Last Updated on: June 14th, 2021
This post is kind of a “Part 2” to 8 Action Tips For Guppy-Bloggers In An Ocean Of Sharks.
(This a guest post of mine that was published on Aha!NOW that performed extremely well and has over 130 comments on it).
Here are the actionable takeaway tips for bloggers to start feeling like a blogger-shark instead of a guppy:
- Determine the Type of Blogger You Want to Be
- Make Time For Learning
- Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Bloggers
- Realize that Blogging Growth Takes Time
- Write Well and Own Your Own Voice
- Build a Support System of Your Own
- Position Yourself Properly and Support Others With Gestures of Appreciation
- Focus on the Positive, and Don’t Give Up
NOTE: If you are a new blogger, read 5 Things New Bloggers Need to Know.
The Reason for this Post about Blogger-Sharks
I am considering this post to be an addendum to the aforementioned post because I want to tell you about the bloggers behind the faces, in case you aren’t familiar with them.
Plus, there was some information that I could not include in that post because there simply was no room for it, and so I’m including it here. 🙂
I also wanted to mention a few more people who are considered “sharks” in the blogging world that I have learned from and admire.
Some people might think that I’m only writing this to get the attention from those bloggers, but I’m not. I’m merely passing on what I’ve learned to YOU so that you can learn – and grow – too.
Just remember that growth takes time… and a lot of work!
Blogger-Sharks from the Above Picture
The first four bloggers on the list below have been grouped together in other blog posts before. I’ve even had the pleasure of being grouped with them in 9 Inspirational Bloggers to Give You a Blogging Boost.
I’m pleased to be grouped again with them today, too, even if it is only in one of the specially created images that Mr. Singh made for me! (FYI, becasue I do not know how to use Photoshop, I paid Mr. Singh for his work. You can hire him, too. Just contact him via Google+. Here’s a link to his profile. Just tell him I sent you.)
Now, let me introduce you to some helpful people!
Ana Hoffman
Ana Hoffman (@AnaTrafficCafe) is the brain behind Traffic Generation Café. She gives away an ebook called, “Mommy, Where Does Traffic Come From?” and it’s chock-full of useful information you can use to grow your blog and business.
Ana might seem a bit intimidating because she’s so techie-smart, but she’s actually very helpful. Plus, if she doesn’t know the exact answer to a questions, then she knows someone who does.
Case in point: I was reading a post last week on backing up a website that was a bit complicated and so I shared it on Google+ and asked Ana and another techie-smart lady, Sherryl Perry, if there was an easier way to perform this task. Ana guided me to MaAnna Stephenson, who gave me one of her free reports on how to do just this.
You can see our entire interaction on Google+ for yourself.
Here’s a quote from Ana: “I’d say a blogger becomes a shark when other sharks start sharing their content.”
Neil Patel
Neil Patel (@neilpatel , @CrazyEgg and @KISSmetrics) is the epitome of inspiration to anyone with a dream, and living proof that simple will, determination, and passion is what it takes to be successful. Read his about page to see how he went from a vacuum salesman to the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics, as well as being recognized in the top 100 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by President Obama (and one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 by the United Nations).
Hiten Shah (@hnshah) is Neil’s other co-founder.
Thanks to Neil and Hiten, you can get your website analyzed.
More importantly, you can learn a lot from Neil’s Definitive Guide to Copywriting.
There aren’t enough words to describe how great Neil is. Take a look at his about page. He’s “kind of a big deal.”
Ileane Smith
Ileane Smith (@Ileane and @BasicBlogTips ) is the knowledgeable lady behind Basic Blog Tips. Ileane has been blogging for over 5 years, has made tons of YouTube videos and podcasts that offer blogging advice, and thinks that Rebekah Radice, Mike Allton and Ana Hoffman are “sharks.”
I first met Ileane through Ashley Faulkes (@madlemmingz a.k.a. mad lemmings) when he wrote a post about inspiring bloggers. Ileane knows a lot about social media and she shares what she knows with everyone else.
Oh, and I don’t think Ileane is related to Adrienne. Smith is a very common name!
Danny Iny
Danny Iny (@DannyIny) is the main man behind Firepole Marketing, and was one of the first marketing gurus I followed when I began my online journey. A recent post by Ali Luke (@aliventures) appeared on Danny’s blog, The Twelve Rules of Writing Great Content (and When To Break Them), will help you if you are currently struggling with your blog-post writing.
Greg Narayan
Greg Narayan (@gregnarayan ) is the man behind Dear Blogger, a place that is “all about answering blogging questions quickly, painlessly, and without the fluffy jargon the web is so full of these days.” (quote taken from About page)
Greg is also one of my clients; he was impressed with my skills and my enthusiasm for blogging. He even said that I taught him a thing or two!
