25 AWESOME Lessons I Learnt From Shai Coggins

Create a community

Shai has worked hard during 2008 to encourage bloggers with her 52 Weeks of Community project.

This project had multiple benefits for her blog:

• It encouraged regularly readers to return
• It fostered relations between the participants
• Those bloggers then applied the tasks into the wider blogosphere.

Shai encouraged participation by hosting virtual parties. I haven't participated in this project but have been following it avidly. Its a brilliant case study in community and relationships.

Offer a forum

Her forum may not be as busy as others but it creates an intimate area where friends and supporters of Shai can gather. It allows Shai to post about aspects of her daily life without them being subjected to scrutiny. I have a private blog where I do this. A forum is more beneficial however as you can get feedback and support.

She uses Simple Press to run her forums.

Forums can also be useful if you are launching a product or want to create an area - public or private - where likeminded individuals can hang out.

Direct readers to your press mentions

Shai has a seperate page for press mentions of her and her site. This is a really useful method if you are trying to establish authority. It can:

• Let other journlists know that you are serious about your blog
• Let your peers in the industry know that you have credibility
• Emphasis your ability to appeal to both print and online audiences.

Shai links to her press mentions from her about page. This method can be more effective if the link was more visible. This can be either in the header, even as a drop down menu, or in the sidebar.

Offer RSS feeds from your other site.

Shai has done this with her blog Just Make Money Online.

It can be a way to add new content to your site and entice the search engine bots. It is more dynamic than a blogroll.

If you are going to do this, make sure that your blogs have similar themes. Otherwise users will simply ignore the RSS headlines.

Turn off comment notifications on old or dead blogs

This is a concept Shai mentioned when discussing ways to cut back on online mess.

It seems simple but can save quite a lot of time over the course of a year. You can also close comments on older posts and link the reader to a similar post that is timely.

Be open to rebranding

Shai has rebranded her site numerous times over the past year to match her personal goals. This works very well if you have a clear vision of your sites evolution. Shai will change the theme or add extra features to her blog but always focuses on her sites goals. Through out each change:

• She used the sidebar to promote community
• She emphasises her photography
• She linked to her other web projects

It is advised that a blogger thinks seriously about any possible rebranding. This can have negative repercussions on your site if done inappropriately.

Add testimonials to your about page.

Testimonials can be really beneficial to developing your personal or professional brand. They can:

• Add to your perception as an expert
• Show that you are approachable as a blogger
• Be beneficial when trying to sell a product, even if it is free.

In addition, you can link to other sources of testimonials like linked in and flickr.

Create audio posts

Audio posts can be a really unique way to connect with your audience and can make you seem more 'real' as a person, instead of a brand. This can make you seem more approachable, even though you haven't actually reached out.

If you are feeling shy, you can record a message and post the link on twitter.

Showcase highlights from projects

Shai often features her photography and art projects on her blog. This intertwines with her personal brand.

On a personal level, I enjoy such posts because I have similar craft interests. It was these posts that made me want to respond on her blog and connect on social media.

Seek inspiration.

Don't wait for it to come to you. Blogging can be hard when you have writers block. Monika Mundell has spoken about a useful way of finding inspiration from your competition.

Seeking inspiration may not immediately result in blog posts but it can make you feel more productive. This can lead to post headlines and ideas which can be developed later.

Have a blog schedule

Many bloggers talk about writing when the inspiration hits. Shai recently resumed a blogger schedule as part of Nablopomo. This has been really effective in getting her readership involved in her site.

Having a rough schedule can create expectations within your niche. This can be useful when trying to market your blog posts. You have an audience ready to accept your posts.

Know exactly what you want to do.

This is a tip that Shai discussed early on in her blog. The premise is simple.

You don't need to know every step you need to take along your career. You just need to know your eventual goal and the major steps you need to take to get there.

List regular blog features in your about page

Shai did this on Just Make Money Online.

Having an outline of the expected content can convert a casual reader into a subscriber. If you really want this to be effective, draw attention to it elsewhere.

Welcome readers from press mentions and encourage them to stay

Shai did this when featured in the Advertiser. Darren also did a similar post when featured on television.

People visiting from traditional press may not understand how a blog functions. You can capitalize on this new readership by:

• Pointing them to an RSS feed and a post on how to use the service.
• Describing how your blog can help them
• Pointing them to other services that they may find useful.

Their visit may be fleeting. Eventually they will return. When they do, they will remember your friendly introduction.

Don't worry about perfection and give it a go.

Inaction will result in nothing. Mistakes are a natural progression of the learning process. If you constantly stress about being the best you will be paralyzed by fear and accomplish nothing.

Shai has made mistakes during her career but I don't remember any of them. I simply remember how much Shai has helped and support me through the little interaction we've had.

Stop finding excuses to why you can't succeed.

Many bloggers careers have progressed further than yours simply because they've been working at it for longer. Stop finding the reasons why you wont. Find the reasons why you will!.

Nine extra tips:

These tips are from comments mentioned in Shais blogs or interviews. They are self explanitory.

• A good blogger learns how to be brave
• Don't be scared to leave your comfort zone
• If you leave it, don't be scared to grow outside of your comfort zone
• Thank those who give you extra support
• Be social
• Be involved in your own blog
• know when to assert urself and when to back down:
• Get breaks from your work
• Think big

Shai has been extremely supportive during my early days of blogging and using social media. I now consider her as a good friend and would highly recommend reading her blog or following her on twitter.