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Site Sketch 101: Teaching You How to Blog With Power and Influence
Written By Nicholas Cardot44 Vibrant Responses

A Veteran’s Guide to Mastering Your Website

Awesome Content: Set Up For Online Success
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A Veteran’s Guide to Mastering Your Website

Happy Veteran’s Day to each of you.  I hope that if you’re a veteran that you’ll be able to take some time off today and enjoy the free meal that Applebee’s if offering, the free breakfast that Denny’s is giving away or the delicious blooming onion that Outback is sharing.

Most of you already know that I’m a full-time soldier in the United States Army.  I actually posted my picture right here at the top of the article so that you can all see how good I look in my uniform.  Yes.  You heard me right.  That is a picture of me.

As a soldier, I’ve learned things and experienced things that influence the way I blog.  Today, I’m going to share a few of those things in the hopes that they’ll be able to help you on you journey.

Train for the Fight

I’m constantly training.  Every morning we do physical training like running, push ups, sit ups, etc.  Periodically we head down to the range and hone our skills at flinging ammunition at targets with our M4’s and our machine guns.  We review our map reading skills, our grenade throwing skills and more.  We study new weapons systems and we practice squad tactics.  We do this so that we will be the fittest and most well trained units that we can possibly be.

I try to do the same thing with my blog.  I’m constantly studying ways to become a better writer, ways to market myself to more people, ways to connect and create relationships.  I’m constantly trying to hone my skills so that I can be more and more effective each time I sit down to put together another article.

Stick With Your Battle Buddies

In the army we have what we call battle buddies.  We look to protect each other, to grab each other and drag each other back to safety if one of us get shot or wounded.  I also need their encouragement and I provide encouragement to them.

This relationship between two combat soldiers is the same as the relationships that we need to be building if we plan on taking our blogs on to bigger and better things.  Reaching the upper levels of blogging is a grueling battle.  It’s nearly impossible for someone to do on their own.  That’s why you need battle buddies.

Use the Right Equipment

If you take too much with you into the battle then you’ll be slowed down.  If you don’t take enough then you’ll run out of ammunition, water, or something else that’s vital to the mission’s success.

What about our blogs?  Many people use every widget that seems to look a little bit interesting.  They see an interesting plugin and they install it right away.  More often than not, however, these just become distracting.  I make sure that everything in my sidebar or in my post footer has a purpose.  If it doesn’t have a purpose then I get rid of it right away.

Group Reflection

What’s your background? Do you have a unique experience that shapes the way you do business online or in life?  I’d love to hear about it.  In fact, we would all love to hear about it.

Nicholas Cardot

Nick uses his blog Site Sketch 101 to express his passion for helping bloggers and webmasters connect with real people through brilliant designs, unique content, and genuine creativity. Nicholas Cardot has 199 post(s) at Site Sketch 101

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41 Vibrant Comments

I would love to hear yours!


  1. November 11, 2009

    Robomaster said:

    Absolutely brilliant post Nick! I really love how you compare the military to this blog – it’s more similar than I would’ve thought!

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Robomaster –> Thanks. It’s not so much that they’re similar but that the principles from one can easily be used in to find success in the other.

      Reply to this Comment

      • November 19, 2009

        Robomaster said:

        Yea that’s sorta what I mean. Blogging and the Military really aren’t that similar unless you take the lessons you learn in one and apply them in the other.

        ;-)
        My Latest Blog Post: Chrome OS: Update from Google

        Reply to this Comment

  2. November 11, 2009

    Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend said:

    Happy Veterans Day, yes.

    Creating a viable business takes discipline, blogging is no exception.
    My Latest Blog Post: My Eyeballs Are Bleeding – And How I Write Thousands of Words Every Week

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend –> Thanks. Discipline and character will often take you much farther than talent and chance.

      Reply to this Comment

  3. November 11, 2009

    Kim Schiller said:

    Great post! Even if you consider your blog a hobby, if you want anyone else to read it, you need hard work and a community. I’m still just in the content-building stage of my site, but those two things are already a focus for me. Happy Veteran’s Day, and thank you for your service Nick!
    My Latest Blog Post: They made me go to Miami!

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 11, 2009

      David | ilcantone.com said:

      Yes, I know that stage :) I didn’t start to “promote” my blog until I had written at least 15 articles.

      By the way, you have a new follower on twitter :)

      Reply to this Comment

      • November 11, 2009

        Kim Schiller said:

        Thanks, back at ya! I never knew everything that goes into a successful blog until I decided to give it a shot. Thank goodness for all the wonderful resources out there for us like this one…
        My Latest Blog Post: They made me go to Miami!

        Reply to this Comment

        • November 12, 2009

          Nicholas Cardot said:

          Kim Schiller –> Ha ha. That’s a good quote right there. I never knew everything that goes into a successful blog until I decided to give it a shot.

          Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Kim Schiller –> You’re welcome and thanks for the support.

      Reply to this Comment

  4. November 11, 2009

    Tycoon blogger said:

    I had no idea that you were a soldier..much respect! One of my favorite posts so far. I agree with the battle buddies as this is impotant in blogging indeed.
    My Latest Blog Post: How Blogging Saved My Life

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Tycoon blogger –> Well now you know. I’ve been an infantryman for just over 2 1/2 years and yes, battle buddies are absolutely vital.

      Reply to this Comment

  5. November 11, 2009

    Extreme John said:

    Wow Nick great work on a special day, I had to read the post twice to really appreciate how you tied your comparisons together.

    Brilliant piece of writing.
    My Latest Blog Post: 5 Reasons I Suck at Entrecard

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Extreme John –> Thanks, John. I really appreciate it and I’m thrilled to know that it was meaningful to you.