I’ve learned a lot from Greg, including how to highlight text and how to create page jumps. I NEVER thought I’d learn html code… but I sort of DID! Now I even know how I can apply it on my websites…
I also learned how to write my articles faster!
Ramsay Taplin a.k.a. The Blog Tyrant
Ramsay Taplin (@BlogTyrant) offers excellent advice on his blog. (With a handle like Blog Tyrant, he’d better!) Here are some of his DOs and DON’Ts for being a respectful, successful blogger.
For years, no one online knew this guy’s name. It’s kind of interesting how his anonymity helped him to grow. He finally came out of his online closet (so to speak) and revealed his true identity in a special guest post – the first ever on Glen Allsopp’s blog, Viperchill.
Glen (@ViperChill) is another smart guy to learn from (and follow).
FYI, Along with Pat Flynn (@PatFlynn), these two guys are some of the people who Greg Narayan deems as sharks.
(I like Pat’s guide to writing a newsletter.)
Harleena Singh
Harleena Singh (@harleenas and @aha_now) is both a freelance writer and the founder of Aha!NOW, a website that she refers to as her “SELFhelp blog, where, SELF stands for – Self-development and Enrichment of Life and Family.”
You can find resources about parenting, children, seniors, health, relationships, and others aspects of life there, as it is dedicated to complete personal development, which includes all the aspects of one’s life – personal, family, and professional (blogging included!).
You might remember Harleena from her FITS (Freelancer In The Spotlight) guest post.
Like Adrienne Smith, Harleena has been hailed as a commenting superstar, too.
According to Harleena, “I sometimes feel like a guppy, but for some I’m a shark; however, I would not like to be identified with either. I do not see blogging as a competition at all. I feel everybody is unique and all have their own criteria of success. So, it doesn’t matter what others say or think. All bloggers should be happy fishes in the waters of blogging!”
Other Blogger Sharks That Have Influenced or Taught Me Something
Some of these people might not consider themselves as “sharks” (because sharks are often predatory, but, in this instance, as in the instance of the analogy of my guest post, a guppy is a newbie blogger or a blogger with a small following and a shark would equate to a successful blogger – or someone deemed to be successful in the eyes of a guppy.
Ryan Biddulph (@RyanBiddulph) – from Blogging From Paradise – I first encountered Ryan on Adrienne Smith’s blog. Ryan is a freelance writer and the author of what has rapidly become a series of books on blogging. I bought the first book, and can say that I already knew most of what he had said in it, but I liked it anyway. 🙂 I have to say that the information that took me a long time to learn is condensed quite nicely into his book(s). Ryan is living the dream I hope to live… one day… maybe when my parents pass on. (Yes, I’m devoted to my elderly parents…)
Tim Soulo (@timsoulo) – Tim Soulo is an internet marketer who runs Bloggerjet. Tim has been writing a lot about Twitter during the past few months. His posts are always long and jam-packed full of information even though they contain a ton of affiliate links (he needs to make money with his blog somehow, right?) but I have to say that I really liked his post 50 Respected Bloggers Gave Me WRONG Advice On Twitter Marketing. Oops! because it gave me a few new ideas.
Some Writer Sharks
Mary Jaksch – from Write to Done (@WritetoDone) and Goodlife Zen (@Mary_Jaksch)
Carol Tice – from Make a Living Writing (@TiceWrites)
Sophie Lizard – from Be a Freelance Blogger (@sophielizard)
More Blogger Sharks You’ll Love:
Jon Morrow – @JonMorrow from Smart Blogger
Brian Clark – @brianclark from Copyblogger
Darren Rowse – @problogger from Problogger
Adam Connell – @adamjayc from Blogging Wizard
Jeff Bullas – @jeffbullas from Jeff Bullas.com
Kristi Hines – @kikolani from Kikolani
Mike Allton – @mike_allton from The Social Media Hat
Daniel Scocco – @danielscocco from Daily Blog Tips
Will Blunt – @BloggerSidekick from Blogger Sidekick
A Blind Blogger Shark: Max Ivey
Maxwell Ivey (@maxwellivey) – from The Blind Blogger – is an inspiration to many. He is going to laugh out loud when he learns that I’ve included him with these other people… but he has learned so many things in such a short time and *ahem* he’s doing everything without having any sight to claim as his own. (Some of you might remember Max from an interview I did with him that answers some of the most sensitive questions we have about “the blind” and how they live…)
Now, I know I am forgetting about a ton of other people… but these are some of the people who have influenced or taught me something during my online journey.
