252: What Thomas Edison Can Teach YOU about Profitable Blogging

11 Things Thomas Edison Can Teach You About Profitable Blogging If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, you'd probably be sitting in the dark feeling quite bored. Edison was a prolific and influential inventor. He invented world-changing technologies including the light bulb, the phonograph and motion picture camera. And his views back then on emerging technologies can teach you about blogging today. Quotes from Edison and thoughts on how they apply to blogging:   Start with a need: “I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others… I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.” When building a blog, think about what problems it will solve, how it will serve people, and what changes it will bring.   Work smart: “Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.” It’s easy to fill your time with tasks that seem urgent but aren't necessarily important. Avoid distractions. Write content, update archives, and drive traffic.   Work and wait: “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.” It takes time to build a blog to its full potential. While search engines index your blog, establish trust with readers and build a profile in your niche.   It takes work: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Coming up with a great idea for a new blog is just the beginning. It takes a lot of hard work to make it successful. Lots of little actions add up to a great blog.   Failure brings You closer to success: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Treat every post you write, every attempt you make to promote your blog and every tool you use as learning experiences that shape your future.   You are capable of astounding things: “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” You have incredible potential. You are unique. And you know something no-one else does. Tap into what makes you special, and don’t sell yourself short.   Sometimes failing is the start of success: “Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” Even when things don’t turn out the way you want, they can still be a success. What you include in your blog can rise to something new.   Don’t give up too early: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Most blogs are abandoned after a month or two. The average time that it takes a blog to rise to the top is about 3 years or longer. Don’t give up on it.   Make it fun: “I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.” Blog about something you enjoy and are passionate about. Readers pick up on your energy and love for the topic.   Have lots of ideas: “To have a great idea, have a lot of them.” Put time aside to dream, brainstorm, and wonder “What if?” Not every idea for your blog will work, so it pays to have lots of ideas. Practice the art of curiosity.   You don’t have to start with a finished product: “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” Don’t get trapped into thinking you need to start with all the bells and whistles. Most successful bloggers start with just the basics.   Links and Resources for What Thomas Edison Can Teach YOU About Profitable Blogging: What Are YOU About? [Choosing a Topic for Your Blog] What You Say is What You Are – The Problem of Blogger Inferiority Complex A Secret to Blogging Success – Build Upon What You Build Top 100 Blogs Have an Average Age of 33.8 months ProBlogger eBooks Courses Starting a Blog ProBlogger Pro – 31 Days to Build a Better Blog