When it comes time to expand our blogs we need to take many things into consideration and use caution along the way. We can do this while in the process of expanding our blogs through mind mapping in the beginning stages. This practice surely does not eliminate any mistakes for building our blog, but instead smart mistakes will be made. I’ve learned to mind map the expansion of my blogs instead of just “going with the flow”. Here’s how to get started and expand your blog better.
There are many ways we can build our blog. Yes, we can just “go with the flow”. Yes, we can just expand however way or into area we want. We have so many options, opportunities, and methods of expanding our blogs, but we can just hope right into what comes to our minds initially, or what we even see for an idea initially.
We can forget our purpose when thinking about the future
I know when I want to expand a blog I get so much energy in this process that I tend to lose focus or regret how or what I’ve done in a very short time. I’ve personally been through many blogs since I first began in 2008 and all of them went under due to it not being my true passion and because I did not make smart mistakes while expanding. They were just mistakes.
Smart mistakes are ones that lead you down a path that turned out bad, but after the fact they helped you out while looking at the bigger picture.
Here’s how I’ve transformed my blog expansion and building strategy.
Beginning Steps
Having That Passion
First you must have that passion everyone talks about. Without this you will find yourself not wanting to really expand because you don’t have the drive to know how.
Establishing Your Tagline
One of the most overlooked items on a blog is the tagline
A simple tagline can say a lot about your blog. For example Blogussion’s tagline is “Next Generation Blogging”. What does that tell you as a visitor or reader here? This reaction or thought should be figured out and acts as a good foundation for your blog.
Purpose and Mission
What are you and your blog about? How will your passion and tagline go out and be that blog out to kill the competition? With no defined purpose and mission there is really no business model so you really can’t continue on.
Define Your Community
Who are you striving to attract, please, or change? You need to figure out and define your community so when things come up or ideas come to mind you are able to quickly analyze each and see which ones fit with your community and which ones don’t.
Your established community might change overtime, but you can’t change the established community overtime. If you are, then you need to go back through these beginning steps.
With the beginning but crucial steps out of the way, let’s begin mind mapping our blogs.
1. Brainstorming + Organizing Thoughts
Brainstorming is where we dig deep into our passion, purpose, and start thinking about the intial workings of our expansion. This is where you grab a piece of paper, a whiteboard, or use some software such as MindNode for Mac users.
I personally use MindNode and the iPod Touch version to do my mind mapping that can also be used when writing each of your posts to keep you on guard with your purpose and tagline.
Where to Begin in the Brainstorming Process
- Where do you want your blog to expand?
- Think about the most ultimate state of your blog
- Figure out all the ways you are going to make money
- Come up with strategic yet creative marketing strategies
- Ways to go beyond the competition
- How to further define you and your passion
All of these are just some thoughts and questions to think about while beginning your brainstorming process. Be sure you are recording all of these thoughts. Please don’t limit yourself to what I have quickly came up with.
The above video is of Darren Rowse talking about a brainstorming activity.
Organizing All Those Thoughts (Reality)
The time has come now to organize all of these thoughts or ideas you’ve brainstormed. Organize them in terms of reality and the true you.
Here is where you refer back to those beginning steps I previously talked about and these same steps are going to help you throughout the whole mind mapping process. Remember we are out to make smart mistakes while expanding your blog.
We’re not done. We’re are really just getting prepared for the real action. This is part one of two and part two we will start breaking everything apart, looking at analyzing our immediate action, and implementation of the thoughts.
With this only being part one, what are you looking forward to in part two and what have you learned thus far?
Photo by Lisa Bettany
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Hi…
Thanks a lot for the help from your article I’ve got here… It really helps me a lot with the problem I have… Your brief way of writting make it more easier for me to understand…
Thank you again…
I’m waiting for another articles and would like to read again…
I’m glad I could help you out! I really am and I’m sure you’ll find part two also helpful.
Hi Derek,
You make good points. Brainstorming is essential. I think it also helps in getting new ideas. As you brainstorm new ideas, new ones are bound to come.
Looking forward to part two, in which you break down the points into actions.
Kindest,
Nabeel
*As you brainstorm existing ideas, new ones are bound to come.
Nabeel,
I hope you enjoy part two.
Best,
Derek
The passion part is the bit I struggle with because for like a month I’ll be pasionate and write regular and then I’ll become burnt out for a couple of weeks and will neglect the blog.
Dean,
I truly know how you feel. It might just have to take sometime to really figure out your true passion which will be a sign because you will want to be back blogging.
Best,
Derek
usually, if you have the passion, expansion should be automatic. if you love what you’re doing, creative thoughts come in without unwillingness and sometimes they do come by accident. I believe that creativity alone can take you a long way with this business, however not everyone is gifted, but I attest to that idea, because every thought for a new blog post, which I think any one is capable of, is a form of creativity. We just have to feel and internalize it. Just to share some of my personal thoughts about expanding a blog, I’m actually trying to write more about experiences and experiments, since I believe that this kind of approach has more potential than the regular how to’s and lists
and with this approach, it’s much easier to diversify the field that I’ll be blogging about in the near future.
