If you want to know what the 5 most important blogging lessons are, the person to ask is Darren Rowse. He is one of the world’s top 5 bloggers and one of his blogs, ProBlogger, is the go to source for all things blogging. Darren makes a six figure salary from his blogs. This isn’t to say that money is all of our objectives, but the earnest emphasis that Darren places on community makes these 5 lessons applicable to all situations, and as Darren is a pastor of a church and puts that money largely into charities, I think he does indeed know a few things about community.

He recently wrote on the “5 c’s of blogging“, a summary of what he’s learned over 6 years of ProBlogger, of which this is the video:

Darren’s 5 c’s

  1. Content. “If it’s not enhancing someone’s life in some way, the chances are, they’re not going to come back again”
  2. Community. “People don’t go online just to consume content any more. They’re actually going online to belong.”
  3. Connection. “A place where you can continue to have that connection with them, it’s about getting them to subscribe to your blog in some way.”
  4. Cash. “Experiment with different ways of monetising your blogs.”
  5. Contribute. “Do something that makes a difference in this world.”

Your Leading Thoughts

  • Which of these 5 c’s above is your strong point? Which are your really doing well, and why?
  • Which of these is your weak point and needs growth? How can the Friends here help you in that respect?

Archived Comments

  • Becky

    thanks for your information, made me think about my blog, and how I can improve it. Becky Jenkins

  • / Scott Gould

    You’re welcome Becky. Let me know how you get on!

  • Anonymous

    Great tips for me to pass on! Thank you!

  • http://www.adrianswinscoe.com/blog/ Adrian Swinscoe

    Hi Scott,
    I’d like to think that my strong points are 1 and 5 and that my weaker ones are 4 and 2. However, the list did make me think and realise that I need to be aware of all areas if I am going to improve my blog.
    Adrian

  • http://twitter.com/debojadebayo Debo Junior Adebayo

    Hi Scott, I don’t really have a blog but I decided to comment on it anyway because I feel that the 5 c’s extend to all forms of social media. So here goes:

    I think that I’m really good at connecting with people and at risk of sounding arrogant, it has always been something that has come naturally to me. The other aspects are where I fall down. I feel that the most important thing for me to work on is both the curation and creation of content. What are your ideas? And out of curiosity which ones are your stronger points and which ones do you need to work on?

  • / Scott Gould

    :-)

  • / Scott Gould

    Adrian – how are you doing a good job of 5? Would like to hear more about your strengths :-)

    S

  • / Scott Gould

    Debo – I create content from the discussions in the comments really – I really focus on the community aspect more than anything. That for me is what makes the difference

    Scott

  • http://www.adrianswinscoe.com/blog/ Adrian Swinscoe

    Scott, How do I contribute? Phew. Well, I guess that I try and do that in a number of ways. Firstly, the recent book I’ve just completed is part of a larger project to bring together like minded companies that pursue a more values driven approach to business that is in line with the trends and shifts that we see happening in front of us. Not enough space here to tell you all about it but would love to get your take on it when you are next in London. Second, I volunteer with a Young Enterprise group that helps kids set up and run their own company as development experience. I’ve been doing that for the last 3 years and some of the things that the kids come up with are great and it is equally rewarding to see them grow as people and leaders. Third, I’m trying to get another project off the ground that is education based and involves the promotion of soft and social skills that kids are not getting the benefit of learning in schools. Finally, I’ve started a blog comment group around my blog (remember I asked you a Q about this at the London Blog Club). Well that is now started and is going well with everyone learning, sharing and pushing each other on to develop their own blogs. Phew again!

    I guess that covers a lot of the things that I do that I like to think contribute. My strength in all of this is, I guess, is to conceive and learn how to do things and then to just get on and get them going whilst also not being afraid to ask for help.

    Hope that all makes sense. Felt like it was a bit of a brain dump ;)

    Adrian

  • / Scott Gould

    hey Adrian

    This makes sense – you spend your entire time helping others. I think this is probably central to those who know how to participate. I haven’t met someone good at participating and also causing others to participate who didn’t genuinely care about people.

    As Joanne Jacobs says (@joannejacobs – recommended folllow), it’s all about CARE

    Scott

  • http://www.adrianswinscoe.com/blog/ Adrian Swinscoe

    Morning Scott, I guess that is at the heart of it. I care about people and doing something positive.
    Thanks for the heads up on Joanne Jacobs I’ll check her out.

    Adrian