My Online Journey: A Brief Synopsis
When I first started my online journey, I began a blog with the intention of growing an author platform. I had picked up a copy of the Writer’s Market (I had purchased the 2013 edition) and realized that I was going to have to buy a laptop of my own if I was going to “make it” in the writing world.
I can hear your outcries already! A writer with NO computer?
Shh. Stop laughing, folks!
It’s true. My old computer just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
I shopped around and bought a kick-ass, Toshiba laptop. Tons of memory. Tons of storage. My new baby.
I then did a crash-course and started a blog four days after I made my purchase.
When I realized people were actually reading my blog posts, I was floored. I thought a blog was an online journal!
I then decided to grow my blog, learn how to be a better blogger, and grow my blog.
It wasn’t until I got hosting of my own and moved my blog (then called Lorraine Reguly’s Life) to my new site, Wording Well, that I discovered how much I still needed to learn.
I’m A Blogger Shark (according to Ana Hoffman!)
Now, less 20 months later, I have posts that rank on the first page of Google Search (sometimes in the number one slot), I’m a published author, I’ve got a freelancing business of my own, and I’m earning money by simply having a website with Adsense installed on it.
And Ana now calls me a sharkette! 😉
I also had to move up to another hosting plan because I’m getting so much traffic. (Can you believe that?!) I’m also busier than ever, and loving it!
Can you say the same?
YOUR TURN:
Who do you learn from?
Who do you admire?
Who has helped you on YOUR online journey?
Tell me in the comments, and please share this post.
You can thank me, too, if you want. 😉
Hey Lorraine,
I have watched a couple of movies where people run away from sharks but I think yours are attractive and I’d like to run towards them.
click2tips.com recently posted…AbhiBus Offers & Coupons- Get upto Rs.200 Cashback on Bus Ticket Bookings
LOL
Thanks, I needed that laugh! 😉
I would swim towards them too! (And I have!)
A fantastic list of blogger sharks and many of them I follow. Some of them I can even say are good blogging friends and for that I’m very grateful.
Pooja, that’s great to hear. These bloggers are awesome!
Big Bloggers are like as Sharks and Small Bloggers are like small fish ! Small blogger need to do more hard work with great dedication
Shivang recently posted…Best (4G) Smartphones Under Rs. 10,000 in India | October 2016
Very true, Shivang!
These bloggers are real great white shark,,
Dhruv Tiwari recently posted…How to Play Clash of Clans
LOL
Dhruv, they’re real people, just like you and me.
Top Bloggers are like as Sharks ! Because Small blogger or beginner need to do more work with great dedication 🙂
I agree, Dhruv!
It worked. Thank you Lorraine! I simply overlooked the message due to Gmail filter settings. Have a nice day!
Great, Alexander! I knew it had to be something, because I had tested everything when I set up the emails and even subscribed and unsubscribed from my own list until I got it right! 😉
I hope the ebook helps you! 🙂
Thank you Lorraine for such a great and informative post! I started as a blogger several months ago, and got hooked by your site as it’s very motivating and useful. You inspire me to go on. Thank you for your work.
Alexander, blogging can be tough, depending on WHY you are blogging. I’m glad you like my site and hope you picked up a copy of my ebook, 20 Blog Post Must-Haves. If not, it’ll help you in your blogging endeavours. Grab it here: http://eepurl.com/NtFz9
Thanks for your comment!
Thank you Lorraine. For some reason didn’t receive the e-book, nor the confirmation e-mail either that I got subscribed. Just tried again.
Alexander, you will be emailed a link and when you click on it, you will be brought to a PDF of the ebook. If it doesn’t work, just unsubscribe and then resubscribe. I know that the whole process works, so the error is on your part. Perhaps you simply misunderstood the link or message. Try again! If you still have problems, let me know and I will do what I can to help you. OK?
I enjoyed your guest post at Aha-now and this is spectacular. I love the sharks concept even though I have never seen sharks as friendly.
Love the bloggers that you have mentioned even though some bloggers are new to me. Thanks for sharing.
I think you will like these sharks, ikechi. They’re pretty smart people!
Thanks for reading both this post and the one on Aha!NOW. I appreciate it. 🙂
I know most of the sharks you have mentioned here. Especially Harleena, Ileane, Adrienne, Anna and others. These are really great and sharing their knowledge with us.
Atish, that’s great to hear. I think we are all grateful that they share their knowledge with us! 😉 I know I am. 🙂
Yes! We are indeed grateful to them!
😀
Well hi Lorraine, as the guppiest of guppies, that little lot is going to keep me busy for a while – I may not have time to open any more of your posts for a while so don’t be surprised!
