SmallBusinessBranding.com

[Yaro]

Hi fellow bloggers,

I'm currently mulling over what to do with my other blog, SmallBusinessBranding.com (SB.

After reading through Rich Schefren's Internet Business Manifesto and Missing Chapter combined with some feedback I have received from my readers and some reflecting on my part, I've come to realize that I probably should focus my business writing at Entrepreneur's Journey rather than dilute things by trying to keep two blogs going by myself.

I thought about selling SBB but that doesn't sit right since I think it is a great blog that is very much a part of my online presence - it certainly shouts "Yaro" when you visit it - and it brings me a lot of value now, I don't want to lose it, I just don't want to write for two blogs on nearly the same topic. I think focusing all my writing at one place will result in more rewards rather than splitting it over two places.

Because of this though I'm not sure what I should do. Should I hire someone to write for the blog? Should I hire many people to write for the blog or perhaps focus on getting some guest writers in to keep the place going for free?

I'm leaning towards partnering with one or two other bloggers who will become the main writers on the blog with me dropping in a podcast now and then. However I would have to find some very good writers in the field of small business and that might be hard without paying a premium price for it. Maybe if I asked for a partner with the possibility of payment in the form of co-branding at the blog, or perhaps a revenue split or maybe in exchange for traffic/exposure?

What do you think?

[Blaine Moore]

Hi fellow bloggers,

I'm currently mulling over what to do with my other blog, SmallBusinessBranding.com (SB.

[/b]

I thought your split with what content goes on which site worked out fine, but then again I was already subscribed to both RSS feeds even before you bought SBB so I still get to read it all.

One thing that you might consider (at least, once you have launched BTS and have a bit more free time) is to move your articles from SBB to E-J and to use SBB as a sales tool or consulting front end. Small Business Branding has a sound to it that screams "buy my stuff" or "hire me for consulting", while Entrepreneur's Journey does sound more journalish. With your experiences and research, I have no doubt that you could come up with some products related to the SBB niche.

[Yaro]

Yeah, good idea Blaine. That was in the back of my head and the way you put it sounds good. I could convert it to a lead generation tool with a more static approach, the question is what exactly I would be consulting on/selling...

[Blaine Moore]

the question is what exactly I would be consulting on/selling...
[/b]

That is always the rub, i'n't it?

[Yaro]

Huh? You speak in riddles blaine..?

[Blaine Moore]

Huh? You speak in riddles blaine..?
[/b]

Sorry, must be American slang. I think we stole it from across the pond, but what it means is that's the question that always causes the problems, right? Just pointing out the crux of your problem with SBB is what to actually sell/consult on through it if you go that route.

[blogtrepreneur]

Hey Yaro,

Yeah I noticed that a most of your articles overlap with SBB and E-J.
My thought, like Blaine, is that when the words Small Business Branding springs to mind, it shouts consulting. Maybe you could hire some SEO / Branding experts to write article for your blog. Then you could split revenue with the writers so you're still benefiting from the blog, and you can still retain ownership over it.

This would mean that you're still able to broadcast announcements to a bigger crowd, and it would seem a shame to sell a fairly high PR site. As you said, if you link both your two PR6 blogs you can create a PR5 site. Use this to your advantage with your other sites that you might make in the future. Definitely don't give up the blog!

[Andy]

...it shouts consulting.
[/b]

I agree. In fact, that's what I first thought it was based on the name. Perhaps, like BetterEdit, you could have a BetterBrandit type service

[charris]

Hey all -

Allow me to recommend a way to brainstorm on this...

If you're like most people, they will start by doing some competitive research or kicking ideas around with their friends about what other people have done that sounds appealing to them.

This leaves a lot of stones unturned though. The best you can hope to achieve is to copy someone else's approach and do it better than they do - meaning you're headed for immediate competition in the best case.

I think a better approach is to do the opposite.

Examine what the customers of those competitors have as "alternatives" and see if you can find a way to offer a completely different product/service that satisfies a unique combination of benefits that the existing alternatives can't.

I just wrote about this in my blog - I called it thinking about "false negatives." I think it helps narrow down how you can help people the most, without depending on a "eureka moment."

Good luck!