Why You Need To Raise Your Game- NOW

30 | Posted In Life & Mindset by David

This is a guest post by my friend, Nathan Hangen.

Spending time on the web is part of my job, and I do a lot of it. I read sales pages, product pages, check out new apps, and always try to find new blogs to read.

Design on a Dime

Although there’s never a lack of good content on the web, for a while, there was a lack of good presentation.

For instance, 2-3 years ago, a blog could get by without a fancy design, but these days, I’m not so sure that’s the case. As design continues to improve, premium themes get cheaper, and good designers become easier to find, even a small-time blogger has the power to create a stunning design that screams “read me.”

Product Launches Became Commonplace

When Jeff Walker created the product launch formula, very few people were using that technique to sell products online. Sure, records labels and movie studios had been using it for decades, but on the internet? Not so much.

Now, if you look hard enough, you’ll see new launches every day. We’re not talking the basic, cut of the mill launch either, we’re talking polished and professional, the kinds that make even marketers want to buy.

Free Content

There has always been free content on the web, but now the sheer quantity and quality is becoming borderline ridiculous.

What once someone could charge $1,000 for, you can get for $99. What you could once sell for $99, is now free. Free video courses are built on state of the art plaftorms, and free PDF’s are designed by the best in the industry. It’s gotten so bad, that you can’t even give away a free report unless it’s game changing material. Think about that…it’s tough now to just give stuff away!

What Does It Mean?

So what’s the takeaway here, and why should you care…

For starters, unless you take your blog seriously, and are ready to go all in, then you’re going to be passed up by someone that’s willing to work harder, sacrifice more, and is more eager than you are.

It also means that ordinary isn’t good enough anymore. You can’t get by if you aren’t willing to put everything you have into each opportunity you’re given.

This Isn’t Rah Rah B.S.

I know it sounds like I’m just trying to spur you on to working harder and improving your motivation. After all, I do that a lot…I like to inspire the best in people.

But…that’s not what I’m doing here. As a businessman and entrepreneur, these facts disturb me. I have to work harder today than I did yesterday in order to achieve the same results.

I can’t just write up a simple PDF to give away to my audience in exchange for an email address…I have to create something that I could charge for in order to give it away. I can’t just launch products…my video has to be excellent. I have to be on my game everywhere…my blog, other blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

My sales page has to be good, my design has to be good, my content has to be stellar, and my product has to be better than anything else on the market. If it isn’t, word will spread, and then I’ll be toast.

Only the Strongest Will Survive

My point is this…if you want to make it in this business, or in any business, then you’ll have to raise your game and treat your blog like a business. You can’t afford to sit on your laurels, or some upstart will pass you by.

You can’t rest on your audience. When you do, they’ll find another blog to read or another book to buy.

You can’t ignore customer service, or the social media storm will sweep your business into the sea, and you’ll have nothing left with which to rebuild.

What I’m trying to say is that you can’t just decide to start blogging for the hell of it. It just doesn’t work anymore. There’s too much noise…too much signal…too much good stuff out there to compete with if you’re going half-assed. People can see through crap, and they know if you’re full of it. They also know if you aren’t really digging it.

Blogging might be a labor of love…but it’s labor…period. Ordinary just won’t cut it when there is so much extraordinary to be found. Good won’t survive against great. Interesting won’t survive against awesome.

It might not be pretty, but it’s the facts baby. So, I ask you…are you improving your game, or are you willing to watch from the sidelines?

The game isn’t getting any easier, and there are more players every day. If you want to stay off the bench, you’ll have to bring your A-Game. Are you with me?

Nathan Hangen writes about web entrepreneurship at NathanHangen.com, and about how to use social media to fuel your brand at Making It Social. Follow him on Twitter @nhangen.

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  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Thanks for letting me hang out on your blog for the day. Let's see who's up for it.

  • http://www.hiphopdistribution.com/blog Mario Mendoza

    Nice post Nathan, it's a tough ball game nowadays with so much competition filled with ambitious writers out there. I love that statement you gave ” Blogging might be a labor of love…but it’s labor…period”. My motivation lies in believing what I do, but that energy also has to focus on quality as well. I was even debating some free material for my mailing list and felt I had to give out so much, because others aren't just giving anything for free, it has some value. I don't mind “rah rah” as long as I take something from it and start a new task: design will be my next focus.