Thanks for all the info – I am at the bottom of a very steep learning curve!
k
Kate, the thing to remember is that everything takes time, so don’t feel pressured into reading every single post by every single person. That’s simply an impossible task! However, it’s important for us to continue learning a bit each day so that we improve ourselves as both people and bloggers.
Each blogger was a guppy at some point, Kate. You’re definitely not alone in the sea!
Ah ah ah, loved the title!
I use to have an aquarium, full of guppy fishes.
I can’t imagine sharks eating guppies…I guess they need like millions of them to get satisfied! 😉
I know most of the bloggers you mentioned in this post, except one (I’ll take the chance to jump to his site now).
I’ve just commented in Adrienne’s latest blog post, where she mentions the importance of building relationships, but most of all, the power of reciprocity.
I think the words speak themselves.
Thanks for this list of great people,
have a productive week, Lorraine! 🙂
Erik, I’m glad you already know most of these “sharks” and know that they are super-helpful bloggers. Who was it that you didn’t hear of before? I’m curious.
Reciprocity is a great way to build relationships. Adrienne should know; she’s a master at at it, and I’ve learned a thing or two from her in that respect. Using peoples’ names is another good technique for relationship-building, and I’m happy to see that you have that one down-pat, Erik. I do, too. 😉
Have a great week yourself, and thanks for your comment. 🙂
Lorraine,
I’ve never heard about Greg Narayan.
Just visited his blog and found it pretty interesting!
Thanks for your reply,
and have a great day, Lorraine! 🙂
Erik, I write for Greg regularly. I’m sure you’ve noticed. 😉 Thanks for visiting – both here and there!
I appreciate your comment, and have a great day, too! 🙂
Hi Lorraine, It’s my first time to visit here & my first expedience is really nice ! I love this post which made aware about Great Bloggers in Blogging platform ! Lorraine you are right with your words ! These great Bloggers are such a like Sharks ! Those can Kill to a new Blogger 🙂
Mansi, I appreciate the visit and the comment. The people listed in this post are wonderful people and can seem intimidating to new bloggers, but I assure you they are helpful and won’t “kill” anyone! LOL
Hi Lorraine,
This is a great list of blogger sharks you gathered here and it’s well deserved.
While many of these individuals can teach us many things, and many of them has for me, it’s important to know that you have to ultimately be yourself and not copy any successful person. The path they took to be bloggers that are mentioned in this great post may be different for different people. You have to ultimately take bits and pieces, use their words as inspiration and create your own path.
And that, Lorraine, is exactly what I see you doing. Great post once again.
Have a great week.
– Andrew
Andrew, I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Each of our paths will be different, indeed, but having a few starting points is just what some of my readers needed, although I suspect they might be a bit intimidated by everyone’s success!
(I sure hope that’s not the case.)
Have a great week, too, Andrew, and thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’m going to bookmark this post since you’ve provided so many useful resources and tips. Goes to show, you really have to think outside your comfort zone when you’re marketing online, and be open to all kinds of directions. You’ve definitely earned your success. And aren’t you gracious to include everyone who’s helped you … that’s very classy.
Krystyna, thank you for the nice compliments!
Marketing online is tough to do, and devising unique promotions is a tasking chore. It’s hard being original when everything seems like it’s already been done.
I hope you find someone amongst this list whom you can learn from, too. These folks are the best! 🙂
Hi Lorraine,
What a fantastic post!!!! I really appreciate how real, genuine and personal your introductions to each blogger are. I know a few of them, but some of them I don’t know at all so I suppose it’s time to do some connecting with these sharks!
Well done!
I hope you have an awesome weekend!
~ Don Purdum
Don,
I am glad you enjoyed my personal introduction to the featured blogger-sharks. In retrospect, I should have introduced every person on my list this way… they all deserve it!
I’ll say the same thing to you as I did to Krystyna: I hope you find someone amongst this list whom you can learn from, too. These folks are the best! 🙂
Hi Lorraine
A fantastic list of blogger sharks and many of them I follow. Some of them I can even say are good blogging friends and for that I’m very grateful!
I’m still a guppy in a very large ocean but I do love the techie stuff and am always willing to help anyone out if I can. That’s how I plan to monetise my blog eventually to, offering help with techie blog stuff :-). For now though, my life is very much centred around my wife and kids as a stay at home dad so I’m not in too much of a hurry to make things happen any quicker than they already are on my blog.
Tim, I think even the sharks sometimes feel like guppies! However, one of the beauties of the internet is the ability to connect people, and that’s what I wanted to do here.
Being a single mom, I can relate to your situation with the kiddies. 😉
Growth takes time, as you know, but finding the time to grow is often difficult when you’re already so busy!
