A Veteran’s Guide to Mastering Your Website
Awesome Content: Set Up For Online Success
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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- A Veteran’s Guide to Mastering Your Website | Blog Mixer
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41 Vibrant Comments
I would love to hear yours!
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!
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.
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.
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Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend said:
Happy Veterans Day, yes.
Creating a viable business takes discipline, blogging is no exception.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend –> Thanks. Discipline and character will often take you much farther than talent and chance.
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!
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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
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…
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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.
Nicholas Cardot said:
Kim Schiller –> You’re welcome and thanks for the support.
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.
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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.
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.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Extreme John –> Thanks, John. I really appreciate it and I’m thrilled to know that it was meaningful to you.
Gabe | freebloghelp.com said:
“Battle buddies”… love it!
Analogous writing never gets boring when done right.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Gabe | freebloghelp.com –> Thanks, battle buddy. I appreciate it!
King Sidharth said:
Awesome man! I love the way you relate things.
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David | ilcantone.com said:
Happy Veteran’s Day Nick.
Good analogy
.
Nicholas Cardot said:
David | ilcantone.com –> Thanks! I appreciate it.
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
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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.
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.
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.
Andrew said:
Happy veterans day ‘buddy’. I hope you had a chance to relax and enjoy your day.
Nicholas Cardot said:
Andrew –> I sure did. I also got a free breakfast and lunch. It was terrific.
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…
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Chris Cline –> You’re welcome and thanks for the great support.
Eric B. said:
This is a very interesting comparison.
Have a nice day, Nick!
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Eric B. –> I will, friend. Thanks.
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!
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Ron Boracay –> Thanks. It’s funny but I really get that sentiment from people a lot. I appreciate it.
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.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
chandan –> And I appreciate you. Thanks so much.
chandan said:
Hi Nick keep up your work and be one ideal blogger, I always like blogger like you.
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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.
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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.
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!
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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.
Boni said:
Yeah, discipline is needed, and i will do the best to success in blogging…
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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.
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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
Keep writing.
Thanks!
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