This is a great technique that I learned about from other bloggers.  Basically you use google blog search to find blogs that cover simillar topics to the ones you write about on your blog.  Pick a post they wrote and write your opinion on it, be honest, and if you don’t agree with their views state that in your post.  In your post make sure you link to their post, and also ping it (or do a trackback) if you can.  That way they will see your post and probably write about it on their blog linking to your post.  Their readers will be checking out your blog and will often become regular readers of your posts.

Starting a company can be a challenge.  In fact most startup companies fail or go bankrupt within the first year or two.  I’ve always been fascinated with startups.  In fact at one point I even had a blog where I focused specifically on web startups.  Since then I’ve gotten interested in how to start a successful business in general.  Through all of my research, experience, and talks with successful startup creators, I came down to the same conclusion.

The secret to startup success is hard work.  I know it’s obvious yet it’s easier said than done.  Web startups are a good example.  Many entrepreneurs who start a successful web startup often work 16 hour days for the first year or two.  Of course when their startup takes off it easily turns into the next google, youtube, or facebook and is worth millions if not billions.  At that point if the entrepreneur wants to retire for the rest of their life and live on an island somewhere they can afford it.  Of course many do take time off but they ofter go on to starting their next company.  Why?  Because vacationing is only fun for a month, two or six after that it gets boring.

So how can you work hard on growing your business?  Remember you wont have to work hard for the rest of your life, but you need to work hard to get your startup company off the ground.

Do you blog for fun or for money?  When asked this question a lot of people are lost and often don’t know what to answer.  I think many people try to blog for fun and money which is pretty difficult and here is why…

If you just want to blog for fun, then you don’t need to have a care in the world, just write up your random thoughts post them, and who cares what everyone thinks.  In fact if you were to write something contravertial it can be funny seeing all your visitors taking it very seriously and leaving you hate comments it’s called internet trash talking, everyone feals undefeatable behind their tiny computer screen, beleive me I’ve gotten such comments and email and it’s hilarious how seriously some people take things

Now if you are blogging for money then you need to focus on your income revenues.  If you are doing advertising then you need to focus and learn more about keyword optimization and focus on writing about profitable niches, ones that dvertisers pay a lot of money for.  One example is weight loss.  Another way to monetize a blog is to create a product.  In this case your blog needs to center a specific problem, frusteration, need or want that people have.  You blog about it, get feedback, learn what people are looking for and write an ebook on that topic.