When you are ready to, I have no doubt that you will have people banging down your door for your services. Feel free to ask me for a personalized testimonial, too. 🙂 I will gladly give you one. Even though I have not paid for your services, I have used them, and your assistance was – and still is – greatly appreciated.
Your most important Line in this post: stop comparing yourself to other bloggers. That’s what I tell everyone new to blogging. Be yourself, do not adopt another blogger’s posting schedule or layout before experimenting and at least trying to find your own. Great post!
Alice, “finding yourself” is, unfortunately, one of the hardest things for new bloggers to do. Sometimes I STILL think I’m finding myself, now that I have two websites!
I’m glad you enjoyed this round-up and introduction to these blogger-sharks. I’m sure you interact with many of them already, and if you don’t, now you can.
Thanks for commenting!
Thanks Lorraine!
I’ve never seen so many useful links in one place! I’m going to end up leaving this blog post in my web browser for days while I work through them all! Thank you for sharing this!
Angela, it’s going to take some time to do that, so my best piece of advice is to pick and choose who you think has something to offer YOU. Depending on what your blogging goals are, you can learn something from all of these sharks!
Good luck, and thanks for your comment!
Hello Lorraine
A very important post for new bloggers, to know , from whom we can learn. I have seen only few bloggers that you have mentioned. This was amazing to know that you are doing great in short time.
I do not know much about blogging but I love to read and try to spread my thoughts on papers. I am learning a lot of things , with the passage of every single day. I am thankful to every blogger of BHB group.
I am like crazy about reading , it’s 1:23 a.m. here in Saudi Arabia and I am still reading this post. This happens every night. I am trying and hope , with the help of so many different tips that I read on different blogs, I will at least understand what blogging is all about.
Thanks!
Sharing it!
Andleeb, these are some of the pros I have learned from and some are becoming great friends, too.
It’s great that you like to read and learn so much, and are doing a great job learning more English, too. I hope you are using the site Many Things to help you with this, like I had suggested to you.
Thanks for visiting again and see you soon. 🙂
Interesting people, interesting blogs. Thanks for the introductions.
You’re welcome, Ken.
Hi Lorraine – thanks for this list. I have heard of some of course, Greg, Adrienne and Harleena, but many of the others are new to me. I’m really looking forward to reading more about them and checking out their posts.
Lenie, it’s great that you already know some of these people. Please do check out their sites as they are also very informative people!
Plus, they don’t bite. 😉
This is great Lorraine and I will be hanging on to this one as a reference. I am familiar with a couple of the people you mentioned so it will serve me well to get to know them all. Thanks.
Tim, I am glad that you found this useful and truly hope you do take the time to get to know a few of these people. Of course, whom you decide to engage with will depend upon what your particular blogging growth goals are.
You’re welcome.
Refreshing to see you attribute so much to others Lorraine! There is always more to be learned…it’s a fluid environment so it pays to invest some time in reading folks you admire, and even a few that you don’t! Laugh. But I’m happy that you shared this list. It’s a great reference!
Jacqueline, it’s important to give credit where it is due, and this is something I have always done. I’m grateful for the knowledge that others share so freely and so I have made “paying it forward” a part of my life. 🙂
LOL, Boy have been there. It’s hard to add to what others have already said. I did laugh at your list of beginners thoughts, in understand and kindness. I decided not to worry about it and just be myself. Overtime, it’s worked to my advantage. I loved you list of influencers, many are some of mine as well. 🙂
Susan, I’m not surprised that you have heard of most of the people on this list; you’ve been blogging longer than I have! I appreciate the visit and your comment. FYI, I have been a bit more active with the BHB group the last two months and do what I can, when I can, and will continue to do so. 🙂
I am kind of new to blogging. Articles like this help me a lot, thanks for sharing.
William, when it comes to blogging there is a lot to learn, believe me! I no longer view myself as a newbie/guppy but I’ve not yet reached shark status, either. However, I have been at it for 20 months or more and have two websites of my own and a third one free on WordPress.com so I know a thing or two. 😉
For regular tips delivered to your inbox, you can subscribe to my blog or newsletter.
One thing I would like to suggest to you is to upload a picture to your gravatar profile so that others can see who you are. Not too many people like “mystery men” gravatars. I know it’s tough for some authors to put themselves out there online, but every little bit you do will make you more comfortable as a blogger.
Take a deep breath and dive in, William! I did. 😉
Hi Lorraine.
I really loved this post, and the other one that I read last night.
It makes me feel good that I already knew who most of the “sharks” are. I must be doing something right. Now I just need to draw on that inspiration and get blogging more!
I know how it feels to be part of the Grammar Police, although I did find it amusing that you missed a word when you said: “learned to live with called “The Grammar Police”” by your friends.
More importantly, it was great to read the comments of those great bloggers.