      Reply to this Comment

  6. November 11, 2009

    Gabe | freebloghelp.com said:

    “Battle buddies”… love it!

    Analogous writing never gets boring when done right.
    My Latest Blog Post: I’ll do anything for you (except visit your blog)

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Gabe | freebloghelp.com –> Thanks, battle buddy. I appreciate it!

      Reply to this Comment

  7. November 11, 2009

    King Sidharth said:

    Awesome man! I love the way you relate things. :P
    My Latest Blog Post: Prove Thyself

    Reply to this Comment

  8. November 11, 2009

    David | ilcantone.com said:

    Happy Veteran’s Day Nick.

    Good analogy :) .

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      David | ilcantone.com –> Thanks! I appreciate it.

      Reply to this Comment

  9. November 11, 2009

    Lori said:

    Nick! Wow, I had no idea!

    I am a chick vet and served in the first Gulf War back in ‘90 and ‘91. I have to admit that I don’t miss Kuwait at all.

    Thanks for this great post! How do my experiences affect my web presence? Well, it’s hard to let anything shake me or throw me “off” knowing I have a *warm* shower a few feet away, I have a toilet that flushes, warm food as an option, and no one is shooting at me.

    Life is good, you know?

    Thanks for your service and I am humbled by your candor.
    Have a great day and cheers to you and your unit!
    ~xo
    My Latest Blog Post: The Webs We Weave

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Lori –> Well thanks for your service and happy Veteran’s day to you. I hope that you went out and grabbed some free chow from one of the places that I mentioned above.

      Reply to this Comment

  10. November 11, 2009

    Tony said:

    Great read, Nicholas. Most appropriate for the day as well. I submitted this article to Digg…don’t know if “Software” was the best category to put it in though.

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Tony –> Thanks for the submit. I don’t really have a clue what category would be the best but I appreciate it.

      Reply to this Comment

  11. November 11, 2009

    Andrew said:

    Happy veterans day ‘buddy’. I hope you had a chance to relax and enjoy your day.

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Andrew –> I sure did. I also got a free breakfast and lunch. It was terrific.

      Reply to this Comment

  12. November 11, 2009

    Chris Cline said:

    Awesome, awesome post! Thanks for your Service to Our Great Country and for gathering such great information and advice in one place.

    Happy Veterans Day Brother…
    My Latest Blog Post: God’s Jewels

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Chris Cline –> You’re welcome and thanks for the great support.

      Reply to this Comment

  13. November 11, 2009

    Eric B. said:

    This is a very interesting comparison.

    Have a nice day, Nick!
    My Latest Blog Post: Creating a Wordpress Theme — Part 2

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Eric B. –> I will, friend. Thanks.

      Reply to this Comment

  14. November 11, 2009

    Ron Boracay said:

    Happy Veterans Day!

    Nick, I really admire how you take good care of your time; family, blog and being a soldier.

    I salute you!
    My Latest Blog Post: Two Seasons Boracay

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Ron Boracay –> Thanks. It’s funny but I really get that sentiment from people a lot. I appreciate it.

      Reply to this Comment

  15. November 12, 2009

    chandan said:

    Hi Nick really feel happy by hearing about you. I did not know that you are a soldier, I really surprised that one soldier can work so much for blog. Really I appreciate you Nick.
    My Latest Blog Post: Ultimate link building tips that should be follow [Digg]

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      chandan –> And I appreciate you. Thanks so much.

      Reply to this Comment

      • November 13, 2009

        chandan said:

        Hi Nick keep up your work and be one ideal blogger, I always like blogger like you.
        My Latest Blog Post: New from google work at home affiliate network

        Reply to this Comment

  16. November 12, 2009

    George Serradinho said:

    Happy Veteran’s Day to you to!

    In South Africa, it was compulsory to attend the army after school. They changed it and it was not compulsory anymore. I dad always says that us young people are to soft.
    My Latest Blog Post: Thesis Tutorial – Displaying Users Twitter link in the Comments Section

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      George Serradinho –> I think that’s a neat program and I wish that it were required here in America. I think that the character of our nation would be much stronger. I’m sure that your father is a great man…of course, I’m sure that you are also.

      Reply to this Comment

  17. November 12, 2009

    Fran Civile said:

    Great post Nicholas!

    As a soldier you lead a super organized
    life… practically every moment of your
    day is goal driven and that can’t help
    but spill over to other areas of your
    life… notably your blogging…

    All that daily exercise must be a great
    a source of energy too!
    Note to myself: Get More Exercise! :)
    My Latest Blog Post: Why Computers Sometimes Crash!

    Reply to this Comment

    • November 12, 2009

      Nicholas Cardot said:

      Fran Civile –> That’s true. It really does. I have a lot more energy since I’ve started exercising every day. Everyone should do it.

      Reply to this Comment

  18. November 14, 2009

    Boni said:

    Yeah, discipline is needed, and i will do the best to success in blogging…
    My Latest Blog Post: Hey, There is Water in the Moon …

    Reply to this Comment

  19. November 15, 2009

    Jim Clary said:

    Nick. I thank you for the great blog, but most all, thank you for your service to our great country.

    I do love this post and the comparisons you make to the military.
    My Latest Blog Post: Top 5 Benefits Of Hosting Your Blog On Your Domain Name

    Reply to this Comment

  20. November 16, 2009

    Toan Nguyen Minh said:

    Dear Nicholas,
    I just found your post on Tycoon Blogger in the link love article.
    This article is very interesting and useful for me :D
    Keep writing.
    Thanks!
    My Latest Blog Post: Wordpress 2.8.6 is available –> Upgrade your Wordpress Blog to WordPress 2.8.6 Now

    Reply to this Comment



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