The fifth chapter in the revised edition of Ariel Hyatt’s book “Music Success in Nine Weeks” is dedicated to the subject of blogging. This could emphasise the importance of the subject to the modern DIY musician and creative entrepreneur.
Blogs are web logs that can be used as online diaries or to provide news or commentary. They are interactive and, if you’re lucky, informative.
Amongst this weeks activities, we are encouraged to set up our feed readers. This helpful prompt inspired me to dedicate this post to the bloggers that I follow most regularly.
With gratitude on the mind, and also in the spirit of what my American friends celebrate as thanksgiving, I thought about what instrument I would like to give each of them as a gift to thank them for their inspiration, if I was able to today.
Pam Slim: Escape from Cubicle Nation
Entrepreneurial skills, personal branding and marketing.
Creatives thinking of embarking on any new (ad)venture would be well advised to seriously consider Pam Slim’s book “Escape from Cubicle Nation”. The book carefully coaches you through the obvious and less obvious aspects of entrepreneurship providing useful tips, exercises, links and resources along the way.
Since attending Pam’s book workshop in London, October 2009, I have been drawn to Pam’s warmth, humour, authenticity and entrepreneurial instinct. It is those qualities that continue to attract me to her blog today. Thanks, Pam.
Pam’s musical instrument gift: Saxophone
Charlie Gilkey: Productive Flourishing
Creativity, productivity, harmony, strategy and life.
Charlie is a rockstar when it comes to useful, practical and insightful advice. When I need to boost my self-motivation, creativity or productivity I always stop and consult Charlie’s blog first.
As a true forward-thinker, Charlie somehow blends philosophy, psychology, strategy, logic and life in to such wonderfully written posts that they are unarguably deeply spiritual. He also produces some kick-ass monthly, quarterly and yearly planners.
Charlie creates what my mate Andy calls ‘depth charges’: Ideas that explode shortly after sinking in. Charlie – you rock.
Charlie’s musical instrument gift: Semi-electric 335 Guitar
Jonathan Fields: Awake at the wheel
Conversations at the crossroads of work, play, entrepreneurship and life.
The variety and depth of Jonathan’s, often punchy, topics attract a very inspirational audience. You can get a taste of Jonathan’s style and access some of his best stuff here.
Since following Jonathan’s blog, I have begun to follow and connect with other creative bloggers who have attracted my curiosity through their comments alone.
He’s building a very powerful tribe.
Jonathan’s musical instrument gift: Fender Strat, SRV model
Glen Allsopp: ViperChill
SEO, viral marketing
Two things struck me immediately about Glen when I had the pleasure of meeting him at the aforementioned Pam Slim book tour workshop in London:
- Firstly, his watch simply said “Now”
- Secondly, he is the most approachable and down to earth bloke you could ever meet
Glen wrote a very useful and insightful e-book called ‘Cloud Living‘ (non-affiliate link) which demonstrates how Glen, as a twenty year-old, made a five figure income each month online.
If you are new to blogging, the juice in this book will not only launch your web rocket it will alter its trajectory. Beyond that it will likely keep you in orbit for a whole year with stuff to burn through.
The Viper Chill blog goes even further building on this solid foundation. Glen – you’re an inspiration to every blogger on the planet!
Glen’s musical instrument gift: Technics SL-1210 MK II Record Deck
Marcus Taylor: The Musicians Guide
SEO, music marketing and promotion
After following Marcus, founder of The Musicians Guide, for almost two months I found out he lived around the corner of where I grew up. We met up for coffee and as a result we’re now producing a low-cost introduction to life coaching for DIY musicians for 2011.
The Musicians Guide is a regular ‘must visit’ site for any DIY musician. Marcus has attracted some notable bloggers in the music industry distilling their valuable advice and resources for you.
Particularly useful is the very new ‘MI questions‘ (Music Industry questions) where you can ask any question relating to the music industry and have industry experts respond for free. The more involved you are, the more your profile is raised.
Marcus’ musical instrument gift: Sonor acoustic drum kit
Reflecting on the powerful resources whilst writing this post, it struck me that it was often through the blogs of others (and the comments within blogs) that these connections had been, and can be, made.
There are some great pointers and hints in the chapter for Week 5 to how to become a better connected blogger.
The exercise in Week 5 to find 50 sites where you would like your music reviewed has inspired me to start connecting at the rate of one new blog per week. At this rate I feel I can comfortably digest the style and content of each new blog and hope to have made many more valuable connections in yet another years time.
Who are your top bloggers?
Previous weeks:
Photo Credit: © Sandra Farrow
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Rob,
As always, a well written and insightful post. Thanks for the blog recommendations, too. This is like food for my feed reader! Also, keep us #msi9w3 people posted on your life coaching guide. Sounds intriguing! Keep up the great work.
Ethan
Ethan, thanks for the kind comments and support.
One of the unexpected pleasures of the Music Success in Nine Weeks blog challenge is the opportunity to connect with and learn from inspiring and like-minded people such as yourself.
Let’s keep rocking!
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