you’re going to have a hard time building a successful following.

3. Content is King

We all know the saying:  if it looks like s***, and it smells like s***, then it’s probably s***.

Don’t write s***.

[Read THIS for some excellent ideas on how to write killer content]

I know a lot of “experts” will say that you need to pick a niche and run with it.  There are plenty of fitness blogs out there which focus solely on fat-loss, some on nutrition, and others on how to go about training bomb sniffing dolphins.

Just go with it.

I like to blog about getting people stronger.  It’s what I know, and it works for me.

Whatever you choose to write about and focus on, you better make sure it’s damn good content.  You need to own it!

To that end a few thoughts:

– Grammar counts too.  I’m no Shakespeare, but I can tell you that if you’re mis-spelling every other word, confusing proper usage of there/their/they’re, and otherwise just showcasing slipshod work, people will call you out on it.

As much as I hate grammar Nazis, there comes a point where you need to call a spade a spade.

NOTE:  I’ll call myself out and state there’s  a handful of misspelled (or even missed) words in this very post. Whatever. Give me a break. It’s blog, not a dissertation. And, I’m not wearing my glasses.

– ALWAYS give credit.  Like I said above, nothing is new out there, but if you’re taking credit for things you didn’t say or do, you suck. And someone will figure you out sooner or later.

–  Not every posts needs to be Atlas Shrugged. Lengthy posts – while cool for showing off your writing chops and definitely warranted when you’re writing about something you’re passionate about – will bore the crap out of people after awhile.

In his book Rise to the Top, Jon Goodman mentioned how you should have a schedule of short, to the point posts (400-500 words) that are easily “shared” and help to generate more traffic, and long(er), more elaborate posts to help “keep” your current readers.

An example of the former would be something like a quick mobility exercise, or a brief quip you learned from a DVD.  An example of the latter would this very post which, approaching 1200 words, is probably long enough for today.

Check back tomorrow for some more insight on what makes for a successful fitness blog.