Nathan.
Hi Nathan.
Thanks for reading these posts, and taking the time to comment!
Out of the entire post, there was only one word “missing,” which was in the section where I mentioned the Grammar Police. FYI, I added the word “being” into that line to make it a proper sentence.
Congratulations! You’re the first person to mention this “faux pas” and so you are the winner!
What did you win? My respect and admiration.
(Sorry if you just got a bit excited there for a second.) 😉
I find it interesting that you were the first person to mention this. Yes, it was intentional. 😀
I’m happy you already know most of the blogger-sharks I’ve learned from – that shows you are definitely doing something right. Good for you! I’m also pleased to see you are – as Marisa Murgatroyd might say – living your message.
Now I have a question for you. Can you please check your messages as I have submitted a query using your form on your site.
Thanks, and it’s great to meet you. I hope to see you again on my blog! 🙂
Hi, Lorraine,
Thanks so much for the mention, I certainly appreciate it. I’m glad we met, and look forward to a nice long friendship online.
Yes, girl, you have accomplished a lot in a short time, that’s for sure. 🙂 You can be very proud. I’m thankful for my mentors along the way, and even the one who scammed me, as it made me tougher and more determined than ever to treat others the way I want to be treated.
It’s a journey I’ve enjoyed these past four years online, and I’ve met so many wonderful people, many of whom you’ve listed above. Ileane is always inspiring and teaching awesome tips for blogging. Ana is a fountain of knowledge that I could learn from all day long. Adrienne is a good friend who excels at building blogging communities.
I’ve learned that each of us with our unique and original way of communicating is giving our best and connect in a slightly different way so as to make a difference in peoples lives at points when no one else really can sometimes…
I love what I do, or I would have quit long ago. It’s rewarding to be able to help so many people. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this awesome article…Already tweeted and shared on Google Plus. 🙂
Have a good evening.
– Carol
Carol, each person brings something unique to the blogosphere, for sure, and I’m grateful for being able to help others in the way I do, too. I’ve met a boatload of people during my time online and I look forward to further interactions with everyone.
I confess that I am not familiar with your past and how (and who) scammed you. I’m sorry to hear that happened to you. 🙁 Who did that? How? Is there a blog post I can read for more information on this?
Thanks for reading and sharing this post. I’ll be seeing you on social media. 😉
Loved how personal and personable this post was, Lorraine – so nice to see actual real people behind their blogs!
One thing I have to add to your section about yourself is this: you’ve got guts. If you don’t know something, you are not afraid to say so, and that’s precisely why and how you’ve grown so rapidly in the past 20 months. A shark in the making!
Ana, you were one of the first people I encountered online, along with Danny Iny, and from the beginning of my journey, I knew I had A LOT to learn.
Over the last 20 months, I’ve accomplished A TON of things, but I have dedicated a huge amount of time and effort to doing so. I even learned about self-publishing and authored a book! Really, the list of things I’ve learned has grown quite long…
Yes, I have guts, Ana; thanks for saying so.
I am willing to go out of my way (and out of my comfort zone) to get sh** done and be the best I can be. With mentors who’ve “been there, done that” and share their lessons with the world, I’ve had big shoes to fill. Plus, I expect the very best from myself. A shark in the making? Maybe. Definitely no longer a guppy, at least. 😉
I guess I’ll have to come up with a few names for the stages o blogging, from guppy to shark and everthing in between…
Thanks for the visit and the comment, Ana. Enjoy your week.
Hi Lorraine,
This surely is an awesome continuation to your wonderful guest post on my blog – and thanks so much for the kind mention as well 🙂
Yes, now I understand why you were saying that the words fall short – they certainly do when you have SO much to say and so many people to thank. I am glad you came up with this Part – 2, and good to meet a few new faces here as well. Lot’s to learn from everyone, isn’t there?
You know how much people have loved your post, and yes, those number of comments just goes to prove it.
Thanks once again, and I wish you every success because I know that you’d go places and become one the largest ‘shark’s around in no time with the pace you are going…lol…. Have a nice, rest of the week 🙂
Harleena, I guess you can see why I could easily write a slew of blog posts on this topic, now that you have seen that I just added another 2000+ words with this post. Perhaps you could add a link to the end of the post on your blog, saying “To learn about the people behind the blogger-sharks, visit Lorraine’s blog and read Part 2” (or something like that).
I am glad my post was a hit and I loved meeting members of your community on Aha!NOW.
As you can see, I already added your logo to my widget in the sidebar, too.
I’m sure we are all going places, Harleena, and I want to thank you for being part of my online journey.