  • http://ericasays.com EricaMueller

    Nathan, this post is a great motivator. Upping my game is on the goal list for the first part of this year. I have plans in place and I'm really excited.

    My first few years as a blogger I pretty much identified with the mom-blogger crowd. Don't get me wrong, most of those women are intelligent and some of them make good money, but for the most part, blogging is a hobby. Last year I started to get a little more serious and realized that blogging in that format would never be profitable for me. I've run businesses before. I know.

    So, 2010 is the year I go from blogging here and there, between my design work, and actually viewing what I do as “my work.”

  • http://www.lifenotion.com Derek Jensen

    Staying on task is always something I find myself lacking at random times. I want to make it so I need to plan out what I am doing each and everyday to make sure I am doing something to further my blog.

    You hit it right on the nail saying that only the strongest will survive. The strongest are going to be the ones you dedicate to their blog like a business (as you said) but also are establishing ongoing relationships with their readers and many other bloggers.

    I have found that making connections has not only gained me more friends and more advice, but allows for me to strengthen myself along side them.

    Team up, don't be lazy, because here comes 2010, the year where only the strong blogs will stand out and continue.

  • http://www.Michelle-Adams.com/ Michelle Adams

    I love the way you're telling it like it is!

    Absolutely people can see through the crap! Yet marketers continue to underestimate the intelligence of their audience…I've watched that catch up with them and it's interesting viewing to see them scramble to win back their disengaged 'followers'.

    “Ordinary isn't good enough anymore…” You can say that again. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is bored by the endless 'sameness' of it all. Even tweet after tweet after tweet is beginning to irritate me….but then again perhaps I'm just prematurely turning into a grumpy old woman!

    Looking forward to heading over to your blog for some inspiration on how to improve my game in 2010 and avoid the same old same old!

    Awesome post….really!

  • http://twitter.com/symetrk tobias tinker

    yup. that's pretty much what I've been thinking. It's easy to get lost in all the optimistic 'if you work hard, success will come' stuff that floats around – not that there's anything wrong with it, especially when it comes from people that have proven it – let alone the predatory get-rich-quick-without-really-knowing-or-doing-anything-just-buy-this-$500-product stuff. But it's not easy and not getting easier and it's useful to have a clear vision of that. It's still worth pursuing, but illusions are not helpful. Posts like this are…

  • http://www.thethriveblog.com/ Nick Laborde

    I for one, am glad that I am forced to step up my game. With the low barrier of entry these days, stepping up isn't an option any more.

    As in life, your either growing or your dieing…if you want a sustainable business you only have one option. I know I'm gonna step it up myself.

    Thanks for the kick in the ass…I needed it.

  • remarkablogger

    Nathan, everything you say in this post is dead on right.

    I'm getting ready to release a totally free product that nobody would ever dream of giving away even a year ago—just to build my list.

    Bring the thunder or go home.

  • http://www.rajeshsetty.com/about/ rajesh301

    Nathan,

    Loved your post. The big dilemma is still “how much to give away for free.” Having run an open source company for a number of years – the lesson I learned is that people are still willing to pay a premium for “specific solutions” to take care of their concerns and breakdowns.

    The generic solutions and approaches and frameworks are something that is being given away for free.

    Ultimately, it comes to the question between Bits and Atoms. Atoms don't scale. Bits do.

    One model is to have a high-end Atoms-based model (Consulting, specific solutions where there is hand-holding) with a high-end Bits-based give away asset (eBook, Video Content, Audio content.)

    Thanks again.

    Best,
    Rajesh

  • http://lifestyledesignforyou.com Gordie

    Although it's nice to live in the fantasy land of Freetasia, eventually anyone who wants to spend most of their time online, will need to get some income from it. I think give away lots of stuff, but eventually you'll need to get some revenue in return for all of your hard work. Great post, Nathan! :)

  • http://www.webtrafficroi.com/ ZK @ Web Marketing Blog

    Certainly now this is very tough to survive but tell me how many of new bloggers are serious and they are able to keep the momentum and answer will be very less.

