Playa Guanico Panama
I look at some blogs and say “Wow.”
I read some of the same blogs and say “Uh oh.”
Each blog passes the look test. Obviously someone paid good money to secure all the bells and whistles. Some bloggers invest a small fortune in tools. Consider premium themes, high-end plug-ins and a range of devices guaranteed to emit a sterling precursory image.
I admit; each blog looks dazzling.
But looking good is not enough.
Imagine the most drop dead gorgeous beauty queen. She looks like a perfect 10. But the split second she opens her mouth it appears to be a different story. Mentally, her emotional intelligence may be low. Why? She coasted on her looks since the cradle. I do not mean to condemn her in any way. Nor do I mock intellect. I mean emotional intelligence, or substance, or her general mental state.
She passes the look test with flying colors but emotionally sounds like your 8 year old niece; not in terms of intelligence but in terms of mind training, or emotional intelligence, or not relying on her inner world versus her seemingly stunning looks. She coasted on physical appearance but being truly helpful is difficult because she never developed her mind to think beyond her husk. Make sense?
Blogging Parallel
I spotted a parallel in the blogging world. Blogs look stunning. But once the blogger publishes a few sentences I note low quality writing. Blogging skills pay the bills. Practicing for thousands of hours develops blogging skills. Skipping the practice skips skills development.
Your blog may look pretty but unless you publish truly helpful content you will fail.
Tools or Skills?
Before you spend another penny on blogging tools you need to ask yourself:
“Will this blogging tool make up for my lack of blogging skills?”
Ouch.
Since the answer is always “no” at least you understand the gist of this post.
Pro bloggers practice writing for a long time. Skilled bloggers gain credibility by practicing for years. No tool practices for you. No tool buys skills. No tool earns credibility. Tools enhance illusions. Think about that one. Tools appear to improve functionality but the organic traffic is in your writing practice. Blogging income flows to highly skilled bloggers who blog consistently.
Bloggers who buy a collection of high end tools own devices which amplify their skills. Do you have zero blogging skills? Owning high end tools enhances nothing. Do you practice writing for 5 hours each month? Tools collectively worth $1000 USD simply enhance the credibility of a blogger who spends 5 hours writing each month.
Glaring Example
Imagine stumbling across a brilliant looking blog.
Eye-catching to the max, the flashy design, smart plug-ins and overall presentation enchant you.
But after reading one blog post you say to yourself:
“Goodness this content seems rough-sounding. I don’t feel like this is a credible blogger. Buh-bye.”
You never revisit that blog.
So the blogger above invested:
- $1000 USD to impress you with you
- 5 hours developing their blogging skills per month
and received these returns at month’s end:
- 100% bounce rate
- almost zero organic trafficÂ
- zero blogging income
Being crippled by unconscious self-sabotage, this blogger will invest another $500 USD to buy more tools and will only spend 3 hours developing their skills this month.
Next month results in a 100% bounce rate, zero organic traffic and zero blogging income.
Quitting follows.
Bloggers usually blame their tools but curiously never connect the dots between practicing for 3 hours each month and struggling to gain trust, develop rock solid credibility and drive organic traffic plus blogging income.
Who knew you had to practice (aka put in the work) to become good at something?
Ha!