I’m grateful for your friendship. 🙂
Hi Lorraine! Just noticed this post when I was checking if your Triberr feed was working and then I scroll through and find myself included mentioned among the likes of Jon Morrow, Brian Clark and Jeff Bullas.
Thank you so much – honored to be included 🙂
Adam, I might not interact with you that much… but when I do, I always learn something, and so I have to give credit where credit is due. You’ve been wonderful on Triberr, holding my virtual hand throughout my first steps, and I am grateful for that.
I don’t like to bother the same people all the time with my many questions, and so I tend to try and find one person who I think is the best person or the right person for the job and then strengthen my relationship with that person by becoming “memorable” in some way.
Take Tim Bonner, for example… He spent about three hours one day with me on Twitter guiding me through each step of the process for installing the SocialFans plugin on my site. He helped me because he enjoys techie stuff like that. This is somewhat hard to fathom, as I’m very non-techie and deplore technology when it doesn’t work!
I am happy to know *wizards* like you guys! 😀
I think everyone is special in their own way, too, and even though some people are more of “a big deal” than others, it’s important to remember that we are all human beings who eat, sleep, and poop like everyone else.
Even Jon Morrow can’t really dispute that.
I’m glad you’re always able to learn something when we interact and very happy to help you out with Triberr – it takes a little while to get used to but the results can be incredible.
I like your approach of finding someone who is the best fit, we all have different skill sets and you definitely do well at being memorable 🙂
Awesome!
Always here if you need some help!
That is so true!
Adam, I suspect that Triberr will take some getting used to, and I know that it will take me time to learn, but I’m sure glad that I’m putting forth some efforts now into figuring it out. I wish I had jumped in last year when a bunch of people from one of my blogging groups joined… but I’m doing it now and that is what I need to focus on instead of having regrets. I truly am grateful that you’ve taken the time to help me take my baby steps on Triberr. You’ll be happy to know that I pay it forward to others whenever I can, too, so your good deeds will get passed on. 🙂
As for being memorable? I have to chuckle at that, because I tend to make a lasting impression on others often, and I don’t even do this on purpose. LOL
When online, it’s difficult to know who to trust, too, and so I tend to do a bit of research and not just take things at face value. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about and have had to make judgement calls of your own regarding people you encounter, too.
Onward and upward!
Hey Lorraine,
Wow, thanks for this mini write up my friend. I wasn’t expecting a follow up but I certainly appreciate it. By the way, my product is not an eBook. That’s what I was thinking in the beginning but it’s much bigger than that now. And I KNOW I still have issues with my grammar at times but at least it’s small compared to some of these freelance writers that I land on their blogs and I cringe when I read their posts. Some have really shocked the you know what out of me. I’m bad, I know! 🙁
I’m sure you know the story by now but it was a contest on Danny Iny’s blog where I was named the Engagement Superstar. That’s where that came from so it’s all his fault. LOL!!! Yep, that was back at the end of 2011 when he was releasing his popular book, “Engagement from Scratch”. Funny how things work out right.
I’m familiar with a lot of these bloggers but not all of them so if I can find the time, which you know I’m trying to do for a particular reason, I’ll check them out. Would love to make more connections but I can’t promise anything right now.
Thank you again, it means a lot and you have an amazing day okay.
~Adrienne
Adrienne, please forgive me for the faux pas regarding your product. You had told me at one time that that’s what it is. I guess you have decided to go “bigger and better” and that’s great! 🙂
Yes, I know that it was a contest on Danny Iny’s blog that earned you the title, but I only found that out recently. (Recall, I only began my online journey in January of 2013 so I’m REALLY late to the blogosphere party!)
However, I’m here now, stirring up trouble. 😉 Kidding! I don’t do it intentionally, trust me on that. I could think of many other things to do to occupy my precious time, believe me. I’m only here to help, and I try to do as much as can for as many people as I can, whenever I can.
I also don’t expect you to be buddy-buddies with everyone on this list, but I did want to share some of the people who have influenced me over the last 20 or so months.
I appreciate the visit, the comment, and the good nature with which you my comments about you. (Tim got a bit mad at me. Oops!)
Have a great day and see you around, Adrienne. 🙂
Great advice as always regarding blogs and writing blogs.
Thanks, Jo Ann. I hope you find someone useful to follow and learn from other than me. 😉
Hey Lorraine,
Thanks a lot for the mention, though I didn’t honestly enjoy you calling me out for affiliate links… I guess many of your readers will now treat me in a bad way because of how you presented it. Not cool.