    So if you want to beat them than you will have to do only one thing and that is keep adding latest post about latest happening.

    Believe me Nathan that is the only method if you want to be in this field.

  • matthewneedham

    You're spot on here, it's getting much harder to make money, but that doesn't mean that it's impossible.

    You've definitely got to focus on design and being as 'professional' as possible whilst still being personal. Too often now you go on sites and if they don't look any good then you're straight off on to the next.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    I'm not sure I agree with that. It really depends on the platform and revenue model. Mashable can do that, but it doesn't scale for the little guy.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Rajesh, I've been thinking a lot about open source and other frameworks lately…been racking my brain over them.

    I think open source is a great way to get in the door, and create platforms of control…like WordPress, like iTunes (proprietary, but same idea), like many other products that control distribution.

    Also, consider something like an iPhone app, which is free, but does little things like remind people to follow on Twitter or visit the website. Free traffic generation.

    Guys like Brian Gardner give themes away for free and charge for support. That's an option too.

    Lots to think about.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Hell yes. I complain a lot about the mentality of free, but there are still ways for the savvy entrepreneur to make money.

    Bring the thunder man, I love it. Keep kicking ass Michael.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Fantastic point. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. The barrier of entry is super low, but that brick wall is getting bigger. Good thing I've got ninja climbing skills :)

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    It's tough sometimes not to get lost in your own pitch, but it's important to remember that customers aren't stupid. Besides, I'd prefer to market to smart people that know what they want and believe in what I have to offer.

  • http://www.pokergratis-online.com/ Joe | poker online gratis

    Ya, the game is tough, but ingenuity will prevail. If you are in a crowded niche (includes almost all of them) then you have set yourself apart. What makes you unique? You must capitalize on your weirdness.

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  • http://www.travelinlocal.com/ LisaNewton

    I had already decided that January 2010 was my time to step it up. I have my plan in place and it's moving along well. ]

    Thanks for the extra inspiration!!

  • http://powerofmore.net Sean Smith

    I couldn't agree with you more Nathan. As the owner of a successful web design and multimedia development firm, I struggle with the look and feel of my blog and the manner in which I was presenting information. I have a creative mind and have had to put my best effort forward to creating a presentation presence for my blog that stands out from the crowd, and I'm always improving upon it to ensure it stays at the top of the game.

    Thanks for sharing, great post, and yes motivating too ;-)

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    great point. We all have a little “weird” in us :)

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Unfortunately, it's true. People still judge a book by its cover.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Awesome, but if designers struggle, then a non-designer guy like me doesn't stand a chance! :)

  • http://powerofmore.net Sean Smith

    LOL, good point! I guess I tend to struggle with my own creative differences. I'm the type of person that is never satisfied with my own work and is always looking for ways to improve it. Such is my curse ;-)

  • http://www.insaneprofits.com/ Justin Khoury

    I've got to strongly agree with the point on design. I really couldn't have said it any better myself. A couple of years ago the game was a little different, and design didn't really play into the consideration of web site visitors like it does today. Things have changed and we need to adapt with those changes or get left behind. That's the beauty of the internet I guess.

  • http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/ Andy

    The secret, as you quite aptly put it, is to treat blogging as a business and with any business you need to be on the ball and staying ahead of the game, looking for the next avenue to explore rather than standing still or else you just get swallowed up. It may not be what people expect when they take their first steps into blogging but it is a lesson you have to learn if you want to turn it into a living or anything more than just a hobby. It may be hard work but then anything worthwhile is.

  • http://website-in-a-weekend.net/ Dave Doolin

    Rereading this for probably the 3rd time.

    I'm torn between doing more of what I'm demonstrably good at, versus spending time figuring out if I should be doing something “better.”

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    I say do what you enjoy most, and find a way to become better at it. No use in forcing the issue.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    I say do what you enjoy most, and find a way to become better at it. No use in forcing the issue.