Jason,
Sounds like you have your head on straight and you will be going places. It really all comes down to having that initial passion.
Hey Derek,
Nice Post. Brainstorming is really useful. I use Free Mind map for brainstorming and it’s really useful tool.
Looking forward to reading the other parts of this Post.
Thanks for sharing this great Post Derek. Great work.
~Dev
Dev,
Thanks again and its really important to make the mind map a consistent task to monitor from beginning of site and beyond.
Best,
Derek
Absolutely awesome. I myself use mind mapping for almost anything – but it goes to show you, there’s always someone thinking up another way to mm.
I like how you transform the brainstorming > you > content. That’s a simple way to make your blog be your personal brand. Thank you!
- Gregory
Greg,
You’re very welcome and I strongly believe there are more ways to benefit from using mind maps but personal branding and expanding your blog and major. I’m glad you use mind maps!
Best,
Derek
Awesome article, can’t wait to read the part 2.
And part three will be you implementing everything
I think that’s one of the main problems and reasons why some many blogs go under. People just go hell for leather trying to grow their blogs and make them successful without realising the steps they need to take to do it right.
Alot of it is a matter of organizing yourself to do out a mind map, and disciplining your self to make sure you follow it
Robert,
Exactly! Creating a mind map actually makes you go through the process of realizing what you are going to all do. Who knows after creating the mind map you might decide to do something totally different.
Best,
Derek
Very good introduction to the power of mind-mapping for your blog. I also think this task also applies to product launches and other business projects. In addition, it’s a good idea to save all the mind maps we’ve made.
Julius,
You bring up a very good point in that it’s good to keep all mind maps. This will allow us to use them as a resource when starting something new. For instance, say you start a product, create a mind map and well you are now starting a new product. Now, you can analyze and adjust for the mistakes or things that could have been better.
Best,
Derek
I know this is a bit self-serving, but anyone interested in sharing some visuals of the process?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4854119&id=335727456087
- G.
I use mindmapping software for almost everthing I might do again in the future and I continually update my maps based on my experience. On potential use of the documentation is for writing articles or e-books in the future!
Bob,
Very good! Let’s see if we can spread this to more people!
Whenever I’m on the go and don’t have access to a pen, paper, or the Internet, I always use EverNote on my iPhone to jot down any post ideas that I come up with. It’s taking these ideas and going the extra mile by mind-mapping them that’s most important if you ask me as they can help you to see how that idea can be developed and that you can possibly create an entire post series or spin-off post from one single idea.
Jasmine,
I have really seen the advantages of using Evernote. Maybe I need some direction or tips…
Tweet me @byderekj
Best,
Derek
Just what I needed.. a kick in the bu** to get organized..
I completely forgot about the importance of a tagline. I believe the recommended size of a tagline is not to exceed 8 words..
thanks for the inspiration!
Amazing! Let me know how things are going about a month from now. Sound good?!
Tweet me @byderekj
I really like the article, and the video from Darren. I REALLY like the video from Darren for a couple reasons. His challenge for one, but for two, we need to place more video in our content.
Colleen,
I’m glad you like the video and having a video in this content. I agree there needs to be more video in content.
Best,
Derek
Mind mapping has always been very beneficial to my projects because it helps give an overhead view of the entire process.
Tip: Sit on an idea for a little while to see what new things you can add but don’t forget that action is more important than theory – take it!
Murlu,
The tip you just offered is very good. I personally have failed many times on the action. But, after taking action right away I’ve seen better improvements.
Best,
Derek
My blog is a long way from the mind mapping stage and I realise I need to bring it back there. I tend to blog a bit randomly rather than plan things out. RIght – off to get paper and pencil and start mapping! Great article
Ian,
Trust me it will only help you and your community. I’m glad you are taking the initiative!
If you need anything hit me up on twitter @byderekj
Wish you the best,
Derek
Tagline, I just learned how to create remarkable tagline, which is the easiest way to make it is to let your readers do it.
Reza,
I looked at your blog and it seems you don’t have a tagline?
Best, Derek
Derek,
Great ideas. Now the true test is having the discipline to implement the process in the same organized, logical and efficient manner.
So many times I find that my passion overrides common business/blogging sense, that I am cranking out content without a well thought out plan of how it all fits together.
I blog primarily to drive traffic for affiliate referrals, and have defined a tag line that I feel accurately describes who & what my site’s content should address.
However, sometimes I take a look at my site and wonder how much of what I write is on target for that market.
For some, lack of passion regarding their primary themes may cripple their desire to produce content. For others, like myself, learning to look both ways before crossing the street is a higher priority, as our passion drives us into often competing and conflicting directions.
Thanks for the articles.
Wow, nice resource for those beginning a blog. Finding your passion is the most critical step otherwise you will get bored with what you are writing about.. and you won’t see any results, especially because it usually takes a few months to see any success with new blogs. Most people will lose motivation if they are blogging about something they are not in to.
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