Tim, I have learned a lot about Twitter from you but I do get annoyed when someone tries to lead me into thinking that I *must* have a plugin (or whatever) in order to be great. I won’t apologize for calling ’em as I see ’em, but I am sorry that you don’t see the compliment I have given you. I know what my readers like, and if they want to learn about Twitter, I think they will visit you, regardless of how many affiliate links you put in your posts. I know I did… and still do. Chill out, man. I’m not out to cause you harm. I’m only trying to help. Some people LIKE buying stuff all the time, so you might even make a few bucks because of this. Is that a bad thing?
Lorraine… I’m sure you know that the whole point of marketing is to make people think “they MUST have something in order to be great”… That is why people buy a shiny new car even though their last car is still shiny. That is why people buy iPhone 6, even though their iPhone 5s works perfectly well and doesn’t have a single scratch.
Anyway.. I know that you weren’t trying to harm me or anything like that. I just wanted to say that the fact that you and me know that affiliate links aren’t a bad thing (bloggers have to get something for their work – you said it), doesn’t mean that everyone else thinks like that.
However every blogger tries to sell something to his readers:
Glen Allsop – promotes his private blog network and his private forum all the time
Derek Halpern – promotes his blogging courses
Pat Flynn – promotes tons of different stuff
… I can go on like this forever
I just wanted to say, that mentioning my blog as “containing a ton of affiliate links” instantly makes me look like a bad guy, while everyone else around does it even on a bigger scale… they even hide their affiliate links with Link Cloakers, while I don’t do that most of the time.
So yeah… peace, love, unity and all that 🙂
Tim, I think everyone knows by now that internet marketers are people who try to sell you stuff. So, yeah, this is nothing new. Perhaps I should’ve said that about everyone on the list who does this? I guess I could have, if I felt that strongly about all of them trying to sell stuff to me all of the time – like the freelance writers who are continually creating new products (books, handouts, courses, etc.) to sell to their “students” (readers who become people who buy their stuff)?
Well, look at things this way: so much discussion is sure to spark someone’s attention. Controversial things ususally do, although I did not write that sentence to incite controversy at all.
FYI, you are not the only person I’m going to receive flak from; I can’t wait to hear what Adrienne Smith has to say to me about me being the “Grammar Police” – even though I also complimented her. I hope she takes it in stride.
Geez.
Am I going to be goaded into deleting all of these comments and having to edit my original words to make you happy?
I sure hope not.
You know what they say: You can’t please everybody all of the time. You can only please some of the people some of the time.
No.. no need to delete anything.. I’m happy to be referenced and complimented anyways 🙂
But you know how it happens.. if you say good and bad things about a person, he will mostly care about the bad things 🙂
I didn’t realize that what I was saying was soooo bad, Tim.
I guess your girlfriend is happy she is with a sensitive guy. 😉
(You know they say women like sensitive guys, right?)
Okay… now I might be pushing it. LOL
Hi Lorraine; well, the phrase last but not least comes to mind. 🙂 so glad to be included amongst all these sharks. It is an honor. and to borrow on harleena’s thoughts I don’t see myself as a shark but rather as a dolphin. I have the image of these intelligent loving creatures rescuing sailors and think that feels right. thanks again for mentioning me. You are a good friend. take care, max
Max, I absolutely love your humility. No wonder you and Harleena get along so well; you are two of a kind! 😉
I do what I can to help. Sometimes it irks others, but mostly I think I am serving others well.
Besides, I think you deserve some more recognition for how far you have come!
Have a great day, Max, and feel free to add this one to your list of gratitude mentions. I know you will! LOL
Hey Lorraine,
I have watched a couple of movies where people run away from sharks but I think yours are attractive and I’d like to run towards them 😉
I read your guest article on aha-now but was not opportuned to comment because I was very busy with broaded.net and other offline stuffs. Congrats on winning that contest 😉
I love your idea of Blogger-Sharks. That’s being very creative Lorraine
Thank you for the compliment, Enstine. 🙂 I appreciate it.
I am glad you read my guest post, too. I actually don’t mind that you didn’t comment; I spent hours replying to comments on that post and honestly, I don’t know how Harleena manages to comment so much each week on her blog and everyone else’s too! LOL It’s tough keeping up with her and Adrienne! I guess that is why they are the commenting superstars, huh? 😉
I thank you for commenting here, though, and will be by shortly to visit you again.
Lol….sorry for the never ending comments at my blog,, Lorraine! I guess it goes to show how much people loved your post 🙂
Ah…don’t ask about commenting!! It can get overwhelming at times, especially with a family and kids to see to! I wonder how Adrienne manages it all. Thanks once again for your lovely guest post 🙂
Responding to the numerous comments can be both motivating and time-consuming, but knowing that you are helping someone makes it all worthwhile. As a teacher, you can understand that making sacrifices (like your time) for the greater good (of others) is something that is simply part of our jobs. 🙂
You surely were missed Enstine!! 🙂