It’s been almost three years since I started blogging. Many people wonder and ask me how I still find enough motivation to write one blog post every single day. Frankly, it is hard to explain. All I can say I certainly can’t live without writing.  Having said that, I also face with some performance drops in writing. In this post I will explain how I can still motivate myself to write the next blog post.

Thanks to Derek Semmler, I won a copy of Blog Blazers book. For more details about the book, you may take a look at my previous post 40 Top Bloggers Share Their Secrets in A Book

The timing was perfect. I think Derek arranged it so well that I received it on the Christmas and before the new year.  He was so kind to sign the book for me. Thank you Derek!

The book is written by Stephane Grenier who owns FollowSteph.com. It covers 40 interviews with 40 different bloggers including Seth Godin, Jeff Atwood, Aaron Wall, Eric Sink, Yaro Starak, etc. It is quite interesting for me to read so many different blogging stories. I hope one day someone will write my blogging story too.

The good thing about the book is you learn what the top blogs all have in common. Also the bloggers share their biggest mistakes. There are some good food for thought in the book.

After reading a few interviews from the book, I understood that blogging is less about luck, and more about extra effort and common sense.

I strongly suggest you to pay $16.95, and order the book. Let the pros show you the way!

Do you consider yourself an expert in your blog topic? It is quite obvious that not every successful blog is based on the expertise of the author, but for most of the top bloggers, the key to their success relies on their ability to demonstrate preeminence.

What is Preeminence?

Let me give you a good example. Darren Rowse is perceived as one of the best authoritative source when it comes to making money online with blogs. Preeminence is the perception that a person is the best or one of the best authoritative sources on a specific topic.

Actually you don’t have to be the best, but people need to perceive you as the best. This is the key point for preeminence. Thirst is nothing, image is everything in online business!

If you are really very good at the topic you are blogging about, preeminence certainly helps you. You can easily convince people of your expertise. This will add significant value to your blogging.

However, if you are not confident in your own abilities, you don’t need to lose your motivation. Remember you know a lot more about your topic than most of your readers do, thus they still see you as an expert, as long as your content adds value to them.

How Can You Establish Preeminence?

There are three things you should be doing constantly to establish preeminence:

1. Educate yourself about what is going on in your topic.

2. Write about what you learn through education and experience to your blog.

3. Don’t expect people to discover your blog.  Constantly promote your blog using social networking/bookmarking sites!

By constantly applying these three simple things, you can establish preeminence in the long run. Just be persistent!

What Will Be The Benefits?

Well, you will get more traffic just because you convince people your blog is worth reading long term.

• Your one time readers will come back later to check what you offer as an expert in your topic
• Your RSS subscribers will increase. Also you won’t lose them easily.
• It will create new cooperation and collaboration opportunities for you.
• You will be offered paid reviews with good prices
• Your blog’s traffic will increase

Without authority and confidence it’s impossible to establish preeminence.If you really want to create a truly successful blog which has to become considered a top source on your topic, I suggest you focus on educating yourself.

How To Educate Yourself

• Stay current about developments in your industry
• Read the blogs and listen to podcasts from the established experts in your field.
• Take courses like Blog Mastermind
• Read books like Secrets for Blogging Your Way to A Six Figure Income

Conclusion
If you feel the passion  then you must have full confidence in your ability to study enough to become an expert. Once you convince your readers of your passion, this will lead to increased blog traffic and credibility.

I have recently read The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary. It was one of the greatest books i have ever read. You should seriously consider having this book in your personal library.

The book was so inspirational that I intended to apply these 5 principles to blogging. Here we go:

Why Starbucks Is Successful?

Starbucks’ success lies in:

• Its ability to create personalized customer experiences
• Secure customer loyalty
• Stimulate business growth
• Generate profits
• Energize employees

Above are also key components of a successful blog. Top bloggers are using the full advantage of Web 2.0 technology to create customized experiences for their readers. They know what their readers are looking for, and they prepare regular content to satisfy their needs. Business growth and profit generation follow after they secure reader loyalty.

PRINCIPLE 1 – MAKE IT YOUR OWN

1.Be welcoming

You should offer your readers a sense of belonging. Create a blog where your readers feel that they are a priority and where their day can be brightened for a moment.

Comment Relish is a great serving for this purpose. It increases your readership and RSS subscription rate by simply sending a short ‘thank you’ message to users when they first comment on your blog. This is a good way of welcoming your first time visitors.

2.Be genuine

Connect, discover, and respond.

- Connect. Your blog should create unlimited connection opportunities for your readers.

- Discover. Discover each reader’s needs and individual situation.

- Respond. Not only listen to your readers, but also take immediate action based on what you hear, and learn from these experiences for your future reader interactions too.

3. Be considerate

Simply look beyond your own “selfish” needs and consider the needs of your readers. Give before you get. How can you contribute to your readers?

4. Be knowledgeable

Always enhance your expertise in blogging. Value will always be added to your readers as you gain blogging related knowledge. Sharpen your writing skills. As you become more informed, your value to blogging, self-confidence, and the impact you have on your readers all increase.

5. Be involved

Actively seek participation opportunities in Blogosphere, improve your mentality, think about impossible, always aim high.

PRINCIPLE 2 – EVERYTHING MATTERS

Blogging is detail. When details are overlooked, even the most patient readers can be frustrated. Do not forget small details can make the difference between success and failure in the Blogosphere. i.e. Do not forget to spellcheck before you publish your blog posts.

PRINCIPLE 3 – SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

Your readers expect the predictable and the consistent, while hoping for an occasional positive twist or added value thrown in. Reader delight comes from a good combination of surprise and predictability. Be innovative, use your imagination, surprise your readers!

PRINCIPLE 4 – EMBRACE RESISTANCE

There are two types of loyal readers, readers who really do want their problems resolved, and those who simply want to complain about your blog posts. For some problems, your posts are enough, but for other types of resistance, your direct action is required. You should know when your posts are simply not enough.

PRINCIPLE 5 -LEAVE YOUR MARK

Successful bloggers realize that a key component of their success is leaving a powerful and positive mark in blogging communities and Blogosphere. Bloggers want to cooperate with, and invest in socially conscious bloggers.

Do you want to add something to above principles ? Please visit Internet Business & Making Money Online section of Search For Blogging Forum and post a new topic.